Best Coil Springs for ROCKS? - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum

Red Heep · 08-22-2010, 08:45 PM

I have a 98 TJ with JJ Control arms all around, Full Traction 3 link in the rear, with RE 3.5 springs & Bilstien shocks. It's a Short arm suspension.

I'm looking to replace my springs with something better suited for the rocks. I assume softer is better, so which spring is the best for for ROCKIN'?

WallyP226 · 08-23-2010, 12:55 PM

A little more info or the scope of what your looking for in regards to springs might help conjure more responses.

Whats wrong with the RE springs you currently have?

Have you weighed your Jeep to get a ball park figure of how much it weighs?

Wally

Red Heep · 08-23-2010, 01:32 PM

Well I didn't know how rough my jeep rode until I rode in my dad's new (used) jeep on the street. He has a clayton long arm kit and 5.5" Rock Krawler springs with brand new Skyjacker Nitro 8000's in the front and brand new 5100 Bilsteins in the rear.. Mine rides alot rougher (feel every bump in the road) on the street than his. His takes a speed bump on our street smoothly while mine bucks me out of my seat at the same speed.

Not sure on the weight of mine or his. I have a bolt on cage, tube front fenders, a crawler front bumper with no winch yet, a Rock Hard sport cage and a 3/16" Tummy tuck and a Warn rear bumper/tire carrier. Thats all the real extra weight I have over stock.

We haven't wheeled his yet (as he just picked it up this weekend) and I haven't wheeled my yet with the shock & JJ control arm upgrades. But judging by street manners, his is on a cloud and mine is on a gravel road. Just looking for opinions. I'm kinda a newb since I haven't wheeled all that much. Thanks.

LucasFury · 08-23-2010, 03:00 PM

Short arms ride like shit compared to long arms. Hell, I bet your 3.5" springs are closer to 5", being RE. Short arm geometry is good for about 4.

malsxj · 08-23-2010, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LucasFury

Short arms ride like shit compared to long arms. Hell, I bet your 3.5" springs are closer to 5", being RE. Short arm geometry is good for about 4.

X2 its your short arms.

Red Heep · 08-23-2010, 03:29 PM

So I'm just SOL until I can afford a Long Arm kit 10 years from now? Nothing else will help?

LucasFury · 08-23-2010, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red Heep

So I'm just SOL until I can afford a Long Arm kit 10 years from now? Nothing else will help?

Get shorter springs..

UCTJ · 08-23-2010, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red Heep

So I'm just SOL until I can afford a Long Arm kit 10 years from now? Nothing else will help?

Check out Old Man Emu springs and shocks. I run 35s with a short arm and my jeep rides nice, it rides better with my current setup than when I got it with 32s and Doetsch shocks.

imped4now · 08-23-2010, 05:51 PM

With short arms, the lower the better. I run double JJ short lowers and front uppers with the triangulated RK setup in the rear. It has BDS 3" front springs and RC 2.5" progressive springs in the rear. I moved the coil buckets back so that the springs sit upright, which made a noticeable improvement in ride quality, as did outboarding the rear shock mounts. Run good shocks, low height, and good control arms (which you already have) and the ride should be very good.

Jeep02Apex · 08-23-2010, 08:29 PM

Short arm suspension that rides well?

Keep it under 4", good shocks (outboarded if possible), relocate your springs (vertical) and check your air pressure.

You'll be surprised in the quality ride you can get with short arms.

robi615 · 08-24-2010, 08:01 AM

short long arm, around 3" or stock if you're willing to cut with a sawzall. The more horizontal you can get your links, the better the ride you will have. Short arms have their place, above a 4.5" lift its best to go long arm because at that height your short arms begin to have an extreme angle.

Red Heep · 08-24-2010, 10:26 AM

Let me clarify my intentions. I could care less about how it rides on the street. Its a jeep. I was using the street manners as a comparison because that's all I can do for now. I'm looking for the best performance out of my short arm. I have new Johnny joints all around and a full traction 3 link in the rear. I have new SA Bilstien 4" 5100's. Old RE 3.5 springs. Will a different spring improve the suspension at all? Thanks

LucasFury · 08-24-2010, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red Heep

Let me clarify my intentions. I could care less about how it rides on the street. Its a jeep. I was using the street manners as a comparison because that's all I can do for now. I'm looking for the best performance out of my short arm. I have new Johnny joints all around and a full traction 3 link in the rear. I have new SA Bilstien 4" 5100's. Old RE 3.5 springs. Will a different spring improve the suspension at all? Thanks

Definitely. If I were you, I'd use stock TJ springs and gain the clearence in the fenders.

ElDirector · 08-24-2010, 12:48 PM

As others have said, for a short-arm suspension go with short and soft springs. There is only so much movement you can get out of the shorter arms, so try to take advantage of it. With 5.5" of lift, your arms are running pretty high angles just sitting there.

