Any one done this?

What do you think?

Why? Why not?

My reasons why:
Simplicity, Ease of lift, better steering setups, if setup properly can flex just as well if not better than coil.

Also I am planing on running a waggy 44 up front.
With 36"+ size tires. Rock Crawling will be its specialty.

This guy did it... http://billyxj.tripod.com/leafsprings/leafs.htm

what do you think?

Be honest and informational

*Would you do Shackle Reverse? or Shackle Front? WHY?

After looking at that website, i definitely have to agree with you. Although those long arm kits are getting better, but yes it is much easier to set up, especially at going at such extreme height for an XJ. Plus, look at how many SOA YJ's there are, they all work great out on the trail, so its proven it leaf springs work great for flex. I think its a good idea.
Jordan

Cool just the kind of response i was looking for :)

any one else?


Originally posted by RockyXJ
After looking at that website, i definitely have to agree with you. Although those long arm kits are getting better, but yes it is much easier to set up, especially at going at such extreme height for an XJ. Plus, look at how many SOA YJ's there are, they all work great out on the trail, so its proven it leaf springs work great for flex. I think its a good idea.
Jordan

Complete waste of a good 4-bar set up. I'll bet you can get more flex out of stock geometry setup than the leaf spring. Yes the leafs are easier to set up but much harder to get to flex well. Now if you went with a long arm kit or even some control arm drop brakets you'd be way outflexing both.

Can i get 10" of lift effectively with the 4link system?

Originally posted by XJPete87
Complete waste of a good 4-bar set up. I'll bet you can get more flex out of stock geometry setup than the leaf spring. Yes the leafs are easier to set up but much harder to get to flex well. Now if you went with a long arm kit or even some control arm drop brakets you'd be way outflexing both.

Originally posted by SMART ASS
Can i get 10" of lift effectively with the 4link system?



No but why would you want to. Heigth isn't everything. Much better to keep a low center of gravity and have good flex than to be really top heavy with huge tires. The only reason to build something that tall is to run it through mud boggs. Don't know if that's your plan but i like the rocks.

I know height isnt everything, but i just want to be able to utilize my suspenssion system and body/fender clearance as much as possable..

I like Brent's setup, if i were to do this i would like atleast 2.5" more heighth, so that i can maximize the suspenssion compression as much as possable with 36"+ tires w/o rubing.
http://www.jeepinjunkie.com/remodel/MVC-020F.JPG

For example, this dude is runnin 35's and is almost rubbing
http://www.fototime.com/ftweb/bin/ft.dll/standard?pictid={F1B96B73-E5D5-400B-92FA-573047C4BB5C}


Originally posted by XJPete87


No but why would you want to. Heigth isn't everything. Much better to keep a low center of gravity and have good flex than to be really top heavy with huge tires. The only reason to build something that tall is to run it through mud boggs. Don't know if that's your plan but i like the rocks.

Ive got a buddy that chopped all his stock suspension parts off his XJ in the front and stuck 4" wrangler leaves up there.. That things rides WAY better than it ever did with coils, and a flexes out like crazy.. just some info.. I say if you are willing to cut everything off, go for it!
Scott

SMARTASS-The person who's website you mentioned in your first post is on htis board as "Billa Vista"

If he doesn't chime in, you could probably get your questions about his setup answered by putting up a post with his name, messaging him, or do a seach on Jeep and General 4x4- He posted a bunch on the set up as he was developing it.

I have 10 inches on MY XJ effectively..

Setup:.. sky jacker 8 " coils..RE corrective brackets..2"spacers... Currie trackbar..RE control armsw/johnnyjoints..YJ spring over brakelines..(altered to fit caliper) Sky jacker drop pitman arm and AGR steering box..Used the old sway bar link mounts for DUAL stabilzers..

I am working on a new steering setup.. but for now the Stock setup is working with the drop arm...I was just thinking about putting the ZJ 8cyl tie rods on because they are stiffer and you can buy them any where.. See I have this thought.. when your outta town wheeling and you break a CUSTOM steering tie rod.. what ya gonna do?.. I can still go to the dealer and buy my pieces..or even an auto parts store... I am not sayin some steering setups out there arent good.. but mine just is still working..thats all..

