Rear Coil Conversion thoughts

[Dill30705]

I'm in the process of getting rid of the Rustys junk under my 1992 mj short bed 4wd and need some advice for a better ride. Right now the truck is lifted 5ish inches in the rear and 4 to 4.5 in the front with a cheap rustys short arm and spring over kit. I have installed WJ knuckles and brakes. Eaton elocker and 4.11 gears. Went to full crossover highsteer setup with chevy Tie rod ends and WJ brakes. I custom made a new track bar and currently my drag link and track bar are almost parallel and level. I'm in the process of replacing rustys springs with ome springs and a cavfab 3 link in the front. I have bilstien 5100 shocks all around. Here is where it get interesting I have a ford 8.8 disk break rear end I installed and after getting it put in I have realized that I have sagging lead pack on 1 side. The overload leaf has already been removed from the previous owner and it currently is pretty stiff ride in the back. I have contemplated going with oem replacements for $350 rated at 1230lbs. Alcan springs quoted me $630 plus shipping they said they could make a set rated at 1000lbs. Or I'm thinking about ripping it all out and doing a 3 link or 4 link rear with 2 inch lift TJ coils which should fit perfect. It's looking like with the gas tank I don't have room to make a 4 link or crossmember to place the 3rd link on so I'm not sure that having the 3rd link on 1 side might be to much stress for the unibody. I was thinking of making plates that bolts to the frame for the lower control arm mounts and I think that will be fine but the upper control arm mount has me stumped. I have thought about going with an xj or tj or yj fuel tank in the spare tire area but don't know if they would fit. Then I could make a crossmember for the upper and lower links. Has anyone ever seen this done? Do you think it's worth the investment of probably $1000 in materials? Would the ride be any better with say 2.5 lift ome soft springs from rear of a tj then the leafs that are under it now. I will post pictures as soon as I figure out how.

[Dill30705]

Click the link to view photos!

 

https://goo.gl/photos/Q1jmtScVVxfNXygK6

[Pete M]

unless you're looking for a challenging project or truly need the links (i.e. you're chopping off the bed behind the rear axle) then it seems to me a set of 2wd leafs from a junkyard should be all you need.  car-part.com might be able to help you find some.  

[Dill30705]

Luckily I know I guy down the road that has a Comanche and Cherokee junk yard and is willing to sale to me. I'm just hesitant to buy used leafs with a ton of miles on them. Are 2wd leafs different than 4wd? everything I can find says they offered what I have same as 2wd leafs 1230lb rated and then the metric ton leafs 1700lb rated I believe.

[Pete M]

from the factory 2wds sit an inch lower than 4wds so a 2wd set would better match your current lift.  there's no way of knowing what condition used leafs will be in without looking at them.  I've found perfectly good sets in the yards many a time. :D  

 

metric tons were rated for a tic over 2000 lbs (i.e. a ton).  

[Eagle]

 

metric tons were rated for a tic over 2000 lbs (i.e. a ton).  

 

 

Apples and oranges. He's talking spring rating, you're talking bed carrying load. The metric ton was rated for 2200 pounds -- which is what a metric ton is, hence the name.

[75sv1]

Might also look into slider shackles. Suppose to be 'almost' like a 4-link rear. I think they add 1/2-1 inch of lift. I was curious about them. I need or want to 'de-lift' a bit in the rear. So, I put that idea or plan on hold. Then again I don't know if there is one specific for the MJ.