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Post by rbunch4468 on Dec 28, 2009 10:26:51 GMT -5
I am interested in putting on a 2 1/2 inch suspension lift on my stock CJ5. I only have my driveway, creeper, jack stands, hand tools (plus SawsAll), etc. I have never monkeyed around with the Jeep leaf springs before...Is this something that can 'reasonably' be expected to be installed at home by owner/operator type guy?
What about wheel alignment afterward?
If I start this and stall out...I'm going to get a boatload of crap from the lovely bride, not to mention the permanent damage to my pride.
Any thoughts?
Who has been through this before and can provide the benefit of their experience?
Thanks!
Rick
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Post by ZAEDOCK on Dec 28, 2009 10:50:44 GMT -5
I am interested in putting on a 2 1/2 inch suspension lift on my stock CJ5. I only have my driveway, creeper, jack stands, hand tools (plus SawsAll), etc. I have never monkeyed around with the Jeep leaf springs before...Is this something that can 'reasonably' be expected to be installed at home by owner/operator type guy? What about wheel alignment afterward? If I start this and stall out...I'm going to get a boatload of crap from the lovely bride, not to mention the permanent damage to my pride. Any thoughts? Who has been through this before and can provide the benefit of their experience? Thanks! Rick Well, it's going to be pretty easy with a sawzall. Also, with only a 2.5" lift, driveline angles shouldn't be too bad. Your alignment will not change, but you will have to re-center your steering wheel by adjusting your draglink. The lift itself is pretty straightforward. I recommend spraying down your spring bushing bolts, a few times a day for a couple days, prior to the install. I have a feeling that you'll probably have to cut them out though. It shouldn't be a big deal with the sawzall. Do one end at a time, hanging that end by the frame with jackstands and cut the old u-bolts off, thereby freeing the axle. Swap out the springs and tighten the u bolts to spec. Install the spring bushing bolts, but do not tighten them. Once on the ground, bounce on the Jeep a few times to settle the springs and then tighten the spring bolts to spec. SUA spring installs are pretty easy to do. Just make sure you have a couple extra saw blades and a nice day if it's outside. It shouldn't take more than a half day without a lift. Maybe a full day if everything goes wrong. |
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Post by rbunch4468 on Dec 28, 2009 11:18:17 GMT -5
Thanks!
What about changing out the bump stops? The catalog recommends acquiring extended bump stops to prevent the suspension from over-compressing. All I really do is trail rides...no rock climbing, cliff jumping, etc.
To upgrade bump stops, or not...that's the question. Look's like it would run me about an extra hundred bucks to change both the stop and bumpers all around.
Rick
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Post by ZAEDOCK on Dec 28, 2009 13:11:47 GMT -5
I never changed bumps tops. If it was my rig, I probably wouldn't for a 2.5" lift.
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Post by Jon W on Dec 28, 2009 23:46:23 GMT -5
Changing your shocks will be more important than bump stops.
JW
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Post by ddewar53 on Dec 29, 2009 7:37:59 GMT -5
X2 on spraying everything at least daily for a couple of days before. Somewhere in here (I think in the tech section) there's a post about using a mixture of Acetone and atf (automatic transmission fluid) as a penetrant, tested much more effective than most commercially availble penetrants.
Once you get under there and look things over it should become obvious what needs to be done and in what order.
As stated in prior posts, nothing mysterious under there, just remove bolts, remove springs, and replace everything.
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Post by mexgrizzly on Dec 30, 2009 1:40:46 GMT -5
x2 on the suspension work, remember to get new u-bolts, bushing bolts, especially if you can see the ones on the jeep are in rough shape.
On the shocks, in theory the shocks should be replaced and bump stops installed. If you leave the stock shocks you won't need bump stops but stock shocks can prevent the suspension from extending/drooping all the way. If you put longer shocks on, the bump stops will prevent the suspension from overcompressing the shocks. Overcompressing the shocks may or may not be an issue. Bump stops are typically equal to the height of the suspension lift.
Worst case scenario is that is can ruin the shock or break shock mounts off the jeep. This is the basic process to check the shocks. Once the springs are on leave the shocks off, compress and extend one front wheel and one rear wheel on the jeep. Measure the distance between shock mounts in the extended and compressed position. Subtract a little (say 1 inch) from the compressed measurement to account for a loaded jeep and the jeep on a hill. Ideally this would be the length of the shock compressed and extended. A bump stop can be used to prevent overcompressing and effectively make the compressed measurement longer.
Chances are you can use your stock shocks and not have a problem. The shocks and shock mounts can handle some load, how much is hard to say. If the loads are light and infrequent then any problems will be less likely.
-Andy
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Post by rbunch4468 on Dec 30, 2009 13:30:01 GMT -5
Thanks! I'm looking at a kit with shocks, so I'll not worry about the bump stop changes. I'll post again on this when it's done. Judging by the turn in the weather, it may not be for a little while.
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