I need to find a way to soften the ride on my '98 Cherokee Classic. It is not an off road vehicle but a daily driver that is also towed behind my motorhome. It just about shakes the fillings out of my teeth. The front shocks have been replaced with no change. It has the front and rear factory skid plates, a heavy duty 2" rear receiver hitch, and heavy duty tow bar plase plate on the front. I expected those items would weigh it down enough to help the rough ride in front but has not made any noticeable difference. I just had it weighed as loaded and it came out at 4000#s. Are there any other Jeep springs like 4cyl. 2wd that would fit that would have a lighter spring rate? I'm not trying to lower it just have a more comfortable ride. I tried to look up springs on various websites but those that have listings don't tell me the spring rate or which Jeep models they are specifically for (2WD or 4WD). I know its front because when I hit a bump or joint with the front tires the rears go over much smoother. It drives great otherwise.

 

What's the pressure in the front tires? What did you install for front shocks?
They aren't a cadillac ride but shouldn't be harsh either.

 

Have tried lowering the tires down to 30 from 35. Lower than that makes it too sloppy to drive without it waddling on the interstate. Didn't buy high dollar shocks. My experience has been that expensive shocks are too firm for every day driving. I only replaced the shocks on it because it rode too hard and the old ones looked ancient.

 

Your xj only weighs 4000?

 

Seems like your shocks are too stiff.

Springs from a lighter vehicle would lower it.

Remove the shocks temporarily and see how it rides.

 

A good set of shocks can take care of that, but tell us a little about your XJ is it lifted, tire size, other add-ons that have been done.

I can drop my 33x12:50x15" tires down to 25 psi. and still have good highway manners, in fact one time with only 12 psi.(aired down for trail) had to drive it home 35mi. when my old air compressor broke and that was not fun. These are M/S tires very heavy tread.

I pull mine behind my Diesel Pusher Motor Home also but on a race car trailer as well as my GC "Overland". It makes it so much easier to tow that way but I do flat tow the GC behind the MH for long trips to FL. and out west.

 

Old Man Emu makes shocks that are designed for a more comfortable ride. I'd give those a shot. I hear nothing but good things about them.

 

I never weighed mine, but I thought that was kinda high?

We have a scale at my work.................The next time I drive the XJ, I'll roll on there and see what it weighs.

 

How many miles & what kind of previous use? Mean old Mr. Gravity has been pushing on those springs for 16 years and they may just be trashed. Additionally Jeep parts were originally designed to last as long as the warranty and the low bidder got the contract.

As an aside a Google states the curb weight of your vehicle is:
"2,928 lbs to 3,181 lbs
1998 Jeep Cherokee, Curb weight"
So by your weight of 4,000 lbs you are packing along almost 1,000 lbs of junk which will not help with the ride characteristics.

 

Call Rustys Off Road they offer 2 different spring weights for the XJ a lighter duty one and a HD 180# one that I bought for my Winch/Bumper combo.

They offer several different spring weights that will fit.

 

I have the Rusty's 150 lb rated coil springs on my XJ, and they ride really nicely. Not too stiff or harsh at all. If you don't plan on getting a heavy front bumper or winch, they're great. And like Fred said above, they have a heavier 180 lb rated coil spring for XJ's with heavy bumpers and winches.

 

Have the wheels balanced and see what happens. Might help

 

The odometer shows 265,xxx although I am doubtful that is true because it is very clean inside, has very nice paint with usual rock chips in front and very clean underside with no visible rust or previous repairs. I suspect the gauge cluster has been replaced. I had the tires rebalanced when I bought my Cherokee last October. I replaced the shocks at almost the same time period. It weighed about 3300# when I got it but with the skid plates, hitch, tow bar baseplate and the tools and campfire supplies I just had it weighed on my last trip on a Cat truck scale and it showed right at 4000#. I keep those things it loaded all the time but it makes little difference. In fact, it rides better loaded than not. It does not make it any lower with the supplies I have in it. I bought this Cherokee 4wd to replace my rusty '96 Tracker 4wd to be able to tow. As an old school person, I know that almost every vehicle has several options on spring rates and would like to put lighter Jeep springs on it but don't know for sure if 4cyl., 2WD spring will physically replace 4WD pieces or not. My wife and I are in our mid 60's and the rough ride is not comfortable on our backs. Like I said previously, I won't be doing any off-roading so I don't care if the ride height lowers slightly. I will probably search through my local salvage yards to see if 2wds have the same type of spring layout as a 4wd to try a swap like that.

 

Weighed mine at the local scrap yard... came up at 4020 with me in it