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Suspension Help Needed!!!

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Old Jun 17, 2013 | 08:55 PM
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From: Wilton, CA
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Question Suspension Help Needed!!!

Hey, guys! Our '89 XJ has a bit of a problem....The rear leaf springs are so worn, they have negative arch. We NEED to replace/ fix them, but we're stuck on what to do now....Our dad wants to buy new ones from some spring place in Sacramento, but they want $250 per spring pack. My brother (the Jeep's owner) wants to get some good used ones at PickNPull. I personally think the "Bastard Pack" would be a good way to go.

We want more lift anyway, so I figure that'll give us the best of both worlds. I know we'd need S10/ Blazer leaves, but how hard is this to do? We're not afraid of working, but how hard is it? My thinking is that we can keep the main and bottom XJ leaves and pack the rest with S10's, adding or removing to get the llift we want, which is about 3.5".

What is you guys' opinion on this? Good way to go, or just get all new ones?
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Old Jun 17, 2013 | 09:47 PM
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Bump..,...Anybody?
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Old Jun 17, 2013 | 10:24 PM
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Do you know what company that is that is offering a spring pack for $250 each? That's not unheard of for a quality spring pack honestly.

How tall do you want to go?

PS, you're not supposed to bump. Especially after less than an hour. Patience there pal!
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Old Jun 17, 2013 | 10:25 PM
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Using worn springs and adding leaves is a poor way to go.
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Old Jun 17, 2013 | 10:35 PM
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Originally Posted by TwoXJS
Bump..,...Anybody?
I replaced the packs in my last XJ about 5 years ago with the OEM "Heavy Duty" packs from Quadratec. They're about $100/each (plus the cost of bushings). Fit perfectly and aside from breaking one of the bolts removing them (and having to drill it out, re-tap, and buy new bolts from the dealer), they went in without too much fuss.

http://www.quadratec.com/products/56010_11.htm


edit: oh, it's got a 2" lift already.... Would the heavy-duty springs with a shackle give you the height?
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Old Jun 17, 2013 | 11:56 PM
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Thanks for the info guys! I don't know the name of the company here in Sac, but I know they're a small shop on Florin-Perkins Road. Do the heavy duty springs offer any lift? I've got the 2" Teraflex kit with Coil spacers and lift shackles, but the leaf springs are too worn to make a difference.

One reason I'd like to do the Bastard pack is so that we can "tune" the amount of lift we get and because we've never done anything like it before. We're also getting some coils off an F-150 or Bronco for about 4" in the front, so we want the back to match.
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Old Jun 18, 2013 | 12:32 AM
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The heavy duty springs will give you 2" (give or take a half an inch) IIRC. You'll be right around 4 inches. But with a pretty crappy shackle angle probably
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Old Jun 18, 2013 | 12:54 AM
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Any way to fix the shackle angle? We're gonna take a trip to the JY tomorrow morning and see what we can find in the line of springs, maybe some other odds and ends as well....
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Old Jun 18, 2013 | 08:27 AM
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You'd want shackle relocation brackets. A few supporting vendors here sell them.

You can get one's that give a bit of lift, you can also get no lift relocation brackets.




Also, did anyone mention adding leaves to already sagging leaves is a bad way to go about it?
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Old Jun 18, 2013 | 08:43 AM
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Build shackle relocation brackets. It'll be cheaper if you have a welder around.

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f58/ho...ackets-165726/

Last edited by HudsonN; Jun 18, 2013 at 08:45 AM.
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Old Jun 18, 2013 | 10:15 AM
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If you have negative arched springs, adding leaves will do nothing but cause problems. Time for new spring packs.
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Old Jun 18, 2013 | 10:48 AM
  #12  
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Originally Posted by xjsnake
If you have negative arched springs, adding leaves will do nothing but cause problems. Time for new spring packs.
I don't think anyone has noticed our suggestions...
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Old Jun 18, 2013 | 12:51 PM
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Originally Posted by Gee oh Dee
I don't think anyone has noticed our suggestions...

Agreed
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Old Jun 18, 2013 | 06:46 PM
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Gee & Snake, I've been listening to what you've been saying, I was only weighing other possible options. The worn springs in a DIY pack, or as they are even, definately aren't the best choice, I know. I just was hoping to keep the cost as low as possible....I don't have anymore then $200 to spend on a lift right now. That's all I could set aside for it as of now.
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Old Jun 18, 2013 | 06:48 PM
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I would save awhile longer then.
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