76 Chopokee

Hey all,

Hopefully someone is close enough to help me out. Maybe I'm being a baby but I'm quite nervous about doing the leaf springs on my '94. It has 242k miles and has been neglected a bit by previous owners, but I'm dumping lots of money into it to replace just about everything and start fresh.

My leaf springs are a little flat and I purchased some Crown replacements that should be equivalent to the UpCountry springs. I got the bushings pressed in and I'm ready to tackle the job, but as I said, I'm nervous about digging into it because I can't have it down and out for too long. I have a motorcycle to ride just in case but it's getting cold and I'm going to need the Cherokee.

I'm looking for someone who has experience replacing them who can teach me how it's done. I just purchased an impact wrench but I don't have an angle grinder which some suggest using to cut the bushings out to get to the sleeve.

Anyone available to help me out? I can't afford to pay a shop but I can afford to take care of someone independent for their help. I've got a decent enough garage or I can come to you. I live in Loveland. Thanks to anyone who gets back to me on this.

kgm

Soak the bajeesus out of all the connection points with Kroil or similar strong penetrating fluid. Also buy new bolts. I had a similar situation with mine. Good luck!

76 Chopokee

Would $200 sweeten the deal for anyone? I'm willing to help, too, I just need a leaf spring sherpa/spirit guide. Must have some experience!

SeriousOffroad

Soak all of the nuts and bolts with PB Blaster for a few days before starting.

Jack it up and support the rig (not the axle) on jack stands.
Remove the tires and then raise axle up with a floor jack.

Remove the u-bolts, swaybar if you still have one, and lower the axle.
Remove the bolts at the front and rear of the leaf springs.
Remove the springs.

Install in reverse order.

Hint
Use and impact gun to tighten the hardware before trying to loosen them.

cruiser54

For $200, I can't believe there's no takers!!

kgm

I'd love to help but not sure how useful I'd be. I'm pretty much banging **** with a hammer in a blind rage half the time I'm fixing mine. Soak it in Kroil all through the front bolt connections to your leaf springs, and spray into the frame rail to attempt to get the inner side of the nut. PM me, I'll see what my schedule looks like!

Firehawk068

I'm in Denver (Aurora actually)
Not sure if you'd be willing to come this far to do it, but I have everything one could need (air, impact, cutoff, beer.......etc.........)
It is not that difficult a job, however when I did mine the driver side front spring bolt rusted/siezed into the bushing sleeve making it impossible to remove without cutting the spring apart.................

Kristian

PMed.

76 Chopokee

The PM reminded me to update this thread.. I ended up biting the bullet and having a shop do them for me. $420 to replace the leaf springs, which required cutting, along with the power steering pump. Thanks, though.

kgm

$400 including springs? That's not too bad considering the amount of bull**** I went through getting mine off, HA.

Firehawk068

I'm guessing that was just labor$$
Glad you got them replaced.............Thanks for posting your outcome..

76 Chopokee

Labor only, yes. Springs were $80 a piece with bushings from a JC Whitney sale. I basically put the UpCountry package on, 1" lift in front with new coil springs and 1" in the rear with the leaf springs. Since they did have to cut them out, I'm glad I didn't try it on my own.