Leaf vs coils

leaf or coil

  • leaf

    Votes: 9 31.0%

  • coil

    Votes: 20 69.0%
  • Total voters
    29
AMC Rebel

AMC Rebel

Member
Joined
Oct 5, 2011
Location
Charlotte
This has probably been discussed before. LMK what you think. I prefer leaf springs because that's what I'm used to and for the simplicity. I have seen situation where coils performed better, and I've seen spots where to much flex was bad. Both have pro's and con's.
 
ORI's, Coils, Air shocks,
Whatever type that will allow me to spin, heat up the tires and NOT look like a monkey humping a football!

And I have never had any of them. Always ran leafs!
 
Leafs. Easy to set up, work fine for the type of riding we do around here, less problems and things to go wrong. Coils will flex better but if you are locked both ends leafs go about anywhere coils will. Just my experience, others may vary :)
 
Never seen a coil spring flex too much and break, but I've seen more than one leaf spring break.

If a coil spring setup is done right it will be as realiable as leaf springs or more.
 
Coils all the way! I really like the 5-link system that comes stock on most jeeps. It rides great, handles good, and flexes and works well offroad.
 
I wheeled a YJ for years in multiple variations of leaf springs, they all sucked for one reason or another. One was too stiff, one too soft and would sag within months, another one had to much axle wrap, etc.... Coils and links you can adjust everything on the fly and you can say good bye to the jarring ride.
 
I've been impressed w coils since I rode in late 70s, lifted Ford SFAs way back when. Trucks and Bronco's, I had a 72 Blazer at the time. It was better handleing on the road, but the coils up front ride so much softer offroad than 4 leafsprings to me. I do not bash rocks. It always looked expensive to me to build for or run on them!!!! Leaves are obviously tough and cheaper than coil spring setups though. I've replaced mine, F/R, 2 times on my 84 Toyota for sagging and losing height, broke a rear leaf once, just one in the stack. Heavy loads of firewood gotten offroad took their toll.
 
Leaf springs:

Pros:
- Cheap
- Easy to do an SAS or for axle swapping

Cons:
- Bad approach and departure angles
- Spring wrap causing worn out and/or broken springs and also possibly pinion u-joint binding/breakage
- Don't ride as smoothly as coils


Coil springs:

Pros:
- Better ride than leafs (typically)
- Great approach and departure angles if the rest of the rig is built correctly

Cons:
- Requires more complicated/timely setup for SAS or axle swapping
 
I voted coils since I assume we are talking trail rigs. I like the four leaves on my tow rig, since it feels nice and stable, but I prefer coils on my trail rig. Why? It had front coils already (78 f150) but I bent a leaf spring in August 2010 in harlan. It severely rearched a deaver superflex lift spring so the left rear sat 4" higher than the right. Four link and coils this past winter and haven't looked back.
 
IMO, the ladder goes like this... Leaves, Coils, Shocks, Struts, Coilovers.

You'll get better flex out of a coil set up than a leaf spring set up. Even with long travel leaves you still have other issues to contend with.
 
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