Softer ride /leaf springs

Softer ride /leaf springs
J

jrod 74

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Location
Tarpon Springs, FL
Vehicle(s)
74 CJ5 all stock, except suspension, and changing that soon.
Hi out there. I'm a new owner of a 74 CJ5 and i have had it a little over a month. The ride is a jeep all day a long, but I would like to try to soften up the ride. Right now, I'm feeling every bump on even the smoothest of roads. Its a very stiff, bouncy ride. 90% of my driving will be on paved roads, with some trail/ sand trail( Florida sugar sand everywhere thats not paved) riding here and there. No rock crawling or mud running in my plans.
The suspension is a Pro comp springs and shocks. I believe its a 2.5" lift 6 leaf spring in the rear. for the tires, what came on the jeep was 33x12.50 tires. spacers behind the tires for offset for the 12.50

Here's what all i have done....

I dropped tire size to 31x10.50 and did an all terrain tire. (30 psi in the tires)

I switched the rear spring shackles the are 2 pieces of stock steel they had a bout a 6 inch lift in the rear, but the "shackles" had a spot on the other side that allowed it to be turned around if you will to make it more of a standard height.

I switched shocks, which didn't do anything.... I did't realize that the shocks on there were pro comp, and bought the same pro comp shocks, $AMC 150 mistake. I tried standard height shocks and they were too short fully extended.

Im good with switching the springs, just anything to make this a comfortable ride vs a buggy ride. seriously, even with seat belts, on I'm looking back every few min when my kids are in the jeep to make sure they aren't bounced out.
Can anyone recommend a place to start?

Thank you for your time
Jared
 
What shocks are you using?
Find the 'softest' shocks you can.
Monroe will have a spec chart for closed and open length somewhere in GOOGLE-land.
LG
 
Before buying new springs, look into the feasibility of removing a couple of leafs. I'm no expert here so maybe someone will chime in, but you leaf springs are arched to give more height for larger tires. This arching makes for a stiffer spring, which equates to a rougher ride. Removing a couple of those leafs may make the set up not as stiff and give a better ride. But first lets get somebody else on the forum to chime in here just to make sure I'm not talking out my :censored:. But it would I think save you some money.
 
:agree:

Pictures of the front and rear spring packs would help us here.
LG
 
I would suggest removing a spring leaf one at a time, rather than a couple. removing the bottom one first. I have tried this route and it didn't work very good but I have a heavier rig than you do. With a 31" tire, you could drop the tire pressure say to around 20 p.s.i. when off road to try and keep your passengers inside the vehicle.
 
Cant recommend the YJ conversion using OME springs enough! It made all the difference in the world on my 8 :chug:
 
Loosen your shackle bolts and re-torque to 22ft lbs.
 
Thank you all for the ideas. I will include a few pictures. The shocks are pro comp shocks as well. They are non gas shocks, and as I understand the gas shocks would do the opposite by making the ride stiffer.

I'm looking into the YJ kits, Id like to try to get that price down where I can. I think in the one thread there was mention of piecing it together where you can vs buying a kit with non essential parts. I don't want to rig it together, but if I can save some money that would be awesome. I know for sure different shackles will be an improvement on what I have now. I'll start a gallery, and add in some pics. Thank you all again
 
Ours was way too stiff too even with stock springs. The PO had replaced the bushings with "performance" urethane ones. We replaced the shackles and bushings with stock units and it was a night and day difference.

I suspect your problem is the lift springs. If you don't mind stock height jeeps then going back to stock springs would be a cheap and easy fix.
 
I'm all about stock height. I don't need a lift, never wanted one. These things are top heavy and easily flipped, as we all know. I don't want to add to that possibility. . I'm going to switch to stock height, just deciding on CJ or YJ spings. I want to do it once and be over it. Sounds like stock CJ springs will help, but YJ would be the overall best option.


I tried to upload some pics, but my pic quality was set high on my phone and was too big to upload, I'll have to change settings.

If it helps any the springs that are on there are Pro comp 2.5 " lifted springs. the part number on the tag is 51223.

Ultimately Id like to find a jeep /suspension place that would take the springs off my hands for me, and maybe give me a little cash for them to help offset the price...

Thank you all again
 
jrod 74 said:
These things are top heavy and easily flipped, as we all know.
Click to expand...
I don't know about that. I've seen some guys locally, and on this forum get their CJ's heavily off camber and not flop.
Folks buy into that 60 min tv show where they flopped a few CJ's. What they may not realize is they added heavy sand bags under the body on one side so it would flop.

I'm not saying our Jeeps are super stable, but they don't flop easy IMO. :chug:
 
Posi said:
I don't know about that. I've seen some guys locally, and on this forum get their CJ's heavily off camber and not flop.
Folks buy into that 60 min tv show where they flopped a few CJ's. What they may not realize is they added heavy sand bags under the body on one side so it would flop.

I'm not saying our Jeeps are super stable, but they don't flop easy IMO. :chug:
Click to expand...

Yeah that's for sure sure! that report as boloney as it was changed the Jeep forever. With all the changes that have been made including making them lower, wider and wider,they will continue to tip over. I have seen a lot of Jeeps go wheels up, including mine.
 
:agree: with Posi here.
I have had mine way side-hill and I have only 'flopped' once in 31 yrs of Jeep ownership.:D
They are off road vehicles-NOT road race cars. :rolleyes:
That bull:dung: CBS report was rigged(lead weights taped under the fenders:mad:)and was exposed as such many years ago.
Took my sway-bar off the day I drove it home from the dealer........:eek:
BTW-I have seen more mini-vans on the roofs than I have ever seen CJ's flip'd over.
LG
 
Im just not interested in finding out at all lol. My goal is to keep it shiny side up. I know my abilities as a driver are only as good a kept up equipment, but i also have moron drivers around all the time. So i do my best to stay away from them. Most of the streets im on are under 45mph, but occasionally i get out on our main 8 lane highway with the 55 mph, where people are going 30-80 mph. So with that in mind and i have to do and quick decisions id like to be with best odds possible.
 
As a former, over-the-road truck driver I say this.
You will not swerve to avoid contact-you only brake. :D
I drive mine on the freeway all the time(65-70mph)with no issues. My biggest concern is crosswinds. ;)
LG
 
with that being said.... can anyone recommend a set of rear springs for me? I'm guessing just stock height YJ springs if that's the best. I think I'm more asking for what stiffness would be best recommended.

Also shackles..... just stock? or has anyone tried different ones? I'm leaning towards old man Emu products per multiple posts on quality. Just finding different products online and want to make sure i'm buying the right ones the first time. I'm seeing most of their springs are listed with a lift. I don't want a lift, but i'll settle with minimal.

I think for $$ sake, i'm going to just do the work vs buy their YJ to CJ conversion kit, looks awesome but trying to save some money where possible
 
Last edited:
hole said:
Cant recommend the YJ conversion using OME springs enough! It made all the difference in the world on my 8 :chug:
Click to expand...

Ditto! Got your answer right there. If it were mine, this is the route I'd go. Had OME in the past and loved it. Current CJ came with rubicon express which is good but not the same as OME.
 
Hey jrod, which springs did you ultimately go with? Curious as I'm looking at new springs in my 7, and am on the hunt for YJ springs with minimal lift.


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