willysmjeeps.com

My M38a1 has the stock springs and rides really hard. It seems to buck alot. In My old M38 I had CJ2 springs I think, and I rode real nice.
My question is on the M38a1 would it perform and ride better if I put on early CJ5 springs with less leafs? What is the Theary of performance, harder ride or softer ride on the dirt?

It would probably ride a little softer. I believe the theory is more and stiffer leaves for old style suspension to survive the off road environment. New styles with modern engineered longer travel setups seem to require less hard springs.

Of course old tired spring packs will not react to the surface the same as new more resilent spring packs. So if you're comparing 50 year ols M38A1 springs to a newer set it would not be comparing apples to apples.

Since I intend to drive it alot and trail it off road, what is the recomendation.
Stick stock or move to cj5 springs with less leafs, (I could get them from Walk,s)

By the way Wes I was able to change some formatting on my pocket pc to make this site work. Things dont quite line up right but it works.

If good ride and handling on and off road were my priority I'd go with a barnd new matched set of rancho springs and shocks as an example. I know there are other brands out there but I just want to make the point that I feel it's better to use a single line's product where there is some certainty that the engineering is equal (same) across the board for all it's products.

Glad you're up and running with us.

Thanks Wes. I think Im gonna order a set of new cj5 springs and shocks from Walks 4wD in Pen.