I have a 6 inch long arm kit on my XJ and i want to swap out the crappy half pipe leaf springs in the rear. i have a set of dakota springs that i want to swap in. i'm going to move the rear shackle hanger down about three inches and back 3 inches.i was just wondering if anyone has done this before, and if so how big of a shackle and block did you use.

IIRC - a longer shackle provides 50% lift relative to it's increase in length.
So... lengthening (or moving it down) your shackle 3" would only net 1.5" I THINK. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong cuz I'm about to start rigging up some type of lift too.

Kilby, you are correct...

Thanks.

That's a little tidbit I picked up from SEARCHING. :D

If your gonna move the shackle down, why not move the front hanger down also?

And if your gonna do all that fab work...why not put the leafs UNDER the "frame rail". :idea: :flipoff2:

Yes, i know what shackles do. im not a fawking retard. and why would i weld something onto the frame that i dont have when i already have leaf springs that are offset so all i have to do is make a new shackle mount.i was just wondering if anyone has done this before so i can set it at the right height the first time instead of having to redo it several times.

It'll be interesting to see how long they last under something the weight of a Cherokee. I run Dakota leafs on all 4 corners of my Willys and they are a nice flexible spring, but I've already bent or flattened 2 of them.

It'll be interesting to see how long they last under something the weight of a Cherokee. I run Dakota leafs on all 4 corners of my Willys and they are a nice flexible spring, but I've already bent or flattened 2 of them.
Are those 4x4 springs or 2x4 you've bent?

Are those 4x4 springs or 2x4 you've bent?

4x4 springs, the 3 leaf + overload variety. Both times they were on the front of the jeep - shackles in front. Also bent up a set of the durango variety (5 leaf) which are much weaker.

With the dakota springs you definitly need to run a traction bar in the rear even when you are spring under like mine is. I'm considering running a single bar traction bar on the front so that I stop bending fronts.

I run Dakota leafs in the rear of my XJ for about a year now and no problems yet and I wheel the piss out of it.

I used the XJ main leaf with the dakota pack under it and I cut the eyes off the dakota main leaf it netted me about 4.5 or 5" of lift. You don't need a trac bar for them either.

What is your reasoning for moving the mounts back? I understand using a longer shackle but why move them back are you gonna extend the wheel base or what?

Yes, i know what shackles do. im not a fawking retard. and why would i weld something onto the frame that i dont have when i already have leaf springs that are offset so all i have to do is make a new shackle mount.i was just wondering if anyone has done this before so i can set it at the right height the first time instead of having to redo it several times.

Setting it the right height.....for what? Don't really know what you're trying to accomplish with the new shackle mounts.......more info would be good.

If your gonna move the shackle down, why not move the front hanger down also?

And if your gonna do all that fab work...why not put the leafs UNDER the "frame rail". :idea: :flipoff2:

good one.......... :D

i need to set the right height so my front doesn't sit higher than the rear. i'm moving the rear shackle hanger because stock cherokee springs are 51 inches and dakota leaf springs are 56 inches long. that means they are 5 inches longer and since cherokees have gay boxed in shackle hangers the rear shackle wont move around for crap.

I've heard most people doing what buckyXJ did. I may do it soon myself. Nver heard of any problems with that set up

As I said before...put the leafs UNDER the "frame rails". Your gonna do fab work anyway, so why not?

As I said before...put the leafs UNDER the "frame rails". Your gonna do fab work anyway, so why not?

You're kidding....right? I thought you were kidding before........now I hope you're kidding.......

i need to set the right height so my front doesn't sit higher than the rear. i'm moving the rear shackle hanger because stock cherokee springs are 51 inches and dakota leaf springs are 56 inches long. that means they are 5 inches longer and since cherokees have gay boxed in shackle hangers the rear shackle wont move around for crap.

