I'm about to order new leaf spring packs for my '94. The old ones are sagging and already have longer shackles installed. I have the original shackles on hand and plan to re-install them with the new springs.

I looked on Quadratec's site and found OE replacements "light duty" and heavy duty, OMEmu 2" light duty, medium duty, heavy duty, and found u-bolts, bushings, and so-on. Too many choices, too much input.

My questions:

1. Which "duty" rating and why?
2. Do I need new bushings?? The ones in the OE shackles seem to look OK to me. Bear in mind, they ain't cheap at $9 to $12 each.
3. Do I need new U-bolts? Geez, they are $13 each plus shipping. That's $50. Do they stretch like head bolts or something?
4. What am I getting from OMEmu for the $119 a spring over the "Heavy Duty Leaf Spring Assembly" for $99?
5. Finally, are the 2" springs going to give me reasonable clearance for my 31 by 10.50 RT/S?

I might add that I'm not doing serious off-roading with this XJ. It is the car I drive to avoid driving my F350 four-door one ton behemoth just to buy beer. On the other hand, I use the XJ to pick up animal feed...like 500 pounds of it at a time...stuffed in the back end. I don't want wimpy springs - they won't survive "farm duty".

I started out pretty geeked about spending $200 on two new springs. Now the bill is starting to look like $400. I'm not so geeked. $200 buys a lot of donuts. I'd like to hear some opinions.

 

1) if you hall around a trailer or a full back seat and a trailer then heavy duty OME, if you haul around a full ground of adults and tools regularly then medium duty it it is normally just you and rarely you get a full backseat then light duty. And they always have the OME add a leaf to bump your leaf pack to the next "duty" if need be

medium duty works for most people if you dont tow often. and if your just hauling feed every now and then then medium duty hands down

2) bushings are your call.... And check the prices at your local auto stores too!
3) most of the time the bolt will seize on the u-bolts and brake them off at the threads. $30 or less with tax from your local auto parts store normally
4)you are getting the best ride quality made for the cherokee hands down.
5) and yes here is 1.5" lift on stock suspension and 31's





and yes OME is pricy but what you get out of it is worth it IMO

 

If you plan to keep it stock hieght go with the quadratec heavy duty, i have read that it sits about 1 inch higher than stock originally but i can only assume bc they dont sag as much as the light duty which would be like stock without tow. Then you might get away with 30s without rubbing for the street. These leafs will need bushings as will ome springs so you need to buy them either way. OME is goin to lift it and thats about as much as i see. If you go with ome i would deffinitely go with a lift up front bc it will be raked forward, unless you like that? Anyway good luck and search to see if maybe 4wd.com has the stock HD leaf springs as well bc they usually have a sale every weekend or so of like up to 20% off so it may be cheaper that way?

 

you can also get OME with 0" lift, 1" lift, 1.5" lift, 2" lift, 2.5" lift and 3" lift.

 

Thanks, guys. I have taken a couple photos of how the Jeep looks right now. Do you think there is enough clearance on the rear tires as is?

 

If you put 500 lbs. of "stuff" in the back, you will rub if not bumpstop extended.

 

unloaded it will be fine. loaded not so much....

but dude... this is awesome lol

 

Thanks...I wondered if anyone would notice Daisy. I didn't realize she was in the photo until I uploaded them.

It's a steel T-Rex. 12' tall and about 20' long. Very fun. We tell kids that she moves around at night. This year I'm going to stuff one of those foam deer targets in her mouth for Holloween.

BTW, I like the look of that two door. Very clean with the blacked out windows.

 

What is "bumpstop extended"? Is this a cheap fix?

 

wow, where do you come across a t-rex like that

and hmmmm wonder how many people will have a hickup in their heart beat at first glance of seeing that!


and thank you sir. this is one of my favorite pictures





anyways have you decided on OME or HD stockers?

 

Very nice. I like the black on black wheels, roof rack, hi-lift, the whole treatment. Sharp.

I don't know what I'm going to do. I'll stew over it for a while then decide. I'm watching the money because I have two jeeps to work on - my XJ and my son's Wrangler we are getting ready for when he gets his license. Also, we have a lot of trails on our farm he can run around on. Between the two, I can blow a lot of money fast on suspension and other upgrades. Frankly, his YJ is the priority. Kids first, you know.

Thanks for the help on the leaf spring issue.

BTW, you'd be surprised how many people stand there and stare at Daisy and never say a word. I think they're not sure if they are really seeing it. It's a lot of fun. Kids love it. It was built here at our property by a friend.