Save your pennies and get longer arms if you want noticeable improvement.

08-22-2010, 08:45 PM	#1 (permalink)
Red Heep Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Member # 128015 Location: So Cal Posts: 15	Best Coil Springs for ROCKS? I have a 98 TJ with JJ Control arms all around, Full Traction 3 link in the rear, with RE 3.5 springs & Bilstien shocks. It's a Short arm suspension. I'm looking to replace my springs with something better suited for the rocks. I assume softer is better, so which spring is the best for for ROCKIN'?

08-23-2010, 03:00 PM	#4 (permalink)
LucasFury xPOLYMATHx Join Date: Apr 2008 Member # 113176 Location: DCish Posts: 8,249 Blog Entries: 1	Short arms ride like shit compared to long arms. Hell, I bet your 3.5" springs are closer to 5", being RE. Short arm geometry is good for about 4. __________________ Dirty deed done dirt cheap! and custom leather belts and such too. 1979 FSJ Chief almost for sale. Inquire within.

08-23-2010, 08:29 PM	#10 (permalink)
Jeep02Apex Registered User Join Date: Apr 2010 Member # 159343 Location: Cleveland, OH Posts: 212	Short arm suspension that rides well? Keep it under 4", good shocks (outboarded if possible), relocate your springs (vertical) and check your air pressure. You'll be surprised in the quality ride you can get with short arms. Last edited by Jeep02Apex; 08-23-2010 at 08:29 PM.

08-24-2010, 12:48 PM	#14 (permalink)
ElDirector Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Member # 39079 Location: Brownsburg, IN Posts: 73	As others have said, for a short-arm suspension go with short and soft springs. There is only so much movement you can get out of the shorter arms, so try to take advantage of it. With 5.5" of lift, your arms are running pretty high angles just sitting there. Save your pennies and get longer arms if you want noticeable improvement. __________________ Ryan

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08-23-2010, 12:55 PM	#2 (permalink)
WallyP226 Wheeler Join Date: Jun 2006 Member # 74251 Posts: 301	A little more info or the scope of what your looking for in regards to springs might help conjure more responses. Whats wrong with the RE springs you currently have? Have you weighed your Jeep to get a ball park figure of how much it weighs? Wally

08-23-2010, 01:32 PM	#3 (permalink)
Red Heep Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Member # 128015 Location: So Cal Posts: 15	Well I didn't know how rough my jeep rode until I rode in my dad's new (used) jeep on the street. He has a clayton long arm kit and 5.5" Rock Krawler springs with brand new Skyjacker Nitro 8000's in the front and brand new 5100 Bilsteins in the rear.. Mine rides alot rougher (feel every bump in the road) on the street than his. His takes a speed bump on our street smoothly while mine bucks me out of my seat at the same speed. Not sure on the weight of mine or his. I have a bolt on cage, tube front fenders, a crawler front bumper with no winch yet, a Rock Hard sport cage and a 3/16" Tummy tuck and a Warn rear bumper/tire carrier. Thats all the real extra weight I have over stock. We haven't wheeled his yet (as he just picked it up this weekend) and I haven't wheeled my yet with the shock & JJ control arm upgrades. But judging by street manners, his is on a cloud and mine is on a gravel road. Just looking for opinions. I'm kinda a newb since I haven't wheeled all that much. Thanks.

08-23-2010, 03:29 PM	#6 (permalink)
Red Heep Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Member # 128015 Location: So Cal Posts: 15	So I'm just SOL until I can afford a Long Arm kit 10 years from now? Nothing else will help?

08-23-2010, 05:51 PM	#9 (permalink)
imped4now Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Member # 124275 Location: Indy Posts: 558	With short arms, the lower the better. I run double JJ short lowers and front uppers with the triangulated RK setup in the rear. It has BDS 3" front springs and RC 2.5" progressive springs in the rear. I moved the coil buckets back so that the springs sit upright, which made a noticeable improvement in ride quality, as did outboarding the rear shock mounts. Run good shocks, low height, and good control arms (which you already have) and the ride should be very good.

08-24-2010, 08:01 AM	#11 (permalink)
robi615 Wheeler Join Date: Jan 2009 Member # 127789 Location: Lufkin, TX Posts: 499	short long arm, around 3" or stock if you're willing to cut with a sawzall. The more horizontal you can get your links, the better the ride you will have. Short arms have their place, above a 4.5" lift its best to go long arm because at that height your short arms begin to have an extreme angle.

08-24-2010, 10:26 AM	#12 (permalink)
Red Heep Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Member # 128015 Location: So Cal Posts: 15	Let me clarify my intentions. I could care less about how it rides on the street. Its a jeep. I was using the street manners as a comparison because that's all I can do for now. I'm looking for the best performance out of my short arm. I have new Johnny joints all around and a full traction 3 link in the rear. I have new SA Bilstien 4" 5100's. Old RE 3.5 springs. Will a different spring improve the suspension at all? Thanks