Stock springs????

[1930u]

I had removed the rear drive shaft to tow the Jeep home and I crawled under it today to re-install the driveshaft. While under there, I was trying to figure out what type of springs I have. Its an old 75 CJ5 , I just bought a couple weeks ago. Someone has done a SOA retrofit but I'm wondering if these are the stock springs. Rear has 5 leafs and front has 7. Its just a base motor Jeep.

It looks like it was a lot of work to do the SOA but the springs are really soft. Here are a few pics. Are the springs originals?

Thanks.

 

[caveman]

No. They are not original. Aperently whoever did the spring over took out a few springs and replaced with the thicker bottom ones to try to control spring wrap.

 

[steve1973]

Here are stock 73 springs for reference.

 

[Old Dog]

No. They are not original. Aperently whoever did the spring over took out a few springs and replaced with the thicker bottom ones to try to control spring wrap.

Yep the bottom 2 has to be an attempt (a bad one IMO) to help with the spring warp.

 

[Posi]

Time for a new e-brake cable.

 

[1930u]

Thanks guy's for the info. This old thing needs a lot but I got it on the cheap and it has a fiberglass tub and dog house. What does axle wrapped feel like when driving? I noticed going through the field in the heavy snow yesterday that it bucks like heck when I let the clutch in and out? Is that axle wrap???

 

[caveman]

Axle wrap is when the torque given to the tires makes the axle try to rotate in the oposite direction. It can cause wheel hop as the tire gets and then loses traction. As it does so it will bend the spring into an s shape. Axle Wrap | Roadmaster Active Suspension Kits | Helper Springs | Overload Springs Here's a preety good explanation.

 

[1930u]

Okay thanks...I get the axle wrap issue...here's what I found tonight. I went out and started the jeep. Then put it in 2 wheel high. When I put it in a forward gear and let the clutch out gradually it will shake just a bit like hard spots on the flywheel and then rolls smoothly but in reverse I can't seem to let the clutch out easy enough to prevent the Jeep from violently hopping, jumping and banging.

I was by myself so I couldn't look under and see what all is moving around under there but I suspect it has a broken Transmission mount????? Any thoughts?

Thanks again....

 

[Hedgehog]

The springs on my '75 don't look anything like the ones shown, ESPECIALLY not yours. The whole spring over thing looks sketchy to me. I'd put things back to as close to stock as you reasonably can. You should have more springs in the rear than in the front.

Do you have any idea what the steel plate next to your spring hanger was used for?

 

[73CJ]

72-75 springs are 1-3/4" wide
76+ were 2" and 2-1/2" wide.
YJ are both 2-1/2" wide

Check the eye to eye length against factory specs.

 

[1930u]

The springs on my '75 don't look anything like the ones shown, ESPECIALLY not yours. The whole spring over thing looks sketchy to me. I'd put things back to as close to stock as you reasonably can. You should have more springs in the rear than in the front.

Do you have any idea what the steel plate next to your spring hanger was used for?

To be honest I just saw the plate when you asked. I will check it tomorrow. Tonight I pulled the Transmission mount and looked things over. The mount was the original and it was till intact. I was really surprised every bolt except 3 came right off no problem.

Still have no idea why it bucks when I let the clutch out...possibly hot spots on the flywheel but it seems violent for that possibly the rear springs are just so weak the axle wraps up each time the drive train is loaded. Since since I;m down to the Transmission I'm going to pull it machine the fly wheel and install a new clutch kit.

Thanks for the help guy's

 

[mtnwhlr]

I've had them do this when the clutch gets old.

 

[1930u]

I just checked Pep Boys and they have a LUK Clutch Set for $149 and a new Flywheel for $69. I will replace it all. Thanks.

 

[Hedgehog]

Remember to pull the pilot bearing/bushing too. With the right puller it's an easy process. I got my puller from Harbor Freight for less than $20. My bearing was longer than usual and needed to spend a few minutes grinding on the puller, when I say a few minutes I really do mean a few minutes. No matter what, you need to replace the pilot bushing.

 

[caveman]

Another way to get the pilot bushing out but messy is to fill the end of the crankshft with hard grease and then take a piese of round stock or ready rod thats about the same diameter as the inner diameter of the pilot bushing. Using a good size hammer, Hit the rod in earnest and the pilot bearing will pop right out.

 

[Hedgehog]

Tried that, even after someone warned me about it. What a mess. More than a little leak. Hit the dowel/grease with a hammer and it might work, if the seal is perfect. If not the grease doesn't just leak, it sprays out all under the jeep, frame, exhaust pipes, rear axle, gas tank .... golly what a huge mess, I'm still finding pockets of grease from giving the grease removal system a good solid try. Ohh it did move the bearing ..... about 1/16". The puller was cheap enough not to even attempt the grease and hammer method. The puller can also be used to pull other things like a torington bearing from a spindle. Once you figure out how the puller grips to work properly it can be a life saver for many projects.

 

[1930u]

Thanks all my clutch set will be here tomorrow and I bought a new flywheel too. Pilot bushing comes with the clutch.

 

[1930u]

Thanks all my clutch set will be here tomorrow and I bought a new flywheel too. Pilot bushing comes with the clutch.

Forgot to ask the forum folks about where to buy leaf springs. As you can see earlier in this thread my old springs are a rigged up mess but I like the stance these old springs and 33's give the CJ.

I found a place general spring that had a nice variety of springs but they're are pricey to ship adding over $100 to the cost of four springs. They have all their specs for each set of springs posted and I'm leaning towards fronts with 1050 lb rating to handle my snow plow and rears either the same or a little more. I'm not looking for more lift and I'm wondering what the folks here would suggest? Thanks.

 

[1930u]

Thanks all my clutch set will be here tomorrow and I bought a new flywheel too. Pilot bushing comes with the clutch.

No clutch set for this weekend. Pep Boys screwed up and my order didn't ship. It won't be here now until Monday. I bought the LUK clutch set and a new flywheel too.

 

[Fastatv]

Okay thanks...I get the axle wrap issue...here's what I found tonight. I went out and started the jeep. Then put it in 2 wheel high. When I put it in a forward gear and let the clutch out gradually it will shake just a bit like hard spots on the flywheel and then rolls smoothly but in reverse I can't seem to let the clutch out easy enough to prevent the Jeep from violently hopping, jumping and banging.

I was by myself so I couldn't look under and see what all is moving around under there but I suspect it has a broken Transmission mount????? Any thoughts?

Thanks again....

Could be a broken Transmission mount but, I would check the passenger side motor mount. When it fails, can really cause some issues in reverse.