OH I also run 36's with TJ flares wih out rubbage...and I have no complaints about articulation..

Milkman,
Grocery getter with stuff....

How much did this run? total? piece by piece?



Originally posted by milkman
I have 10 inches on MY XJ effectively..

Setup:.. sky jacker 8 " coils..RE corrective brackets..2"spacers... Currie trackbar..RE control armsw/johnnyjoints..YJ spring over brakelines..(altered to fit caliper) Sky jacker drop pitman arm and AGR steering box..Used the old sway bar link mounts for DUAL stabilzers..

I am working on a new steering setup.. but for now the Stock setup is working with the drop arm...I was just thinking about putting the ZJ 8cyl tie rods on because they are stiffer and you can buy them any where.. See I have this thought.. when your outta town wheeling and you break a CUSTOM steering tie rod.. what ya gonna do?.. I can still go to the dealer and buy my pieces..or even an auto parts store... I am not sayin some steering setups out there arent good.. but mine just is still working..thats all..

OH I also run 36's with TJ flares wih out rubbage...and I have no complaints about articulation..

Milkman,
Grocery getter with stuff....

pics ?
:)

Originally posted by XJPete87
Complete waste of a good 4-bar set up. I'll bet you can get more flex out of stock geometry setup than the leaf spring. Yes the leafs are easier to set up but much harder to get to flex well. Now if you went with a long arm kit or even some control arm drop brakets you'd be way outflexing both.

you obviously have never seen a good leaf setup. I doupt stock length XJ arms could out flex YJ springs or wagoneer springs. personally however a long arm setup like Brent ortons is very simple and at most as much as work as leafs. its just if you want coils or leafs. I feel leafs are easier to setup so I got umm, but coils are already in an XJ....

yea a buddy and I converted the front of his chero. the thing works BAD ASS :D and rides like a cadi compared to before with the short control arms. sorry no good pic though

Some guy in the "big dogs" club in cali had YJ's on his. We ran Suprise, and he had crazy articulation. He made a full subframe that ran front to rear out of 2"x4" box...Wish i had digi pics, but only VHS video.

thats what my firends running. he's got 3" inch YJ leafs up front but hes going to 5's atleast. He's planning on running 38's on the next set of tires :D pretty bad cherokee.

sawwwweeeet, looks like i'll be doing leaf sprung...

For the front, I'll use the rear springs from the XJ, get them arced to 6" with a 2.5" addaleaf.
(UNDECIDED SHACKLE REVERSE OR FRONT... HELP!??!?!)

For the rear, i'll run Ford Ranger springs (57" long) arched to 6" Lift with 2.5" adaleafs, and long 45* shackl angle Under the frame.

[I have a ranger and the rear springs flex like madd]

With RS9012's, mounted in a "A" setup. for maximum shock lenth utilization, and better side/side sway stabilization.

Run 36's to start, with 5.38 gears, DANA 44 FRONT (waggy), and DANA 60 FF rear (ford).

NEED INPUT :usa: :)

I think it's about time that I chime in here.

if you want to do it it really isn't that hard.

using 3 inch toyota (up to 1985) front springs with the lca mount as a starter for either a rear hanger or for a shackle mount and for the front get a class 3 front reciever ($135) and bolt and weld it on there then weld hangers to it (it should support it). this is going the cheap route of course...you could build a custom front bumper with mounts integrated like the gentleman pictured below. sorry about the size of the pictures:

<img src=http://www.autocolorado.com/Owners_Pictures/Select_a_Page_of_the_Gallery/Jeep_Gallery_Page_Six/P6P2/color1.jpg>
<img src=http://www.autocolorado.com/Owners_Pictures/Select_a_Page_of_the_Gallery/Jeep_Gallery_Page_Nine/P9P1/loon1.jpg>

HOLY BAD ASS XJ BATMAN! :eek:

What does "ICA MOUNT" mean???

DETAILS DETAILS DETAILS!!!

Thats exactly what im looking for as far as ride heighth and spung...

