Spring choice for my cj5

[dschwab]

I am currently in the process of a custom frame build and am looking to do a yj spring over axle swap. The frame is set up with the shalel reversal. Im currrently running 6 inch lif on 35" tires on the stock frame. SO my question is what would be the best option? I would really like to run the Old Man Emu springs but I believe they are 2.5 inch lif springs and I think this would make me too tall. The local junkyard is asking 75 bucks a peice for used stock yj springs. Guess I'm just at a standstill untill I figure this out.
Thanks for the Help.
PS I would actually when this frame is done only like to run 33" tires so it is not so top heavy.

 

[dagr8tim]

Just a thought, but what about stock XJ springs, or Toyota springs? Have you seen this diagram before?

 

[dschwab]

Up till now I have not even considered XJ springs. This chart helps out a lot. After looking at a few springs the XJ springs may be just what I need due to their heavier weight rating. I am running the AMC 304 and a much heavier frame than stock so I was a bit worried about the weight on the yj springs. Thanks!

 

[dagr8tim]

XJ springs tend to be pretty soft. When I did the lift on my 97 XJ, I was doing it on the cheap and got an AAL. I cut the eyes off of an extra XJ main and added it to the pack. Once everything settled, I had a decent ride and some good flex.

 

[dschwab]

XJ springs tend to be pretty soft. When I did the lift on my 97 XJ, I was doing it on the cheap and got an AAL. I cut the eyes off of an extra XJ main and added it to the pack. Once everything settled, I had a decent ride and some good flex.

So in your opinion having done this swap would a add a Leaf be required on new springs to keep it from sagging in a few months. After looking around I can get a stock set of 4 leaf leaf springs fro about 90 bucks each. Also is there any benefit to these springs over the YJ springs other than the fact that they are a little longer.

 

[dagr8tim]

So in your opinion having done this swap would a add a Leaf be required on new springs to keep it from sagging in a few months. After looking around I can get a stock set of 4 leaf leaf springs fro about 90 bucks each. Also is there any benefit to these springs over the YJ springs other than the fact that they are a little longer.

If you are going new springs, I wouldn't go tearing a new pack apart to do an AAL. I would either go with the HD (up country) springs that yield 1" lift over stock. Or I would get a set of lift springs in the 2 - 3" range.

I did AAL because didn't want to mess with having to pull the leaf pack after the horror stories I read. With the AAL, I was able to leave the original main in place and build a new pack under it.

As for XJ vs YJ. I would imagine that the YJ's would be stiffer and would ride harsher. What are your plans for this Jeep?

 

[Old Dog]

You did notice that the xj springs are going to stretch the wheel base.

 

[dschwab]

You did notice that the xj springs are going to stretch the wheel base.

Wouldn't stretching the wheelbase depend on the placement of the springs. The frame that I am building is stretched a touch so I could simply move the mounting point of the springs to keep the axles in the stock location. But in reality I was planning on moving the front axle forward approx 2 inch.

 

[dschwab]

If you are going new springs, I wouldn't go tearing a new pack apart to do an AAL. I would either go with the HD (up country) springs that yield 1" lift over stock. Or I would get a set of lift springs in the 2 - 3" range.

I did AAL because didn't want to mess with having to pull the leaf pack after the horror stories I read. With the AAL, I was able to leave the original main in place and build a new pack under it.

As for XJ vs YJ. I would imagine that the YJ's would be stiffer and would ride harsher. What are your plans for this Jeep?

Wouldn't the lift springs on a SOA setup be a little tall for a cj running 35" tires?

 

[dagr8tim]

Wouldn't the lift springs on a SOA setup be a little tall for a cj running 35" tires?

All things considered, you can get 31's on a stock XJ and it has SOA. I think you'd have to do some trimming or BL if you used a stock set of XJ springs on a CJ and wanted to run 35's.