well i finally got some pics of my brackets and the leaves hung and stuff...i am not finished yet. i plan on adding two more braces connecting the two brackets in the front and one behind the stock crossmember connecting the bottom of the brackets, if that makes any sense. using YJ main leaf, and waggoneer stock leaves under that, should give me about the right amount of lift. moved the wheelbase forward about 1.5" or so, using a waggoneer D44.
http://community.webshots.com/user/jeepxjga
let me know what you all think about it.

Personally, I think a front leaf swap is dumb. You have coils, why change the front to leaf? Doesn't make much sense to me, but to each his own. It also makes no sense that people convert the rear of their TJs to leaf....

I think its a toss up... Im not much of a fan of coils, links etc....
Just too much to get fwaked up and broke
With leafs you can build a very capable rig.
If your on a budget and you are good with fabrication/welding i would say go for leaf sprung...

Each to his or her own...

Coils are also extreemly effective upon correct geometry and build. and $$$

I am and have been honestly been pondering running leaf sprung under my XJ. I would run reverse shackle 4.10s and 35's ... we'll see...

I also own a 85 ranger leaf sprung solid front end, and i maxxed out a 6' RTI RAMP...

Like I said 'Each to his or her own'

Keep us updated!

Originally posted by kajeepxj
well i finally got some pics of my brackets and the leaves hung and stuff...i am not finished yet. i plan on adding two more braces connecting the two brackets in the front and one behind the stock crossmember connecting the bottom of the brackets, if that makes any sense. using YJ main leaf, and waggoneer stock leaves under that, should give me about the right amount of lift. moved the wheelbase forward about 1.5" or so, using a waggoneer D44.
http://community.webshots.com/user/jeepxjga
let me know what you all think about it.

more pics

I like it.

Is that a bolt on solution???

for the most part yes, it is a bolt on solution, but i wouldn't recommend running the brackets without some crossbracing between them which i plan on doing. and the reason i went leaves is because they are so much more simple and cheap to work with, and you can make them flex just as much as coils if you do it right. and i'll keep you guys updated with pics, i should be done with it by next week or so if everything goes together right (keeping fingers crossed)

Originally posted by Wish4YJ
[. It also makes no sense that people convert the rear of their TJs to leaf.... [/B]

Don't knock it till you try it :)

I totally understand why you are doing it. It's a cheaper way to allow for big lifts on a xj. Lots of people are doing it with pretty good success so why not eh?

If you do a search you'll find a discussion that went over pretty extensivly the pros and cons of these swaps and the general consensus was....coils front leafs back works pretty damn good...

There were lots of folks converting the fronts to coils and the rears to leafs to get the best of both worlds. Problem is that after you get to a certain height you need to address the steering and control arm issues which tends to be very $$$$:eek:

The solution for a lot of xj's who want to go big is to convert the front to leaf. Less parts to break, cheaper than longarm, and a pretty effective way to allow for big meat without having to worry about death wobble.

I have considered it but I can't even afford to finish the heap I've already started......maybe somewhere down the road:(

eldiablo hit the nail on the head. i did enjoy the flex and smooth ride of coils in the front, but they just are too dang expensive and and make too much darn noise.

DO YOU GUYS HAVE ANY LINKS TO PEOPLE WHOM HAVE DONE THIS?

Originally posted by SMART ASS
DO YOU GUYS HAVE ANY LINKS TO PEOPLE WHOM HAVE DONE THIS?

Apparently I'm one of the dummies who converted the rear of the TJ to leafs. I'm in the process of changing the suspension again. Gonna spring-over the rear now and do something with the front.

Got any pics of the spring hangers in the rear?

Looks good and you got a solid sound idea.

I think my coils are OK....those are 38.5 SX's.

Sorry...I'll try the pics...again???

i just used the lower control arm mount for the rear spring hanger. it is the exact right size (almost like it was meant to be there for leaves :D) Chark, you're on 38.5's now? i rode with you at Naxja fest last year, couldn't make it this year tho. lets see those pics!

http://www.rightcoastcrawler.com/billaVista/Tech_Index.htm

that is where i got most of my info for the swap (thanks bill!!!)

hey smartass, do a search, I posted a week ago asking for pics of this same topic....read that thread.

nice work, I am still debating on mine if I am going to do it.
I waws trying to decide between XJ rears up front, waggys up front, yj leafs, or toyota fronts.........let me know how that spring pack combo works for you.

:flipoff2: search for it 4 me ;)

I would go with 3" YJ springs or 44044's, me and rerard are converting a 98 ranger to soa d44 with 44044's ther' nice!

Originally posted by mkbruin
hey smartass, do a search, I posted a week ago asking for pics of this same topic....read that thread.

nice work, I am still debating on mine if I am going to do it.
I waws trying to decide between XJ rears up front, waggys up front, yj leafs, or toyota fronts.........let me know how that spring pack combo works for you.

well this combo (it looks like) should provide me with about 8" or so of lift and they seem very very soft from just rocking the jeep. still waiting on parts but i will be sure to take some flex pics when i get it up and running again.

very nice, so why front shackle? and not reverse?

if you have a front shackle, then you can adjust your lift and spring angle better. If you have the shackle in the rear, you either have to slope the hell out of the springs, or run A LOT of lift and a huge drop down bracket in front.

Originally posted by whatdaphuk
if you have a front shackle, then you can adjust your lift and spring angle better. If you have the shackle in the rear, you either have to slope the hell out of the springs, or run A LOT of lift and a huge drop down bracket in front.

I understand the geometry, i mean personal preference, why?
why not?

It seems to me the RS droops and compresses alot more than FS... I have RS solid axle on my ranger and can max out a 6' RTI ramp.

a front shackle is a lot easier to work with and the cost of a high travel dshaft totally outweighs the benefits (to me anyway). flex isn't everything, i maxed out a 12' ramp in my buick the other day :flipoff2:

Originally posted by Wish4YJ
Personally, I think a front leaf swap is dumb. You have coils, why change the front to leaf? Doesn't make much sense to me, but to each his own. It also makes no sense that people convert the rear of their TJs to leaf....

Well for one, if you would actually build (maybe buy is my assumption) the jeep as you are planning to do, then use it, you may understand.

It makes no sense to you, because you don't understand.

Nice job kajeepxj ! And you're welcome :)

I love how your work in progress pics look exactly like mine ...tool and shite all over the freakin place! :)

I think my sight is having problems, web server has crashed, needs reboot, sysop is out of town...patience...it will be back.

My opinion - shackle reversals are for street Jeeps....absoloutely not worth the drawbacks for trail use.

hey bill, i was beginning to wonder if you'd chime in on this. :p i have to agree with the shackle reversal thing, alot of the benefit is ride quality, which i don't need too much of, and the driveshaft would cost a fawk load compared to just getting mine lengthened a couple inches cause i moved the wheelbase.

any updates?

Excellent. Its stuff like this that keeps me thinking about getting rid of the CJ and getting an XJ for the extra room. I drive a 2000 2 door for work, been wanting one of my own since the work truck. That swap looks almost too easy to be real. Nice work. (I wonder what the county would say if my work XJ showed up one day with a different attitude?:D)