zj coils to leaf springs
#17
Seasoned Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 331
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From: Cunningham, TN
Year: 1994
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 5.2L
#18
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 564
Likes: 0
From: Aldergrove,BC,Canada
Year: 1989
Model: Wagoneer
Engine: 4.0L I6
chill out you pissy little children, if you dont have anything worthwhile to contribute keep it to the PMs.
as for the OP obviously as you have seen some will tell you your completely wrong for wanting to do this, and in their opinion they are right and there is no other option but its your rig and ive seen it done many times with amazing results on XJ/MJs which realy are not much different than the ZJ. Your not going to need anywhere near 12" of lift for 35s, as for difficulty your going to need to know how to weld for this project as you need to box the uniframe so you have somewhere strong enough to mount your hangers then of course figure out which springs will provide what amount of lift, as someone else pointed out MJ rear springs and chevy 63" springs are popular for the rear and waggy springs are popular for the front.
theres are a few guys who have done this conversion on XJs on this forum that have said they wouldnt go back but only guy i can think of off hand is DaveVmax he just posted pictures in another leaf spring conversion thread for XJs here in the advanced forums.
as for the OP obviously as you have seen some will tell you your completely wrong for wanting to do this, and in their opinion they are right and there is no other option but its your rig and ive seen it done many times with amazing results on XJ/MJs which realy are not much different than the ZJ. Your not going to need anywhere near 12" of lift for 35s, as for difficulty your going to need to know how to weld for this project as you need to box the uniframe so you have somewhere strong enough to mount your hangers then of course figure out which springs will provide what amount of lift, as someone else pointed out MJ rear springs and chevy 63" springs are popular for the rear and waggy springs are popular for the front.
theres are a few guys who have done this conversion on XJs on this forum that have said they wouldnt go back but only guy i can think of off hand is DaveVmax he just posted pictures in another leaf spring conversion thread for XJs here in the advanced forums.
#19
CF Veteran
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 2,765
Likes: 0
From: Littleton, CO
Year: 1991
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 2001 4.0L
Your stupid. No, your stupid! Come on guys, lets take it up a notch!
OP-check over on pirate4x4.com. I have seen a few leaf conversions like your talking about. It may be backwards to some, but who really cares?
I did it in a Comanche about 8 years ago and loved it!! It was very stable and predictable. I run links and coils now, because I have the knowledge to set it up correctly.
Like some said, you dont have to have 12''s of lift to clear 35s. It just takes some persuading of the sheet metal to fit them with about 4.5''s of lift.
OP-check over on pirate4x4.com. I have seen a few leaf conversions like your talking about. It may be backwards to some, but who really cares?
I did it in a Comanche about 8 years ago and loved it!! It was very stable and predictable. I run links and coils now, because I have the knowledge to set it up correctly.
Like some said, you dont have to have 12''s of lift to clear 35s. It just takes some persuading of the sheet metal to fit them with about 4.5''s of lift.
#20
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
From: Clover, SC
Year: 1995
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: I6 bored to 4.7
Thanks to the last few who actually gave advice rather than criticize me. And btw I am quite a redneck, but I have a strong feeling that I am smarter than most of the people on this forum seeing as I study aerospace engineering and quantum physics...
#21
so on to the leaf springs... are youlooking for a 12" arch out of the leafs or you looking to clear another 12" from stock off the bottom of your rockers (including the 3-4.5" of lift from running 35-37" tires? 'cause thats what i got from reading your post...
#22
CF Veteran
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 4,968
Likes: 0
From: Salt Lake City, UT
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
I second searching on Pirate4x4, or NAXJA. Leafs work well when setup properly, (shackle angle, spring rate ect) I love my coil front leaf rear, but Loved leaf F+R on my old Toyota's.
#23
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
From: Clover, SC
Year: 1995
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: I6 bored to 4.7
I did a little research on pirate 4x4 and found some nice build threads. They said the steering requires a little mod to. How much work you guys think the steering will require?
#24
CF Veteran
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 4,968
Likes: 0
From: Salt Lake City, UT
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
#25
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
From: Clover, SC
Year: 1995
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: I6 bored to 4.7
#26
CF Veteran
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 4,968
Likes: 0
From: Salt Lake City, UT
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
You have a few options to look into, some easy, some more time/parts consuming. all have there good and bad parts. I would recommend cross over steering or hysteer. here is a good website to explain what they are and how they work, with info on what parts to use.
great steering info - http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/billav...ngresearch.htm
great d44 info - http://77cj.littlekeylime.com/web_rs44.html
#27
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
From: Clover, SC
Year: 1995
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: I6 bored to 4.7
Originally Posted by Gorillaxj
D44's need a longer pitman arm to allow full lock to lock steering, as the factory one is shorter for the d30. I used a Waggy drop pitman arm and had it reamed out for the Chevy 1 ton TRE's. I didn't think hysteer was worth the extra money, as my steering is high enough out of the way. you can see and read up on what i did for cross over with a chevy flat top knuckle in my build thread with pics and TRE part numbers.
You have a few options to look into, some easy, some more time/parts consuming. all have there good and bad parts. I would recommend cross over steering or hysteer. here is a good website to explain what they are and how they work, with info on what parts to use.
great steering info - http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/billav...ngresearch.htm
great d44 info - http://77cj.littlekeylime.com/web_rs44.html
#28
I'm doing my xj right now and i used 7 spring pack waggy springs in the front, and some have used the factory lcm for there spring perch but i didnt like how far forward it moved everyhting so i made perchesand ended up only moving my front end forward 1.5 in
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