Keeping A Low Center of Gravity.

[jardine]

does anyone have suggestions on how much to bumpstop with a 4 inch lift and 33" km2s? i would like to use the progressive bumpstops from summit racing.

 

[Jeeppilot]

This is a great thread for sure ! I've read through it a couple times so far... I made the mistake of
naively lifting way too much when I did my build back in 2002, a few years later i reduced it a bit to
the ride height I'm at now. Right now I'm sitting at 7.5 with 35's, however I'm beginning a rebuild
and planning on going down to 5" - 6'' while maintaining 35's.

Thanks to the guys here who have helped me see the light of going lower and sticking to 35's rather
than going up to 37's... (http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=1008926)


Lower is absolutely the way to go... benefits are huge!

What I'm wondering... does anyone have pics of their rig with 5 to 6 inches of lift on 35's
with bushwackers installed (4 door) ? preferably on level ground and flexing also...

 

[Nova Wake]

I've always been a believer of low cog to, Ive pretty much made my mind up on a 4" lift, now if only someone would make and weld in some rockers and floor pans for me id be ready to start the project poor New England jeep...
right now i just don't know what way to go with fender flares. And weather 4.56s or 4.88s are better for new england/mountain driving...

 

[vetteboy]

After reading this thread, I'm probably one of the only guys who has raised their rig since trying the low COG thing. :gag:

Started out like this, not too bad at all for 1-tons and 39.5s. This is Rusty's 4.5" springs and 1.5" coil spacers.

Then I figured out that going faster than 15 MPH over crossgrain ruts, whoops, and dropoffs was kinda fun. Remove spacers, change to Rusty's 6.5" springs (much stiffer), add airbumps.

That combo worked pretty well, but basically was less than an inch away from the air bumps at ride height. Jacked it up another 2" as things became faster and more competitive.

Funny thing is, now that I'm at around 4.5" uptravel with airbumps instead of 2" uptravel to dead rubber, it still wheels just as well as it ever did. A suckdown winch helps and also gives you more flexibility in what you can do with the rig. Late November I'll be chopping a lot more out of the front to gain another 2" or so of uptravel without raising the rig anymore.

2-3" uptravel works fine for crawling, you can get away with 4" and good bumpstops, but trying to use the tiniest lift possible to clear big tires can lead to pretty big compromises in other areas. Last month we had the Pirate4x4 unibody run at Rausch Creek, and although I went everywhere the small-lift guys did, I spent a lot of time waiting at the ends of access roads for everyone else to catch up. Not saying that mine's perfect or the fastest thing out there, but it hauls ass pretty nicely. To each their own I guess.

 

[Nova Wake]

well of coarse there's those that can't be satiated at any height... if i had money and fab skills and didn't need my rig as a daily driver, and had a super duty and trailer i wouldn't mind something like that but....

 

[RTFM]

Mine is on the right: 2.25" front/ 2.5" rear on 32s
Buddy of mine on left: approx. 5", 35s and full widths.

My God! What a beast - I realize they're the same vehicle but the Green XJ looks like its taken growth hormones!! :spin1: Not just lift but it looks physically bigger.

Would have been cool to get a stock street height XJ there at the rear. Papa bear, mama bear and baby bare (pun)... HA!
(Not meaning to 'dis your X' just a figure of speech that came to me....)

Great thread.

 

[Built2Flex]

After reading this thread, I'm probably one of the only guys who has raised their rig since trying the low COG thing.

..but trying to use the tiniest lift possible to clear big tires can lead to pretty big compromises in other areas.

I agree with you on the overlooked compromises made with a tiny lift/big tire combo.

I also raised my rig after trying the lower cog for a while, so your not alone.

 

[ktm racer 419]

After reading this thread, I'm probably one of the only guys who has raised their rig since trying the low COG thing. :gag:



Then I figured out that going faster than 15 MPH over crossgrain ruts, whoops, and dropoffs was kinda fun. Remove spacers, change to Rusty's 6.5" springs (much stiffer), add airbumps.

Funny thing is, now that I'm at around 4.5" uptravel with airbumps instead of 2" uptravel to dead rubber, it still wheels just as well as it ever did. A suckdown winch helps and also gives you more flexibility in what you can do with the rig. Late November I'll be chopping a lot more out of the front to gain another 2" or so of uptravel without raising the rig anymore.

