Colorado_XJ_99
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Colorado
So I have been lurking for about 6 months now doing a lot of research and am ready to start doing some small mods on a stock 99 XJ classic. At the same time I want to make sure my thoughts are not going to put me further behind. (I am currently saving for an OME 3" lift kit for next summer)
Our goals are not anything extreme, in fact we may not do much more than we have not already done stock on 225/75/15. We just want to make the family camping trips on the forest service roads of Colorado a bit easier and maybe open up some trail options. I definitely want 3" or less to [hopefully] avoid SYE and other major mods.
Budget has to be considered, and this year much of it will go into tires (30 x 9.5 x 15 [maybe 31s someday], cargo rack, trailer hitch, tow hooks, etc.) Therefore I am looking at a combination of these two home brewed lifts.
http://www.rocklizardfabrications.com/home_brew_budget_boost.htm
http://www.lunghd.com/Tech_Articles/Suspension_Steering_Axles_and_Brakes/Budget_Lift.htm
I picked up some front coils from a 2004 ZJ, and I was quite pleased as 90% of the work in getting them off was already done. My plan was to use those and either 1.75" or 2" spacers.
However, as I was walking back up the line I saw a '95 ZJ with all four springs just sitting on the ground. I did not know which were front and which were rear, but two were shorter than the '04 fronts and two were 3" longer and had a tighter "hook" on one end. For $10 I grabbed the longer ones. They are pictured below.
Everything I have read states to use front coils, if the longer ones are rear coils would that be an issue? Any suggestions as to which ones to use? (trying one set, measuring, and re-doing the whole job if needed would not be the end of the world, but if I can hedge my bets the first time....)
For the rear I picked up a set of leafs, but I honestly have no idea of their condition as the XJ I got them from was in the air.
[FONT="]What I do know is that my current ones are flat, almost to the point of negative arch. So the one I picked up cannot be any worse than what I currently have. The way I see it I have three options, which would you suggest knowing that I plan to do an actual kit in one year?[/FONT]
[FONT="]Thanks for any thoughts you have and all the other great tips and ideas I have found here.[/FONT]
Our goals are not anything extreme, in fact we may not do much more than we have not already done stock on 225/75/15. We just want to make the family camping trips on the forest service roads of Colorado a bit easier and maybe open up some trail options. I definitely want 3" or less to [hopefully] avoid SYE and other major mods.
Budget has to be considered, and this year much of it will go into tires (30 x 9.5 x 15 [maybe 31s someday], cargo rack, trailer hitch, tow hooks, etc.) Therefore I am looking at a combination of these two home brewed lifts.
http://www.rocklizardfabrications.com/home_brew_budget_boost.htm
http://www.lunghd.com/Tech_Articles/Suspension_Steering_Axles_and_Brakes/Budget_Lift.htm
I picked up some front coils from a 2004 ZJ, and I was quite pleased as 90% of the work in getting them off was already done. My plan was to use those and either 1.75" or 2" spacers.
However, as I was walking back up the line I saw a '95 ZJ with all four springs just sitting on the ground. I did not know which were front and which were rear, but two were shorter than the '04 fronts and two were 3" longer and had a tighter "hook" on one end. For $10 I grabbed the longer ones. They are pictured below.
Everything I have read states to use front coils, if the longer ones are rear coils would that be an issue? Any suggestions as to which ones to use? (trying one set, measuring, and re-doing the whole job if needed would not be the end of the world, but if I can hedge my bets the first time....)
For the rear I picked up a set of leafs, but I honestly have no idea of their condition as the XJ I got them from was in the air.
[FONT="]What I do know is that my current ones are flat, almost to the point of negative arch. So the one I picked up cannot be any worse than what I currently have. The way I see it I have three options, which would you suggest knowing that I plan to do an actual kit in one year?[/FONT]
- [FONT="]Leave my current main spring and second spring, and then add the entire "new" pack to it as a donor. Tempting as it would mean not having to fight with removing the bushing bolts, pressing in new bushings, and so on. I could add leaves from my current pack as well if needed.
[/FONT] - [FONT="]Completely remove my current pack, install the "new one", and add leaves from the current pack as needed.
[/FONT] - [FONT="](Not my favorite option) There are too many variables. A current worn pack, an unknown donor pack. Time to break out the wallet you cheap b*****d! Buy either
[/FONT]- [FONT="]New OEM packs ($100 each, free shipping, includes bushings) and longer shackles, then use leaves from the junkyard pack and/or the shackles as needed to match the front[/FONT][FONT="]
[/FONT] - [FONT="]Buy new 3" packs (The only ones I have found that are not part of an entire kit are from Zone Off Road, and the reviews have not been great. Plus they are $200 each by the time bushings and shipping are added)[/FONT]
- [FONT="]New OEM packs ($100 each, free shipping, includes bushings) and longer shackles, then use leaves from the junkyard pack and/or the shackles as needed to match the front[/FONT][FONT="]
[FONT="]Thanks for any thoughts you have and all the other great tips and ideas I have found here.[/FONT]
