A slightly shorter spring over?

[Rockfrog]

Anyone know of a set of Springs I can use to get a slightly lower than usual SOA height?

Planning to swap a 3.55 geared 8.25 in the rear and really only want 3-4ish inches in the rear. Looking for a flatter spring to use.

Perhaps maybe a stock main with something like Ford 2wd 1/2 ton lower leaves? A Modified bastard pack, so I retain/increase the load carrying capacity but not the 5-6 inch lift height? This will only sit on 31s and be mainly a work/get me to work truck.

Planning an overall 3" max front lift to match.

I am looking for a stiffer rear spring and figured a flatter spring, sprung over might set me where I want ... With load capacity and still fight spring wrap more than the stock Springs would.

 

Or, have I just lost my last marble?

[FrankTheDog]

Metric Tons with Chevy drop shackles. More than enough to clear 31's.

Staying spring under will reduce your axle wrap compared to SOA.

Metric Tons will also limit wrap and have as much load capacity that an MJ should carry.

[Rockfrog]

Was just asking as I can get f150 Springs cheaply in these parts. They have a matching spring rate and easily modified to suit leaf lengths. My current load capacity is ... Well ... Less than stellar (even with load levellers and GM lowering shackles). Even with just me the drop is quite apparent when I step into the back ... And I'm only about 180lbs.

A new set of leaves (actually just having mine rebuilt loacally) is gonna push $500 ... And having a set shipped up from the states is not worth the cost in shipping (you can figure to add another $200 or so).

[Incommando]

I used the longer Barnes 4x4 perches. Neither in nailing on pavement nor any off-road obstacle yet encountered has resulted in spring wrap.

 

As for the leaf pack: I have not seen a post about making such a spring pack with definitive results. They very well could be out there but it looks like you might just have to do it & follow the trial and error method to get what you want. I used 2wd rear springs and got about 5.5" of rear lift when swapping in a similar 8.25. Had I used a shorter perch like the stock style or popular Mopar set  ( maybe .25" lower than my choice) and XJ shackles (- .5" over MJ shackles)  with my 2wd leaves I may have wound up between 4.5-5"... but that is just on paper as I have not tried it. 

[dankicksass]

Explorer and Ranger springs are flatter and much cheaper than Comanche springs, and nearly identical in measurements. You can probably get out the door under $150 for either of those. I put a chart up a while back, I think I left the Ford stuff on it.

 

Edit: I killed the Ford stuff when I put the chart up. Here's the whole thing, unedited with the Ford stuff included.

 

[Eagle]

This will only sit on 31s and be mainly a work/get me to work truck.

Planning an overall 3" max front lift to match.

I am looking for a stiffer rear spring and figured a flatter spring, sprung over might set me where I want ... With load capacity and still fight spring wrap more than the stock Springs would.

 

Or, have I just lost my last marble?

 

Considering that you can run 31s with NO lift, and that you don't seem to be planning any severe off-road use that will require extra ground clearance ... why are you even considering a SOA?

[Rockfrog]

Because my current rear leaves are bagged ... And one day down the road the MJ will be 4wd and eventually replace the XJ on the trail. So there may one day down the road be 33's ... But for now 31's it is

[mnkyboy]

Explorer and Ranger springs are flatter and much cheaper than Comanche springs, and nearly identical in measurements.

I have a buddy who just did Explorer leafs on an soa MJ, he reported a gain of about 1.25" over stock MJ leafs.

[dankicksass]

 

Explorer and Ranger springs are flatter and much cheaper than Comanche springs, and nearly identical in measurements.

I have a buddy who just did Explorer leafs on an soa MJ, he reported a gain of about 1.25" over stock MJ leafs.

I don't have any experience with using Explorer leafs myself. When I bent a spring, I took my good one to a spring shop and the Explorer/Ranger springs were the closest they had in stock but they weren't nearly as arched as the MJ springs. I didn't take them.

[Rockfrog]

 

Explorer and Ranger springs are flatter and much cheaper than Comanche springs, and nearly identical in measurements.

I have a buddy who just did Explorer leafs on an soa MJ, he reported a gain of about 1.25" over stock MJ leafs.

Exactly what I was hoping to hear ... Which sets the stage for the eventual gear swap from the XJ to MJ down the road.

THANKS

[dankicksass]

If you really want to keep it low, you could use XJ or various trucks' stock shackles to keep things tight.

[mnkyboy]

I believe he said the leafs are a little thicker. My brother has been considering trying a set on his MJ,he is hoping they live a little longer then the stock springs.

[mnkyboy]

 

 

Explorer and Ranger springs are flatter and much cheaper than Comanche springs, and nearly identical in measurements.

