Jan 2017, 4Wheel & Offroad & JP Featured, "The Leaf Spring JK"

Featured in 4wheel & offroad January 2017, and JP Magazine July 2019.

If you look through the rides pages on this site you will notice one common theme. Suspension systems that work and drive great. For a daily driver, Leaf springs or double mounted coil springs are the ticket!


2008 jeep wrangler JKU that was specifically built to be lighter, longer, and more capable then similar built JK's on the trail. Professionally built in 2016 by rock crawling, and Ultra4 champion Jake Hallenbeck. The JK features a minimalist approach by keeping it simple and light, while using quality components that work. Its design was meant for trail fun while keeping his children and wife safe. The jeep was featured in the January 2017 Issue of Petersens 4wheel & Offroad.

The main attribute you will notice is the jeep is mounted on leaf spirngs. WHY? This jeep can do 80mph with one finger on the steering wheel. There is no bump steer or any other negative effects on the street caused by a majority of suspension systems on the market. 

Typical JK's have coil springs which are not captured (mounted) on the top. Weither turning on the street or flexing, nothing is pulling the body back to the suspension which lets the body roll. Add a locker, and bad suspension geometry, and the body roll is heavily increased on the street as well as offroad. Coilover shocks also work in the same way. They only PUSH UP, never pulling down, only adding to an already unsafe issue. 

Leaf springs "pull down" as well as "push up" creating a perfect balance which also makes this JKU more capable offroad then the next. Leafsprings do have some spring wrap or wheel hop, but to alleviate the issue Jake added a custom traction bar which doesn't limit articulation. This JK has NO swaybar, and if that's not proof enough of the concept, or you dont think its capable enough, come take it for a ride! 
 

"The minimalist"

Below is a list of the extensive modifications and work performed. We also have 50+ pictures of the jeep through the entire build process. 

FACTORY SPECS:
2008 Jeep Wrangler JKU Unlimited X, 3.8L, 6 speed, 102000 miles

EXTERIOR:
New Rampage soft top with tinted windows. Its a full bimini top and soft top too!
4 rare factory Mopar 1/2 doors with upper windows ($6000.00). 4 factory full doors are also included as well as a rolling storage rack. 
The doors feature mcgard hinge locks so they cant be stolen. 
custom narrowed front fender flares. 
custom low mounted led light bar brackets with a 50" black widow led light bar.
Custom windshield light brackets with 2 highlander led light pods. 
Custom 3/16 steel rear corners and side guards. These were cut back and up to increase the wheelbase and keep the jeep low. They were also cut in half to mimic the look of painted steel corners. The front sections were painted with dupont 2 stage and 4 coats of clear. 
Custom shortened and narrowed rear frame section that increased departure angles while cutting weight.
Custom minimalist rear bumper featuring a 2" receiver.
Custom shortened front frame section to increase approach angle.
Custom minimalist front winch bumper with a Bulldog Alpha 9.3K winch.
Custom dual body mounted swing away tire carrier with quick release pin. 
Custom 1.5 x 4" x.188 steel rock sliders that arch to the factory body lines of the JK. 
Daystar heavy duty hood latches.

INTERIOR:
Full custom roll cage that is mounted to the frame in 6 locations (4 also to the body).. This cage is no bolt together POS that you buy. It is made from 1.75x.120 and .095 DOM tubing and eliminated all the original cage except some of the B pillar. The cage features TWIN B pillars and also goes through the dash for full support in a higher speed rollover. The cage is finished in flat black and the visors, vents, interior lights, etc and all still function like stock.. 
Pioneer bluetooth stereo system with remote control. Wired microphone for cell phone use.
Modified jeep sound bar with 6" speakers.
Droid cell phone mounted to the center of the dash for use with the Superchips vivid engine tuner and gauges. 
Daystar upper dash panel to hold cell phones, etc.
Rubicon silver heater vents.
Rockford 500 watt amplifier powers a 10" pioneer slim fit sub woofer custom mounted into the rear tailgate. 
Jeep all weather floor matts.
Jeep all weather cargo matt.
Rear cargo bar.
Rear tool box which holds tools, winch control, straps and other offroad related items. 

MECHANICAL: 
Superchips vivid tuner with multiple HP tunes. It also removes the tire pressure monitoring warnings on the dash and more.
Banks ram air cold air intake with lifetime cleanable filter. 
dynomax muffler with custom exhaust. As quiet as stock.
engine oil pan skidplate
Big bore master cylinder upgrade.
ALL abs and traction control systems were defeated. No warning lights on the dash. This is a big issue with other JK's.
6 speed manual transmission. gone through in 2016.
2010 Rubicon 4to1 crawl ratio transfer case with 1350 yokes.

AXLES & SUSPENSION:

Front axle:
New ball joints and brakes front and rear 2016. Axles are perfect. 
2010 ford F350 Superduty Dana 60 high pinion front axle with BIG brake calipers. 35 spline inner and outers, warn hubs, 5:38 gears, eaton electric locker. 
Reid racing steering knuckle with tripple X traction high steering arm. 
tierod and draglink are 1.5" x .250 tubing with 1 ton offset tierod ends.
Procomp steering stabilizer with custom mounts. 
SOLID differential cover.

Rear axle:
2010 ford F350 Superduty sterling 10.5 axle with 35 spline axle shafts, 5:38 gears, and trac-lock with added clutches to tighten it up.
More clearance then a 60, 70, or 14 bolt. The bottom is completely smooth with nothing to get hung up on.
SOLID differential cover.

Suspension:
Leafs and stretched to 123".
47" long custom made wagoner rear leafs springs front and rear. 
Polyurethane spring bushings..
Shackle reversal front suspension with delrin shackle bushings.
Custom long travel upper and lower shock mounts front and rear.
Rear shocks are moved outside of the frame to control wheel hop and hold the body from swaying better.
Bilstein 2" long travel shocks front and rear. 
Custom rear traction bar made of 1.5" x .250 tubing with shackle. 

OTHER: 
4 nearly new Procomp MT2 tires mounted on 17x10 ATX Chamber Pro beadlock wheels. 
1 New matching spare tire and wheel. 
Underbelly skid plates.

http://www.fourwheeler.com/features/1607-this-leaf-sprung-jk-is-anything-but-ordinary/