47 CJ2A Suspension - back to SUA and steering question

Hey Amigos,

I didn't know whether to post my question here or on the Early CJ5 folder. As the title says, mine's a 47 CJ2A. One of the previous owners did a spring-over-axle conversion with CJ5 springs. In my opinion, it sits way too high, and the steering geometry just doesn't look right. My plans for it are to take it on occasional mild trails and occasional street driving around town to the local Blockbuster, post office, etc. I'd like to lower the center of gravity back down and revert back to spring-under-axle - maybe keep it at its stock height or no more than 2.5" of lift over stock (have no idea what its stock height is, though, because I got it with the SOA to begin with).

Can I use the same CJ5 springs to do this? Or will I need to get new CJ2A replacement springs (stock or aftermarket 1" to 2.5" lift packs)? Any other leaf spring combos I could use without messing with the stock spring perch and spring hangers/shackles?

Lastly, does anyone with a CJ2A have pics of the steering geometry from the front? I don't know of a stock CJ2A in my area that I can look at to compare. I'd like to know how far off the steering geometry is on mine, and how it's supposed to look. I'd like to use as much as the original stock parts as possible, but I guess if it's safer and easier to switch to saginaw steering, I may just go that route. But would saginaw steering be needed for just 0" to 2.5" of lift? Or is it that much more superior that it would help regardless of stock or mild lift?

Thanks for any info, tips, warnings and advice.

 

I would see no problems in using the 5 springs.
You will just cut off the spring pad and reweld it to the bottom of the axle. You would need to set the angle and all to get it right.
As for the steering, I'd do the sagy swap.

 

Thanks a bunch for the reply. Luckily, the stock axle spring perch was left on the bottom of the axle. They just welded new spring perches on the top of the axle for the SOA conversion.

One thing I noticed about these CJ5 springs is that they're flat on top of the axles - in other words, there's no arch to them. I don't know if that's because they're supposed to be that way or if it's because the SOA causes them to be like that?

 

If they are flat toss them.
They should have an arch.
SOAs tend to be a tad rough on springs from what I've seen.
Most all the lift makers have kits for the early CJs.

 

Thanks again, Jerry. I guess my hopes of doing a cheap switch have been dashed - as usual. Looks like I'll be calling some aftermarket companies for some new springs.

 

You can get a lift kit for under $400. Just do some research.


Also watch the 4 sale section or post in the wanted section.

 

http://www.film.queensu.ca/CJ3B/Tech/Springs.html

There has been alot of discussion on what springs to buy on the CJ3b page with the overall opinion that Superlift gives the best quality ride at any lift.

 

I don't know. All I know is that they're SOA and CJ5 springs. I'll have to doublecheck the frame and the spring hangers to see if they've been cut and moved. Also used a rear CJ5 driveshaft, but the original CJ2A driveshaft came as a spare. So I guess when I go back to SUA, I'll just use the CJ2A driveshaft which is apparently shorter than the CJ5's.

 

Thanks for the link, Coby. I've got Superlift rear springs in my 93 Bronco and like them. I guess they do a good job for the CJ's, too. Their scratch and dent shocks aren't the greatest, though - valved way too soft - at least the pair I got.

 

Mine has a 2.5" lift springs and 1/2" shackle lift. Tires are 33x12.5 I would suggest no more than 3" lift and 32" tires. 32" are hard to find though. A wide 31" doesn't look bad either.

 

You guys rock. Thanks, Lynn, for the info on Bob Supplee in OK. I'll be sure to give him a call when I eventually decide upon the springs I want.

That is one heck of a cool flattie, Michigan. With the SOA, I originally thought of going with 32s or 33x9.50's, cuz there's certainly enough room to fit bigger tires with all that lift. But I didn't want to stress the stock D25 and D41 with tires that big and heavy. I ended up with 31x9.50 TSL Radial Swampers on stock 15x5.5 Jeep rims (I think they're CJ5 rims) - and it turns out that tire/rim combo is heavier than the balding 31x10.50 MT's on aftermarket 15x7 wagon-spoke steelies that were on there when I first got it - doh! The stockish rims also reduce the wider stance it once had with the aftermarket ones, so that's another reason I need to reduce the center of gravity.

One of these days I'll get some pics up with my cousin's digi cam - maybe before and after pics.

Thanks again, guys.

 

Thanks for the reply, Warloch. Please forgive my newbie ignorance, but what are "Holbrooks"? Is that an aftermarket brand of leaf springs?

By the way, that's an impressive collection of early CJ's. That Mustang looks real cool, too. Yeah, I'm green with envy!

 

Holbrooks are Holbruck Long Leaf Springs. They are each 11" longer than stock. You weld four new spring hangers that come with the kit on to the frame. You use the stock front and rear shackel mounts. The kit comes with wedges for the rear axle to angle it up correctly towards the transfer case. The axles mount right where they used to be relative to the frame therefore they don't sit in the middle of the spring arch. I put them on my 2A. The ride is incredable. I can lift any wheel 23" off of the ground and the other three remain firmly planted on the ground. I think the lift was about 2". Holbruck is based in Oregon.

 

Equin,

Go to the suspension link on my web page. You will see a fairly decent picture of my 48 CJ2A with a 3" SUA lift and the two piece steering conversion. It is not under any major strain, but I need to put the degree shims between the axles and springs to stop the tierod clamp from hitting the spring clip on the RH side.

Hope this helps!

 

oops forgot to give you the URL

http://home.off-road.com/~artc/

 

Thanks a bunch for the reply. Great website with lots of good pics and info. I remember seeing it once before, but forgot to bookmark it at the time. Glad you helped me find it again.

That 48 CJ2A has one of the nicest, cleanest frames and undersides I've ever seen! I'm also looking forward to the final brake write-up. Is the body still off the frame? Any newer pics of your progress?

Anyway, the price-list you posted on your site sure sounds reasonable. Gives me a bunch of other ideas on what to do with mine - so I hope you don't mind me being a copy-cat with some of the stuff you've done!

How do you like those Con-Ferr shackles? Were they hard to install? Did you have to do any drilling, grinding or welding to install them?

In the paragraph that starts out about the front spring mounts from 4WPW, you also mentioned you got a new set of frame mount bushings from Leon Rosser. It's been awhile since I looked underneath my CJ2A, so you'll have to forgive my next question, but which frame mount bushings are these? Do these relate the new front spring mounts from 4WPW?

You also talk about the U-bolt skid plates. Are they pictured on your website? I looked at the pic of the front end with those beefy Con-Ferr shackles (and the nice, straight tie rods!), and I can see the u-bolt spring pack plate where the u-bolts go through and bolted up to the bottom of the spring pack. Is that what your talking about?

Sorry for all the questions, but after looking at those pics, I got a bunch more ideas in my head and just wanted to sort them all out! Thanks again.

 

I bought my Con Ferrs shackles from Central 4WD but they don't seem to have them listed now :? Took an hour to install 4 Con Ferrs on the 2A 8)

Here are some skid plates from Con Ferr $42/pair. However --These are for CJ5 with the Dana 44 (axle tube bigger than Dana 41 on the 2A's). I notice alot of companies are no longer stocking many CJ2 parts
http://www.central4wd.com/store/itemdetail.asp?ID=6373