Shenanigans and tomfoolery in here

[95silverstallion]

Placed my order for OME leafs and coils only. I'll figure out shocks once I get the springs installed. I'm leaning towards Biksteins I'd the moneys there.

 

[TORC811]

Let me know if you need help with the install!

 

[95silverstallion]

OK thanks.

 

[87manche]

Would highly recommend you order the leaf spring bolts.


chances are very good that some of them will be seized in bushings and you will end up cutting them to remove. it sucks. They are hardened and will strip teeth right off a sawzall blade.

 

[95silverstallion]

Got ya. Ive been compiling a list of the "little things" like bolts and bushings so I don't get it torn down then stuck waiting on parts. Do you think its best to stick with rubber leaf spring bushings?

 

[TORC811]

Would highly recommend you order the leaf spring bolts.


chances are very good that some of them will be seized in bushings and you will end up cutting them to remove. it sucks. They are hardened and will strip teeth right off a sawzall blade.

I agree!

Brian - Mid-state bolt & screw is a good local source. I have used the Saginaw one alot but haven't been to the Burton one yet.

 

[95silverstallion]

Im a local ltl truck driver and we frequently go to mid state to pu and deliver stuff.

 

[87manche]

Do you think its best to stick with rubber leaf spring bushings?

yes.

the springs twist a bit when you start working the rear.
poly bushings will ride harsher and hurt flex.

 

[95silverstallion]

OK so my OME coils arrived today and im totally PO'd. I open the box, throw the coils aside dig in to the fiery depths of the box ...not one freakin sticker. AAAAAHHHHHH.

Am I the only one totally addicted to stickers?

 

[95silverstallion]

I became a legit member today.. weeeeeeeee

Also scored the leaf spring bolts from MidState bolt, 4.90 each. Pretty good price to me.

I have all 6 bushings and 4 U-bolts I'm about to order.

I'm torn on what to do about coil isolators/spacers as it seems that a lot of OME coils end up needing different thickness spacers to level out side to side as one coil is 10mm taller than the other. Plus im not sure if i'll need a bit more lift and might end up getting or needing taller spacers and maybe a lift shackle.

OK so what other must have items do I need to simply just get front and rear springs bolted up?

 

[87manche]

grab some rubber lift spacers for the front. Cut them with a hacksaw blade heated with mapp gas to the exact height needed to level.

honestly I'd just order new shackles. Changing out bushings in your factory ones will suck and generally isn't worth your time when you can buy new ones for $30. press tends to crush them.

Rather than do a lift shackle, considering doing HD Offroad's shackle boxes. They'll gift you some lift, and also make it ride/flex better.

everyone loves hobag.
http://hdoffroadengineering.myshopify.com/collections/frontpage/products/xj-shackle-relocation-kit

 

[87manche]

these were 2" spacers

IMG_20150321_125229_899 by nsjames805, on Flickr

I'm extraordinarily cheap, so paying for stock isolators wasn't in my nature. Cut the top so you keep the ring to center the coil, then heat up a pocket knife and use the curved part of the blade to cut the dish out to fit around the body.

Took me 10 minutes a side to have custom height spacers.

 

[95silverstallion]

Good call. New factory replacement shackles with bushing is only 20 at quadratec. Plus i'll get 1 3/4" coil isolators and trim accordingly.

I come from a drag racing background so this offroad stuff is new to me.

 

[87manche]

check your front bumpstops and get the proper length ones as well.

You'll want to swap them while the coil is out.
the other way is a hockey puck in the bottom of the coil on the pad.

drag racing is way harder. I've had bolts fall out of jeep at 5 mph, you don't die like you would at the drag strip.
none of this is difficult, especially not with the combined knowledge of a bunch of people that have done all the wrong things at least once already.

 

[95silverstallion]

Got my coils and leafs. OME 2934 coils and CS033RA leafs. All my bushings and shackles and other stuff should be here tomorrow. We'll see how much motivation I have this weekend to get some installation done. Probably have to tie the kids to the garage wall so I can keep an eye on them while I work.

 

[95silverstallion]

Got home from work and put the bushings in the leafs. They went in pretty easy. 3lb sledge and a few large C clamps. Took about an hour total.

 

[95silverstallion]

Got my rear leafs installed. Holy crap they lifted it a bit over 5". I hope it settles down. I may have to pull a leaf out.

 

[87manche]

Got my rear leafs installed. Holy crap they lifted it a bit over 5". I hope it settles down. I may have to pull a leaf out.

throw a few hundred pounds of gear in the back and they will settle.

 

[95silverstallion]

Ya. I have some wheel weights for my tractor and old big truck brake drums. I throw back there

 

[95silverstallion]

I threw 4 rims and tires , the old leafs and 2 vises in back. It dropped an 1". I think the problem at the moment is the shackle angle. Its pretty much perfectly vertical. I think the shackle is holding it up. Im gonna order the HDoffroad no lift shackle relocation.