Junkyard springs for handling?

[derekrichardson]

I know some have tried T-bird springs etc. but it was to gain spring rate as well as a small boost in height right?

Is there a higher rate coil out there that will maintain hieght and help cornering performance? Bolt-in is preferable but I'm pretty good with my hands (and tools). Also, would better shocks help MORE than a higher rate coil? I'll do both as time permits but I am on a tight budget but that is the fun part.

I'd like to set up the suspension so well that I can outdrive my stock tires, then upgrade those as well to match.

I'll do the swaybar bushings first and go from there. By the way I still go 4x-ing in an '83 Scrambler with a 360 and 38" Swampers, Detroits etc., etc. so I am NOT selling out my 4x4 ways. I just want to experiment on one of my Xj's. I'd like to take in to the track up here in Seekonk MA. and see what I can pull off. It's a street-driven-vehicle head-to-head competition where you line up and do one lap and either win and get back in line or lose and get eliminated.

It'd be cool to raise some eyebrows!

 

[Dr. Dyno]

A set of urethane front anti swaybar bushings will reduce body roll a fair bit so change those first. If you also replace the UCA and LCA bushings with urethane units, those'll help too. If you have a rear anti swaybar, replace the bushings there as well.
I did all of those things on my XJ and fitted 225/70R15 tires instead of the stock 215/75R15's. The difference in handling is like night and day.

 

[streetpirate]

my tires have always been the first thing to give out in handling. i have a rear asb and everything was stock, threw some 245/60/15's on 7" rims with 3.5in backspacing. it looked burly as hell going from the 215/75's that were on there. made it a damn good street contender too, get bfg radial t/a's or equvilent if you are gonna try my tire setup.

used with the full urethane bushings, and these tires, an xj should bomb the backroads pretty good. stock springs are fine as long as they dont sag too much. my jeep sits way lower than most ive seen. get some kyb's or edelbrock performer ias shocks.

 

[bjoehandley]

Does anybody make stock length control arms that are boxed or tubular like Hotchkis, if so I'd also look at that. ALso look for springs out of the cop trucks or, from what I understand, the factory up-country springs. IIRC the cop ones are similar to what they Austrian built Cherokees got for Autobahn use and the Up-Country ones were also very close in rates. I'd also look at upgrading the brakes as much as possible if you're going to be running road courses. Dad and I have gotten pretty good handling out of 235/75/15 tires on whatever factory rims we have had (normally some kind of GoodYear Wranglers, what ever Sam's CLub has cheap and looks like it would work good while inspecting rail road tracks in the Chicago area for Dad and I've got the new Silentarmors on mine), Rancho RS5000 front and NAPATennecco Air Rear shocks, some cargo in the back, and a little talent behind the wheel. Dad has gotten many hot shots in sporty cars in trouble on exit ramps just from being familiar with his truck's abilities, a very capable driver in his own right, and finding suckers with more ego that driving skill and/or car. I've ad people try and follow me into corners in both the XJ I currently own and the rotted out Lebaron it replaced and were able to match the speed, but took the wrong line or didn't have the vehicle or maybe skill to keep pace with me.

 

[rsalemi]

2 more suggestions - mount the BFG (255X60 TA's - on mine) on 8" Canyon rims and replace the front springs with ZJ Upcountry units

 

[woody]

I have heard that stock TJ coils (probably from a 4.0l model) are a bit stiffer and give a slightly lower ride height when used on an XJ.

 

[streetpirate]

I have heard that stock TJ coils (probably from a 4.0l model) are a bit stiffer and give a slightly lower ride height when used on an XJ.

does anyone know the actual height of a tj spring? if they would be better street coils i know where i might be able to get some for free.

 

[rsalemi]

I don't know the height of TJ springs but when I swapped them into the MJ it lowered it about 3/4". This is a lightened MJ so 1" is most likely possible.