I have purchased a used 2001 XJ with a 4.5 in lift kit running on 33x12.50 x15 tires. I am having a problem with the front springs compressing so much during braking that the front yoke is hitting my exhaust. I had to remove my front drive shaft. I called Rusty's Off road and spoke with Rusty. He gave me some measurements to check the front spring height. I'm at a loss as to what to do. Do I need new springs, shocks. Right now I can't even drive my Jeep. Has anybody got any ideas?

 

Is your front sway bar attatched? Do you even have one?

If so stiffer springs may be in order... Touch country springs are usually pretty sturdy... Shocks probably aren't the culprit

 

at 4.5" no way.... Are you short arm still? Maybe your upper control arm bushings are shot and the axle is rolling excessively under braking.

 

Thats what I was thinking, the springs wouldnt alow the axel to roll unless they were leafs with loose U bolts.

 

He's talking about the front coils (so am I). Those coils won't do a single thing to stop axle wrap/roll.

To the OP, the reason why I suggested the upper control arm bushings is due to the fact I run IRO's radius arms (long arms with one axle wrap control arm) - just having the one bushing there to prevent axle roll won't cut it and I could lean out of the door while I let the truck roll down the driveway slowly, periodically stabbing the brakes, and watch the axle roll up a significant amount; raising the yoke up towards the exhaust. Imagine how much it must have been twisting under normal road speeds.

I have since changed to a solid rebuildable joint - so that's no matter under my truck. Might want to check it out.

might have someone else do that technique so you can safely observe the axle under braking.

 

Yes thats what I said. Unless there were leafs up front with loose u bolts, it shouldn't do that.

 

okay

 

I do have a front sway bar that is attached. The mounting brackets have spacers to lower it. I have a Rough Country drop radius arm bracket kit on it also, The motor has a 2 piece exhaust manifold with a y type catalytic converter attached to it. The yoke is hitting the catalytic converter just in front of the collector flange. There's not a lot of room for modifying the exhaust system. The front coil springs are Rusty's 405's. The measurements that I got from Rusty's Off Road are with in the spec's that he gave me. I'm having a hard time believing that the springs are weak, however I'm not sure what kind of environment the previous owner put them through. I'm not opposed to replacing the springs, I'm just not sure if I need new Rusty's 405's 4.5 in springs or should I go to a 6 in. coil spring for added clearance.

 

First off is it a hi pinion or lo pinion axle.

 

I would imagine LP. That's what came on em in 2001.

 

Ya but I had clearance issues after I swapped a h.p. into my 01 even with 6.5" lift and long arms. Lil hammer fab and it's fine at 5.5" now.

 

To my knowledge the front axle is a stock unit.

 

Those springs are rated at 150lbs/in close to stock. A lot of other companies use much stiffer springs.


Maybe compare if you don't want to go higher. I intend to buy a set of these in the near future because they are so soft.

 

Check to see if any bump stops are installed.

No bump stops

 

or....... (see above).