Welcome to the next contribution to the
The Official Pirate4x4.com Jeep Talk Bible (http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=705122)

Topic of the Month Rear Coil Suspension Conversions

Give use some Tips and tricks of your Rear Coil Suspension Conversion.
This includes Coil spring mounts. links mount, link lengths, This is not geared for airshock/Coilover mounts.

not very super FABulous but treks is making a kit now
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=802138

Here's mine, which is about as close to a build-up thread as I've got:

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=630589&highlight=suspension+design

This thread also has some really good discussion regarding coil spring rates and lift height:

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=798262

Here is my rear wishbone and coil build.

http://pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=777044&highlight=

It was quick and easy to mount the coils right to the unibody. But if I would change anything I would have built brackets to push them out about 3 or 4 inches on each side. Basically making the mounting points the same width as the front coils. This would help the rear end have more stability and make the front end work harder.

So when I do my back half and ton swap, coil placement will be my first concern. I also have V8 ZJ coils I am going to try to help with stability.

I will work on getting the pictures so people don't have to click on the link.

Another quick tip.

If you use ballistics coil mounts, take a piece of tube that is just smaller then the inside of the spring only needs to be about 1/4" thick and weld it to the mount between the mount and the bolt on plate. It will keep your coil from wondering.

Not coils, but linked. Dont have a build thread one Pirate yet. Finishing it up this week. I'll get more info.
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h251/JK_Motorsports/Jeep%20Build/DSC_0305.jpg
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h251/JK_Motorsports/Jeep%20Build/DSC_0307.jpg

edit, missed the airshock/coilover part. I hope to make it adaptable for XJ front coils in the event I blow a bag.

Not coils, but linked. Dont have a build thread one Pirate yet. Finishing it up this week. I'll get more info.
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h251/JK_Motorsports/Jeep%20Build/DSC_0305.jpg
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h251/JK_Motorsports/Jeep%20Build/DSC_0307.jpg

edit, missed the airshock/coilover part. I hope to make it adaptable for XJ front coils in the event I blow a bag.


Rite on, I was thinking about bags in the rear of mine. What bags are those?

OlyWa

Firestone 5712's. 15.6" Travel. Was going to use 5429's like a friend of mine, but just went with these instead.

When i was thinking about doing coils in the rear of my xj I was looking strongly at the clayton's kit. After talking with him on the phone about the kit he told me that he used stock xj front coils to get 6" of lift in the rear, so if you wanted 8" of lift then get 2" lift coils. But I've changed my mind and I'm planning on going with SAW 2.0 airshox in the rear and 2.5's in the front.

thats bad ass - keep me posted on how it rides!
sick XJ

Here's how i did my buddies daily driver..

made two separate crossmembers, one for the lowers and one for the uppers..
He didn't have much to spend so we were trying to keep the cost down. Used 2"x.250 wall square tubing instead of DOM and only used a flex joint on one end of the control arms. Used factory front XJ coils for the springs, everything else was custom..
oh and on top of not having any money.... he was moving to Reno in a week..

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii299/cherokeedude93/021.jpg
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii299/cherokeedude93/017.jpg
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii299/cherokeedude93/012-1.jpg
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii299/cherokeedude93/004-1.jpg
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii299/cherokeedude93/039.jpg
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii299/cherokeedude93/005.jpg
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii299/cherokeedude93/002-3.jpg
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii299/cherokeedude93/006-3.jpg

i was possible thinking about linking the rear of my jeep this winter and was wondering if anybody had ever built lower control arms that ran forward and bolted into the leaf spring box in the front? It would save a lot of time cause you would only have to make a truss and crossmember for the uppers.

i was possible thinking about linking the rear of my jeep this winter and was wondering if anybody had ever built lower control arms that ran forward and bolted into the leaf spring box in the front? It would save a lot of time cause you would only have to make a truss and crossmember for the uppers.

Put the numbers in the 4 link calculator. See what it comes up with.

i was possible thinking about linking the rear of my jeep this winter and was wondering if anybody had ever built lower control arms that ran forward and bolted into the leaf spring box in the front? It would save a lot of time cause you would only have to make a truss and crossmember for the uppers.


that would give you an extremely short arm and it would be at a steep angle.

that would give you an extremely short arm and it would be at a steep angle.

Extremely short? I'm at 8" lift with leaf springs. If I went to coils using the leaf mount pockets. I could run 24" lower arms. And I wouldn't consider the angle extreme. What about the upper arms how long should I make them and how much separation?

