Suspension???

Ok my 65 cj5 is stock and the front springs are resting on these cone shaped springs that look like there suppused to keep it from bottoming out, but those cone shaped springs seem to BE my suspension, the rear springs are straight (kinda) rust has developed between each leaf and all the leafs are tight against each other at the shackles but spread out then curle back in?? don't know if that makes sense... best way to describe is the effect when binding newspapers with cord and they compact at the cord but not on either side.
I know..:uwop: I'm hoping you understand the description, I'll get u pic's tommorow.. for now my question is do I desperately need springs or can they wait till spring? The ride sucks cause the shocks are so rusted that the normally shiney shafts are pitted and brown
I know I'm ridin on all springs and shocks are right after fixing the miss (still there )
Also should I go with a jc whitney 1 1/2" lift kit or try to get factory?
not interested in restore it's gonna be mostly mod with some restraint so as not to look crappy
Not going to be doing much off roading not much around here) but eventually going to bigger motor. Also I got a snow plow (that prolly killed the front springs)

She sits level thou

 

No Jeep lean, eh?

The first thing many will tell you here is, don't buy from JCW. There are several better places to buy springs from.

The spring leaves should lie flat and even against each other. There should be spring clips around the spring pack to keep the leaves together.

If the leaves are badly rusted, that will make them stiff, becasue they are supposed to slide against each other when they compress and relax. You can take the spring pack apart, clean the leaves, and put them back together with new spring clips and a new spring center bolt. Sometimes slippery plastic shims are added between the leaves so that they slide more easily. The machanic at the jeep dealer where I worked kept an oil can full of engine oil and solvent, which he would squirt on the customer's springs when they came in for service. Not everybody agrees with that practice, but in this case where you have lots of rust I think it couldn't hurt.

 

I am not sure how much and at what speeds you plan on driving it, but it sounds like it could use new springs and shocks all around.

 

Well unfortunatley most of my driving will be on road 55-60 mph so I'll take the suggestion of removing ,cleaning and reasembling the springs,
for this type of driving with the occasional opurtunity to "get er dirty"
should I in your opinion go with Re arching, stock replacement or new MILD lift springs and shocks???? I don't wan't to add height due to the unstable nature or the beast. I am planning on new wagon wheel rims and wider tires, thats another thread when the time comes.
In particular the front end.. should the front leaf's be letting the suspension resting on that cone shaped spring?????

 

I would say no, but then again, I really don't know what you're talking about. A picture would sure help.

As to lift springs, if you want to increase your tire size, a 1"-3" lift will do you good w/o any adverse effects to the drivability. In fact, modern springs and shocks even w/ a lift will handle better than originals. Original leafs (unless HD packs) were very weak and the shocks were junk.:v6:

 

If you're talking about the rubber bumpstop, then no. It shouldn't be touching.

 

another question that is related to the bumpstop is that I have a 1.5 in body lift. The bumpstop is still original. Every once in a while when I hit a bump the tire rubs. Is there a way to lower the bumpstop 1.5 in?? Should I just add a puck or to?? like was done to the body. At least I thinks it is because of the bumpstop. maybe not, here is a picture.

 

Another question...is re-arching my springs worth while till I can afford a new set? Cheapest price I've seen with a 1 1/2" lift is $99 per spring unless I'm reading it wrong and it's per set of 2. I definately need some new springs and shocks cause my teeth rattle and you bounce in your seat on the highway at 55mph and this is a new concrete road.
Or are there kits to eliminate the leaf springs and use coil overs without much of a lift?

 

Re-arching is a "band-aid" fix. Im not a metallurgist but springs that are used up are just that, used up, you can't fix a bent wire it will always be weak. Go for new. My .02.