I put 57" long springs on mine......MJ and 1/2 ton Chev. A good boomerang shackle works good in the back, it's bent so doesn't hit the shackle box, and they are longer......but probably not long enough for what you want. The rear shackle boxes do need to be beefed up, and some guys plate across the bottom and put tabs under that plate for the upper shackle mount, which would work well for what you want to do. I don't know where that will put the axle in the wheel well, probably too far back. I thought about moving my axle back but there wasn't much room to do it, and the upper shock mounts should be moved if you do.

On mine, I moved the front spring hanger forward 3", used a ready made spring hanger for a circle track car, and then made my own boomerang shackle for 2" more length in the back. This kept the axle centered in the wheel well for better clearance.

You're kidding....right? I thought you were kidding before........now I hope you're kidding.......

Why would I be kidding? Not like it hasn't been done before. If this guy has the fab skills to move the shackle hanger down and back, then he has the skills to move the leafs in and under. How do you think my front leafs are mounted? They are UNDER the rails, not beside the rails. My rears will be going under soon. Christ people...you act like this is an impossible task or something. :rolleyes:

How are you going to move the shackle mount "back"? Redrill the hole in the shackle box? I moved my rear leaves under the rails when I swapped in the MJ springs. Of course, I wanted to increase my wheelbase, so it was a more attractive option for me too. Plus netted me around 9-10" of lift (4.5-5 for the MJ's, same for going under rail)

There is pretty much a step by step process:
1. What is the offset in the center pin?
2. Where do the mounts need to be fore/aft to put the axle in the center of the wheel well? (Assuming you want to keep the stock WB)
3. Can you modify the existing mounts? ie. redrilling the shackle box.
4. Make new mounts if you have to.

Don't make this too hard. The ADVANTAGE to leaves is they're simple to install.


Jay

putting them under the frame rails = :rainbow: :flipoff2:

but that is the way i will be running my springs :flipoff2:
im just wondering why that is supposed to be a joke? also you will gain a tad bit of flex because the springs are closer together.

each his own.

Why would I be kidding? Not like it hasn't been done before. If this guy has the fab skills to move the shackle hanger down and back, then he has the skills to move the leafs in and under. How do you think my front leafs are mounted? They are UNDER the rails, not beside the rails. My rears will be going under soon. Christ people...you act like this is an impossible task or something. :rolleyes:

It's not at all impossible....very doable. Just why would you want to do it? Not trying to be a wise guy, I really thought at first that you were kidding. While moving the springs under the frame will give additional lift, and flex to some degree, this comes with a loss of stability. It's not hard to get sufficient flex out of rear XJ springs, and the combination of front coils and outboard rear leaf springs gives the XJ pretty good flex with decent balance and stability.

Putting the rear springs under the frame has been done before, and everyone I know who has done it has moved them back, or gone on to some other setup because they didn't like how it worked. There are some generally proven things that work well on XJ's, and some generally proven things that don't work so well, and moving the springs under the axle is one of the latter.

And I suppose you are also one of "those people" who will call people stupid for switching to front leafs on an XJ. :rolleyes:

The advantages that have not been mentioned are...
Easier fab work for hangers, and shackle mounts.
you can move the axle where you want it, without worrying about the limitations of the factory mounting locations.
And as mentioned above, the added flex (flex is overrated).

And I suppose you are also one of "those people" who will call people stupid for switching to front leafs on an XJ. :rolleyes:

The advantages that have not been mentioned are...
Easier fab work for hangers, and shackle mounts.
you can move the axle where you want it, without worrying about the limitations of the factory mounting locations.
And as mentioned above, the added flex (flex is overrated).

I already had a chance to call you stupid if I was going to.....I didn't. It's up to you if you want leaves on the front. Front leaves would not do what I want, but they are a simple to do.

Regarding moving the springs under the axle, I've never seen that "it's easy to do" is sufficient justification for a mod to my rig. I modify it to make it more reliable and more capable, regardless of how "easy" it is. Of course you have to consider the difficulty of mods before you decide to do them, but easy in itself, to me anyway, is a lousy reason for a modification. But, like has been said.....to each his own.

