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sounds like that would work for me. Do you enjoy the one you got and how much did it run? Thanks man
I am happy with the drop for now, like I said it temporary but it made the Jeep drivable. I still may need to shim the axle, sometimes I can hear a hum when I'm on the gas. It's a 1" T-case drop from Rubicon Express, picked it up from 4wheelparts for like $20.
The driveshaft is dangerously close to comming out. If it does the it usually rips off the tail cone. I'd opt for a SYE too. The hack n tap may be your cheapest route.
As far as the S-10 leafs. Every pack is different & it will be trial & error until it's perfect. Part of the game to get cheap lift.
So much this...
I've built a couple of leaf packs. To get it right, for the height you want, takes a lot of work. Putting the packs together, mock up install, cycle the suspension a few times, and see where it sits when it settles. Then take it all back out, add or remove leafs as necessary, and repeat until it's right. If it sounds like a lot of work, it is. That's if you want it perfect. You can get it close, but my experience has been doing it at least twice to get it in the ballpark.
So, take into account you may need several leaf packs in order to get the right combo, time to get it right, and it adds up to me, as time is valuable. To me, you're better off just buying new leaf packs for the desired lift you want. Just my .02.
You can do a TC drop, but it's a band-aid, and as stated above, shims are a great idea to dial it in. That said, SYE is the best option. Also, as far as not needing a SYE at 3", every XJ is different. I've seen guys running 4.5 lifts with no issue, but I've seen the other end as well, knew a guy in Denver who tried everything to get rid of driveline vibes at 2.5", only thing that fixed it was the SYE. Getting lift done right takes time and effort, and no 2 are ever the same.
OP, one last thing, the very bottom leaf on your pack, the one that sticks straight out away from the pack, I'd ditch that one...those things are thick and stiff, and will add more lift, with less comfort in the ride. Kinda like those "load helper" AAL's they sell for people who haul trailers. Again, just my opinion.
Yeah I agree with y'all on the sye. I think I'm going to play with the pack like you stated and try to get it around 3". Hopefully when I'm that low the driveshaft won't be at such a great angle and I can just ride with 3" all around. I am definitely considering all of these mods but at the moment I'm in the process of moving and I just need this to be driveable. And I've got a buddy getting me a good deal on some tires but I can't get them until I make this driveable. Besides that bottom leaf, would y'all consider starting with the longer leafs or the shorter leafs? Thanks again
OP, one last thing, the very bottom leaf on your pack, the one that sticks straight out away from the pack, I'd ditch that one...those things are thick and stiff, and will add more lift, with less comfort in the ride. Kinda like those "load helper" AAL's they sell for people who haul trailers. Again, just my opinion.
Roninofako is spot on. I did the complete bastard pack the first time assembled. Got 4 1/2" drivers side and 4 3/4" on the passenger side. Pull the bottom leaf out completely. It's like 18" long and 5/8" thick. I did that and ended up at 3 1/4" drivers side and 3 1/2" passenger side.
Do what u like but on the cheap, you wouldn't be building a bastard pack if you weren't, it will get you in the 3 - 3 1/2" lift neighborhood. No driveline problems at all in mine.
Alright so I have reassembled the rear 5 times now and to now avail. I removed the complete bottom leaf(the thick flat one) and that was still too high. So I then replaced that one and removed the second leaf from the top(s10 top leaf) and same problem. Finally I decided to remove both of them (thick flat bottom and second from top) and still too high. So I decided to measure them to see if I'm even making any progress, and it looks like the suspension hasn't even dropped an inch! I'm no expert here by any means but I would assume that the removal of 2/5 leafs would drop it down a good bit.
I feel like I'm going a little crazy working in this 100 degree Tennessee weather, but I really need to get this done in order to move.
On top of the already bad news it seems as if the scrappers took the original leaf springs out of my driveway over the weekend? So now I'm unable to just pop in the stock ones just to drive it to the new house.
Should I remove another leaf? Or am I missing something here...
i feel like only riding on two leafs sounds insane. Thanks again everyone for the help so far and I'll be checking this thread thouroughly throughout the day. Hopefully I can figure this out today.
Alright so I have reassembled the rear 5 times now and to now avail. I removed the complete bottom leaf(the thick flat one) and that was still too high. So I then replaced that one and removed the second leaf from the top(s10 top leaf) and same problem. Finally I decided to remove both of them (thick flat bottom and second from top) and still too high. So I decided to measure them to see if I'm even making any progress, and it looks like the suspension hasn't even dropped an inch! I'm no expert here by any means but I would assume that the removal of 2/5 leafs would drop it down a good bit.
I feel like I'm going a little crazy working in this 100 degree Tennessee weather, but I really need to get this done in order to move.
On top of the already bad news it seems as if the scrappers took the original leaf springs out of my driveway over the weekend? So now I'm unable to just pop in the stock ones just to drive it to the new house.
Should I remove another leaf? Or am I missing something here...
i feel like only riding on two leafs sounds insane. Thanks again everyone for the help so far and I'll be checking this thread thouroughly throughout the day. Hopefully I can figure this out today.
Are you re-assembling, and letting it rest on it's own weight? Then cycling the suspension several times to get it to settle?
Yeah, don't just ride on two leafs, that is insane, LOL...sucks someone took your old ones.
Are you re-assembling, and letting it rest on it's own weight? Then cycling the suspension several times to get it to settle?
Yeah, don't just ride on two leafs, that is insane, LOL...sucks someone took your old ones.
yeah ive been letting it rest for an hour or more inbetween. Rocking on the rear bumper as well.
I was just under it trying to find an explanation, and does anyone know anything about the positioning on the hanging bracket for the rear bolt on the leaf spring? Should it be facing the front or rear or should it be free moving? Picture of what I'm talking about below. Mine is facing towards the front of the jeep and I'm in the understanding that if it faces more to the rear it will spread the leaf spring further and lower the jeep. But if that's correct then how do I go about moving it?
That is the shackle, and the way it faces makes no difference.
Yes, it should be free moving. When you hit a bump, the leaf spring will flatten out and that shackle will rotate rearward (the bottom of it will move) and then when the leaf spring returns to normal length, the shackle will to.
The only way to move it is either put more load/weight on the jeep and the rear of it will move backwards, get a longer upper spring, or get a shackle relocation kit to change the angle of the shackle, which will also add lift in most cases.
Are you tightening the shackle bolts while weight is on them, or while it is in the air ?? should do it with weight on them
Ive been tightening them while it was in the air, but not too tight at all to allow the shackle to be free moving. I'll be sure to tighten them on the ground whenever I get it back up.
My lift springs came with tapered shims to adjust the U joint angle. I did not use them because I have a high pinion rear axle, but they seem recommended for a lift in the range you are using. They could be made rather easily with a belt sander and some aluminum.
Alright guys so I ended up dropping the transfer case about an inch and a half (definitely only temporary) and I left the rear at the 4-5 inch lift because I could not figure out how to lower it down to 3in using the bastard pack( and having more than 2leafs). Drives alright but it was good enough to get me to the tire shop and get my 31's. The owner is a family friend and asked one of his techs to check everything out for me and he said the rear axle is a little off and he said he didn't feel it affecting anything and wasn't 100%what it was. He said the axle might be bent. But anyways here's a picture of my new build. Thanks for all the help
07-22-2017, 10:20 AM
