Reviews on walcks and kaiser willis springs

Need some reviews on leaf springs from Walcks, Kaiser Willys, and General Spring of Ks.
If anyone here has used any of these, I would appreciate your opinion on how you
like or dis-like them.
Thanks

 

For my 59 CJ5 I bought my springs from Vintagejeepparts.com which turned out to be a Crown product. I don't know which brands of springs those places your asking about sells but there is a high likelihood at least one of them would send you the Crown springs that I received. I have had my springs on for about one year now and have had no complaints. it does have a very stiff ride but I'm nearly positive these old jeeps were always like that from the factory. I bought these to replace what looked to be original factory springs that had about 4 broken leaves. My jeep still sags on the driver side so that didn't fix it. but I think I came across it somewhere before saying most sagging is caused by tweaked frame.

 

I bought the KW ones a couple years ago and I like them. The bands on the leafs are just some rubber and what looks like pallet strap and I had a couple break off pretty quick. It would probably be fine without them, but I had some other bands installed anyway. Also, I was expecting C style shackles from what was pictured, but was sent the two sided style which was fine with me.

 

I believe the most important issue will be where the springs are sourced. The only supplier of OEM-style 1.75" springs now, that I know of, is Omix-Ada. The Crown web site only shows the '76 and later springs, which are wider.

It is likely that any vendor that is not making their springs locally, and is not selling a lift kit, is selling the Omix-Ada product. If their part number matches the Omix-Ada stock number, then it's clear.

Check with the vendors and ask them where they are getting their springs.

I put a BDS 2.5" lift kit on my CJ-6, and am very happy.

 

Kaiser Willys will not say where their springs come from, so I assume they are imported "neese" products. The other two
said their springs are built in the USA. Thats why I was wanting to hear from people that have used any of these springs.
Walcks only has 10 leaf for the front. Standard for my jeep was a 7 leaf, unless you use a plow or big winch on the front.
I don't want a lift spring, just something near original height..

 

There was a wide range of leaf counts used, and a higher leaf count didn't necessarily mean the ride height was different.

Jim (jpflat2a) had an interesting post recently about his experience with 'cold setting' springs. http://www.earlycj5.net/forums/showthread.php?103588-Re-Arching-Springs&p=1097987 You could send him a a PM and ask.

Here are the springs from my CJ-6, for example:



Something like this might be suitable - theses are standard springs, and the fronts have 10 leaves. I'd look closer to home first though.

 

I put those Rancho's on my CJ when I first built it, and the ride was terrible! Really stiff.
Later I went to BDS 2.5" springs, and the ride and flex are much better.

 

I put the flatty version of those springs on back in '83 when the V6 went in; think they were 5 leaf; they were terribly stiff as mentioned; they were also made in Japan.

 

I bought ones for my '59 from Kaiser Willys. I think they were Crown brand but maybe they were Omix, can't recall exactly. The paint on them was pretty sloppy so I stripped and painted them. Beyond that, they are a perfect match of the originals and I'm happy with them. My Jeep is a garage queen, though, so I don't know how they would stand up to daily driving or trails.

 

When i asked over here about the BDS:
http://www.earlycj5.net/forums/showthread.php?96935-BDS-suspension
I didnt get them yet, as it is very expensive in Israel (something like $1200). If i could get them in the U.S. price i wouldnt think twice.

 

Zav,
What is a Willys Mavrick or Maverick?

 

In the US there was a Maverick (TV show IIRC) edition Willys Wagon.

 

From http://wx4.org/to/wagons/usefulstuff/visual/visual_id.html:
1958-64 Maverick Special Station Wagon
The Maverick Special was named after the Maverick TV series and Kaiser heavily advertised on the show. For more info on this interesting model, see Mike Boyink's What is a Maverick?, and Derek Redmond's Willys Goes to Hollywood.
Key identifying features: No spare tire (!); only 2wd with chevron (a.k.a. hockey stick) side trim, which became standard on 4x4 models in 1959 or 1960; 4 cylinder engine
Note: Kaiser called the Mavericks "Station Wagons"

and you can look here: http://www.film.queensu.ca/cj3b/siblings/wagon.html

so its a station wagon ...

 

Carl gets his springs sourced from a local USA shop, I think he sells the import type as well for less. They are very close to original. Give him a call to confirm.