Topic: leaf springs(problem) (Read 7683 times)

Davemate · « **on:** January 21, 2009, 04:09:23 PM »

i have just fitted a pair of new leaf springs to my cherokee 4ltr petrol.
Having replaced one side(drivers)
the old spring that was still fitted on the passenger side was 5mm lower
i have just done the passenger side today and
the passenger side is now sitting just over 1.5" higher then the drivers side :-(
PS just joined this site today
i will do my profile tomorrow as i am off the work now

JamesH · « **Reply #1 on:** January 21, 2009, 04:46:20 PM »

Have you driven it all? It may drop very quickly with a brief spin.

The shackle bolts have a torque spec, so does the one at the fron end of the spring. Stick to these and it should be okay. Do them up the minimum whilst jacked up and take them to torque spec when the weight of the car is on them (no jack).

What springs are they - stock height, diesel / heavy duty or lift kit??

tim_aka_tim · « **Reply #2 on:** January 21, 2009, 05:43:09 PM »

Let me guess, it's a mk1. My mk1 did the same, as did Ted's other blue one. Pretty common to lean over to the right. Ted heard that it was due to engine torque, but it happened with a new lift kit one mine.
I just lived with it.

JamesH · « **Reply #3 on:** January 21, 2009, 08:42:28 PM »

I didn't realise it was common theme. Mine has always sat about an inch or so lower on the drivers side too. I swapped the springs L-R when installing the latest lift kit and it still leant that way :shock:

I've got a 20mm block installed on that side at the moment and some extra leaves waiting to add to the pack to remove the block.

See how it goes after a little time driving, maybe with a bit of weight in the back. There are ways to level it, some I mentioned above, if you need to.

scrw · « **Reply #4 on:** January 21, 2009, 09:10:55 PM »

Even with the lpg tank on the near side mine is a little low on the drivers side, thats with 6month old OME springs on

Dave69 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 21, 2009, 09:32:57 PM »

my xj sags to the right even with the lift kit fitted. wife just says i'm a fat barsteward

greggmo · « **Reply #6 on:** January 21, 2009, 10:26:44 PM »

put yer sandwich box on the passenger side.

Davemate · « **Reply #7 on:** January 22, 2009, 12:51:54 PM »

yes i am a fat bas%^&*
but i had a chat with a fitter at work last night
plus jamesH said
"Do them up the minimum whilst jacked up and take them to torque spec when the weight of the car is on them (no jack)."

whoops
car on axel stands no wheels on
i tightend all the bolts up :roll:

so when the rain stops i will lossen all the bolts and see what happens

Davemate · « **Reply #8 on:** January 22, 2009, 12:58:29 PM »

Quote from: "greggmo"

put yer sandwich box on the passenger side.

i tried to demand the wife just sat in the passenger seat for a week
to see if it would settle :-(

i used to have a series3 land rover
but
if you are only going to 20 to the gallon
why not have
leather seats
power steering
air-con
some suspenstion
carpet on the floor
and
a radio you can hear
and you can keep up with all the other cars on the road
and
you dont get wet when it rains
i could go on but >>>>>>>>>>

Davemate · « **Reply #9 on:** January 23, 2009, 02:22:32 PM »

bolts loosend
bolts tightened
car still sits pissed
although only by 1"now
is it worth swapping the springs over?
if it is slightly higher on the drivers side
when i drive it alone it should then sit level(ish)
how can i check to see if both the springs are the same rating?
they both have the same sticker(part number) on them

is it not a good idea to put one old spring back on
as it was only 5mm out then
would that be dangerous?

MOCAJ · « **Reply #10 on:** January 23, 2009, 02:39:56 PM »

Dave, James and Tim say its one of those things on a lifted XJ.

