I'm debating using a set of stock XJ coils under the front of my Sidekick with a Dana 60 front axle and a 4.3. Think they are too stiff? Rubicon Express thought they MIGHT be around 160#. I plan on using a set of Aerostar springs in the rear. Help me out, kids.

C'mon, I know someone has an opinion.

I dunno they seem pretty soft on a XJ

the vehicles shoud be about the same

except your 60 will pull em down more...

but I think hte 4.3 is lighter than a 4.0

I dunno I say run em...

Personally they would be to soft for my taste. 160lbs is rediculusly soft.

I would much rather have them be too soft than too stiff. I need all the flex I can get, then I can tune it in from there. A stock Sidekick weighs only 1800 lbs. That's cool! But I agree, that the 4.3 is heavier than the 4.0 so I guess I may just have to try them and see. Any one know what the spring rates are on a new set of lift springs?

Wait, you're saying the 4.3l v6 is heavier than the 4.0 I6? I dont think so. Course I have a bad memory for this since I have neither. But it strikes me that the 4.0's a bit of a hog on the weight side. And I dont remember the 4.3 being any heavier than my 3.8

No, I was trying to say that yes, the 4.0 is heavier. Just not paying attention. My 4.3 is the cutest little thing I've seen! Not as cute as the factory 4 cylinder thingy, though! That's why I am hoping that the springs will be soft enough to give me alittle flex while holding everything up. I have to clear a set of 38x12.50 SX's, but the frame sits rather low so it won't turn out too bad. I just need to run the coils until I gather the green for my nitrogen shocks.

stock XJ front coils are 150#. ;)

have you done the measurements to see if the factory xj's aer what you need?

If you grab a set of JC whitney springs you get a higher spring rate...hell you can even get a set of 3 inch coils for about $100

Those springs will be plenty soft. They were too soft in the front of my '89 Toyota. I think they are very similar to Aerostar coils. I have visually compared them and the coil spacing and spring diameter is almost the same.

So i know the areostar coils are VERY VERY soft, but anyone know the lbs?

Mr. Rockstomper should be able to answer that one! Oh scotty! where are you? Dude I think the xj's should be perfect, go with em! By the way mr. twisted metal what is your wheel base gonna be?

that thing is gonna flop around like no other, it will flex like mad but I forsee many flops with such soft springs (expecially if it will be tall at all and full width :eek: )

My "planned" wheelbase will be around 91". I would, of course, like a few more inches, but I'll just have to wait and see what I can do. I haven't even been able to start on it yet. I have this stupid Cj7 in my garage that won't go away. Every time I get it close to finished, the kid thinks of something else he wants done. But the moneys good, so I can't cry too loudly.
If it ends up being too squirrely, I'll just add one of those nifty little Currie(but of my own design, of course) type sway bars. I just got out of the garage and was playing with a couple of the XJ coils. They are pretty soft. Maybe I'll use them in the rear and find some lift coils for the front. JC Witney, huh? Didn't know they carried anything that wasn't plastic or chrome!

You can get the QA1 coils from summit which are 14"x2.5" all the way up to 190lbs for 35$ ea

Originally posted by wsuxjer
stock XJ front coils are 150#. ;)

Maybe for xj's with the 2.8, i know xj's with the I-6 have a spring rate of 165.. if im not mistaken..

Bratcher

So what's your opinion, bratcher? Run the stock Xj coils, or search the aftermarket? What do you guys get for a set of, say, 4" lift coils? If you can't tell me here, PM me.

Originally posted by twistedmetal
So what's your opinion, bratcher? Run the stock Xj coils, or search the aftermarket? What do you guys get for a set of, say, 4" lift coils? If you can't tell me here, PM me.

Im thinkin stock xj coils will work, the xj's I-6 is actually quite heavy, especially compared to your sidekicks engine. Could you measure for me the distance from your upper coil towner to the lower coil mount on the axle? If your wanting say 3" more lift than what you curently have add 3" on to this distance.

BTW we have pleanty of stock xj coils in the shop that have come off ones we've lifted. I can send you a pair if you want, sometimes the best way to find out something is just to try it out.

Bratcher

I have 2 pairs of stock coils, so that's not a problem. The problem lies in the fact that the Sidekick is still an unmolested virgin vehicle. After the IFS gets shaved, I will have a bare frame to work with so the coil buckets can be placed wherever I need them to be. I just don't want to end up with the coil mounted under the frame. Cheezy, and unstable. I'll be running 63" wide Dana 60's so mounting is not an issue. I don't want the coils too long, either, as they start doing that slinky thing. I'm thinking now that a 3" lift coil may be in order. Ya' think? Don't forget the Platinum 9500, either.

I'm using a pair of TJ coils up front for mine, found them to be a lot nicer than the XJ ones I was running before in the front. Sorry, can't help with the spring rates, but just from the setup that I am runnign with the coils running about the stock mounting location (from IFS system) the XJ ones were too stiff. I still have the little 1.6L though, so am probably lighter, although mine tips the scales at last check at 2700lbs with me in it, but no spare parts or tools.

Hope that helps, care to outline your plans for the front end suspension setup?

Ryan Gates
92 Sidekick

(yes I know I'm a newbie!)

to my knowledge the TJ and teh XJ coils are teh same rates, shape, and size.

At this point, my suspension plans are a "mono-link" in the rear and the same up front if I can work it around the driveshaft. These would be large triangles with a single 1.25" Heim joint at the crossmember and a floating wishbone to provide tracking. These would eliminate the bent lower links like you would find on a 4 link setup. The reason I want the mono-links is because I want to run a full triangle shaped belly pan under both driveshafts. No more pretzels!