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Just passing through and found this thread interesting. I thought I would give an insight on this option from a professional point of view.
The Add-A Leaf set ups are quite good and cost effective depending on your application. We do a lot of them for tradies and general customers looking for a cheaper option to get extra height or increase the load carrying capacity.
It is definitely a lot cheaper than aftermarket leaf springs, but is a compromise in some aspects.
To start with, all good quality aftermarket leaf springs use better steel (SUP9) compared to the cheaper steel used by OE manufactures (usually SUP6).
The Added leaves are also increasing the spring rating so it's advisable to change the shocks. The standard shocks are only valved to suit the standard spring rating so you won't be getting efficient dampening control from with the heavier leaf. Generally speaking, most OE Shock absorbers are also only designed to last for approximately 40,000km. After this the oil looses its viscosity and doesn't work well. This is called fading and causes a bouncy feel and increased body roll. Because of this you are normally far better off upgrading the shocks for better comfort, handling and reliability.
The extended shackles have probably been covered on here a million times, but they are illegal and detrimental to the comfort and flexibility of the leaf spring. They force too much pressure on the end of the spring and prevent it working the way it should. Try to avoid them as much as possible else they may end up costing you a lot more than you bargained for.
Overall there are some cheap ways to modify your suspension, but you really don’t get the extra benefits associated with a complete suspension package tailored to your vehicle and application. When you are looking at upgrading the suspension, the most important factor is the weight of the vehicle. You should asses what loads you are carrying and what accessories you have fitted. From this information you select the correct spring rating and match it with the correct dampener. Your vehicle’s suspension works in diagonals so to ensure the system works well together, it is much better to save up and do the whole lot first time around.
Just my 2cents
The Add-A Leaf set ups are quite good and cost effective depending on your application. We do a lot of them for tradies and general customers looking for a cheaper option to get extra height or increase the load carrying capacity.
It is definitely a lot cheaper than aftermarket leaf springs, but is a compromise in some aspects.
To start with, all good quality aftermarket leaf springs use better steel (SUP9) compared to the cheaper steel used by OE manufactures (usually SUP6).
The Added leaves are also increasing the spring rating so it's advisable to change the shocks. The standard shocks are only valved to suit the standard spring rating so you won't be getting efficient dampening control from with the heavier leaf. Generally speaking, most OE Shock absorbers are also only designed to last for approximately 40,000km. After this the oil looses its viscosity and doesn't work well. This is called fading and causes a bouncy feel and increased body roll. Because of this you are normally far better off upgrading the shocks for better comfort, handling and reliability.
The extended shackles have probably been covered on here a million times, but they are illegal and detrimental to the comfort and flexibility of the leaf spring. They force too much pressure on the end of the spring and prevent it working the way it should. Try to avoid them as much as possible else they may end up costing you a lot more than you bargained for.
Overall there are some cheap ways to modify your suspension, but you really don’t get the extra benefits associated with a complete suspension package tailored to your vehicle and application. When you are looking at upgrading the suspension, the most important factor is the weight of the vehicle. You should asses what loads you are carrying and what accessories you have fitted. From this information you select the correct spring rating and match it with the correct dampener. Your vehicle’s suspension works in diagonals so to ensure the system works well together, it is much better to save up and do the whole lot first time around.
Just my 2cents