I think you gotta live with it mate :wink:

Davemate · « **Reply #11 on:** January 23, 2009, 02:51:16 PM »

:shock:
its just a case off you replace something it should look right
i might try to put new springs on the wife bumpers :-D

JamesH · « **Reply #12 on:** January 23, 2009, 03:05:28 PM »

You could try putting a long leaf from your old springs into the new pack that is sitting low. That should raise it up a bit. Or you could take a leaf out of the higher side??

I swapped mine L-R and it didn't help :-?

It's bizarre but I'm quite glad to find it's common, I thought my body was twisted - I even measured between all the fixing points just to check.

bill99 · « **Reply #13 on:** January 25, 2009, 11:42:59 PM »

You guys swapping springs round make it sound easy to change a set of springs, so I was wondering any advice on what pitfalls to look out for, and are any special tools required.

Wondering about stuff like seized bolts if they have never been changed before, and do the new springs just fit or do you have to tension them first to line up with the mountings. Yeah I’ve never changed a set of springs before on any car.

bill

Tank · « **Reply #14 on:** January 26, 2009, 02:22:27 AM »

I know on some vehicles springs are "handed" because of the weight of the petrol tank etc.Is this the possible case with an XJ? Or is an XJ tank centralised underneath? Been so long since i had mine,but then mine always leaned to the drivers side because im a fat dastard..... :lol: :lol:

scrw · « **Reply #15 on:** January 26, 2009, 05:41:42 AM »

tank is central, but exhaust is drivers side :-k

dxmedia · « **Reply #16 on:** January 26, 2009, 08:57:11 AM »

I always thought that they were handed to the drivers side being highter since that always has 100kg + extra in it.

You'll need to get in and have someone measure it to get an accurate measurement.

PtP · « **Reply #17 on:** January 26, 2009, 11:53:21 AM »

I know the OME coil springs are handed, but I've no idea about the leafers!

Panic mechanic! · « **Reply #18 on:** January 26, 2009, 12:06:38 PM »

usually you will find the whole engine transmission is offset to one side to allow for steering etc. The problem may come with the fact that the cherokee is designed to be primarily lhd, hence everything is offset to the right, when converted to rhd this means there is more static weight offset to the right. as for spring rates, yes they can be different , but that would cause and upset in the way it drives.

Davemate · « **Reply #19 on:** January 26, 2009, 12:07:03 PM »

i did notice the anti-roll bar
on the drivers side i just undone the bolt
and swivelled the arm away
the passenger side (which is the high side)
when the arm was swivelled out of the way
the anti-roll bar came down under a bit off tension
and just touched the axel
does this mean the anti-roll bar is twisted?
would it affect the ride hight ?
when laying on the floor should the anti-roll bay
lay flat ?

dxmedia · « **Reply #20 on:** January 26, 2009, 12:43:33 PM »

On the zg and every other vehicles I played with, yup the arb should be straight.

On the xj I couldn't say but it sounds very strange to have one which isn't, concidering it's a tortion bar.

does it sit level with the arb off?

Davemate · « **Reply #21 on:** January 26, 2009, 02:13:23 PM »

that's the next thing to try
busy today
funeral tomorrow
hope to do it weds

Davemate · « **Reply #22 on:** January 30, 2009, 04:24:26 PM »

antiroll bar off
no change
still 1"out :-D

greggmo · « **Reply #23 on:** January 30, 2009, 09:20:52 PM »

result. well done. 8-)

Davemate · « **Reply #24 on:** February 02, 2009, 12:19:19 PM »

one last question
when i swapped the springs over
i done both sides at once
as both sides had their u bolts all undone
the only thing stopping the axel rotating out of line
was the shocks and the prop
how do i know if the axel is now not out of line
and if the "uj'S are under strain
or is a stupid question
i am driving the car and there are no stange sounds coming from the
prop-axel
so do i presume its ok?

Author Topic: leaf springs(problem) (Read 7683 times)

Davemate

scrw

Davemate

Davemate

Davemate

Davemate

bill99

Tank

scrw

dxmedia

Panic mechanic!

Davemate

dxmedia

Davemate

Davemate

Davemate