mjeff87 Posted November 5, 2007 Share Posted November 5, 2007 Spent Saturday down at Pat’s house springing over the MJ and drinking beer :D We bumped it up on his trailer and did the rear first. I opted to leave the e-brake cables and brake line connected and just remove the leaves…..I’m sick of bleeding brakes (see my other thread about the XJ booster install last weekend). Got the rear done in about a half hour: A shot of Pat’s better side LOL Image Not Found Image Not Found Then we moved on to the front. Pat’s knowledge and trailer straps made the job go pretty smooth. Kept the wheels on to replace the LCA’s (1” longer than stock), which centered the wheels in the wheelwells perfectly: Image Not Found Passenger side, with new LCA: Image Not Found Driver side, with stock LCA: Image Not Found I spun the ACOS down as far as they would adjust, (still have about a 1” rake which I wanted), and reseated the springs: Image Not Found Image Not Found Then we installed the RE adjustable trackbar and bracket, after the ride height was set: Image Not Found I had already installed longer front shocks which I “thought” would be long enough, but they weren’t. Pat dug thru his parts pile and found a set that would fit to get me home :cheers: Image Not Found Couple shots of Pat’s XJ museum. I purposely didn’t take a pic of Pong…..it doesn’t need to be seen in the shape it’s currently in (under construction):D Image Not Found Image Not Found Image Not Found Image Not Found I still have lots of little bugs to work out, mainly in the front end. I NEED longer UCA’s……caster right now is about 10 degrees :oops: and I actually had to stop halfway home and pull the front driveshaft because of the funky pinion angle. Once I get the UCA’s in and caster/pinion angle back, I need a set of disco’s or at least extended sway bar links (my sway bar is verrrry unhappy with me right now). Also need front shocks, and have to figure out what to do for rear shocks. We tried reusing the MJ spring plates on top of the packs, but that puts the lower mount too close to the upper, about 14”. I put my stock shocks back on just to get home, but they bottomed out on just about every bump I hit. I took them back out and ran around yesterday with no shocks…..very interesting experience to say the least. I’ve got a local shop ordering me in a set of shorties (11”/17”, for an Exploder I think) today just to get around, but ultimately I’m going to have to get the lower mounts back on the tube and get some longer shocks. Also, the Dakota rear line is too short at full flex, so I either have to replace that with something longer or extend the hard line down off the frame some. And the YJ front lines are just barely long enough...I'm going to drop the hard lines a bit on the framerails or add some extensions. All things considered, I’m very happy with the results so far. Either 33” MT’s or 34X9.5’s are in the near future. Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pingpong Posted November 5, 2007 Share Posted November 5, 2007 You forgot to mention me breaking the driveshaft yoke :eek: Or the fun we had trying to get the used (freebie) shocks to work :oops: All in all it wasnt too bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JEEPERZ Posted November 5, 2007 Share Posted November 5, 2007 I'm attempting the same set up this weekend, i just ordered the ACOS this morning. i currently have a 3" lift so i think ill need to remove the aal. i also ordered the rocky road SOA bolt on. still trying to figure out where to get my LCA's I wish i knew some jeepaholics around here. You truck looks nice man!! did you use any shims? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjeff87 Posted November 5, 2007 Author Share Posted November 5, 2007 Thanks! We welded the new perches parallel with the old ones (the stock SUA ones are still on the tubes) to keep the same stock pinion angle which is about 7 degrees. Didn't install any shims, and there's only a tiny vibe between 38-42 mph. But, I think that is being caused by the rear UJ which I didn't change out. Put a new one on the front because I swapped in a YJ yoke, but was too lazy to replace the rear one. I'm gonna swap it out later this week and see what happens. Even if it's not the UJ, the vibe is so minor that I don't think I'm going to worry about it right now. On the AAL, you're gonna be hella high if you leave it in I would think. The SOA netted a good 5" in the rear, and I have those ACOS spun down as far as they will go and the front is still about 1" lower. Those are V8 ZJ coils in the front, which got me a good 2" of lift just by themselves (mine's a 2.5L), but they are really compressed now as they sit. Crazy amount of extension yes, but I think I'll end up redoing the front with taller springs. I've got a set of 5.5" TJ coils at my disposal...I think those along with the ACOS collapsed will do the trick. But for now, it's all functional. Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pingpong Posted November 5, 2007 Share Posted November 5, 2007 Yeah Jeff and I welded the perches on about a month or two ago.. and like he said we just set the parallel with the stock perches. I personally think if he goes any higher he needs long arms or a set of drop brackets. Jeff still needs to figure out how he wants his shocks mounted... and whenever he gets back out this way we can figure out how he wants it. As for finding other jeep junkies.. try finding a local club.. most jeepers will help anothe jeeper out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JEEPERZ Posted November 6, 2007 Share Posted November 6, 2007 how tall is the truck now with the new lift? i can't wait to get started on mine. how much time did it take you guys, or should we calculate beers not time :brows: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjeff87 Posted November 6, 2007 Author Share Posted November 6, 2007 Well, I didn't measure before and after, but I do know that with 31's on it, the rear flares are 37" from the ground (fronts are 36"). From the rear, if I lean on the tailgate, the top of it is armpit height on me, and I'm 5'8". I'd say altogether the SOA netted about 5.75 to 6" of total lift 8) As far as time goes, it only took about a half a day (and an 18 pak of Bud Light), but I've been planning this build for a good while now, and had most everything in hand, parts-wise, before we started. Even with all the pre-planning, I've still got a few issues to deal with post lift. