NEW stock springs? '73 w/ 31s

[computeruser]

I'm working on a 1973 CJ5 and am not sure what direction to go on springs. My goal is to fit 31-10.50-15 for use around town, on mild trails, for backcountry camping, and stuff like that. Nothing hardcore, no off-road parks, no rockcrawling, etc..

I am assuming, and please correct me if I am mistaken, that I should be able to get by with new stock-height springs for this sort of use, right? If so, which ones should I be looking at and which should I avoid? Or would I be better off with a good 2.5" lift to make this tire size work properly?

I see that Omix-Ada offers four or five different front springs and a couple different rear springs for this era of CJ, and Crown and others also offer stock-type springs. If I go with new stock springs, which one(s) would be appropriate for a -5 set up with an I6 and a Warn winch (M8000, synthetic line) up front and that will occasionally have a small military trailer hanging off the back?

If anyone has pictures of an intermediate-era CJ5 with new stock springs, I'd be very interested in seeing those pictures to get a sense of ride height, etc.

 

[73CJ]

Stock the top of the rim is level with the bottom of the tub.

My vote is for the 2.5" lift.

 

[007]

I agree a 2.5" lift. New stock springs aren't new forever and will eventually settle a bit, and while they will more than accomodate what tires you want today and what you plan to do with it, I don't think you can ever go wrong with a properly installed 2.5" lift even if you never change the tire size.

 

[rlitavecz]

My 73 has stock springs with reinforced shackles which add about 1" of lift. This is plenty of spring for 31" tires which I am using. These are the original springs!

 

[diddy2003]

I also vote for a 2.5 inch lift. A good match up with 31s.

 

[mtnwhlr]

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[CJ]

Spammer, please report them... Don't quote em...

 

[mtnwhlr]

Sorry :spam:

 

[1984 CJ7]

I run all stock with 31's and it works great. I would not go any more that that though.

 

[Jawbox]

Just a note on spring sag. I'm in the process of replacing my original CJ7 springs with new stock springs and greasable shackles. It turns out the shackles add almost 1" of lift, but the overall height is up by 2" in the back meaning my original springs have sagged by at least an inch.

With the new springs, the 31s look a little small.

 

[diddy2003]

I run all stock with 31's and it works great. I would not go any more that that though.

For the street maybe. I took my stock height with 31s on the trail and things didn't work out so well. Rubbing is one thing, but when I flexed at one point I hit the tub with the wheel and bent the metal, Oops, stuff happens in the woods, but the extra height would have prevented that. I rub with my 33s and 4 inches a bit. Rubbing is fine, but I don't feel stock height and 31s works on anything but the street jeep.

 

[computeruser]

Thanks for the replies and the PMs. I'm gonna see how freshening up my stock springs - tear down, sand, repaint - works. I don't foresee much flexing or rock crawling in my future, so it sounds like I might be fine with this setup.

 

[007]

For the street maybe. I took my stock height with 31s on the trail and things didn't work out so well. Rubbing is one thing, but when I flexed at one point I hit the tub with the wheel and bent the metal, Oops, stuff happens in the woods, but the extra height would have prevented that. I rub with my 33s and 4 inches a bit. Rubbing is fine, but I don't feel stock height and 31s works on anything but the street jeep.

The stock L78-15's equate to a 235/75/15 which has a diameter of just about 29", so 31's would have just an inch less clearance than stock in any single direction.

I'd think that with new springs (but remember they won't be new forever) you could manage this with the right shock (or use a load-carrier shock) or larger travel bumpers.

Although as has been stated...lifts solve this regardless of the age of your springs.

 

[diddy2003]

I think the problem I had, along with the taller tire, was the width of the tire, plus the wide track axle width. Add in the stock width flare, and my tire would hit the flare pretty regularly in the woods. This came to a front when i hit it really hard and bent the metal of my tub. Sucks. I only took it in the woods a few times prior to lifting because I was worried about rubbing, but I never thought I would do that.

I agree, stock springs will eventually settle. If I was getting new springs, and staying with 31s, I would get 2.5 inch springs. The issues will then be avoided.

 

[diddy2003]

Thanks for the replies and the PMs. I'm gonna see how freshening up my stock springs - tear down, sand, repaint - works. I don't foresee much flexing or rock crawling in my future, so it sounds like I might be fine with this setup.

Here are my, probably worn, stock springs with 31x10.5x15. I loved the look. The gearing, plus the desire to hit the trails, just didn't work well with the pictured setup.

 

[007]

Wow that does look low... The original poster would have the narrow track, so that'll help but in your case that looks like serious spring sag in my uneducated opinion. I was considering 32x11.50x15's with a 1" body lift as I've seen this several times, but now I'm scared after seeing this...

 

[diddy2003]

Those weren't stock springs either. They were military wrapped with red bushings. I don't know what year the OP, or the OP before the OP (haha), put them on, but you can see why there was rubbing.

 

[007]

This is what I'm wanting to replicate (in almost every way). These are 32x11.50x15's on NEW stock springs...according to Austin Jeeps...

 

[computeruser]

This is what I'm wanting to replicate (in almost every way). These are 32x11.50x15's on NEW stock springs...according to Austin Jeeps...

That looks about perfect!

 

[steve1973]

My 73 has the original 10 leaf front and rear springs and I run full size 30's. The 10 leafs are an 1 - 1.5 inches higher than the 5 leaf. This was a snowplow Jeep and ordered thios way. 39 years old and are not sagging. With your desire to put a winch up front and tow. Go with the 10 leaf HD's.