proracedriver616's "jeeplife" story

[YELLAHEEP]

Re: where have all the good cherokees fs gone

I wondered how those Rusty's SUA leaf packs would do. And I also agree, make sure the prev. owner didn't tighten the shackles too much.

After riding in that MJ, those rear shocks are rediculously stiff. I had suggested to Seth that he remove them and drive it without them and see how it changes the ride and flex. If it's still pretty stiff, then I agree. Ditch the lift springs and go SOA with the stock leafs.

The problem with making a flexy TRUCK is the overall use it'll see. If you still plan to use it to haul things...... flexy springs ain't gonna be what you want. You can gain some compromise by using overload leafs added to the bottom of the leaf pack which will keep the leafs from over compressing when loaded...... but it's gonna ride awful when loaded as it'll be sitting hard on the overload leafs.

I agree with Mike that the better location for the weight is central as best as possible. While that spare mount that was fabbed is pretty cool, the better location would be behind the cab, and just above or beside a tool box loaded with tools and spares. Ultimately, any weight added should be behind the cab.

One of the neatest ideas I saw to add weight without losing bed space was the use of a sheet of 3/4" steel plate. The guy had it cut to fit the interior dimensions of the bed floor and then had it coated with bedliner on all sides, then bolted it down. Took a forklift to install it..... But, he still has a full bed and the ride improved immensely.

 

[proracedriver616]

Re: where have all the good cherokees fs gone

I bought the truck to wheel, not haul...the most it would ever have in the bed would be 4-500 pounds. I would rather have flex then tow capacity

 

[YELLAHEEP]

Re: where have all the good cherokees fs gone

Then I'd be looking to lose the SUA and go SOA. You'll gain some ground clearance before and after the rear tires.

 

[xj5280]

Re: where have all the good cherokees fs gone

Just throwing it out there.... But how many leafs do you have in your pack and what do they do?

What about just losing some of the leafs in the pack and greasing the rest? With the intention being about flex and not hauling + being SUA, I wouldn't worry to much about spring wrap. There are a plethora of options to peruse with your current set up and not having to throw all that coin at it. I personally prefer SUA over SOA for a non-dedicated trail rig.

Do some research:
Is your shackle angle correct?
Are your bushings greasable? If not how much would it be to buy greasable bolts?
What leafs can you remove and still suspend your current weight set up? What OEM leafs can you pick up from you pull and pay that would give you more of a progressive ride and can replace the stiff springs you have? Speaking about individual leafs not a leaf pack.
Do your leafs have enough room to "fan", and if not how can you accomplish this?
How do your friction pads look between your leafs? Does Rusty's use these in their leafs, I dunno.
Is everything torqued to specs?
What are you compression #'s on your shocks. When I ran your set up with a non existent sprung weight I ran an inverted shock, a skyjacker hydro shock, as there was little to no resistance.
Flex your rig out and see if anything is binding, brake lines, shocks, shackles, DS, etc....

Last but not least, when you go to reinstall your springs SOA, SUA,Linked, whatever you choose, leave em loose. E.g. Don't torque all the bolts down before sitting the tires back on the ground. Once they are on the ground jump on the bed of the truck, shake it, whatever takes, but get em seated correctly.

Going SOA or linked isn't always the answer. A majority of what I just posted, if pursued, would be +\- $100 and a weekend.... Maybe a set of u-bolts pending existing condition.

 

[proracedriver616]

Re: where have all the good cherokees fs gone

Or i could put the axles from the comanche under my xj! Then put the dana 30/8.25 combo with my ravines and new 33" km2s under the comanche and sell it! That would probably make me pretty happy

 

[in4aride]

Re: where have all the good cherokees fs gone

BOOOOOO NOOOOOOO

Its an easy fix. keep it. even if its yard art keep it!

 

[proracedriver616]

Re: where have all the good cherokees fs gone

I paid too much for it to not use it...I already have someone wanting it lol

 

[adrenalinepirate]

Re: where have all the good cherokees fs gone

Do it Seth. Once summer comes around you will be riding your bike.

 

[ClarkPeach]

Re: where have all the good cherokees fs gone

I forgot to put up pics of my mastercraft military blast attenuation seats i snagged off craigslist from a guy down on ft carson. I got a smokin good deal on these and have been driving around in them for the last month, i absolutely love them!