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feerocknok Posted November 6, 2007 Share Posted November 6, 2007 On the rear lift, factory height is 9.2" from the axle to the frame, just to the inside of the bumpstop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pingpong Posted November 6, 2007 Share Posted November 6, 2007 Jeff measured from the flare to the ground. I don't want to be the one I told you so on some of the Post lift woes :roll: but I did :nanner: The only issue I didnt see before hand was the UCA issue... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob S Posted November 6, 2007 Share Posted November 6, 2007 Truck looks good! Always have a few bugs to work out after a lift. What control arms are you going with? Or maybe drop brackets? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjeff87 Posted November 6, 2007 Author Share Posted November 6, 2007 Well, for now, those lowers will suffice. I need to get longer uppers to correct the pinion and the caster (and be able to put my front driveshaft back in :oops: ) Pat has this strong urge to help me go to longarms.......we'll see :D Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pingpong Posted November 6, 2007 Share Posted November 6, 2007 Thats only cause they ride better then the short arm kit... did I mention they ride better :nuts: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
comancheap Posted November 6, 2007 Share Posted November 6, 2007 Looks great! What's your plan for tires/gearing? And did those V8 coils change the ride or handling of your truck? (before the SOA and ACOS etc) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted November 6, 2007 Share Posted November 6, 2007 On the AAL, you're gonna be hella high if you leave it in I would think. The SOA netted a good 5" in the rear, and I have those ACOS spun down as far as they will go and the front is still about 1" lower. Those are V8 ZJ coils in the front, which got me a good 2" of lift just by themselves (mine's a 2.5L), but they are really compressed now as they sit. Crazy amount of extension yes, but I think I'll end up redoing the front with taller springs. I've got a set of 5.5" TJ coils at my disposal...I think those along with the ACOS collapsed will do the trick. But for now, it's all functional. That's almost 5" over mine Jeff. But I expect the rear will settle a bit over time. And I like the rear up about an inch higher than the front as they came from the factory stock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pingpong Posted November 7, 2007 Share Posted November 7, 2007 It looked really tough when It pulled out the yard. I don't think they will settle much unless he starts to flex them really hard. By the way.. Dakota, and Extended yj brake lines are almost flexed out with this size of lift :eek: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjeff87 Posted November 7, 2007 Author Share Posted November 7, 2007 I'm picking up a set of shorty rear shocks this afternoon.....11.3"/17.8" spec'd for a Taco. We'll see how they work out. Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pingpong Posted November 7, 2007 Share Posted November 7, 2007 Thats great.. might work better then bottoming out every bump Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjeff87 Posted November 7, 2007 Author Share Posted November 7, 2007 For search purposes: Static distance from upper/lower shock mounts reusing the stock MJ spring plates on my rig is 14.5”. I ordered up a set of Monroe #32207, which are for a Taco rear…..collapsed length is 11.3”, extended is 18”. Put them on tonight and rode around a bit, and all seems good. Jeff Image Not Found Image Not Found Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pingpong Posted November 8, 2007 Share Posted November 8, 2007 How much up travel did you get... How they flex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JEEPERZ Posted November 9, 2007 Share Posted November 9, 2007 hey, did you have welded on bump stop holders? I'm doing my acos tomorrow and was just wondering. mine is a 90 mj. in the instructions i printed it says same have them welded and some don't. just trying to figure out if it will be an easy project or not. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feerocknok Posted November 9, 2007 Share Posted November 9, 2007 hey, did you have welded on bump stop holders? I'm doing my acos tomorrow and was just wondering. mine is a 90 mj. in the instructions i printed it says same have them welded and some don't. just trying to figure out if it will be an easy project or not. :D Don't think they changed till '97 on the Cherokees. You will have twist off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjeff87 Posted November 9, 2007 Author Share Posted November 9, 2007 yeah, '90 bumpstops are screw-in. If you haven't had them out in a while, or ever, you may have to get them started unscrewing with a pipe wrench.....slip it inbetween the coils and spin them off a bit at a time. If the ends are still "cupped" and haven't rusted off yet, they won't fit thru the top of the coil. You have to unscrew them first, then remove the coil. Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JEEPERZ Posted November 9, 2007 Share Posted November 9, 2007 thanks guys, can't wait to get started! I posted a project, so I'll keep the progress there. Thanks again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
offroader461 Posted November 9, 2007 Share Posted November 9, 2007 my 87 has screw in bumpstops as well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted November 9, 2007 Share Posted November 9, 2007 Hey Jeff; They let you get away with the exhaust pipe that short in the VA inspections? I remember getting nailed on that once.............. Image Not Found Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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