k4ylr

Alright you gentlemen and scholars i need some options. I need some good old fashioned CF ingenuity.

I'm running REs 3.5 superflex full packs out rear and its bad. I installed LIIs sliders today and it feels more stiff than when i had my vertical OEM shackles. I have some height to lose in the back so deleting a leaf is a viable option.

All of my suspension components have been on for a year including the bilstein 5125s.

Any other options are highly welcomed.

Atmos

and the funniest thread title goes to..



bilstein shocks changed up my rear ride quality for sure. what are you running?
also how new are the leaf packs? my RE's were really stiff but softened out over a few months


edit: I think you answered all my questions in your edit. I got nothing else to add. it's a Cherokee it's not going to be perfect
my rubicons are still to stiff. but they plus to that was they never wrapped or rainbowed. maybe try a softer spring

k4ylr

Haha I was hoping that would get some attention

I mean I know the old XJ isn't a cadillac but I sure figured that tossing on Tim's sliders would soften up the rear ESPECIALLY when I was coming from stock OEM shackles that were vertical, if not pointing somewhat towards the nose.

I've seen some people mentioning loosening the leaf pack clamps and when they were shackle set ups loosening up the bolts a hare. Currently the bolt running through the eye and linking the UHMW bearing into the track is set at 30 ftlbs which I feel is plenty soft enough to allow the rear of the springs to travel.

If there's nothing else then I'd consider removing one of the lower leafs (5 total) or sourcing some springs with less arch and longer eye to eye distance because its brutal now going over simply uneven pavement.

k4ylr

Turns out I just fail at all things mechanical and didn't even think to recheck my shock length. Due to a little bit of added height and RE's graciousness of providing far more lift than advertised my Bilstein's originally purchased for a 3.5-4" lift with an extended length of 23.84" are now sitting very much at 23" under normal load.

i'm guessing that my little XJ feels stiffer since my shocks are now maxed.

sad day

831xj

Lol sad day for sure. Get some 10" travels for the rear

93XJLI

well, yea an RE3.5 pack and LII sliders prob has you sitting at 4.5-5" of lift. also, many people overlook tire pressure too... what are you running?

k4ylr

I've got my 32" KM2s running at 32 lbs last I checked

holycaveman

This exactly. you guys have to get this through your heads(and mostly suspension companies) on xj's lift does not matter at all!!


All xj's on the road need to run 10" shocks whether they have a 2"BB or a 4.5" lift.

Now of course if you go huge and long arm this rule may change. But I am talking normal lifting here.

Most crap lift kits I install you have to set the vehicle on the ground before you can bolt the shocks up because they are too short!! How stupid is that!

Rant over Get 10" shocks and don't look back.

k4ylr

That's the plan. I'm gonna see if I can find a lightly used pair for longer shocks to flop around on until I can save enough to get taller coils up front and shocks all around.

831xj

I will sell you my 10" travel white bodies when I get my 5100s in. I have 12" fronts and 10" rears. Both sets about 2k miles on them and one wheeling trip.

k4ylr

Shocks are top of the list. Now I've got a 2 part question.

My current rear shocks are 14.88 compressed and 23.84 extended. My rear is sitting at 23" eye to eye measured on each shock. The longest 10" travel I've found is 15.91 compressed and 25.94 extended. I'm assuming that's my best bet as it leave me ~2" of droop and I only lose 1" on the top end for compression.


Then I'm stuck with getting different rear leafs or taller front coils to level it out =\. Such is life with a jeep!

holycaveman

I would see how much room you have at full compression , and measure at full extension with shocks disconnected. if you have a couple inches to play with up top, you could buy even longer shocks or move the lower shock brackets up. That is what i did.

ctjkelley

I have this same issue, except I'm running a 8.8 rear. I have RE 3.5 SuperFlex packs as well, I have something binding on mine not sure if it's the pack or shackles I'm going to remove the second leaf and try and see what's going on with the shackles as well. I cannot for the life if me get my tires to tuck completely into the fenders. ???

Aljay

I just did my 8.8 swap and reused the D35 mounts but cut them down considerably. I have more droop than compression now. My rear shocks are trash after less than a year (Zone nitro) they were notchy and very stiff trying to put them on the mounts.
I just looked at Zones site my fronts are 10" the rears are allmost a 10". I want bilstiens tho.

k4ylr

I just bought a set of the ~16 x ~26 Bils since the stiffness was to the point I didn't even want to drive my jeep.

It's softened up considerably but I'm going to go ahead and lower the rear with a set of IROs 3.5" leaf packs. My rear is something stupid like 7" of lift with only the sliders and REs 3.5" full leaf pack.