Leaf Spring technology

[Aussie Frontier]

Ok Guys
I am somewhat confused about leaf springs
It would appear that if I run rear leaf springs then the rear will always be somewhat stiff with no load.
From the US I can get a 10 leaf pack but its a very soft ride apparently. Now when I have spoken to some guys here they say multiple light leaves will not work and that the softest rear spring or softest rise will be basically the factory spring.
Now is this the case or is there a way to have a leaf pack that is softer with multiple leaves or a leaf spring will always be a rougher ride .

 

[Dave]

It will depend on the thickness on the leaves etc.

Talk to Zordo and see what he says, he is cluey.

 

[Dion]

Leaves are easy to tune exactly how you want them, you just have to go to a leaf spring specialist that is capable of making custom leaves. Don't bother with the workshops that just resell Ironman shit.

Every leaf is a standalone spring with its own spring rate. You can put multiple lighter leaves together to get a nice progressive spring rate so you can drive around on the light ride leaves, but once the compression is sufficient to engage the thicker lower springs, the spring rate is increased for loads. Very hard to acheive that kind of spring rate with coils.

The challenging bit is combining load carrying, nice ride and flex, but I guess flex isn't important for you.

 

[Leprechaun]

The Yank springs tend to be a single stage only, they usually use lots of leaves that are all tied together with no second stage, great for comfort, but not much flex.

 

[Aussie Frontier]

Thanks for the replies guys
Mine is only a 4x2 so not going to be going anywhere near where you guys go. I bought the truck basically as have a bad back so need the height . I just find the rear springs are really hard to understand.I put on light shocks and it handles like a commode I put on good shocks and it bucks and carries on. Now I have stock springs fitted for now but want to install something soon and yeah it will be comfort and handling I want not flex.
You picked it one with those springs 08King they look exactly what I was looking at.So the curved leaves are comfort (stage 1) and the flat heavy leaf is the weight (stage 2 )
Who sells those ones?