Full Size Jeep Network

Hi all,

I have a 90 wag with a 4bt/nv4500 in it, is my daily drive and I love it. The PO had a shop do the swap and a pretty good job on it. Problem is the 3" lift didn't hold up very well - don't know the brand of lift. So now I need to do some patching on my oil pan

I like a smooth comfy ride and this jeep doesn't do much wheeling - just when we go camping down logging roads, anything extreme and the cj comes out.

I live in the sticks on crappy roads so the suspension should get "worked in" fairly quickly

What is the best way to go?

Looking at the skyjacker softride 6" for the front and 4" for the back - figure the 6" will settle out then adjust back to match... Now I just want that because of the "softride" in the title to be honest. Or I can go with 4" and an add-a-leaf-as-required method

FYI the 4bt is 782 lbs, 242 lbs more than the 360, no heavy front accessories.

What brand should I be looking at?

Any info is greatly appreciated.

John

I would call Alcan springs. They can make a set specifically for what your rig weighs. If you can bring it to a scale that can measure front and rear weights.

Nice, So you give weight and desired lift and they make the spring pack to order?

Used them before? - good quality springs?

Kinda scared on ths shipping to ontario, canada from colorado though.

Alcan is considered one of the best leaf spring manufacturers. Deaver Spring is thought of highly as well.

I don't think that getting 6 inch springs and hoping for them to settle is the way to go. The higher the lift, the more arch in the spring. The more arched the spring pack, the crappier the ride.

If they do flatten out, then your stock geometry changes as the shackle is forced out to accommodate the extra length in the flattened out spring. I would consider welding in lower hanging aftermarket spring brackets or going soa before going with spring packs with over 4 inches of lift. Even 4 inch spring lifts can be a bit harsh.

Custom three or four inch springs designed for your weight would be better than 6 inches and probably more sag resistant as well.

Do you have bump stops on the leafs? That would help prevent them from going negative and hitting your oil pan.

In your case for the money, convert it to coil springs at least upfront. Keep leaves in the back.

Just took a look at converting to coil up front, not something I want to get into right now - looks like an incredible PITA to do right I just finished converting to air bag using mainspring to hold axle in place - not bad but no travel and to much PITA accessories needed - also mainspring bends from torque * hard braking. Was a experiment, never played with air bags before. Nive highway travel but ont he country road whoop-de-doos not enough travel.

Decided I want to go back to simple basic old school.

Asked alcan for a quote. If they can build me a spring pack for my weight then shouldn't have to worry about letting it settle out.

Adjusted bump stops will fix the axle kissing my oil pan on compression.

thx JJ