Clay, you were worried about swapping over your axles and lift was going to be too much work. Now you want to convert a ZJ to rear leaf springs? :huh:
If you are dead set on the ZJ. Go buy a Clayton long arm kit with the weld on bracket kit for the rear and use your D44 for that.
I don't think the axles and lift would be difficult, it is the motor and wiring that scare me. If I was to get a carcass XJ and swap everything over, that would be a lot of work.
One of the main reasons I originally purchased the XJ was for the stability of the rear leags. Body roll is decreased especially in DD applications, after I installed the lift my suspension was so tight I could take an on-ramp at 45mph, a rear tire would lift b4 the body would roll. I loved the streetability of those sturdy leafs. Also, I am able to tow with a little more stability as I have towed with both an XJ and ZJ.
So Bryan and Jes, you are saying the 4-link in the rear is favorable? Are we talking for the trail or in general, DD kind of thing? I guess I'm confused/un-enlightened on that subject. The vision for my rig is the adventurer all around vehicle. I plan on getting or building a small offroad trailer (for the eventual family thing) and I do travel out of state a lot. The last trip I did through Utah and Arizona was around 1400 miles, all kinds of terrain from the 75 speed limit to a moderate trail with volcanic glass everywhere (my dad is a geologist).
The 4-link rear just scares me a bit I guess. So much body roll. Thats why I was thinking that the addition of leaf brackets and leaf springs would stabalize the rear (sounds easy). Or, agian I'm not sure, a torsion bar in the rear to stiffen things up, maybe adjustable shocks or something???
Definately before I purchase anything I want to test drive both types of vehicle to see if there is an actual favorable differance. There are one of each around here I could test drive. Time time time, how can we ever have it if we never take it?
Help; enlighten me oh wise ones.