SOA lift advice!

[Gclyne]

Hi guys,

I am about to change my jeep forever......spring over axle lift!

I've done some research and this seems to be the best way to saftley clearance. I know if can be kind of pricey but it's worth it.

Do any of you have advice for me?

I know I will probably need new driveshaft, brake lines, shocks, shackles maybe, pitman arm, steering linkage adjustments. Is there anything major that I am missing

Feel free to post advice and pictures of your SOA!

 

[Petescj]

Hi guys,

I am about to change my jeep forever......spring over axle lift!

I've done some research and this seems to be the best way to saftley clearance. I know if can be kind of pricey but it's worth it.

Do any of you have advice for me?

I know I will probably need new driveshaft, brake lines, shocks, shackles maybe, pitman arm, steering linkage adjustments. Is there anything major that I am missing

Feel free to post advice and pictures of your SOA!

How much lift are you looking for? What type of wheeling are you doing? What size tire would you like to run? Are you an experienced welder? I feel a SUA lift is safer cause it is better for your COG. Just my opinion but if your going with full size axles it will help with stability. Not enough info.

 

[Old Dog]

instead of pitman arm use flat top knuckles and high steer arms.
you will also need an anti warp bar for the rear.
What kind of springs are you using? also answers to Pete's ?'s

 

[Gclyne]

I want about 4-5 inches, i won't drive it everyday but I want it to feel and handle like a daily driver, will be doing some light off-roading and occasional rock crawling I'm running 33's right now and would like to stay at that size. I'm a pretty good welder but no means a pro.

I've heard the soa is a great long term Idea for off-roading and is gives more underbody clearence! I'm kind of a newb with Cjs but same concept right?

 

[Gclyne]

Old Dog, I'm not positive on the spring, they have five leafs and I'm not sure on size... Will try and upload pics now

 

[Gclyne]

 

[Old Dog]

I want about 4-5 inches, You will get 5+ depending on what springs you use.
i won't drive it everyday but I want it to feel and handle like a daily driver, That isn't going to happen
I'm running 33's right now and would like to stay at that size. I think the 33's are going to look small with that much lift.

I've heard the soa is a great long term Idea for off-roading and is gives more underbody clearence! The underbody clearance will be the same as any other lift of the same size. You will gain a couple inches under the axle where the spring was.

Nothing against SOA just be prepared.

 

[Gclyne]

Old Dog, what kind of lift do you suggest I do then? I want it to be moderately comfortable ride with good off-road capability.

 

[Torxhead]

From what I understand a soa has a different spring load and will require a special set. I have heard of guys having problems with their soa setups not getting much life out of a spring set, as they will sag after a short while. I see where Alcan makes a spring set just for the soa, other custom spring makers probably can do this also.

 

[Old Dog]

I agree with Torx, SOA springs are the way to go for long life.
Here's a pic of my buddy's SOA set up.

 

[cj7inthetwigs]

Not to hijack, but I have read where folks do a sea up front and soa in the rear. Any reason do not fully do one or the other?

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[IOPort51]

I am going to first offer my opinions, A 2 1/2" lift with a 1" body lift will give you primo clearance for 33s. No major problems with install, just moastly put the springs on with new shocks. I think SOA is a lot of work for the wrong reasons. A lot of guys think a SOA is a cheep lift that takes a Saturday and a case of beer. Does not work that way. If you, for some strange reason wanted a 12" lift I could see an SOA with taller springs in combination. Mud racing maybe? To do it right you need to reangle the yoke and re camber the axle ends, that is cutting the knuckles fron the end of the axle and re welding it to a given angle. otherwise it will be all over the road, it will not be fun to drive.

Have you figured out yet that I think this is not a good idea and hope you decide not to do it.

 

[Old Dog]

Not to hijack, but I have read where folks do a sua up front and soa in the rear. Any reason do not fully do one or the other?

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The only reason I can think of to not do the front is to avoid the cost of doing the steering right.
A reason to not do the rear would be the spring/axle warp problem.
I don't know anyone who has done only half so just some thoughts.

 

[Old Dog]

I like IO's suggestion, 2 1/2" OME springs, 1" body and 1/2" shackles and you would be good. Everybody that has done OME springs here has had good things to say about them.

 

[IOPort51]

You could do a spring over on the rear with no alignment problems, a walk in the park mod. and then use 4 or 6" lift in the front. This could work pretty well and you only need one pair of springs. I would say that if you wanted that much lift this would work the best. I am wondering about the spring life issue it may require two sets of springs after all. You may need special made for the back, stock arch.

 

[cj7inthetwigs]

Right on, before joining this forum I thought SOA.. Now, when my money tree blooms I plan on BDS or Rubicon Xpress. That combined with 1"body and maybe 1/2" longer shackles will do it to a "T". I dont mention OME because I want more than 2.5". The words daily driver was mentioned so I suggest the yj wider springs too.

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[007]

At the risk of sticking my uneducated nose where it doesn't belong...I have read a lot of good reviews on the Rocky-Road SOA kit. The word is you can get the ride you want by adding YJ springs (and conversion kit) to the overall kit.

Their page on this is a pretty good read, and I've read where others swear by it... But it's like pizza and beer, we all have our taste AND our experience...

These SOA lifts are either done right, or very wrong it seems. Not much in the middle.

CJ Spring Over: 1955-76 CJ Spring Over Axle (SOA) Kits

 

[Sasquach]

For Sale - Parting Out 1978 CJ5 Currie 9" F Dana 60 R SM465 300 Twin Stick Weld Wheels 35s - Jeep-CJ Forums

 

[Old Dog]

Haven't had much coffee yet but here goes.
My jeep has 4" springs, 1" body and 1/2" shackles, so it's pretty close to what a SOA on stock springs would be. the SOA might be a little taller. it looks like this on 33's. IMO it looks tall, the 35's I run off road look better, and 36's would look good to me.

I don't like the rocky road kit, the idea of bolt on doesn't do it for me.
This is the right way to do the steering.. http://www.partsmike.com/index.php?crn=219&rn=694&action=show_detail
Some of those parts can be gotten used cheaper.

I would have a hard time spending that much money unless those couple inches of ground clearance mean that much to you.

 

[harleydragon]

my first spring over was about 35 years ago to a 50 willys.I knew nothing about any aftermarket parts.All I knew was that I wanted to put a set of 38 inch tires that I had and a 327 that was already adapted to a jeep tranny into this willys.I fabed all my own perches,mounts,driveshafts and anything else needed.Best I remember,I even fabed a mount that dropped the steering box a little so that all the other stock steering components worked as they should.Even fabed my own body lift kit so that the 38's had room to work right..It took some tinkering but eventually that willys performed great in the woods or on the street..With all this,what I am trying to say is that you can make a spring over handle and perform great.I have done a lot of spring overs since then.I currently have 2 CJ7 's and 1 yj,all spring over with factory springs.They all handle as they should.It is not for everyone but it sure works for me. 1 of my cj's and the yj spend the vast majority of their time on the street and it is not unusual for them to see pretty high speeds for a jeep with no problems.