XJersey

Ok so I've been thinking and reading every freakin post about bastard packs using s10 springs. I want to net about 4.5" and know theres alot of hooplah behind the AAL kits. I remembered that a few years ago I owned a 97 s10 that I actually LOWERED (yes I was that guy) 4 inches. Well after I took the stock leaves off I placed them on the side of the driveway at my parents house where they sat (and hopefully still sit). If I buy the RC 4.5" kit with AAL, and just use the AAL with the bastard packs from my s10 leaves, do you think this will eliminate the use of the shackle that RC provides with the lift so that I may have a full spring kit? Also I'm hoping that with the AAL added to the bastard pack, it should preserve the arch since its mingled with so many other leaves?? Let me know what you think!!

XJ?2010

seems like it would work as long as the S-10 springs are still good may want to look into new bushings tho lol

taythegibs

x2 on the new bushings

XJersey

yes they should be in great condition...I lowered the s10 with like 80k on the odometer...I should be careful though..the springs are pretty fresh so I may net like 6" out back and then a big old ? on my forehead!

76ANTHONY

lmao, i was that guy too, but it was about 10 years ago

XJ?2010

haha theres only one way to find out and if you did get that much lift you could remove a leaf

bhulty20

me too...... sadly, did three s10's. after owning my jeep for about 2 months, i cant believe that i had those s10's. i love the xj!!

and that sounds like a good plan with the bastard packs!! let us know how it goes!

XJersey

I'll def. let everyone know how it goes...and hopefully I can get my digi cam back soon so I can do some kind of write up on it. Yea the s10 days were good but cherokee days put them to shame... I'm just glad I was irresponsible and didn't listen to my dad telling me to "get all this junk outta my yard" after a few years of the spring packs sitting there, I think that he's actually forgotten about them. Should be a good/cheap way to get around shellin out the dough for new spring packs...

finneys98xj

I doubt you will get 4 inches Xjs are heavier in the A$$.

XJ?2010

Well the bastard pack normally gives you around 2-3 inches of lift that plus the ALL would give you close to 5 or 6

XJersey

you think the bastard pack will do a good job of preserving the AAL?? or do you think that I will still have sagging issues?

finneys98xj

I thought you were talkin about taking just the s10 springs and putting them on the xj. If you bastard pack your spring use the xj main spring and alternate springs. If you don't want about 6 inch lift leave out a spring. You will be better off than if you used just the aal and the shackle.

richxj89

you shouldnt try to eliminate the shackle. shackles help soften the ride and help the flex. if you have a junkyard near by look into getting a set of older fullsize dodge van leafs. its a little more work to swap them in but they are longer from the center pin to the rear eye than the cherokee and if used with a boomerang shackle they will give you a better ride and more flex.
use the dodge van for the main and swap the s-10 leaf pack under that without the main and you should gain around 4.5 inches of lift. i got about 4.5 using comanche leafs under a dodge van main. and then added an old rustys AAL in there and now have about 5.5 and a very soft ride

caged

we've done a few of these.
we took the top 3 leafs from the s-10, (or dakota), cut the loops off and just split the xj pack and added the 3 in between the main and second xj springs. that ended up with about 4.5 inches.

be sure to use new u-bolts. don't buy them from the store, find a spring shop to make em up. oh, and you'll need new center pins too. just make sure you get the right size.
and grab a few extra sets of spring wraps, you may need em. you can get everything from the spring shop.

taythegibs

i might be doing this un too, if i get to antsy to wait a month or two, are there any chain shops that the stuff can be bought from?