kickice24

Ok, so I am having some trouble installing my rear leafs on my RC lift. I thought maybe something was wrong, so I decided to ask them directly. This is what I got.

[Todd] Hello, how may I help you?
[Frank] Hi
[Todd] hello
[Frank] Have a 98 XJ
[Frank] Installing 4.5" x-series kit
[Todd] ok what can i help you wiht
[Frank] Leaf springs are short front to back. shackle is pinned full forward, not floating at a 45* to the rear of shackle center.
[Todd] yes\
[Frank] ?
[Todd] is the rear shackle pushed foward
[Todd] i realize that this is not easy
[Frank] Yes
[Todd] however you might need a rachet strap to gain the inches you need to nolt in
[Todd] you have the front part of spring bolted up?
[Todd] one closer to the back seat
[Frank] yes sir
[Todd] is it tight?
[Frank] I haven't torqued it down yet
[Todd] how far are you away?
[Frank] from Tennessee?
[Todd] no from the shackle
[Frank] ok
[Frank] whew!
[Frank] The shackle will bolt up, but it sits forward of center. I have no idea how it could go past center towards the rear of vehicle. Leaf spring would have to be3-4 inches longer.
[Todd] WHAT is the spring marked?
[Frank] where would I look. I will go check
[Todd] on top of the spring pack
[Frank] lmc
[Todd] should be a #
[Frank] there was remnants of a sticker
[Frank] one sec
[Todd] OK
[Frank] sticker says 8047
[Todd] should be 8047
[Todd] thats the right spring
[Frank] could the sticker be put on the wrong one?
[Todd] just be jack that spring up and see if you can get some length to it
[Frank] I will try.
[Todd] please do. its not easy but you wil get it!
[Frank] ok. Will let you know.

I'm sorry, but something doesn't seem right to me. I'm gonna jack it up, but I can only go so far before I take the load off the jack stands, and I am not dropping my jeep or hurting myself. If I'm doing something wrong, by all means, help a brother out. I'm learning Jeeps as I go.

chiefbill1959

With the weight back on the axle the springs will move the shackle back. I just installed a Rustys 3 inch kit on mine and had the same issue. I believe you are supposed to have weight on it before you tighten everything down to final specs.

kickice24

Oh, ok. I was wondering if that would happen. I wasn't going to drop the full weight down until I knew if it was ok/safe to do so. I'll be back at it in 10 mins, so we'll know soon enough!

chiefbill1959

Just check your shackle angle after you get down.

Lowrange2

Are you still alive?

nc527

The leaf springs appear to short because they are arched. You have to take that arch out to install them.

Bolt the front of the leafs in, then hold the rear up to the shackle, and stick a flat pry bar between the leaf and shackle. then place a bottle or floor jack under the center of the leaf, and jack it up. with the pry bar there, as the pressure increases, the rear eye of the leaf will slide back toward the shackle. Then just keep adding pressure until it lines up with the shackle.

xjmarc

There are tons of write ups on RCs leaves being too short. Even after they are installed your shackle angle will be 90 degrees if you're lucky but most likely will be angled forward. Folks say it's because of the arch but I've installed RE, Rustys and OME and didn't have that issue. They don't seem to have this problem with other lifts just the 4.5".

kickice24

Well, got the rear back together. They were still pinned forward when I dropped it down. So, I took it for a quick ride around the block and hit some bumps. Checked it when I got back, now both are vertical. Hopefully, as they break in, they will start to move rearward. Check my build thread for the 'almost' completed lift.

Thanks everyone