I'm going to order a complete suspension rebuild kit for the '51 3A from Kaiser-Willys. The kit shown has 8 leaves in the front and 9 in the rear. When I had to replace the CJ-5 springs I put 10 leaves in the front and 9 in the rear. I think the front needs to be heavier than the rear...and it works just fine

Right now the 3A has 10 front and whats left of 9 in the rear....

Do you think 10 front and 9 rear would work well for the CJ-3A??  I don't want it too stiff but not too soft either...I know, delicate balance....

What does your 3A have??

http://www.kaiserwillys.com/product/1806/willys-jeep-suspension-overhaul-kits-pa...

Randy

As I look at it I think the best is just to replace with the same as you said...

My CJ-5 had 12 leaves in the front and 13 in the rear....It may have well just had the frame welded to the axles...the ride would have been no different...

And now I think I'll just replace the rear on the 3A.....

I was under there looking and the rear springs have both of the bottom/short leaves either bent over backwards(down) or broken off....and the PTO drive shaft has dents all around it as though it were banging against the axle....

What on earth could they have been doing to compress the springs so far, and repeatedly? The bed though rusted shows no sign of having something really heavy in there....It must have had an implement (it has the governor cable, no governor though)) of some sort back there, and with those light springs they just bottomed out.

Randy

I purchased a complete suspension set from KW. Eight leaves in front and 9 in the rear. I feel it is a bit too rough but hope it will soften up in time. Plenty of strength to carry a winch. I've questioned KW's quality control in the past. Another suspension set may be totally different depending on who they had build it.

Macgraham wrote on 02/07/13 at 21:12:07:


How long ago was that?  You are right, they may have different vendors, and an 8 leaf from one might not be the same stiffness as an 8 leaf from another. They told me these would look exactly like the originals, with the military loops on the second long leaf....I guess if it is too rough I can take a leaf or two out...

The ones for the CJ-5 came from Walcks, excellent fit and quality, but no military/safety loops....

When I was looking for springs to replace the broken packs on the CJ-5, I talked with everybody..local spring shops, a spring shop in the midwest, Walcks...everyone i could think of. I've since seen the local shops work which are fine functional springs but too heavy a material for jeeps. The Walcks spring pack was just fine, but I though I'd save a few bucks and try Kaiser-Willys.

I'll see what I get...I'll let you know.

Randy