I've got a fairly nice 96 model with 170k on it, bought with a blown motor, put a motor in it and it's running like a top. It's still full bodied, bone stock. I'm wanting to take this one toward a small, clean street xj transformation. I bought adapters and 17" jk wheels on 255/75/17 km1's.

You guys running shackles on street jeeps, how are ur rear stock leafs holding up? My 93 trail, I installed relocation brackets and shackles but my factory leafs have somewhat of a negative arch to them. Granted it's got 220k on it, and some overload shocks helped a lot. Plus it's ridden much harder than this one will ever be.

 

I have no problems with my 2" shackles.. That said I threw on an extra main leaf to limit axle wrap. With a stock pack, especially at negative arch I'd be afraid to beat on it.

 

This is the one in question. Haha 255's with no lift. Great if ur driving in a straight line with no passengers lol

 

I had 2" lift shackles on my stock leafs for a little while. The 200K+ leafs started to sag pretty bad after about a year of almost exclusively on-highway driving. I can't imagine how bad they would have been had I taken it off road on a regular basis.

 

With those tires you should consider a full leaf/coil 3" lift, Rustys has one of the best quality entry level ones, cost vs. quality vs. price of them all. Anything much lower and it will rub front and rear even on the street, in parking lots and driveways plus off camber angles.

 

^times two - FredNOAZZ has given this advice before.... he is correct. Shackles for this situation will not help anything. It will do nothing for front end. With worn out no arch springs, adding shackles will make your ride worse and ruin the leave pack even faster.

 

For a smooth ride and the best articulation you want a relatively flat leaf pack and a 45* shackle angle

Pretty much any 3" leaf pack is going to leave you with a 90* shackle angle other than OME leafs...which are the only 3" leaf pack id recommend.

If it were me id find some "fresher" stock leafs, then add a small shackle and relocation brackets.

 

You have a 32" tire, you will need a minimum 3.5" to 4" lift and even then you will rub.


Get out your wallet.

 

I'm at at 4" with 32's no trimming and I rub during turns but I still have stock control arms hopefully once I install my long arms I'll be good to go.