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Modern Suspension on a CJ2

Discussion in 'Builds and Fabricators Forum' started by OldSchoolJeep48, Dec 15, 2010.

  1. Dec 15, 2010
    OldSchoolJeep48

    OldSchoolJeep48 Work In Progress

    Elgin, IL
    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2004
    Messages:
    69
    So I have been wondering what to do on my suspension. I like the idea of wrangler springs and they would work just fine for what i want to do whick is just a light duty trail rig and weekend driver. My goal though is to have as much clearance onder the jeep as posible so I would love to go SOA. Now I know that I just opened a can of worms, but I really love the look underneath of just having the axle with nothing mounted below it. The ovbious problem is I realy dont want to be 5" extra in the air.

    My options seem to be either sub mount the springs in the frame as high as I can go or look into a 4 link. Im not sure about mounting the spring IN the frame and how that might effect things and the custom 4 link is super pricy. Then I though of a stock wrangler suspension and wondered if I could adapt that to my needs.

    So my question is this:
    1. Can I buy a lift kit for a later model wrangler and throw it on my cj2?
    2. Could I get a stock suspension system and throw it under there?
    3. how hard would either of those two be?
    4. OR is there a better option that I am missing?

    Thanks for your help!
     
    OldSchoolJeep48, Dec 15, 2010
    #1
  2. Dec 15, 2010
    cerial

    cerial Banned

    Middleville MI
    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2010
    Messages:
    139
    Old man emu(rocky-road) is very respected in my book. You can install something like this
    http://www.rocky-road.com/cjspoa.html
    (for illustration only you will need to get there outboard kit to install it on your cj2a..?).

    This is what I am going with once I get the cage/body built and find a total weight to tell them. I recommend it over a soa if you want to remain under that 5" over stock mark.
    http://www.rocky-road.com/cj-to-yj.html

    You can simply get the outboard kit(or make our own) and some yj springs if you want to go on the cheap. Will save you around 300 bones. Not worth it though in my opinion by the time everything is said and done you will wish you got the ome kit with new springs.
     
    cerial, Dec 15, 2010
    #2
  3. Dec 15, 2010
    Warloch

    Warloch Did you say Flattie??? Staff Member

    Falcon, CO
    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2003
    Messages:
    5,471
    There are more than a few variables with your questions...

    A lot depends on the axles you’re going to run to see if they need to be out boarded. You may need new mounts on the axle for wider springs (stock are 1 3/4 vs 2 plus on newer setups). It’s going to be real hard to do SOA and not jack the lift up like that – after all – that’s why folks mostly do the SOA.

    Easy to install and nice riding springs – check out Holbrook – that is what I run on mine.
     
    Warloch, Dec 15, 2010
    #3
  4. Dec 15, 2010
    willysworker

    willysworker Member

    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2003
    Messages:
    172
    x2 on Holbrook. You can french your mounts into the frame. Better driveshaft angles, cleaner looking but you loose some lift.
    [​IMG]
     
    willysworker, Dec 15, 2010
    #4
  5. Dec 16, 2010
    OldSchoolJeep48

    OldSchoolJeep48 Work In Progress

    Elgin, IL
    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2004
    Messages:
    69
    I keep hearing about the Holbrook springs, and Im sure their great, but Im really after that clean under the axle look. Maybe after more research, its just not worth going to SOA.

    As for axles, I have a d30 from a 75 out frunt, and a d44 from a 71 out back. Both offset and in that 50-53" width I think.

    I was thinking of frenching the mounts in the frame. I would try to go as high as I could, even near the top of the frame rail if I could...
     
    Last edited: Dec 16, 2010
    OldSchoolJeep48, Dec 16, 2010
    #5
  6. Dec 16, 2010
    DanStew

    DanStew Preowned Merkin salesman Staff Member

    Lexington, South...
    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2002
    Messages:
    4,585
    going spring over you are going to deal with high center of balance. for a 2a, the wheelbase is so short, it does become real tippy with a spring over. I did SOA with stock wrangler leaves. It did work good, but the issues was higher cetner of gravity and the springs were real close to frame so bottoming out was happening often on the up travel. I remedied it and went with rubicon express spring over leaves. They were real nice, but still the jeep was tippy. It flexed like mad but still tippy. Unless you stretch the frame or reall french in teh springs you are going to be to tall. with spring over you will need to address chocks and driveshafts and other factors.

    A link suspension will give you a great ride and not much height if you plan it right. IT is more $$, it is more complex. Many people use it and it is fine. For me i just dont like the complexity. But that is me. My build now, i am using off the shelf springs from a cherokee. made my mounts. So far that is how far i am, hopefully this weekend i can get the frame rolling to see how tall and stable it is. Best bang for buck is to spend the extra coin and get custom springs made. you can get it tailored to your rig and it will ride great.

    Leaf springs are old tech, but many rigs still use them The real differnce between the stock springs and newer units ithe number of leaves. Older springs tend to have alot more, where the technology advances allow the a good spring rate with less leaves.
     
    DanStew, Dec 16, 2010
    #6
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