I need some help figuring out what to do about my rear suspension. I have a 3.5" RE lift (not sure if AAL or replacement springs) from the previous owner, and he also added a 2" block, which makes the rear a total of 1" taller than the front. I keep hearing a "thud" noise in the rear. There are ~1" tall adjustable plates attached to the top of the u-bolts which extend out to allow the bumpstops to hit the plates instead of the axle.

The space between the bumpstop and the plate is about 2 inches, meaning that every time I hit a bump, I hear the bumpstop hit the plate. So... I need to make a decision:

do I try to get a thinner plate to give a total of about 2.5" space between the bumpstop and the plate, or do I take out the block and plate all together and allow the bump-stop to hit the axle, or do you think it is pretty obvious I need new leafsprings. Thanks for your help!

 

post up a few pics of the setup if you could...be easier to understand. personally i would take the blocks out, and if necessary, run a slightly taller shackle.

edit: i would do this if they are the true 3.5" packs. if they are just the add a leaf, i would replace them will full packs to match the front.

 

yea that definitely seems like it might be the best way to go. I will see if they are AAL's or not and get some pictures up here tomorrow to make it easier to visualize.

 

hey guys,

So here are some pics I took today sorry about the quality. My biggest question is whether I can get away with getting larger shackles and removing the plates and block. Or would my only real option be to replace the leaf springs with some new 3.5" RE springs and leave in the plates after. I really appreciate any help or comments thanks!

 

I'd take off the bump stop and plate off.

 

If the tires in your photo album are what you're running on the XJ now I would remove the bump stop landing plate and the 2 inch blocks to see what your back end looks like.
In the album it looked to me like the back end was high and that you had plenty of room to flex the rear tires. Do not remove the bump stops.

 

The leafs are replacements , not aal's. The thud you keep hearing is the shocks. XJ's are notorious for this. It's the loading of the upper shock bushing. Get a set of JKS bar pin eliminators, they will automatically preload the bushing before the bushing has a chance to transfer its load to the shock itself. This is the thud you are hearing. Lose the blocks too.

 

shocks are installed upsidedown!!! start there!!

 

Good catch. Wasn't even paying attention to them.

 

that's a stock rear spring.

 

4 leafs are stock. so u must have blocks or shackels??

 

But his have 6 leafs.

 

opps wrong pic!! my bad.

 

And those are definately not factory spring clips.

 

The third pic is deceiving.