suspension too stiff

suspension too stiff

shortbus

Jeeper
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Location
cape cod
Vehicle(s)
1980 jeep cj7
is there any ways to softin up the stock suspension on a CJ7 , not anything crazy just a little more cumfortable on the trails.
 
First off, bring your air pressure down. Most tires (above 30") put on Jeeps are rated for much heavier trucks. A Tire with a max pressure from 36-42lbs. will run fine OTR on a cj down to around 24 lbs. I run my 33x10.5's at 26, On The Road. 24 lbs. is too low for my tire/wheel combo.

My suspension isn't stock, but folks with stock suspensions do the same thing.

Try running around at 30 PSI to start., and if it doesn't feel squirelly, bring the pressure down, a few pounds at a time. Test drive it each time.

On the trails, I air down considerably more (12 for light, 9 for rockcrawling)

Different shocks may help, or your shocks now may be worn out. Is there fluid leaking from any of them? If so replace them, but verify the shocks installed are the "stock" size. people modify shock mounting quite a bit on Jeeps. If you're not sure, post a pic or two, someone here can help you figure it out.

It get's a little harder when we come down to removing a leaf from your leaf spring packs, or replacing them completely, so I'll let others chime in here.
 
everything is stock with 33-12-5 swampers but my shocks are brown and i aint talkin paint...lol do you think removing the overload springs would help, also how much drop would it give me?
 
are you sure you have stock springs, thoes 33x12.5's would be rubb'n pretty bad I would think.
 
looks stock but i could be wrong, this thing was modded back in the 90's.
the tailgate was welded shut and about a gallon of bondo was used to mold in some chevy vandura taillights. also my exaust is mostly flex pipe:eek:
ive gotten rid of the tails. put some 4" rounds and got rid of the rats nest of a taillamp harness. but who knows whats going on with the thing. i wont be happy till its all done my way.
 
I dought you have stock springs with 33's unless you are running a large body lift.
 
There has been a lot of talk about up-grading to yj springs to smooth out a rough ride.
 
Does it have factory overload springs? Not sure what you have but I would suggest you may want to replace the springs with a quality set. Look for a set with a soft ride with the tapered spring ends. This should relax the spring rate and give a better ride.
 
Do you have quick disconnects on your sway bar? If you do make sure they are disconnected and flex it some, but they alone help.

Just don't go on paved or gravel roads very fast with them disconnected. I have been in a ditch twice already :D. Scared the hell out of me both times. I am beginning to think I am kind of accident prone.

edit** Air down too if doing any wheeling.
 
Shortbus, post up a few pics so we can see what you've got.
 
Ill try and post some pics soon. i just need to get my phone fixed, i cracked the screen on the camera. maby i can have a friend upload some...
 
You can make a good impact through some simple maintenance with stock springs.

Pull the leaf packs apart and clean them up and new paint I bet after 25+ years there will be rust and crud that increases the friction between each leaf then get some teflon pads from a good spring shop and install them while your at it ditch the fold over spring clamps for some u and bolt style clamps

Then also look closely at shackle angle as too steep will make a stiffer ride

RPM Net Tech Articles: Leaf Springs - Powered by: AFCO

After that you can then start to look at spring rates removing overload springs etc but trying the above is cheap and can have a huge impact depending on state of current set up
 
Air down, it will do wonders for the ride
 
You can make a good impact through some simple maintenance with stock springs.

Pull the leaf packs apart and clean them up and new paint I bet after 25+ years there will be rust and crud that increases the friction between each leaf then get some teflon pads from a good spring shop and install them while your at it ditch the fold over spring clamps for some u and bolt style clamps

Then also look closely at shackle angle as too steep will make a stiffer ride

RPM Net Tech Articles: Leaf Springs - Powered by: AFCO

After that you can then start to look at spring rates removing overload springs etc but trying the above is cheap and can have a huge impact depending on state of current set up

I haven't read it all yet, but I like that link :notworthy:
 

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