Jeepster Commando Rear Leaf Springs

A friend has a 69 Jeepster Commando with the single leaf rear springs. He has changed them to a multi leaf spring pack he got on ebay. Length is the same but the single leaf springs have a very short rear shackle. Maybe 3 or 4 inches. The multi leaf has rear shackles maybe 10 or 11 inches long. We did not measure the uncompressed arch before we installed the new springs. Anyone know the specifics on these two sets of springs? The Jeepster doesn't appear to be any higher in the back. The longer rear shackle leads me to believe the multi leaf spring may be longer travel, and maybe softer spring rate? THANKS!

 

I have a 71 Jeepster, I will look at the rear shackles when I get home in a couple of hours, I am almost 100% positive that a 10" shackle never came from the factory. I bet that it was installed to compensate for the sagging of the mono leaf...

 

The mono leaf spring was the short shackle, the multi leaf had the long shackle.

 

There is no difference in rear shackle length between mono and multi-leaf.

 

Here is a link to the shackle kit you need. Shackle kit (rear spring)

 

I have a great dislike for long shackles. The factory never had a long shackle, at least greater than about 4". Long shackles are a shortcut to raise the vehicle, and compromise safe handling.
The Jeepsters I have had many years ago have had the monoleaf springs on the rear, and were not too bad for a softer ride while still carrying some cargo. I remember hauling V8 engines home in the back bed and not bottoming the thing out.
-Donny

 

Correct, the long shackle has to be an aftermarket lift/sagging spring compensating unit. All 4 of my Commandos have one length shackle and I have multi and single leaf rear springs, depending on the year.

 

Does anyone know specifics on single leaf rear springs vs multi leaf? Which is stiffer?

 

Multi

 

Yeah, I'll agree with Pack Rat. The single rides super nice (for a Jeep), but does handle loads well since it is thicker than leafs in a multi.

 

I upgraded to a multi leaf from a mono,and honestly on a paved road I could not tell any difference in the ride.

 

What about off road?

 

In florida off road means slugging it out in the mud...so I can't answer the question. I really bought it for a weekly cruiser and it's great for that.

 

Theoretically, Im told we travel on paved roads. In reality, here in NE Ohio the roads are forever pot-hole ridden or under what seems like perpetual construction. When a road is paved smooth, it is only a matter of time before said road is torn up again due to a gas line, water or sewer line which fails months after the paving job.

All that being said, my mono leaf 71 or 68 handle the holes and bumps easier than the multi leaf does, but there is more flex travel. The multi-leaf Commando, my 67, rides rougher over the same said holes but has less body travel.

It's just the principle of the spring design. In a multi-leaf, as the main spring is forced to flex, the other leafs engage to assist in carrying the flex. So the load ends up being transferred into several leafs of the spring.

 

So I have multi leaf rear end and the ride is nice on road. I havnt been off in the woods with it but on dirt roads that are washboarded, the ride is rough. Though I don't expect it would be a smooth ride unless It was an old Caddy.

Anyway, I have a hard top on it now and will be changing out to a soft top. Has anyone here had a dterimental experience in ride quality with the multi leaf when removing the weight of the hard top? Would I be able to remove some leafs it is too harsh?

Thanks in advance

J

 

I wonder what the weight difference is. The hardtop is really a glorified awning with a couple of pieces of glass. Full soft top with frame would weigh less, but I'll bet the amount isn't that much.

 

Folks, I'm new to this forum and to Jeepsters in general. We have owned a 51 Willys pickup for years and I always wanted a Jeepster from the same era, but cost was too much. We just purchased a 67 Jeepster convertible and we are in the process of restoring it. It has the single leaf rear spring which is flat so we need to replace it. I was hoping someone on this forum could point me in the correct direction for new springs. I know we can't purchase single leaf, but I want to keep the same ride height. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

 

I don't know of any source for replacement springs for the Jeepster, other than a custom shop like Alcan or Deaver. Alcan Spring - Manufactures Fine Custom Leaf Springs

The original single leaf was nearly flat from the factory, as I recall.

 

If the springs are solid, a spring shop can re-arc the pair. I like my mono-leaf Commandos, but I don't off-road them but rarely.

 

If I remember, the monoleaf is made pretty flat. Since yours is a true convertible, I would keep the monoleaf set under there. The convertible was a little lower on ground clearance on the few I have worked on years back. They were also sprung much softer than the Commandos.
Does your Convertible sit noticably low in the rear, like its dragging its tail?
-Donny