Topic: Saggy XJ Springs (Read 9647 times)

barttheguinnessguy · « **on:** September 17, 2006, 09:15:14 PM »

Just put me road wheels back on after Cheapfest and found that the rear leaf springs are well and trully shagged. :cry:

bought a new set of springs and a 2 inch lift kit ready to go on.

Anyone got any hints or tips before I get under the mud caked heap?
Ta
Bart

MOCAJ · « **Reply #1 on:** September 17, 2006, 09:20:07 PM »

start soaking all of the bolts with WD40 now :wink:

trent · « **Reply #2 on:** September 17, 2006, 09:21:24 PM »

Wash off the mud!(your eyes don't like it) and spend a week squirting all the nuts and bolts with a good penetrating oil, i personally would aim for something better than wd40 for penetration.
pb blaster if you can get it or similar.

barttheguinnessguy · « **Reply #3 on:** September 17, 2006, 09:22:03 PM »

One step ahead of ya. That was the first thing I thought of. Also thought of warming up the angle grinder!!! :wink: :wink:

chrisjones · « **Reply #4 on:** September 17, 2006, 10:16:02 PM »

Expect the top shock bolts to shear at the back. They might not, but some, may be all probably will.

You can either knock the remains out with a punch and fit a nut on the back, there's a small hole you can do this through; or drill them out and re-tap the thread.

And as everyone else has said, start soaking everything now with penetrating oil.

barttheguinnessguy · « **Reply #5 on:** October 14, 2006, 09:03:15 PM »

Dit dit dit dit dit dit, Rear suspension Update!
Just spent an achy 7 hours under the XJ. Fitted up rated leaf springs and a “Rocky Roads” 2 inch lift kit. Thanks for the tips. I have been bathing all the nuts and bolts with “Shield” penetrating oil (far better than WD40 BTW) every other day for the past two weeks (thanks all that suggested that) and jet washed the underneath last night in readiness (thanks trent). Chris, you were right, one of the shock bolts sheared on either side, but I was prepared with my drill and tapping set. No-one told me that the bar pin eliminators would be such a bitch to get through the upper shock bushes but hey ho, they are in now after a little gentle persuasion with a lump hammer :shock:
Thanks again guys, all tips were spot on.

Mick O · « **Reply #6 on:** October 15, 2006, 10:16:23 AM »

Nice one Bart

chrisjones · « **Reply #7 on:** October 15, 2006, 11:21:22 AM »

I love it when a plan comes together.

cherokeegraham · « **Reply #8 on:** October 15, 2006, 06:33:27 PM »

I've got the Rocky Road 2" lift kit aswell, good kit and no complaints with fitting. Good luck with the front, you shouldn't have any problems.

jonathanhann · « **Reply #9 on:** October 15, 2006, 09:40:04 PM »

:twisted:

UKJeeper · « **Reply #10 on:** October 15, 2006, 10:46:48 PM »

Call Lighthouse Jeep up in Diss. Ask for diesel leaf springs and 1.75" coil spacers. I got about a 3" lift (1" of that was regained stock height from saggy springs) that rides really nice. I was given the spacers by a mate, but the rear springs cost £75. Not a bank breaker!

Mike Pavelin · « **Reply #11 on:** October 16, 2006, 07:27:46 AM »

If you have a petrol XJ, don't bother fitting a budget lift kit unless the rear springs have been recently replaced Those rear springs sag like crazy and a shackle lift or add-a-leaf will only possibly pring the rear back to standard height.
Whatever you fit , replace the rear springs. As Tim says, a poular way of giving a noticable moderate lift on a 4.0 is to fit the Up- Country type springs fitted to the diesel models. These are more durable than the stock petrol springs and also 1.75" taller, giving a considerable improvement over saggy old petrol rear springs. Up front you can just fit spacers over the stock springs to level her up again.
If you want more lift, be aware that over 3" and you will begin to experience problems with other parts of the suspension and driveline requiring further mods.

barttheguinnessguy · « **Reply #12 on:** October 16, 2006, 07:55:22 AM »

Like everyone else says DO NOT just fit a lift kit to saggy springs, your ride quality will realy suffer. The best thing to do first is replace the leaves with decent uprated or diesel ones. Mansfield 4x4 do a good set for a good price and cheap P&P http://http://www.mansfieldmotorsltd.co.uk You will see a masive improvment. You can always fit a lift kit later.
Hope this helps.
Bart

skip · « **Reply #13 on:** October 16, 2006, 08:16:25 PM »

I have to differ on the don't bether fitting add a leaf kit. I bought 2" aal lift from Bigrapids offroad in december last year, in total I got about 3" of lift and was able to fit it myself in a day. So far they haven't sagged, that's with regular towing trips and an 80ltr gas tank underneath. I'm not wanting to step on anyones toes, just speak as I find.

tag · « **Reply #14 on:** October 26, 2006, 12:48:48 AM »

HI,
after reading many theads about suspension lifts on differant sites and the pro's and con's of new and uprated against aal or budget boost, i decided to find a donor vehical other than jeep for the leaf springs. I got all the dimensions of the original and uprated springs , and began scowering the breakers for the right one. my reason for this is stock springs sag after 12 months anyway, and uprated springs have no guarantee that they wont do the same. plus the price in the uk is a ripoff .

The vehical found that fitted the bill was a ford escort van y reg as it turned out i used 2 of the vans spring leaves from each side, and fitted them to the jeep , so i replaced leaves not add leaves the result is the jeep stands 19 1/2" from the center of the wheel to the arch and rides ok. all i need to do now is get hold of some front springs to raise the front a 1" or so or maybe a spacer, the jobs been done about 2 month and not settled still sitting at the same hight. total cost £20........cya

greggmo · « **Reply #15 on:** October 26, 2006, 09:23:07 AM »

thats an interesting mod mate. so i take it you just replaced the two smallest on each side?

JamesH · « **Reply #16 on:** October 26, 2006, 10:52:08 AM »

Front Coils from a ZJ/ZG Grand Cherokee will fit on an XJ and lift it about an inch and maybe more if they come from a diesel Grand.

tag · « **Reply #17 on:** October 26, 2006, 10:55:24 PM »

Hi ,
thanks for that james , i'll have a look at getting some of those springs.

greg, i used the top leaf cut the eyes off and the bottom one the short overload leaf with the u brackets on that keeps the leaves from twisting.
I replaced the second leaf on the jeep with the long one from the ford and the last leaf with the short overload leaf. if i remember right there are only 2 leaves on the ford anyway! you only have to cut off the eyes and drill a 8mm hole use the jeep leaf to get the right position to drill, ho, and get hold of a good !!! drill bit. you don't have to drill the short leaf. So i still have leaves if i want to raise it higher. .......hope this helps.......cya

greggmo · « **Reply #18 on:** October 26, 2006, 11:36:57 PM »

it is interesting to see a little bit of invention going on . well done mate on an interesting mod.

Bubba · « **Reply #19 on:** October 27, 2006, 12:09:47 AM »

barttheguinnessguy · « **Reply #20 on:** November 04, 2006, 01:50:52 PM »

Ohhhhhh Yes, Front coil spacers now fitted as well. Job done, looks the Mutts Nutts.

greggmo · « **Reply #21 on:** November 04, 2006, 02:49:02 PM »

well done mate.

Author Topic: Saggy XJ Springs (Read 9647 times)

cherokeegraham

jonathanhann

UKJeeper

Mike Pavelin

skip

tag

tag