I have a buddy who just did Explorer leafs on an soa MJ, he reported a gain of about 1.25" over stock MJ leafs.

Exactly what I was hoping to hear ... Which sets the stage for the eventual gear swap from the XJ to MJ down the road.

THANKS

Keep in mind thats 1.25" over soa with a stock spring, you would need around 7" up front to sit level.

[Rockfrog]

Awe crap, not planning that high yet, but good to know for later on I guess.

Search continues ... Even a low 5" would be doable with 3" in the front.

[dankicksass]

I'd be interested in knowing how any of the cheap Ford springs perform in a stock spring-under setup. If one of them is adequate to replace the stock spring for ride and off road performance, that could be very good for the budget minded Jeepers out there.

[Dadinator]

Awe crap, not planning that high yet, but good to know for later on I guess.

Search continues ... Even a low 5" would be doable with 3" in the front.

Rockfrog,

Check the last page of my build thread in my sig.

I have the chevy drop shackle/ 2" puck metric ton combo with 31's.

had the 31's stock too.

Could not be happier with the 2".

I use the truck as a truck and not an off road toy.

[dankicksass]

Long as we're advocating not doing SOA, I've got 4.5in on rebuilt springs with a Superlift shorty AAL and Chevy shackles, and various Rubicon Express components up front to match. Rebuilding the springs cost me about $100 with the add-a-leaf, poly bushings, poly noise pads, Chevy shackles and paint.

[Rockfrog]

Looked into a rebuild of my current Springs with a 2" re-arch ... $500

 

I have stock 2wd rears, Monroe load levellers and GM lowering shackles.

In front I have Moog variable rate ZJ fronts and 1" spacers ...

 

Problem is my drivers side is visibly more sagged than the passenger side ... Front is all new so was just looking at rear spring options ... Figured the flatter Ford 2wd Springs (4wd were a 3" spring) would lessen the height gain was all.

[dankicksass]

Your springs might be rotted from salt like mine were.

[Incommando]

 

Awe crap, not planning that high yet, but good to know for later on I guess.

Search continues ... Even a low 5" would be doable with 3" in the front.

Rockfrog,

Check the last page of my build thread in my sig.

I have the chevy drop shackle/ 2" puck metric ton combo with 31's.

had the 31's stock too.

Could not be happier with the 2".

I use the truck as a truck and not an off road toy.

 

That sounds like a good combo to keep the other stock suspension and steering goodies in good shape. Replacing that stuff adds up fast.

[benjy_26]

What year Chebby drop shackles are you guys using?

[dankicksass]

They look like this. They're $40 unbranded at Advance or Autozone, both stores keep them in stock. Total length between eyes is 7 inches. The shackle mount on the frame needs to be massaged a little to fit the Chevy bushing, or you can grind down the bushing in the shackles. Chevy and Ford mount heir shackles upside down so a Chevy lowering shackle lifts a Jeep.

 

[Tommy]

I've got a parts truck with an soa 8.25 I was going to swap into mine until I decided it was too high. Then I considered swapping it and using some composite leafs I saw on this forum that actually drop the truck a couple inches. I figured with 5.5 lift from soa, the extra inch the current shackles are giving it, then the 2 inch drop from the springs, I'd be at about 4.5 total which is about what I want. Ultimately I decided that was a huge convoluted mess of compromises and that I'd be better off waiting until I can do an explorer 8.8 with disk brakes and stay spring under and get my lift from shackles and/or lift springs.

[benjy_26]

They look like this. They're $40 unbranded at Advance or Autozone, both stores keep them in stock. Total length between eyes is 7 inches. The shackle mount on the frame needs to be massaged a little to fit the Chevy bushing, or you can grind down the bushing in the shackles. Chevy and Ford mount heir shackles upside down so a Chevy lowering shackle lifts a Jeep.

 

Grassy @$$ for the info. I may pick some up just to mess with them.

[dankicksass]

 

They look like this. They're $40 unbranded at Advance or Autozone, both stores keep them in stock. Total length between eyes is 7 inches. The shackle mount on the frame needs to be massaged a little to fit the Chevy bushing, or you can grind down the bushing in the shackles. Chevy and Ford mount heir shackles upside down so a Chevy lowering shackle lifts a Jeep.

 

Grassy @$$ for the info. I may pick some up just to mess with them.

If you're taking the springs out, might want to get new bushings in them, replace the pads on the 2nd and 3rd leafs if they're worn out, and paint them. XJ spring bushings fit Comanches, I strongly recommend polyurethane. They're much easier to install and only about $30-35 from Daystar or Energy Suspension.