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Rear XJ leaf spring reversal Rear XJ leaf spring reversal
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Old 06-19-2007, 04:41 AM   #1 (permalink)
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Rear XJ leaf spring reversal
Just getting back into wheeling, and have been researching some ways that I want to build my 87' XJ....I have seen some guys that have mounted the rear leaf springs backwards to get a little more wheel base...This sounds like a good idea to me in theory, but would like to get some opinions from you guys and maybe some pics from those that have done it...I do realize that I will have to make a trac-bar to prevent axle wrap....That is not a problem.
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Old 06-19-2007, 06:15 AM   #2 (permalink)
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I just did mine this weekend. I still need to finish up alot of stuff and a anti-wrap bar.
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Old 06-20-2007, 03:56 PM   #3 (permalink)
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No one else???
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Old 06-20-2007, 04:27 PM   #4 (permalink)
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I have never done it on an XJ sorry.
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Old 06-20-2007, 04:47 PM   #5 (permalink)
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If you need or want the extra wheelbase then go for it. If not then i'd just leave well enough alone.
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Old 06-20-2007, 05:42 PM   #6 (permalink)
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Hmm....Putting on XJ rear springs on an YJ will already stretch the wheelbase some. Anybody know if running them backwards will provide more stretch?
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Old 06-20-2007, 09:30 PM   #7 (permalink)
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I went with the Explorer Sport Track leafs, nice and soft 5" of lift and just over 2" wheelbase stretch.
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Old 06-21-2007, 07:12 AM   #8 (permalink)
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Originally Posted by jbrooks86 View Post
Just getting back into wheeling, and have been researching some ways that I want to build my 87' XJ....I have seen some guys that have mounted the rear leaf springs backwards to get a little more wheel base...This sounds like a good idea to me in theory, but would like to get some opinions from you guys and maybe some pics from those that have done it...I do realize that I will have to make a trac-bar to prevent axle wrap....That is not a problem.
You will waste your springs and have more axle wrap. It's been tried before, unsuccessfully. The front half of the leaf spring does a couple of things besides holding the weight of the rig, it acts as a control arm to transfer the traction/torque to the body, and it controls axle wrap. The rear half of a leaf spring is longer with a wider spacing of the length of the leaves, and so it doesn't do as good a job when turned around to the front.
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Old 06-21-2007, 08:57 AM   #9 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jeepxj86 View Post
I went with the Explorer Sport Track leafs, nice and soft 5" of lift and just over 2" wheelbase stretch.

Tell us more. I know that SportTrac's are spring under from the factory, did you just bolt up the leafs doing a spring over? Was the eye-to-eye length correct? Did the center-pin provide the extra 2" wheel base gain or did you move it? I am looking for softer rear leafs and this sounds like a great solution, what do you thing about there weight carring capability?
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Old 06-21-2007, 04:44 PM   #10 (permalink)
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Tell us more. I know that SportTrac's are spring under from the factory, did you just bolt up the leafs doing a spring over? Was the eye-to-eye length correct? Did the center-pin provide the extra 2" wheel base gain or did you move it? I am looking for softer rear leafs and this sounds like a great solution, what do you thing about there weight carring capability?
Other than having them rearched to help with my lift, they are a bolt in. I did forget to say that they are longer ( think 57" ), but i was able to use the factory rear leaf mont and bolt it to the stock XJ leaf bracket.
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Old 06-21-2007, 08:47 PM   #11 (permalink)
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Other than having them rearched to help with my lift, they are a bolt in. I did forget to say that they are longer ( think 57" ), but i was able to use the factory rear leaf mont and bolt it to the stock XJ leaf bracket.
Couldn't be as long as 57" and still bolt up, the stock XJ leaves are 52" long. Some of the after market leaves are a touch longer.
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Old 06-22-2007, 07:10 AM   #12 (permalink)
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So to use a set of Explore Sport trac rear leafs, I just need a longer shackle?
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Old 06-22-2007, 05:22 PM   #13 (permalink)
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Couldn't be as long as 57" and still bolt up, the stock XJ leaves are 52" long. Some of the after market leaves are a touch longer.
They are actually 56" long, i took the ford mount and modified it to work using the xj mount and rear section of the unibody.
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Old 06-27-2007, 05:58 AM   #14 (permalink)
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Quote:
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They are actually 56" long, i took the ford mount and modified it to work using the xj mount and rear section of the unibody.
When you say mount, do you mean the ford shackle?
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Old 06-27-2007, 04:24 PM   #15 (permalink)
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When you say mount, do you mean the ford shackle?

Nope, I used the rear mount for the shackle, i am trying to find a picture i have. I will post it when i find it.
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Old 06-27-2007, 04:40 PM   #16 (permalink)
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This was the temporary mockup.
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Old 07-01-2007, 06:18 PM   #17 (permalink)
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This was the temporary mockup.
What did you end up using permanently? That looks weaker than needed at best...
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Old 07-01-2007, 06:42 PM   #18 (permalink)
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AZDUDES XJ has its rear springs flipped
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Old 07-01-2007, 06:45 PM   #19 (permalink)
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What did you end up using permanently? That looks weaker than needed at best...

Plated the side with 3/8, welded to the stock mount and the new hanger, for the rear section welded in some L channel to the unibody and bolt the new hanger to channel.
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