Rear leaf aprings for 76 J10, Confusion..

[candymancan]

So the rear springs on a 76 J10 with 131 inch wheel base.. Shouldnt any springs from 76-91 work ? Such as the ones for the Wagoneer/Grand Wagoneer. Or cherokees etc ?

Reason i ask.. Is because every single site.. lists 77+ for the j10 rear aprings.. not 76. My 76 stock springs also have only 4 springs. Not the 4+1 combo.

Only one site lists 76 with 4 springs as part number 97-459 i believe it was.

Some sites lists 119 wheel base and 131. Correct me if im wrong but arent the springs the same for the wheel bases ? Or are they really longer for the 131 wheel base ?

Didnt think itd be so difficult with a 76+ model like it is for 75 and under. But it seems 76 is not included on any site. Just 77+

[tgreese]

Parts book is less than $25 on digital media at RockAuto.

Looks like the model 10 and model 25 5-leaf springs are the same in '76. The 4-leaf model 45 spring is different, no overlap. LWB J10 different.

Suggest you measure and compare to your GW.

[Stuka]

BJ's lists their kit as 76-88 J-Trucks.

I am not aware of any differences between the physical length of the springs between a 76 J-Truck and a 76 Waggy/Cherokee. Weight capacities certainly are different. The spring mounts between a 119 and a 131 are certainly different. But the springs should sway without issue.

[candymancan]

Parts book is less than $25 on digital media at RockAuto.

Looks like the model 10 and model 25 5-leaf springs are the same in '76. The 4-leaf model 45 spring is different, no overlap. LWB J10 different.

Suggest you measure and compare to your GW.

Lwb ? No overlap what are you talkin about ?

My 4 pack rear springs dont have that bottom overload spring. Either. Whats odd is the 97-459 4 pack i did find for 76 for my Jeep.. is losted as 1165lbs.. Pretty much the same as the 485 spring sold everywhere for 76/77-91. Just no overload.

[tgreese]

LWB is long wheelbase 131", model 45. SWB is short wheelbase 119", model 25. The wagons are model 10, with the Wagoneer being either a model 14 or 15. Cherokees are 16 or 17, NT and WT resp.

The 4-leaf spring is for the model 45 only. Models 10 and 25 share the 5-leaf spring. Their applications overlap.

The book does not say anything about the characteristics of these parts, only what part goes with which application.

This is for 1976 only. Applications could change for other years, and the model designations change in 1980.

[candymancan]

Whats weird is the 97-459 part for the 76.. lists the measurements as the same as my GW rear spring. So i guess the 97-485 4+1 pack will be fine. The overload spring is probably better to have anyway

[tgreese]

GVWR is the same for 10, 25 and 45. Weight distribution will be different with the longer wheelbase.

6025 rated IIRC. Prior years the base-model Wagoneers and J-trucks had a lower GVWR like 5000 or 5050. The GVWR spec was raised in this era to take advantage of the looser emissions regulations on light trucks, which required the higher GVWR. The LWB trucks were actually used like trucks, and it seems very likely the 4-leaf spring has a higher actual capacity than the 5-leaf with helper. Also the longer wheelbase increases the weight on the rear axle, for the same load over the axle.

You understand that the aftermarket makers are free to set their own application specs. They also are free to design their products with more or fewer leaves, with no regard to the original Jeep springs. The Stanley springs have a weight capacity listed, IIRC. That's more info than Jeep would provide.

[candymancan]

All 97-485 made by even dorman list the weight at 1150lbs.

Doesnt matter they dont make the 4 springs anymore just the 4/1. I have load assist shocks on the j10 now as well thd ones i put on my 90 before getting new aprings.. they do help with sag.. So assuming the 4/1 dont have the same weight capacity as the 4 alone do.. which they all say they do tbh. The coil overs will stop that anyway.

[candymancan]

Found out by dayton that 76 uses 97-459.. and 97-485 will bolt on but itll shift the axle back by 3/4 of an inch.

This is why 76 leaf springs are listed seperetly from 77+. Something about a 76-79 J10 is different on this vehicle ?? I tjink people have been wrong the 76-79 springs are not the same as 80+. The length is 31 3/4 inch. The 80+ is 31 inch.

And a J20 spring part number 97-519 will fit.. but its a 9 pack spring for 2400lbs load capacoty.. lol

[candymancan]

Since its a 5 month back order for the 97-459 spring for the 131 wheel base J10.

Cant i jist order the 97-485. And jist take the 3 lower springs out that i need and put them on my main leaf which is 97-459.. All i need is the lower 2-3 springs..

Id rather rebuild my spring pack this way than wait 5 months for springs to be made.