Originally posted by mkbruin
I think it's about time that I chime in here.

if you want to do it it really isn't that hard.

using 3 inch toyota (up to 1985) front springs
<img src=http://www.autocolorado.com/Owners_Pictures/Select_a_Page_of_the_Gallery/Jeep_Gallery_Page_Six/P6P2/color1.jpg>
<img src=http://www.autocolorado.com/Owners_Pictures/Select_a_Page_of_the_Gallery/Jeep_Gallery_Page_Nine/P9P1/loon1.jpg>

that is a lca, as in LCA, not ica or ICA....

Just using my own rough measurements I found that a three inch toyota spring would work with using the class 3 front reciever for a mounting point.

I know that is a bad ass XJ, I have no idea what setup he is running though. I made an attempt to contact him a few times a few years ago but no reply.

Just a few ideas...just a few ideas.

i have wanted to do a leaf conversion on my friends cherokee but i always get worried about the frame being strong enough. I have been concidering welding plates to the frame rails around where the shackle mounts (shackle reversal) but i am still worried about the front. That area especially is not designed to deal with the forces it will see. Anyone have ideas or know for sure it is strong enugh?

Adding spacers is generally a bad idea and that is a large factor in shitty driving charactaristics. The link angles get way too extreme and the front end ties to drive under teh car. The cherokee was never designed to allow it to be big.

the frame rails alone aren't strong enough...that is why I am contemplating the use of a class 3 front reciever as a mounting point...it is strong enough in theory when installed properly.

Originally posted by NE-RokToy


you obviously have never seen a good leaf setup. I doupt stock length XJ arms could out flex YJ springs or wagoneer springs. personally however a long arm setup like Brent ortons is very simple and at most as much as work as leafs. its just if you want coils or leafs. I feel leafs are easier to setup so I got umm, but coils are already in an XJ....


I didn't say leafs couldn't flex I was saying it takes alot to get them to do so. I have been out with lots of YJ's. 2 come to mind both with the stock springs and a 3" shackle lift. As for flex in these rigs it was virtually non-exsistant. I gave them a bunchof pointers on how to improve it. They were both really upset with the performance of their YJ's. My stock XJ with the swaybar connected way out flexed them and this pissed them off even more. Yes a YJ can easily out flex a stock XJ but it has to set up right. I'm saying in stock form that the 4-bar will outflex the leafspring set up.

and my dad can beat up your dad.:flipoff2:

c'mon, let's get back to helping with a leaf conversion, not your little pissing match.

:rasta: You guys are funny :laughing: :smokin: :D :flipoff2:

:usa:

Originally posted by mkbruin
and my dad can beat up your dad.:flipoff2:

c'mon, let's get back to helping with a leaf conversion, not your little pissing match.

The former owner of the local 4x4 shop where I live made the most tricked XJ I have ever seen. First off he cut open the bottom of the unibody then basically made a tube frame that went inside of the uniody, then he welded the unibody back up so you couldn't see it. He also converted to leafs in the front. It had 60's front and rear, and with 38" tires I believe he sat at like 16" of lift over a stock XJ. I'll see if I can scrounge up some pics tomorrow.

RIGHT AWN!!!

GET EM PICS!!! :skull:


Originally posted by mudpup
The former owner of the local 4x4 shop where I live made the most tricked XJ I have ever seen. First off he cut open the bottom of the unibody then basically made a tube frame that went inside of the uniody, then he welded the unibody back up so you couldn't see it. He also converted to leafs in the front. It had 60's front and rear, and with 38" tires I believe he sat at like 16" of lift over a stock XJ. I'll see if I can scrounge up some pics tomorrow.

hey guys, a good buddy of mine, mechanic at Jeep Thrills in Toronto has swapped leafs in his xj and a dana 60 with 35 boggers, works good, I built a big ass belly pan in my cherokee and mounted 36 1/2" custom long arms with johnny joints at both ends, 8 inch rock ready coils and 2 inch spacers, very cool, right now i'm working on the rear 3 link with 4 1/2" front coils, i gots 35 sx, just to be different i gotta try extreme lift on an xj with coils all around, the cherokee is such a superior vehicle that both axle set ups will work mint, now who's up for an air bag system?
photos.yahoo.com/petehamann