96 XJ Sport

Great looking '87! I think you've just convinced me to replace my packs, too, and do a 2" shackle/spacer lift. Did you end up going with the medium or heavy duty spring packs? How's the ride?

87 XJ

I used the Medium spring packs. They said the heavy duty packs were for towing and would actually lift the back an extra 1.5". Then I would have had to change the front springs and take out the spacers. That would have led to new tires, 31x10.50s
Wasn't ready to invest that much more $ in it right now. Maybe next year an AAL and new front springs but this will do me for now.

Rides great on the road and did fine in some light 4wheelin. I need to keep it in one piece, 400 mi round trip for Thanksgiving over the mountains. I'll take it out for a mud run next month.

dayid

I'm a little lost trying to warp my head around this thread:
You'd done 2" spacers and 2" shackles, but it didn't sit well so you replaced the stock rear springs with new packs (but left the 2" shackles?)

I'm planning on keeping my XJ rather low and continuously considering if I should just do a cut or if its worth putting on a 2". with the 2" did you have to redo brake lines or t-case drop like I hear with 3"ers?

87 XJ

I bought my 87 about 1 1/2 years ago. had a 2" spacer and shackle lift put on along with BFG 30x9.5s ( no it didn't need any other mods ) thats why I went 2". I didn't want to have to do anything else to it and wanted to keep a good road ride.
After the install I figured out that the rear spring packs were shot ( sagging in the back and tires rubbed under load ). After all, my jeep is 21 years old!!! I installed high jacker air shocks for a temp fix for the bad springs but didn't want to leave them on because all the load was on the shock mounts and it rode very stiff!!!!
I finally installed new stock, medium rate, spring packs and took the air shocks off to restore the ride and level the suspention.

I hope that helps you!

87 XJ

After driving it for a couple days and retorquing everything to specs, this thing is riding great. Drives and shifts better and smoother!!!! I'm sure now that my Pioneer came with light duty springs from the factory and they were way shot!!!!

Now of corse I want another 1-1.5 of lift and 31x10.50s.

Oh well, got to have the trany pulled and sealed up first. Guess the extra lift will have to wait.

By the way, does enyone know if I can reuse the skyjacker hydros from my 2" BB with a 3.5 RE w/AAL???

muddeprived

You might be able to. Skyjacker offers shocks for 1-3" lift, 4" lift, or 6-8" lift. It might work with yours but considering RE's kits are mostly 1" taller than advertised, they may be too short. You could try some BPE's or make your own that raise the shock mount an inch or two.

This is what i run on my 2" old man emu shocks:



(full traction BPE's)

They raise the mount approx 2" and these shocks seem to work ok at 4.5". I have no flexed them yet though. I know someone who did their own bpe's using angled "L" brackets on each side of the bushing and worked out very well. I can't recall who did it.
Kinda looks like this : _I 0 I_ The "0" being the bushing and the _I and I_ being the bracket.

87 XJ

OK, thanks for the tip. I'll keep it in mind when the time comes.

89Pioneer

I have noticed the same thing on my 89. What do you guys think about piecing together a lift from different brands. Like RE's front springs and RC spring pack, etc. Or is easier and or cheaper to just get a complete kit from one company? I have about 3-5 inches between the front tire and the fender, but the rear is about 2-3 inches. Also when I swapped my stock turdy five for a Chrcyo 8.25 I also replaced the stock shocks in the back as well. Since I did all this I have noticed a creaking noise coming from the rear of my rig. It makes this sound when I shift into reverse and the torque makes the little weight shift also makes the noise when going over bumbs and humps. Same noise from the front as well I might add. Any thoughts? Is it bad leaf pack? When I look at the leafs they look pretty flat the length of them.

87 XJ

I have noticed the same thing on my 89.

The new packs I installed are almost flat. The ones that came off were in reverse bend ( high on the axle and low front and rear )

If you look at the lines of your jeep you can see that the back wheel wells are cut lower than the front from the factory so it will have a little less clearence with stock suspention.

As far as the noise you have, Did it start when you put the new shocks on??? Could be the shock bushings. I sprayed some silicon on mine when I installed them so I wouldn't trash then while trying to get them on.
Did you torque the U bolts to proper spec's when you changed axles?? 52 ft lbs.

Might want to check the motor and trany mounts!!! I had to change all mounts on mine. Motor mounts were total junk!!!! No rubber left!!!!

Thats all I got for ya

89Pioneer

How would I know if the bushings were bad on the new shocks? They went on pretty easy. No fighting them on, just slid on with little effort. I know I didn't tear the bushings up. What are you supposed to torque the shocks to? I do need to check everything to ensure it's not coming loose. I'll prolly do it Friday. While I'm down there with the ratchet and sockets, should I go ahead and take the rear sway bar off while I'm there? I've read on here from several folks to take it off and I'll be happier. What will removing it do?

87 XJ

I don't have torque specs for the shock bolts. The top ones will snap if you tighten to much and the bottom nut will botom out on the threds so I just went till it wouldn't go anymore under resonable pressure.

I only have a 2"BB and my sway bar is still in place. They seem to take them off with 3" and up lifts other wise you would need to extend them like you do the front. dosen't seem to bother mine any.

Might be your spring bushings on your packs and worn suspention parts in the front, ball joints, tie rod ends. might get away with a lube job. I greased everything I could find when I got mine and changed all the fluids ( diffs, trany and transfer case ) But motor mounts will make noise under engin torque.

muddeprived

How tight did tighten the u-bolts?