BlakeFL

We've been driving our Cherokee quite a bit lately and the suspension really needs to be addressed. Over bumps it is pretty rough and wobbly. Our jeep has almost 200K miles and I have no idea when or if any suspension components were ever replaced. I'm planning on replacing the shocks and leaf springs but not sure of all the components I need to buy. Below is a list of what I think I need but let me know if I'm missing anything. A few questions I had were if the 545 lbs capacity leaf springs would be fine and if I should order the General U Bolts or find something specific to the Jeep. Also, are General springs enough of an improvement over something like Crown to warrant the extra $100? Lastly, should I replace the coil springs or just leave the stock ones in?

Parts List:

• Monroe 37083 OESpectrum Front Shocks
  Monroe 37083 OESpectrum Front Shocks
• Monroe 37027 OESpectrum Rear Shocks
  Monroe 37027 OESpectrum Rear Shocks
• Crown Automotive 52000507 Shackle
  Crown Automotive 52000507 Shackle
• General 545 lbs Capacity Leaf Springs
• General U Bolts (1/2" d x 3" w x 7" l)

Idunno

Start by locating and replacing your front sway bar strap cushions. When they wear out the sway bar can loudly let you know it with every little bump and it sounds like the front end wants to depart the car. I think they're like 8 bucks each. What happens is the bar becomes loose under the bolted strap because the cushions are worn too thin to stop/isolate movement.

Your list makes sense if the truck begins to wander off a straight track. In the case of worn shocks your ride will be undampened and feel like it never settles down after rolling over a minor dip in the road. If handling is still other wise tight and tracking is not a problem, it's probably the sway bar complaining.

BillyBoy

If you take a picture of your rear differential-axle and post it, someone will tell you what it is do you can get new Ubolts.

stick with as much stock as possible if it's a daily driver. It's still very capable.

3Dog

Before you buy, contact Kolak. Nick is a wizard with jeep suspensions, and always has great service and prices.

No affiliation, just a loyal customer...

dzywicki

If the suspension has never been replaced on the front, I highly recommend redoing that too. Parts you'll need

Ball joints (upper and lower each side)
Ball joint press
Sway bar mounting bushings and end links
Control arms bushings - upper and lower on each side (you can purchase complete control arms or replace just the bushings. The upper bushings are pressed into the axle and can be a little bit of a challenge to replace).

A couple of "replace them while you're in there" things:
front wheel hubs - since you have to remove them to replace ball joints
axle ujoints - since you have to take the axle shafts out anyway


Once you replace the the front suspension components, it will be like a completely different Jeep.

downs

Replace all front bushings and trackbar for sure. Itll feel like a new Jeep when you're done

TylerA23

I recently purchased new suspension components for my '98.
I went with parts to replicate the "upcountry" package, so the spacers / coils may not apply to you, but I thought i'd share
I also wasn't in a hurry, so I waited for ebay to do a sale, which they do very frequently. Everything purchased was 15% off, except i did get the shackles off amazon because they were still cheaper that way.
I also got my hardware from a member off this site, "TUBUR". He sells individual kits, or the full kit which is what I got.

Hardware Kit: https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f74/fu...e-kits-248156/

.75" coil spacer (you may not want/need) : https://www.ebay.com/itm/Zone-Offroad-3-4-Coil-Spacers-84-06-Jeep-TJ-XJ-ZJ-J2100/152472135804?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid =p2057872.m2749.l2649

coil spring isolator: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Coil-Spring-Isolator-Fits-84-01-Cherokee-Cherokee-XJ-52000229-18205-16/172738768045?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid =p2057872.m2749.l2649

Front Shock: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Monroe-37083-OESpectrum-Truck-Shock-Absorber/323596896456?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid =p2057872.m2749.l2649

Rear Shock: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Monroe-37027-Rear-OESpectrum-Shock/122317103794?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid =p2057872.m2749.l2649

U-Bolts (Dana 35): https://www.ebay.com/itm/Jeep-Cherokee-XJ-U-bolts-Dana-35-Axle-1984-2001-2-75-Wide/141501902771?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid =p2057872.m2749.l2649

Coil Spring (taller for Upcountry): https://www.ebay.com/itm/Moog-Chassis-CC782-Coil-Spring/400813100360?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid =p2057872.m2749.l2649

Crown HD leaf spring: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Crown-Automotive-4886186AA-Leaf-Spring/221915631832?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid =p2057872.m2749.l2649

Leaf spring bushing (main eye) : https://www.ebay.com/itm/84-01-Jeep-XJ-MJ-Rear-Main-Eye-Spring-Bushing-52000503-18280-07/172252786014?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid =p2057872.m2749.l2649

Leaf spring bushing (shackle side): https://www.ebay.com/itm/84-01-Jeep-XJ-MJ-Rear-Shackle-End-Spring-Bushing-52000504-18280-08/172248180798?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid =p2057872.m2749.l2649

Shackle:

Dave51

Try to get a little more input on General springs. There's some anecdotal comments with concerns about their longevity:

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f67/re...ations-245753/

I'm doing mine too but I'm leaning towards Crown. When you consider shipping they are downright cheap and since I don't rock-climb I'm thinking they should last a long time. That said, the Crowns will jack-up the back an inch or 2 over stock so you may have to beef up the front springs.

+2 on the comments re: looking at the front. IMO that's where all your problems are.

downs

There's similar comments about the Crown springs. FWIW I run the Crowns. IMO the XJ is just hard on stock or stockish height leaf springs because they start out with very little arch from the get go.

Dave51

Did your front spring bolts and upper shackle bolts come out OK? I'm already warming up the right angle grinder to make windows in the frame.

downs

They were a little creaky but came out ok. I've been blessed with XJs with very little to no rust. I did presoak as much as I could with PB blaster. I managed to get away with 2 bumpstop bolts broken which I still havemt fixed yet theres 1 bolt per bumpstop.

dzywicki

I used SD truck springs on my 95 YJ when I had to replace them. They also make rear leafs for the XJ. https://www.sdtrucksprings.com/jeep-...aves-1984-2001

I recently put a lift on my 98 XJ. I used a lot of propane heat on the front bolts that go into the body. Once I broke the bolt free, I repeated the heat treatment a few times and both sides came out with a lot of help from breaker bar and a long pipe.

BlakeFL

@TylerA23 Did you have any issues with the Moog coil springs? Moog does not specify they'll work with a 1999 RWD but there are people in the amazon reviews using them for all years.

TylerA23

BlakeFL

The front height is 17.5" from center of the wheel to fender flare. Rear is 16.25". With those measurements should I just keep the stock coils and replace the rear leaf springs?