soa questions

now that my jeep is running i want to do an soa on it i would like to use yj springs and seeing how i need new shocks anyway i figured it would be best to just buy them after i lifted it but how much lift will the soa and the yj springs give me and what kinds of things should i be looking for?

 

I've heard 5.5 to 6 inches of lift with the SOA. Have you thought about your steering???

From what I have read it's not as simple as it seems. There are a number of things you need to consider when doing a SOA.

Good luck,

High5

 

JMO - SOA is a can of worms, most shadetree SOA conversions are dangerous, you are out of your mind to want 6" of lift with that short a wheelbase, and it will ruin the resale value of your Jeep.

Sorry to be so negative - just trying to help.

 

SPOA has its purpose but if not done correctly can cause problems.
You will need to correct steering your steering angles after which means a hi-steer conversion. Next new extended driveshafts or lengthened originals wil work. Brake lines will need to be extended. Shock mounts will need to be custom fabbed. Then after all that you need to come up with a traction bar system to counter axle wrap and hop off road.
Not as easy or as cheap as some folks think.

Almost forgot, SPOA allows for a 35" + tire size so you will also need to upgrade disc brakes and expect to break axle shafts eventually.

 

I'll be watchin this thread closley. I can't decide wether my jeep with spring over axle is better then my jeep with out it. It seems more comfortable, but I would be worried about rolling being so much higher. Being an offroader, I'm sure you've had quite a few times you've "almost rolled". With that extra few inches, man, I don't know. The other thing is the steering sucks. I slammed on the brakes and went from side of road, to opposite lane, back to side of road, back to opposite lane. An old time jeeper told me that I need to put two shocks on each wheel and it would ride awsome. I don't know though.

 

My 72 currently sits soa. I've been fairly happy with it, but if i had to do it again, i would just go with a u bolt flip and a 3-4" lift kit. It definitely gave me 5.5-6" and i could clear 35"s. I'm running 33"s to keep the axles alive. THe Soa does flex well, but its a little loose on the road. I dont run/register my cj on the street, but i have a few times, and its not exactly fun on the road. this may be due to some other issues like workn tie rod ends, but i havent really put any work into real road worthyness. I think if you outboarded the yj springs ( factory springs, dont use lift springs), and ran swaybars you would be ok on the road.
From an soa guy: Its a rewarding project and flexes excellently, but its a ton of work, and its not as easy as some people make it out to be. If you plan on driving on the street, just do a normal SUA lift.

here's a little SOA flex... (on newer 11-leaf springs...STIFF)
(i'm a pic whore!)

 

why are people so anti-SUA R)

i DD my CJ to work everyday and will stay SUA untill i can save the $$$ to 4link the rear and 3link the front.

 

What kind of springs flex like that!!!!

And where did you get those fenders??????

High5

 

very nice.

 

^^^Yea, I'm with him^^^

I'm running 4" SUA Skyjacker springs with front shackle reversal and 2" shackle lift. With 35x12.50 Super Swampers. All installed by the P.O.

I'm still working on getting that kind of flex outta mine, but it does OK right now. I followed 2pwrlftrs4u's lead and advise and installed TJ flares on the rear to clear the tires better.

I thought I'd have a big problem with a high COG, but it does OK in a side hill, once you get used to the feeling.
Tracks straight and true down the freeway (until it gets in a groove, then its 'sudden lane change time')

save up for a SUA lift, you'll be happier in the end.

But to timgr, how do you figure that 6" of lift will ruin the resale of a Jeep? Some people want that lift and look... and I don't think mine is ruined....
(or did I mis-read you and your talking about the SOA 6" lift only? if so, then I apologize)

 

I was referring to the SOA. JMO - anything you add to a Jeep that's not reversible or factory equipment devalues it (in most cases). Your typical Jeep buyer and/or shade tree builder doesn't understand suspension dynamics well, if at all - I think this is evidenced by the scary suspension mods you sometimes see on Jeeps, and the large number of complaints by new buyers that their Jeeps wander, or can't be driven at highway speeds. Given enough time, you may be able to find a buyer that can appreciate radical suspension mods, but the further you stray from stock, the fewer buyers you'll have. It's just supply and demand.

Personally I think a 6" SUA is excessive, but I realize that some want that look. Not for me though.

 

well u guys sure do have a way of changing minds but how do i get that kind of flex? i want this thing to be a dd but i also want some good off-road use as-well

 

Love mu SOA. But, I would not have done it without some of the other changes I made with it. The pertinent changes were: Wider axles, longer wheelbase (98"), High steering knuckles, anti wrap bars. There is no question that I now have a better off-road vehicle. It is more stable on and off road now than it was with stock axles, wheelbase, and a 4" spring-under lift. But if you are not going all out to get it right, stick with sua.

 

BDS 4" YJ springs... fenders home made

 

funny thing is most jeeps w/33"s are taller than mine, CY, YJ, TJ... dont matter. its all about the COG R)

 

thats great to know... i was kicking around the idea of a SOA as well... thanks for the advice... sounds like a boat-load of work and other issues to boot!

2pwrlftrs4u is BDS a brand?

do the 4" YJ springs bolt right up and what other mods did you have to go thru to get that lift under that CJ?

yours looks exactly like i want mine to... :twisted:

i was thinking pro-comp 4" w/shocks OOB (out of the box) and MAYBE 1-2" body lift... but she MUST be safe on the road before my girls ride in it... i have lots of wander now that i am in the process of trying to eliminate... new bearings, ball joints and tie rod ends to date... but she still walks a bit... and the brakes are another issue all to gether...

see 'nachos' in builds for addl info...

THANKS!



TTB

 

I'm clearing 35's with 4" Skyjacker Soft Ride springs, sprung under, and a 2 1/2" body lift. You definitely have a lower COG with the springs under the axles. On my upcoming build I'm going to get rid of some of the body lift as I don't really need that much.

 

yes, BDS is the brand of springs, the YJ springs wont bolt right up, that are not the same as the CJ springs. my spring hangers were moved when the shackle reversal was done.

 

where did u get the spring perches for the yj springs?

 

You can get all the necessary hardware here --> http://www.partsmike.com/

I'm in the process of a YJ-SOA conversion on a '75 and I'm running into extreme drive line angles on the rear. The T18 tranny is longer than the original T15 that was in it, making matters worse. I am looking to move the rear axle back another inch or so and drop the t-case about an inch and see if that helps.