Bought some new Rubicon Express 4.5" rear leafs which actually turned out to be roughly 5.5-6" after install. I had to lower my shackle a notch after installing because the rear sat too high.

 

Got the new leafs installed, 6 degree shims, and Skyjacker Nitro 8000 shocks.

 

 

Once I got the rear all back together it was time to install the SYE and driveshaft. I robbed the front drive shaft and put it on the rear temporarily.

One tip for tapping the hole in the transfer case output shaft. Make sure you use a brand name tap. I bought some cheap ones from Auto Zone and had one heck of a time trying to tap the 3/8" hole. Total failure. I bought a brand name tap and it worked like a charm. Learn something new every time I work on the Jeep.

 

Lookin good! You did a nice job on the front bumper.

 

Thanks. It seems to be holding up very well. I have some D-rings. I need to put them on and set up something where I can pull on the bumper a little and see how it holds up. I think it will be fine. It is definitely stout!

 

So I got the rear done and moved onto the front. It seemed to go a little faster I guess because I had already had it all apart before.

Extended the brake lines, added some control arm drop brackets, track bar drop bracket and a zj pitman arm which was about an inch lower than stock.

 

You can see the drop track bar bracket along with the lower pitman arm. Steering angles are close but I still don't like the way it feels. Too responsive. I think that is due to too much angle. Will be working on getting or building an OTK steering kit.

 

Here is how the money pit currently sits...about 5.5 to 6 inches of lift. Front coils were 5.5" Rubicon Exress but I think they gave me a little more lift than 5.5".

 

I may be wrong but i think something is wrong with your rear leaf springs possibly backwards or possibly the shackles your made. The rear end looks to be sitting to far forward. I just want to bring this up as it may cause problems down the road. Otherwise great build.

 

I noticed that too but I don't think the the leafs are on backwards. Is is possible to do that? I compared them to the old ones I took out and put them back in the same way. Larger diameter bushing to the front and smaller one to the rear.

My shackles sit slightly vertical so they need some relocation brackets but even if they were angled back it would not center the tire up.

You know now that I think of it, I had a little trouble getting my rear drive shaft back in after installing the SYE. The drive shaft was almost too long to fit in. I had to cut the t-case shaft down to the bare minimum that IRO said too. Even then I had very little room to fit it in. I have basically no slack in drive shaft compared to up front. Where the two pieces slide in and out, up front I have like 4" of space. On the rear drive shaft, it basically compressed all the way. If I turned those leafs it would center the wheel up and add some slack in the drive shaft and make it more like the front one.

If I did install those backwards, I don't know how in the heck I did that because like I said, I put the leafs next to the old ones and installed them like the old ones came out. I hope that is not a manufacturing flaw from RE.....

Guess I know what I will be doing tomorrow.....

I am open to suggestions. Those are Rubicon Express leaf springs by the way if that helps.

 

I looked up the install directions on the leaf springs and they are put in right. I guess that is just the way they are. I will be putting some shackle relocation brackets on as soon as I get a chance. That will help for sure as my shackles are sitting straight up. Plan on making them myself. Seems crazy to pay $120 for them.

 

What did you get the drive shaft out of ? And was it a manual trans or an auto?
I bought 2 grand cherokee front shafts they are 2" longer Guessing because they had 242 Tcases) than the XJ auto trans 231 drive shafts. You do need to have alittle room between the slip yoke and the drive shaft I have 1-1.5 on mine and I cut 1.25 inches off when doing my Ir HnT.

 

I just put on my lift and you have it on correctly the problem is your shackles are long in the back a shackle relocation brackets should do the trick lowering the angle and will probably help your ride as well.
Your jeep looks great keep up the good work I've enjoyed watching what your doing to it.