cj5 Leveling the back
cj5 Leveling the back
- Thread starter 304cj77
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mylittlecj5
RIP Mike, we'll all miss you
I'd say the first thing is to find out why it is sitting low in the back. This isn't a pickup truck, its designed to sit level.
A few things I'd check:
What history does the truck have (old accident damage, old lift springs still installed, component replacements, ect.)
Is there a lot of weight in the back that shouldn't be there?
Rear springs (are they wore out and gone flat?)
Front springs (did someone install lift springs in the front and not the back?)
Were there ever any angle shims that might have fallen out of the rear spring pack?
Shackles (are they bound up in the front causing the front to sit high? are the back ones installed right?)
Are the rear shackle mounts rusty at the frame, causing the rear to drop?
Tire sizes match up correct?
Are the shocks correct for the application (too long of front shocks could raise the front in certain circumstances)
If you can rule out all of this as the underlying root cause, then the least troublesome way to raise the rear would be to replace the rear springs. But then JeepCreep sets in and you might as well replace all the springs (who knows how long those old springs have been under there anyways?) and then you'll need new shocks, brake lines, shackles, maybe a driveshaft or 2...
it never ends...
A few things I'd check:
What history does the truck have (old accident damage, old lift springs still installed, component replacements, ect.)
Is there a lot of weight in the back that shouldn't be there?
Rear springs (are they wore out and gone flat?)
Front springs (did someone install lift springs in the front and not the back?)
Were there ever any angle shims that might have fallen out of the rear spring pack?
Shackles (are they bound up in the front causing the front to sit high? are the back ones installed right?)
Are the rear shackle mounts rusty at the frame, causing the rear to drop?
Tire sizes match up correct?
Are the shocks correct for the application (too long of front shocks could raise the front in certain circumstances)
If you can rule out all of this as the underlying root cause, then the least troublesome way to raise the rear would be to replace the rear springs. But then JeepCreep sets in and you might as well replace all the springs (who knows how long those old springs have been under there anyways?) and then you'll need new shocks, brake lines, shackles, maybe a driveshaft or 2...
it never ends...
Old Dog
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I'd also check the body mounts.
IOPort51
NOT the voice of reason Jeep-CJ.com
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skyjacker 2.5 lift?nitro shocks,31" BFG A/T off road.8000 lb Warn winch, original owner.=^)
2006 Toyota Tacoma
did some enterprising individual put long shackles on the front and not the back??
A few pictures would go a long way.
A few pictures would go a long way.
BajaEdition
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do we know how old the springs are, and if they are a matched set?
304cj77
Jeeper
all the leaf springs match up. tires are matched. My dad actually bought it brand new in 77 and he never goes cheap on anything. body mounts are fine, and all that. i might just end up replacing the rear springs...
IOPort51
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skyjacker 2.5 lift?nitro shocks,31" BFG A/T off road.8000 lb Warn winch, original owner.=^)
2006 Toyota Tacoma
where are you measuring the difference??
still like to see a picture broad side.
Unless dad stored his anvil collection in the back of the CJ for a year or two I don't see the rear dropping faster than the front. In fact I would think the other way arround would be more likely
still like to see a picture broad side.
Unless dad stored his anvil collection in the back of the CJ for a year or two I don't see the rear dropping faster than the front. In fact I would think the other way arround would be more likely
Cheepjeep85
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did he ever try to pull seriously heavy trailers with it by chance? how bad off are the shocks? do they stay bottomed out?
304cj77
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It's pulled a boat a few times, nothing serious though. Might be the shocks however, I've seen him bounce the thing around a lot.... i mean really slam the thing. What do you guys think about an add a leaf on the rear springs?
camera is charging now so pictures will be up soon
camera is charging now so pictures will be up soon
IOPort51
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skyjacker 2.5 lift?nitro shocks,31" BFG A/T off road.8000 lb Warn winch, original owner.=^)
2006 Toyota Tacoma
cjnewbie
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doing a add a leaf makes the spring pack stiffer, we like the springs to articulate, my suggestion is new springs and shocks. I have seen a lot of jeeps unbalance, but they are on old springs, remember those front springs and rear springs have different specs, so a set of rears wearing out before the fronts(which need to be stiffer to support the weight) can wear out sooner than the others. If either goes out, replace both as the failure rate of the other is getting close.