IMAG0041

I had these in my MJ and they were some of the most comfortable seats i've ever had in a daily driver. I too got them for a song on craigslist! I should put some in my subaru... :smoker:

 

[adrenalinepirate]

Re: where have all the good cherokees fs gone

I want a set too!

 

[proracedriver616]

Re: where have all the good cherokees fs gone

I know Clark! After I saw your mj I started searching for them, they are extremely hard to find...I got mine on fort Carson from a soldier selling them on craigslist. I love them

 

[DutchVDub]

Re: where have all the good cherokees fs gone

You need to keep the MJ, unless of course you plan on donating it me. Then you can feel free to get rid of it.

 

[YELLAHEEP]

Re: where have all the good cherokees fs gone

Sonuva........ I could understand wanting to swap those axles to the XJ.

But dammit if you start shedding parts off that MJ..... I WANT THOSE BUMPERS..... and that shifter too..... :eyes:

It'd be a shame to sacrifice it...... but if you need to take the family along and MJ just doesn't cut it.

 

[in4aride]

Re: where have all the good cherokees fs gone

It'd be a shame to sacrifice it...... but if you need to take the family along and MJ just doesn't cut it.

That is what the XJ is for!!! :gag:

 

[YELLAHEEP]

Re: where have all the good cherokees fs gone

That is what the XJ is for!!! :gag:

That's what I'm saying........ do ya build up the XJ so the family goes on all the types of trails? Or do you keep the MJ built up for the harder stuff because the family isn't wanting to go on those kinds of trails?

Seth's got some thinking to do.......

All I know is he got a helluva good deal any way you look at it.

 

[in4aride]

Re: where have all the good cherokees fs gone

Build MJ for hard stuff. That is setch for a young family to be a part of.
Keep the XJ for the family friendly stuff.
Keep everyone super jealous of your rigs.
Done done and done.

 

[proracedriver616]

Re: where have all the good cherokees fs gone

I havent driven the truck all week, but i crawled underneath it tonight, and the first thing wrong was the shackles being on backwards (which adrenalinepirate noticed right off the bat!) but ill fix that later as it wouldnt affect the ride. The shackles are greasable and appear to be well greased and at a halfway decent angle


IMAG0134

Then looking forward, the main problem became apparent...On the drivers side theres only about 1-1.5" of available uptravel before the bumpstop pad will contact the bumpstop. And even worse, for some reason theres only about a .25-.5" gap between the pass. side bumpstop and pad.

Drivers side:

IMAG0132

Passenger Side:

IMAG0133

Im glad to discover that its a simple thing causing the problems in the rear. But im bummed to realize that the right leaf spring has already sagged about an inch more then the drivers side for some reason. They are Rustys springs, which i know dont have the best reputation for quality, but for only having around 3-4k miles on them it seems like they shouldnt be sagging this much already. I looked the spring over pretty good and didnt see any broken leafs in the pack so i know its not that.

P.S. after i got home from wheeling on sunday there was a little wet spot from fluid running down my passenger side framerail, and after investigating i fount out it was gear oil coming out of the t-case vent tube that is coiled up in the engine bay right in front of the heater core Is there anything wrong you guys can think of that would be causing this, or is it just normal from the t-case heating up from highway driving?

 

[in4aride]

Re: where have all the good cherokees fs gone

Wonder if right is more flat from being parked flexed out. most park with driver front up. (just saying)
but definitely cool it is an easy fix.

 

[Hypoid]

Re: where have all the good cherokees fs gone

Check the spring eye bushings. Skully had Rusty's leafs, those bushings might have lasted a year at most.

 

[proracedriver616]

Re: where have all the good cherokees fs gone

Wonder if right is more flat from being parked flexed out. most park with driver front up. (just saying)
but definitely cool it is an easy fix.

drove it out of my parking lot just to make sure it wasnt bound up being parked, but the bumpstop on the passenger side was actually touching when i stopped in the street...maybe the shackle bolts are waay to tight causing the springs to stay bound up?? idk i didnt bring home any tools to check, but i will tomorrow.


And i did a little research, i guess clocked and or flipped 300s are notorious for puking oil from the vent. Didnt dutch have a 300 in the YJ? Did you have any issues with this dutch?