Goofy CJ stance

S

SenorCole86

New member
I finally got my new tires offroad yesterday and was very pleased with their performance, but they rubbed, mostly just while I was going downhill. I thought that 31's were supposed to fit very nicely on a CJ. Since I put the new suspension on (brought it back up to stock height with springs from Quadratec) it has a pickup truck like stance. The rear end sits up in the air a little ways, or that's what I thought. After today, I guess it's the front end that's sitting lower. Am I imagining things and this is how a CJ is supposed to sit or am I right? I included pics, so here y'all go:

http://www.rose-hulman.edu/~hudsonmc/Jeep.jpg
http://www.rose-hulman.edu/~hudsonmc/Jeep (1).JPG

I need to get it back up, soo, my question is how. I was just gonna do shackles, 1.25" I think. Give me a chance to get some tow shackles in there too. do I need to be worried about 1.25" lift shackles?
 

No your not imagining things that is strange. The winch should make it sit lower in the front but that looks like too much for just the winch. The back will wit down when you have it loaded with gear. Mine sits prerunner when I have it loaded with gear, sags low in the back and the ront runs higher.
 
sometimes front and rear springsare different from each other, and there may be different versions depending on weight requirements (hard top, engine size, etc.).

Were the front and rear springs identical? What did you pay for them? I know it's late now, but 2" lift spring packages are usually pretty inexpensive and then you wouldn't have had to even think about being able to clear 31's.
 

Well, it's an extremely old Ramesey 8000 lb winch, sooo, do you think it's a little heavier than y'all are used to?

Ummm, front springs are skinnier and that's about it. Yeah, once I get the cash and time, I was thinking about buying 4 of those spring over springs from RE for $150 a pop. They say they give 1.5" of lift in a spring under application.
 
I would find a set of front used springs, maybe you still have them, and cut the eyes from the main leaf. Then add it to each new spring pack under the main leaf. You'll gain 1"-1.5" and it won't stiffen the ride at all.

It's the short AAL's that really stiffen up a spring pack.

Oh, and the winch did it, otherwise it'd be close to level.
 

If you've got welding skills swapping YJ springs under that rig would be a worthwile investment, especially if you're going to get new springs anyway.
 
Alright, I don't have the old springpacks anymore but I'll see if any of the guys in the local club here have any. But, if I can't find any, Should I be worried about 1.25" or 1.5" lift shackles?
 
Nope, that doesn't look right at all....so, listen, as a friend, I'll save you the embarrassment of having to drive that goofy looking thing around and take it off your hands, and I won't even charge you for delivery. How soon can you have it here?

Seriously, though, yeah it looks a bit odd. I didn't think a winch would weigh down the front end quite that much. When I put the lift on the YJ, the front end actually sits higher than the back now. The front bumper is 5-5.5" higher than before, and the rear is only like 3" higher after the lift. I like the way that looks with the front higher like that. Also, the guy asked me if I had a hard top or soft top, because as TC mentioned, it apparently makes a difference in the rear springs, although he did tell me that with BDS it doesn't make a difference.
 

SenorCole86 said:
1.25" or 1.5" lift shackles?
Click to expand...
Longer shackles add to your caster, which can have a negative effect on your steering re-centering itself after turning and if they are too long it may be harder to drive the jeep in a straight line (especially at highway speeds). The guy I bought my Jeep from has longer shackles ont he front to even it up with the rear, and it isn't too bad, but I am looking forward to re-doing the suspension to get rid of the negative effect. They are only 1 5/8" longer than stock which is about a 3/4" lift.

To me, between the caster issue and the loss of approach angle, they are just not worth the very little lift they provide. I would rather see you do a long add-a-leaf or swap the springs.
 
I would send them back to Quadratec and get a different brand. Either something is wrong with the spring rate on those fronts or you have a big block under the hood. The winch should not be heavy enough to squat that much.
 

i seem to remember that there were diffrent spring rates offered from the factory for hard or soft top jeeps . not positive this is the case , just something i think i remember hearing. if that is the case are they hard top spec'd ? just a thought.
 
I am definitely going with the weight issue in the front. Take a look at the angles of the spring ends. The front spring ends point almost right toward each other, signifying a flat spring. The rear has a nicely desired curve. I have no doubt that the front springs are either overloaded or underbuilt.

Are they all the same length? I'm not sure how CJ springs are as far as lenghts. Is it possible that the front and rear are in each others places? (the stronger ones in the back, and the weaker ones up front)
 
Snitty said:
I am definitely going with the weight issue in the front. Take a look at the angles of the spring ends. The front spring ends point almost right toward each other, signifying a flat spring. The rear has a nicely desired curve. I have no doubt that the front springs are either overloaded or underbuilt.

Are they all the same length? I'm not sure how CJ springs are as far as lenghts. Is it possible that the front and rear are in each others places? (the stronger ones in the back, and the weaker ones up front)
Click to expand...

Yeah, I thought the same thing because look at those shackles. See how they're pointed out a little bit. And no, those are definitely the front springs. The front springs are skinnier than the rear ones and will not fit in the rear hangers and vice versa.
 

Ok, I just re-read your first post, and I gather that you just got new stock springs, right? No lift springs, only stock? Perhaps they goofed up and sent you stock springs for the front and lift springs for the rear. Or is it at all possible you put the old springs back on the front? One other thought: what about the shocks on the front? (CJ's have shocks, right?) Did you leave them off, or were they bad and allowing it to sag like that?
 
All springs were definitely stock springs and the front springs are definitely new. I did run it a little while without shocks until I could afford some, but it sat like that without the shocks as well.
 
Is it just me, the camera angle, or does it look like the passenger side is sagging more? Are the serial numbers right on all the springs? If not, I would contact Quadratec...there might be a problem with the springs. Add a leafs would work, but they would just be a bandaid for an underlying problem.
 
Last edited:

After looking at the pictures again, I noticed that the body doesn't look level with the frame. I would check the body mounts and measure the distance between the frame and ground by each axle; it's possoble a body mount is broken or that the the original owner changed them to compensate for sagging springs.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

superj
Upgraded from 5 to a 7 inch screen on the jlu
Replies
1
Views
480
superj
superj
prariepunk
Disappearing check engine code
Replies
1
Views
6K
JPNinPA
JPNinPA
bradleyheathhays
Broke brake line...how to fix?
Replies
4
Views
11K
JPNinPA
JPNinPA
C
1981 J10 4.2L AMC - high temp and oil pressure
Replies
5
Views
10K
superj
superj
JaredHB
Is it my clutch??
Replies
7
Views
3K
superj
superj
Back
Top