Extremely short? I'm at 8" lift with leaf springs. If I went to coils using the leaf mount pockets. I could run 24" lower arms. And I wouldn't consider the angle extreme. What about the upper arms how long should I make them and how much separation?


use this:

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=204893&highlight=link+calculator

and this:

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showpost.php?p=4929623&postcount=21

Tho I could have posted in this TOTM or the Triangulated link TOTM, I opted for this one since its short on posts.

Setup:
Double Triangulated 4-Link on Coils

Link Material:
Tripple sleeved Lowers. 2" sleeved with 1.75, sleeved with 1.5. (2", .375)
1.5", .250 wall uppers.

Link Length:
Lowers: 45.5"
Uppers: 36"

Rod Ends:
Lowers have a Currie JJ and a Poly bushing
Uppers have 3/4" QA1 hiems at both ends

Axle truss is 3/8 plate, capped with 1/4". It bridged to a pinion skid with with 3/8". Pinion skid is 3/8" and 1/4". (All homebrew, but very similar to a BlueTorch Truss.)

Frame end crossmember is an assload of tube and plate of all diffrent sizes.
All tabs are 1/4" or 3/8" with weld washers and all are boxed in.

Upper links have 4 locations which allow me to adjust from 67%-111% AS.

Truss shot. (Yes, I realize its missing some bolts, still building.) Seems I may bridge the truss to the top of the diff as well.
http://i708.photobucket.com/albums/ww81/JeepinGuy10/051.jpg

Gusset for front vertical connection and shows a good shot of the setup.
http://i708.photobucket.com/albums/ww81/JeepinGuy10/006-2.jpg

Crossmember. Its in process of being skid plated. You can also see the upper link mount w/ 4 height locations.
http://i708.photobucket.com/albums/ww81/JeepinGuy10/100_2712.jpg
http://i708.photobucket.com/albums/ww81/JeepinGuy10/049.jpg

Im planning on roughly 14" travel with 4-6" up, 8-10" down. This may change tho. Rear shocks allow 15.38. I will adjust down with a limit strap, up with trimable bumps.

Just another shot. IGNORE THE HEIGHT!!! Theres no weight on the ass end and the 3 foot jack stands in the front are also jacking up the back. It should sit about 5-6" lower loaded.

http://i708.photobucket.com/albums/ww81/JeepinGuy10/011-1.jpg

Im planning on roughly 14" travel with 6" up, 4 down. This may change tho.



Might wanna re-run those numbers, im thinkin that adds up to 10. :grinpimp:

Might wanna re-run those numbers, im thinkin that adds up to 10. :grinpimp:

:laughing: :laughing: :laughing: I dont know what the hell happened there. I think I was trying to type to fast. Lemme try again...

14" total travel
4-6" up travel
8-10" down

Ill edit the original post to save confusion. :p

http://i708.photobucket.com/albums/ww81/JeepinGuy10/011-1.jpg
what coils are you using for the rear?

Dunno yet. Pictured are unmodifed stock fronts tho.

I felt the stock front coils were too soft. I ended up running some cut down 4" springs I had previously used on the front. I still have them if you want to try out different heights/ rates.

-Jon

Thanks for the offer! As of right now I have ZJ V8 stock coils, Stock XJ coils, and Rusty's 2" HD XJ coils to play with. Hopefully I can figure somethin out with those. But Ill keep yours in mind.

And for those researching.... Ill post back with actuall ride height and coil choice when I complete the build and a few trips.

The 3 link works ok but would probably go 4 link if I were to redo it... just difficult to adjust the upper wishbone link. Other than that I love the rear coils, especially now with the air helper springs acting as progressive bumpstops.

http://inlinethumb44.webshots.com/363/1403517527032428117S600x600Q85.jpg


http://inlinethumb43.webshots.com/44650/1403517460032428117S600x600Q85.jpg

This was back when I was running a rear sway bar... with the air helper springs the sway bar is no longer needed.

http://inlinethumb11.webshots.com/74/1403518589032428117S600x600Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb16.webshots.com/46927/2533667060032428117S600x600Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb56.webshots.com/46263/2974981070032428117S600x600Q85.jpg

The upper wishbone arm takes a lot of load... first one wasn't strong enough...

http://inlinethumb06.webshots.com/44229/2076205130032428117S600x600Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb08.webshots.com/44231/2843344290032428117S600x600Q85.jpg

I felt the stock front coils were too soft. I ended up running some cut down 4" springs I had previously used on the front. I still have them if you want to try out different heights/ rates.

-Jon

I feel the same way. I'm running stock coils on the rear of mine, and while the ride on the road is nice, they are way to damn soft. I've been thinking about trying some 2" rear coils from a TJ as I heard those will give around the same amount of lift as the stock XJ coils. The only issue I'm running into is finding spring rates on some of the coils. I've been looking at the OME heavy duty springs...might give those a shot.

Anybody tried/have any info on one-linking a cherokee?