SKidder

I have a friend with basically inverted rear leafs, she also wants a 2 inch lift. Is it better to order her OEM leafs and go with a shackle lift or 2 inch arched rear leafs? She is not thinking she'll ever go higher and wants the best possible ride (the car is her DD and only does some off-road, but rallys it to the ski resort and back often).

I'll be doing 2 inch poly spacers on the front. I told her its basically apples to apples and just take whatever gives you the cheapest cost at the end. I'll be installing so I guess that's another factor... easiest install?

jomps

its less work to put in 2 in leafs vs. new stock leafs and 2 in shackle...besides that preference and price

SKidder

you know what would save me a lot of work, finding a leaf spring (OE or 2") with bushing already installed... WTF.

I need a press to get those bushings in right?

bigvig

Not always.

SKidder

I found a few leafs with bushings already installed on 4WD.com... I would rather not have to deal with beating a bushing into place. I have a few leads to follow up tomorrow during business hours. Anyone have some other options for me to check out?

DocOrng XJ

what size tire she want to run?

SKidder

I'm thinking of showing her options in the 30-31 range.

DocOrng XJ

i started with stock lift up front and
negative arch in the back when i bought my jeep
and 4 worn out shocks

so this is the route i went cause it also came with 4 shocks:

4 shocks

i put 2" spacers up front which gave me 2"

then put a 2" adjustable shackles in the back to buy me some time to fix my leafs - the shackles gave me about an extra 7/8 months before i just couldnt risk it anymore (i was at -5" of arch when i fixed it)

this was very cheap and easy to do - kit was like $150-ish shipped


i have since fixed my saggy leaf pack and i am using both myself

i used 6 leafs (all from XJs) and my Shackle and now sit at 3" of lift up front and 3.25" of lift in the back

when i fixed my sag in the rear, my front leveled out and now matches the back w/o any extra work.
true 2" spacer = 3" up front
2" shackle + 2 extra XJ leafs = 3.25" in the back
which works for me cause once i load it down with my gear in the back, it squats to 3" on the money


the best thing you can do is start with a good set of leafs
then you can use either a extra leaf or a shackle
once you start sagging a add a leaf will not help, you will just wear out the extra leaf

lots of debate - but i personally have never had any problem with either set up or both at once.
personally i like shackles - gives good articulation that you wont get with just a leaf
i like the leaf cause it gives height and extra load carrying capacity

With 2" of lift you can use a 30x9.50 may or may not require fender trimming and you will rub on a stock 15x7 or 15x8 rim

with 3" of lift you can use a 31x10.50

i have 3" of lift and 31x10.50 on 15x7
i did not have to trim anything
i also have rims with the correct backspacing (4.5) so i dont rub when turning either and i can still air down to play on rocks or sand without breaking a bead

you wont be able to use stock tires with 10.50s without LOTS of rubbing
your going to have to find some good offset rims

Xj88

I personally would try and find some cheap coils for sale and bypass the spacers. Also I would avoid the shackles. They will just wear the leafs down more. You could try a bastard pack or hit up quadratec for some 2 inch lift packs. Or...you could by new stock leaf packs, and get a 3 inch full aal kit from Rustys for 300. Total I bet you could get brand new factory height leafs and the 3 inch rustys kit with new shocks and coils for under 500..

Hoooper

definitely not shackles on the same leafs, but shackles on the stock leaves would be alright. IMO an OME 2" lift pack would be the best route

SKidder

Ended up ordering a 2 inch OME leaf and all the hardware... And some 2 inch poly spacers. This jeep is already running 235/75/15's with no rub so I will go up to 31's.

If I have to I can get a small spacer for the stock jeep rims, right? That should fix any lca rubbing.

brookhart63

Yes you can get a spacer but properly backspaced rims>wheel spacer any day

DocOrng XJ

x2 spacers might work
x2 the correct backspacing rims would be better / safer

spacers are usually less than 1" in thickness, if i remember right the "good ones" only give 3/4" per side
the right backspacing rims to make your 10.5s work uses more than that 1"
and you will never want to run more than 1 set of spacers

this is how it looks so unless you know your stock wheels BS is 5 or better i would stick with new rims
15x7 + 31 x 10.5 + 4.5 BS = Perfect
15x7 + 31 x 10.5 + 5.5BS + 3/4" = 4.75BS = Will Not Work
15x7 + 31 x 10.5 + 5BS + 3/4" = 4.25BS = Will Work
This is assuming you get 3/4" spacers and not 1/2" or smaller

spacers usually cost something like $100 a set and thats a set of 2 so it would cost $200 ($150 if you find a deal) for 4
the right set of crager rims is 50 per rim x 4 = $200
correct BS rim = priceless + its safer and looks better than messed up stock rims

Donnie_K

Why not just get a 3" lift kit with full leaf packs and call it done? Reason I'm suggesting that over 2" spacers is simply that the height difference has been accounted for with proper spring rate.

DocOrng XJ

he is talking about getting wheel spacers to accommodate for the tire rub
instead of the right backspaced rims