The Wrangler line stopped using leaf springs in the 1987 model year, when Jeep introduced the YJ Wrangler with coil-sprung suspension.
That change marked a turning point in Jeep’s suspension design. For decades, the CJ family relied on leaf springs on both axles. The 1987 introduction of the Wrangler YJ brought coil springs to the lineup, setting a template that has continued through today’s Wranglers.
Historical milestones in Jeep suspension
Below are the key moments that illustrate the shift from leaf springs to coil suspension in the Wrangler lineage, and where leaf-spring designs appeared in earlier Jeeps.
- 1954–1986: CJ-5 and CJ-7 (and related CJ variants) used traditional leaf-spring suspension on both front and rear axles.
- 1987: Wrangler YJ debuts with coil-sprung suspension on both axles, ending leaf-sprung Wranglers.
- 1997–2006: Wrangler TJ continues with coil-sprung design, improving ride and articulation over the YJ.
- 2007–2018: Wrangler JK maintains the coil-sprung layout with updated geometry and components.
- 2018–present: Wrangler JL (and related variants) remains coil-sprung, continuing the modern suspension standard for the model line.
How this switch affected performance varied by use, but consumers generally noted better ride quality and improved on-road manners with coil springs, while still delivering strong off-road capability thanks to modern axle geometry and tuning.
Current landscape
Today’s Wrangler models are all coil-sprung, a design choice that has persisted for more than three decades. Leaf springs continue to appear in some legacy Jeep configurations and non-Wrangler Jeeps in specific applications, but they are not used in factory Wrangler production.
Summary
Jeep stopped using leaf springs for Wranglers in 1987 with the introduction of the coil-sprung YJ model, and since then the Wrangler lineup has remained coil-sprung through today’s JL generation. Leaf-spring designs did exist in the older CJ-series Jeeps, illustrating how the brand evolved its suspension approach over time.