So I got after it and made some relocation brackets. But today I was in full-on retard mode and nothing seemed to work out. I made the brackets so the shackle angle was about 45*...with the damn suspension at full droop. What happens when the Jeep is on the ground? Duh....

So I happened to have some longer shackles that I drilled a third set of holes into (thank gawd for HF step drills) and hung them on there and wound up with about 3/4" of additional lift. And the shackle angle is almost 45* at ride height. Which should be perfect.

And the really amazing thing? The amazing thing is the difference in ride quality. Why? Because there is NO DAMN DIFFERENCE !! The stupid thing still rides like a fooking lumber truck. And I wasted damn near all day on this POS. Again.

But I did figure out how to make a cool template for the plasma cutter. So...that's something I guess.

 

I'd still bet my bottom dollar that some combination of shocks and tire pressure are your problem. I mentioned a formula for tire pressure before. And tire pressure has been mentioned dozens of times in this thread. Doesn't seem like you looked into that, so I will try to help you out.

What tires do you have exactly? If it's these, then I will give you an estimate of pressure.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Goodyear-W...R15LT/11983319

Here's the link to this topic.

http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f15/t...04/index2.html

XJ Curb weight = roughly 3400 lbs
Load index = 2271 x 4 = 9084
Max PSI = 50 (I think?)

3400 / 9084 = 37.4%
.374 x 50 = 18.7 PSI

I realize that 19 PSI is uncomfortably low in most situations, but you gotta remember that our XJs are light and we're putting big truck tires on them. Therefore, airing down is our only way of combatting that. Drop another 5 PSI outa those tires and see what happens. If it doesn't work out, air them back up. What do you have to lose?

 

Hate to say it, but you're listening to and experimenting with all of the difficult solutions and ignoring the easy one. I just re-read this and saw that you're at 28 PSI now.... Way too high. If you know your MPG now, then air down to 20ish, check the ride, take MPG info and weigh the costs and benefits. If getting 2 more MPG is worth hating your ride, then you have your answer.

There's another way to get tire pressure accurate for best life of the tires. Read up on chalking offroad tires.

 

Are talking about running 31s at just 19psi on the street? I have my aired to 33psi and it rides just fine, many passengers fall asleep. I air down to 12-16 offroad...

 

Just going to put my 2 cents in here. I did a 3" Zone AAL and it ran like there was no rear suspension. I went to drop the shackles so I could do relocation brackets and ended up breaking my 1/2 to 3/8 socket adapter. Yeah I know should have just used the proper drive socket but the only one I had was too tall. Since I couldn't drop the shackles and I had the tires off and the jeep on jack stands I took the time to remove the rear sway bar. The ride quality improved drastically.

Not sure why, because removing the sway bar should have done nothing but improve rear flex. The only reasons I have come up with are the shackles were seized to the bolts and all the penetrating oil I used loosened them up or the sway bar was adding pre-load to the leafs and removing it allowed the leafs/shackles to cycle more like they should.

I am only running LT235/75R15s right now, but I run them at 42 PSI in the front and 40 PSI in the rear because anything lower makes the XJ feel like it is riding on jello

 

Yes. I run mine at 21 and it rides great, even with short arms. Anything more than 25 is crap for ride quality with my setup. At 33 psi the only way anyone would be falling sleep in my car is by getting knocked out by a bump in the road. It all depends on the load index of your particular tires.

 

You're description says you have 33s.. even then I'd probably run 25-28psi. I think you have a bushing problem if that is causing such a harsh ride. Running that low would negatively effect tire wear and mileage. Just my thought.

 

I do have 33s.No bushing or sidewall wear problems here. Lots of jeepers run similar pressure. I think it makes perfect sense to run your tires at a pressure that corresponds to the weight on them rather than some arbitrary pressure that you've always run or the guy at discount tire set them at. Science > Folklore

 

OK, will give it a try, although running around with only 20psi in the tires seems crazy. And yes, those are the exact tires. And yes, loosing another 2mpg would pretty much make this vehicle useless. The stupid thing is only getting about 13 now. I might as well drive my F350 diesel.

This seems like how it should be.

Dunno about this; might give it a try but I bomb around on the road alot and want reasonable cornering quality.

I may well have a bushing problem too. Lookin into it. UCA bushings have not been replaced; nor have swaybar bushings. Also, I did extend the swaybar links on either end - they are both stock. Not that that should make any difference here....

Roger that, it makes sense to me as well. Max load on these tars is 2271 lbs and they are seeing a little more than a third of that weight as the car sits now. Maybe a little more on the front...

Thanks for all the input.

 

Not sure but my chalk/dirt test feels otherwise. When i run too low, you can see the outter treads hitting he ground more than the center. Whats the point of having a center tread then.

 

Like I said, I don't know if it was removing the sway bar or just getting the penetrating oil in the shackles that got things cycling smoother, but I lean towards the latter.

Today we are having some high winds and with the rear sway bar removed the Jeep really was pushed around by the wind , so if you like to bomb around maybe removing it is a bad idea. It is easy to remove, 4 nuts and 4 bolts and it comes right out. Should be just as easy to put back in, so you could take it off, go for a test ride to see if it makes a difference, then put it back on. I would guess that removing it and installing it again would take about an hour. It would be nice if they made a quick disconnect for the rear like they do for the fronts.

 

And fyi, loosing the rear sway bar doesnt affect maneuverability as you think. When i drive with my front sway bar on, normally im sway less, i can take corners doing some speed but thats usually on freeways. I mean its a jeep. Probably shouldn't be speeding it it anyways.

 

I always speed. Like 80% of the time. I like it, and I am unrepentant.

 

Maybe you should pickup a car that more tailored to your driving style? Most people have an XJ and second vehicle to cover their driving needs, even me Fortunately for me, my XJ makes more sense as a 1st vehicle and is my first choice to drive. What is funny is that I bought it as a winter vehicle so I could park my other car for the winter. Right now I am thinking of leaving the other car parked till I get the body and interior perfect and only using it as a fair weather/special occasion car

 

I have a BMW 328 hardtop convertible with racing suspension and a pumped up engine. I also have a 99 F350 crewcab diesel with a lift & 35's...with a built transmission and a pumped up engine. I have this XJ. Two of my kids each have XJ's. My wife has another BMW. I don't need no more cars.

I tend to bomb around in whatever I'm driving. I always did, but then I worked in Brazil for a couple years and down there everybody drives fast. That just reinforced my habit. Rio traffic would scare the **** out of most Americans...but it's great fun for me.