1964 CJ5 - 2.5" Lift ?

The ride is Extreemly stiff after installing a new Superlift / 2.5" (I can hop up and down on the bumper and the jeep barely moves). I am thinking about removing the 6th leaf (smallest - bottom leaf) to soften the ride. I have a little too much lift for my 31s so it would also lower my jeep a 1/4 inch.

Has anyone done this?

I also installed new Rancho 5000s.

Nice FORUM. Lynn sent me over here from another jeep FORUM.

 

Yes. Conroe is 35 miles north of downtown Houston.

 

Shackle bolts are usually the culprit for this. Use nylock nuts and Locktite. Literally, just snug them up against the shackle. Anything more than that, and you're clamping the shackle against the spring and creating friction.

Also, if you're using an "H"-type shackle, where the center is fixed (vs. two seperate side plates with a removable spacer in the middle) - did you have to *force* the shackle over the spring or the hanger? I'm running Con-Fer shackles and I remember having to use a rubber mallet to get them over the springs. This also creates friction. You might need to pull them back off and spread them out a bit.

Or, you could go back to the stock shackles, just to see what happens. That's what I'm going to do...

BTW: Welcome from South Carolina!!!

 

Welcome to another Texas member. Like everybody else has said check shackel bolts then drive a few days to let it "settle in a bit" then check bolts every so often and make sure they're tight. You didn't indicate that you bought the "superide" version, if not they are gonna be a bit siff but will loosen a bit with time.

 

Also, if I remeber correctly, those 5000's are going to be STIFF on a vehicle as light as our Jeeps...I had the RSX shocks on my Jeep and they were pretty stiff. Rancho says the RSX's are softer than the 5000's.

 

Has anyone removed one of the lower leafs? It has 6 and I was thinking of running 5. The 6th is the short leaf on the bottom.

 

I removed the old spring that came with the shackle life. I did tighten the heck out of the shackles so this may be the problem. Do I need to drill the bolts and add a cotter pin to each of the four bolts?

 

My shackles are not the H. THey are two seperate pieces of steel with two bolts and nuts (originals).. The shackle lift kit I took off was the 'H' type of shackle.

Two 'I I' instead of one 'H'

 

i am shouldnt even writ ethis cause it has been said a 1000 times, but when i installed my confer's, i di the same thing. to tight. IIRC i made the comment here and they told me the loctite trick with the locknuts. made a BIG diff.

 

Do not use nylock lock nuts, use regular steel grade 8 automotive lock nuts with the crimp on the outer edge like came factory, then just draw them up to the sides of the plate till there is no slop. These nuts come off easy but will not loosen up on there own at all..

 

Thanks guys for the replies. I have the Crimped grade 8 nuts with the shackles which I plan to use with loctite.

 

UPDATE:

I removed the sixth leaf on all four springs and I loosend the shackles alittle bit and the ride is SOOO much better. The RS 5000 shocks are a little stiff but TONS better than before the spring removal and shackle setup.

 

Not a clue about your spring question, but welcome from virginia beach

 

Loosened the shackles and removed the bottom leaf and the ride is MUCH better. Superlift is known to be a stiffer ride.