CJ7 Ride Quality

[81laredo]

I had to commute in my CJ7 the other day because my daily driver broke down unexpectedly. The CJ ran great on the highway and on the freeway but it was a "bounce machine" on the freeway.
I am looking for advice with Springs or at least the Rear Leaf Springs. The CJ has the Original Springs (one rear replaced with a wrecking yard special) and it sits on the stock height, the Front has 6 Leafs and the Rear has 6 Leafs. I read somewhere that the YJ had an easier ride and this makes me curious about those Leaf Springs. Or should I maybe think about .....

 

[xj287]

alot of my customer have done the YJ spring swap, and if your going cheap that certinly is a viable option. Dont waste your time with used though, the factory springs tend to be weak and I usely find at least 1 in the pack broken. You can buy brand new Crown springs for only a few $$ more then used anyway. If you don't mind throwing a bit more cash at it, there are several "soft-ride" mild lift kits avalible as well.

 

[johken]

I did the YJ spring convertion and it made a hughe difference. Put Bilstein all the way around. Rides like a caddy with those 2.5" wide and longer Yj springs in front.

 

[BajaEdition]

This is. A trick question right? I mean where does jeep and ride quality get together?

Just kidding

 

[Old Dog]

This is. A trick question right? I mean where does jeep and ride quality get together?

When you get a tj or jk

 

[Old Dog]

I did the YJ spring convertion and it made a hughe difference. Put Bilstein all the way around. Rides like a caddy with those 2.5" wide and longer Yj springs in front.

How much height did you loose with the yj springs ?

 

[81laredo]

OK so it does look like a YJ Spring Conversion should correct the problem and with longer springs it make sence to me. I really do not want a lift, the stock height of the '81 CJ7 Laredo is almost to hard for the wife anyway. I would rather do this job one time so cheap isn't always the answer.
Could you post a link to the YJ conversion kit?
The Rear is where I am experiencing the "bounce machine" effect. Looks to me as if the Engine holds down the front and the rear doesn't have enough weight to hold it down, the ride was much better with the wife in the passenger and our dogs (about 80#) in the rear.

 

[johken]

You will need the front spring hangers that are made for this conversion. The stock hangers are too short. You will need the JKS spring hangers. Then your spring plates are needing to be wider for the front. The stock ones are 2" wide and you will need 2.5" spring plates. As long as you are using 2.5" rear springs you wont need to change anything because CJ7 's were already 2.5 wide. Rear Yj springs are identical to CJ7 rear springs
Here are the JKS spring hangers you will need for the front:

JKS Manufacturing: Leaf Spring Suspension

Front2.5" (YJ)1.25"PairPN 98511$115.00

 

[81laredo]

I would like to clarify something
Is there a difference between the Rear Wrangler Springs and the Rear CJ7 Springs that result in the CJ7 being the Same Height?
As I understood the Wrangler Front Springs are Longer but the Rear are the same Length. It felt as though the Stiff Ride was made softer with a couple hundred more lbs in the CJ.
Thanks in advance