Do I have the wrong coil springs?

[Eagle_SX4]

Had the front tires off today replacing the flexible brake lines. I noticed that the coil springs are rubbing on the upper half of the C's. Also they aren't centered over the coil seats on the axle. The diameter of the coils is about 5.25 inches. What is the diameter of a stock spring? (Not the wire diameter just overall)  Here are some pictures.

[Pete M]

I want to say it's roughly 5" diameter.   but I'm in michigan at the moment and have nothing here to measure.  lol.  but I'll check when I get back tomorrow. 

 

is the coil spring retainer there?  is it clamping the end of the coil?

[gogmorgo]

x2 on the coil retainer. Just a little bolt-on tab that holds the bottom coil in place. I've seen it more than once where the bottom coil snaps off for whatever reason. When I noticed it happened on my MJ I just rotated the coil to get it back under the retainer (probably loosened the both first) until I eventually replaced the spring with another.

[Eagle_SX4]

The coil retainers are there and in place.

[Pete M]

what does the other coil look like?

[Eagle_SX4]

Here are some pics of the driver's side looks worse than the passenger side. Looks like the coils are starting to wear grooves into the C.

[Eagle_SX4]

After looking at the pics closer it looks like my C's are bent. I don't have another axle to compare it to. What do you think?

[AZJeff]

I agree that the yoke of the “C” looks splayed, with the upper branch of the “C” looks bent upwards.   That might also imply the entire “C” is bent inward at the top.

 

I will try to photograph one of my axle ends when I get home and post it.

[Eagle_SX4]

Thanks any pictures of other axles would be appreciated.

[Pete M]

[Pete M]

what's your caster set to?  this is a stock 2wd MJ.  the coils could definitely touch the Cs if the caster was changed.

 

 

 

[Eagle_SX4]

Caster is about 7 degrees. (The ground was about 1 degree sloped down towards the front). Angle finder is resting on the top of the upper ball joint. This is the driver's side. Passenger side was the same.

[Eagle_SX4]

Was browsing Rockauto and stumbled upon the moog cc784 springs for dirt cheap. (Got the last set). I have read mixed reviews about these springs but for the price I couldn't pass them up. I ordered them last week and just came in today. The overall diameter is 5 inches even. I must have the wrong springs in the front. The odd thing is that the current springs sit right at factory ride height plus the 3 inch coil spacer. I am going to get them swapped out this upcoming weekend and hopefully everything will stop rubbing.

[Eagle_SX4]

Finally got around to installing the new springs. So far they are much better. Haven't driven it yet still need to tighten every back up and check my alignment. I will post some pics tomorrow. The springs I took out relaxed to same outside diameter as the new springs. It seems like they were just old worn out springs that were uncoiling as they compressed. It looks like someone had taken some lift springs and cut off a few coils then installed them with a 3 inch coil spacer to increase spring rate.