im starting with a '91 YJ 4.0L, tf999, np231. im not going to change the engine, trans or transfer at this stage. i just picked up a 14bolt rear and a dana hp60 front, both 1 ton axles. in the front i am adding fox coilovers with a 3 link, the rear im thinking soa waggy springs stretched to the back of the bumper for the mount. is rear leafs the way to go? i want input on what has and has not worked for setting up the 3 link and the rear ladder bar if leafs are the way to go. here is a pick of what im starting with. crappy 5" suspension lift and a 2" body lift. i want just enough clearence to run 38.5" tsl / sx tires.
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q285/mellow7399/94653.jpg

sure, rear leafs will work just fine. lots of my TJ buddies are converting from coils to leafs in the rear. yes you will need an axle wap bar in the rear so plan on it:flipoff2:

depending on your fab ability, you might want to think about using a good set of leafs up front and four link the rear with coilovers, a bit simpler. dont let anybody fool ya though, your gonna spend alot of coin either way.

Im running the XJ leafs in the rear with coilovers in the front on mine. The stability is nice with the leafs in the rear but you sacrafice ride quality and suspension travel. The anti-wrap bar will be a must. I can send pics on my 3 link front if you like. Good luck

I disagree. I ran leaves front and link rear. Now both ends are linked. If I could only have one end linked, it would be the front. Where ever you have leaves you will have wrap and it's easier to fit a wrap bar in the back than in the front.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/billavista/14b_bible/index.html

when i swapped in 1 tons, i first went with waggy springs from a junkyard and no traction bar, i bent the PISS out of a few different sets before throwing down $800 for some nice Alcans springs all the way around. I still had axle wrap in the rear, so i built a traction bar. The front was set up with a shackle reversal and 132:1 crawl ratio and had pretty bad axle wrap as well but i couldn't find a good way to do a traction bar up front.

It really comes down to your fab skills. If you've got the tools and the experience to weld up brackets and links, i would link it, if not, a nice quality set of leafs will go a long way. Here's a link (http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=443095) to my YJ build up with leafs and 106" wheel base. I had already run it for 2 years with the 1 tons and leafs, but needed more wheel base. I stuck with leafs for budget reasons and fab skills. I had just taken a welding class at the time and was not about to tackle a linked rear...that being said, my new rig will be linked front and rear.

4-link the front. I too have 4-link front and rear. If I had to choose which one to link and leaf spring the other, it would be linking the front. I agree w/ leafs on the 14 bolt w/ a traction bar. I like the thought of going ahead and knocking the front out first. Set your front axle location to exactly where you would want it if you were linking both front and rear. Do that so when you do link the rear your front won't have to be moved and you're ready to go.

im not lingking only one end becuase of money, time or any other issue. from the people i have talked with coilovers in front and waggy springs in rear are the way to go. my thinking is build it right the first time, that is why i am wanting input. i know there is a ton of knowledge in this forum and would like to hear and see pics of what has worked really well for those that have done this. i have all the tools ill need to tackle any fab work and custom installation, so that isnt an issue.

i got my diffs cleaned today and am going to start stripping them down this weekend and try to start building the trusses. what has wirked the best for the trusses round stock or spuare tubing?

In that case, I wish I would have linked both ends from the start. Because of the wrap created by the leaves, I broke a lot of stuff and cut a lot of weekends short. My Jeep is much more relaible now.

In that case, I wish I would have linked both ends from the start. Because of the wrap created by the leaves, I broke a lot of stuff and cut a lot of weekends short. My Jeep is much more relaible now.


no doubt man, as chris said, and as other will say, if money is not an issue link the front and rear with coilovers. i would put something like an anti-rock swaybar in the rear for a litle more off camber stability. the only real reason people link only 1 end and not the other is money. i dont know who told you wagoneer springs were better than a linked and coilover susupension? but hey, some of my friends arn't real bright either.