BTW, another reason springs under the axle is not a good idea is the loss of ground clearance. We regularly slide on rocks down the frame, and it's nice having the front spring hangers up on the side of the frame, rather than hanging underneath. Some mods detract in one area more than they improve in another, those are not good mods.

Maybe I'm miss understanding what the poster was asking.

If your meaning to just move the shackle mount down and back but leaving the stock front mount in that position, then there are a couple people that have done this. Ken Carter/Bruiser, Borton, and not sure who else. I like the idea alot, smaller arch in the springs, etc.

I already had a chance to call you stupid if I was going to.....I didn't. It's up to you if you want leaves on the front. Front leaves would not do what I want, but they are a simple to do.

Regarding moving the springs under the axle, I've never seen that "it's easy to do" is sufficient justification for a mod to my rig. I modify it to make it more reliable and more capable, regardless of how "easy" it is. Of course you have to consider the difficulty of mods before you decide to do them, but easy in itself, to me anyway, is a lousy reason for a modification. But, like has been said.....to each his own.

BTW, another reason springs under the axle is not a good idea is the loss of ground clearance. We regularly slide on rocks down the frame, and it's nice having the front spring hangers up on the side of the frame, rather than hanging underneath. Some mods detract in one area more than they improve in another, those are not good mods.

Where did you get the idea that we are talking about moving the springs under the axle? By "easier to do" I mean fabbing up the hangers and shackle mounts. Fabbing mounts (and plating the unibody) under the rails is going to be easier than trying to strengthen up, and relocate the factory mounting points. And thank you for not jumping on the "front leafs in an XJ are stupid" trend.

Where did you get the idea that we are talking about moving the springs under the axle?

By "easier to do" I mean fabbing up the hangers and shackle mounts. Fabbing mounts (and plating the unibody) under the rails is going to be easier than trying to strengthen up, and relocate the factory mounting points. And thank you for not jumping on the "front leafs in an XJ are stupid" trend.

From here:
If this guy has the fab skills to move the shackle hanger down and back, then he has the skills to move the leafs in and under. How do you think my front leafs are mounted? They are UNDER the rails, not beside the rails. My rears will be going under soon. Christ people...you act like this is an impossible task or something.

And here:
The advantages that have not been mentioned are...
Easier fab work for hangers, and shackle mounts.
you can move the axle where you want it, without worrying about the limitations of the factory mounting locations.
And as mentioned above, the added flex (flex is overrated).

And here:
As I said before...put the leafs UNDER the "frame rails". Your gonna do fab work anyway, so why not?


The guy who started this thread didn't ask about moving the springs under the frame, we're only talking about it because you brought it up. Once you're cutting and welding to make brackets....what's easier? :rolleyes:

I've both moved my front spring hanger forward and beefed up the rear shackle box. Both were simple, straight forward fab work.....had to be easier than making four pairs of spring mounts and welding them on, moving the spring pad on the axle, and moving the lower shock mounts. Sorry, I just don't see it as easier......besides not working very well. :shaking:

hey i dont know why you two dont just quick being little bitches and learn how to read. i already said i have dakota springs which has pretty much the same shortside as XJ springs. so obviously i dont need to move the spring hanger. i was just wondering how long of a shackle and how big of a block i will need to make it sit level with 6 inch front lift coils.

I need to do something about the rear of my heep too. My 6" lift BigOffRoad (read:Alcan) leaves really netted me over 8" yet my rear shackle angle looks like this ___/ . Since I have only run 1 week in Moab and 150 yards in JV, maybe they haven;t settled yet (in nearly 2 years). I have spent quite a bit of time on my front suspension, yet have terrible down travel in the rear. I assume moving the rear box forward a bit and building a boomerang will help.

thread hijack, sorry