2-3" uptravel works fine for crawling, you can get away with 4" and good bumpstops, but trying to use the tiniest lift possible to clear big tires can lead to pretty big compromises in other areas. Last month we had the Pirate4x4 unibody run at Rausch Creek, and although I went everywhere the small-lift guys did, I spent a lot of time waiting at the ends of access roads for everyone else to catch up. Not saying that mine's perfect or the fastest thing out there, but it hauls ass pretty nicely. To each their own I guess.

i used to be at 2.5" with 36's and 37's

for crawling i wouldnt have it any other way

she could still jump and land in one piece

i don't have airbumps, but do have progressive poly bumps at each corner, which has been the greatest improvement to my suspension over hard rubber. with the 2.5" and 36's i ran about 1" free travel in front and a touch more in back. she is the quickest rig in the group on those pain in the ass purples and low blacks at rc. as far as whoops and whatnot go i don't wheel with anyone with a suspension setup for speed (they do have the suspension height and travel, but thats it) so it all depends how hard you wan't to push your rig.


now with 35's I brought it up to around 4" of lift
i have about the same cog and same approach/departure/breakover angles, and a tid bit more uptravel. she is much quicker at speed offroad, but i attribute that mostly to he far less unsprung weight and rotating mass

Havent had much seat time with this setup, but so far i am enjoying it. still considered a "low cog" setup by most.


anyway I have tried being fairly tall at the beginning of this jeeps build

didn't like it one bit, lowered it back down a couple days after

 

[StanBo]

I tnt is good but the reason im not sure on long arms is because if i ever want to switch out my components to another truck i can't roll back the changes i did and sell the old one. That's why i like bolt on parts.

Good point. I don't see myself selling this truck. I got it for a good price and plan to pretty much wheel it into the ground.

vetteboy & ktm racer 419 do you guys drive your trucks to RC or do you trailer? Vette I think I am close to you and want to have a truck that will be ok on the street.

 

[ktm racer 419]

Good point. I don't see myself selling this truck. I got it for a good price and plan to pretty much wheel it into the ground.

vetteboy & ktm racer 419 do you guys drive your trucks to RC or do you trailer? Vette I think I am close to you and want to have a truck that will be ok on the street.

i drive mine there from rhode island

 

[xjtrailrider]

I drive my junk to and from the trails as well. Mine is no trailer queen. I even drive it to work one day a week to keep everything lubed and working good. I refuse to buy a trailer like all of my friends have done. I don't even have another vehicle large enough to tow a XJ with and I don't plan on buying one anytime soon.

If you build it right it will be as friendly on the street as it is on the trails.

 

[3fifty]

Granted Im not as large as a few of these guys but mine drives great. The day I finished the build I drove it 4 hours to wheel for the weekend. 80mph on the interstate and it handled/rode great. I drive it almost daily.

 

[3fifty]

Still trying to keep it low. This is in preparation for a stretch and moving the spring hangers up on the uni-frame to lower the body as well as tube fenders.

 

[ktm racer 419]

why not run shorter springs? moving the mounting points up seem like a step backwards

 

[3fifty]

Maybe up is the wrong term.

like this

Moved back a few inches on the frame rail on the front mount then hung on the rear bumper. That make any more sense?

 

[ktm racer 419]

yes. lil' more beneficial

 

[MaxxXJ]

i took my xj out on the nightmare gulch trail this weekend, i am rolling 4.5" of lift on 235's (until i can afford 33x12.50's) anyway, it took the trail flawlessly, everyone else i rolled with had 35's -37's and i still hung with them with no rock rash or having to be winched anywhere i like having a lower cog

 

[WrenchMonkey]

i took my xj out on the nightmare gulch trail this weekend, i am rolling 4.5" of lift on 235's (until i can afford 33x12.50's) anyway, it took the trail flawlessly, everyone else i rolled with had 35's -37's and i still hung with them with no rock rash or having to be winched anywhere i like having a lower cog

Seriously?

Robert

 

[nosigma]

I'd like to get down to 4".

You should check with your GF before doing that.

John

 

[sunburned]

i took my xj out on the nightmare gulch trail this weekend, i am rolling 4.5" of lift on 235's (until i can afford 33x12.50's) anyway, it took the trail flawlessly, everyone else i rolled with had 35's -37's and i still hung with them with no rock rash or having to be winched anywhere i like having a lower cog

Sorry, but I never believe stories like this. Either that or the guys on 35's and 37's were very bored running this easy trail called nightmare gulch.