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YJ Springs on a CJ5

Discussion in 'Intermediate CJ-5/6/7/8' started by dbrito, Jul 8, 2013.

  1. Jul 8, 2013
    dbrito

    dbrito New Member

    Northern California
    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2010
    Messages:
    6
    A few months back I bought a 72 CJ5 SOA with YJ spring conversion and shackle reversal set-up with brand new 2" lift BDS springs. The rear axle has 6 degree shims (double cardan joint on the drive shaft) which also makes the back sit a little higher than the front.
    After a few months of driving I can't get use to the height (too tall) or the fact that the rear is higher than the front and was contemplating replacing the 2" lift springs with stock YJ springs.
    So my question is, what issues will I have by installing stock springs and lowering it, will the new stock front springs drop more than the rear with the V-8 & the 12K winch up front, will the already modified drive shafts need modification?
    About the jeep; 1972 CJ 5 360 V-8, 12k warn winch, Dana 30 up front and Dana 44 in the rear, T15 transmission with a dana 20 xfer case, 33" tires.
    Any help, comments or ideas would be much appreciated!
     
  2. Jul 8, 2013
    nickmil

    nickmil In mothballs.

    Happy Valley, OR
    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2002
    Messages:
    12,529
    Personally for 33" tires I'd go back to spring under with a 2 1/2-3" lift. Soa with 2" springs gives in the neighborhood of 6-9" of lift depending on a few variables. If that is not an option then Stock height springs is an option. Problem is without seeing how it's set up there is know way of really knowing what changes would need to be made if you dropped it back down. There are just too many ways people do these conversions. Also, steering may need to be addressed as well. Do you have high steer arms now (also called knuckle over steering)?
    If not the. How is your drag link angle? Things to think about.


    Sent from my iPhone
     
  3. Jul 9, 2013
    dbrito

    dbrito New Member

    Northern California
    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2010
    Messages:
    6
    Thanks for the reply Nickmil
    I agree, but I don't think going back to sprung under is an option for me right now. I think I would be happy with SOA with stock height springs. I would hate to fork out $400 for new springs, install them and realize I have to spend more time or money to make them work.


    I don't have high steer arms, the drag link is at about a 5 deg angle to the pitman arm. (I have a pic but not sure how to post it from an iPad)
     
  4. Jul 9, 2013
    nickmil

    nickmil In mothballs.

    Happy Valley, OR
    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2002
    Messages:
    12,529
    Save your pics on photobucket or similar then you can link them here. Sounds like might be a steep angle. The biggest issue most people run into is the drag link hitting the passenger side spring when turning right and the suspension flexing. Very dangerous. Take a close look at that.
    I've seen tie rod ends separate and drag links bend if there isn't sufficient clearance. That's one of the major reasons "High Steer" was invented. I hand built my first one about 1992ish.


    Sent from my iPhone
     
  5. Jul 9, 2013
    y2grey

    y2grey Member

    Fayetteville NY
    Joined:
    Sep 18, 2011
    Messages:
    106
    Your BDS springs are superior to the stock YJ units (which by their design long unsupported main leaf) have the tendancy to bend. However you could probably sell off the BDS or trade them for YJ springs if that's what you want. You probably need somthing like a #4 shim with the double joint d-shaft. Another option is to remove a leaf or 2 from the BDS springs.
     
  6. Jul 9, 2013
    Long&Low

    Long&Low Active Member

    Geauga County, OH
    Joined:
    Dec 13, 2009
    Messages:
    1,212
    Stock YJ springs will bend "S" like in an SOA set up, you need partially lifted springs, or a long second leaf. There are 1" lift springs that work well with SOA set ups. Do you have a third link on the rear axle, as axle wrap will or could be a concern also. Addressing rear axle wrap is second to hi-steer arms on doing an SOA correctly, IMHO.
     
  7. Jul 9, 2013
    jdarg

    jdarg Member

    SE Wisconsin
    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2010
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    92
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0_IPBsl7BI

    I shot this a few years ago when I first got my SOA, w/ stock YJ springs, on the road. I wanted to see how bad the wrap was before I invested in a traction bar so I mounted a webcam under the Jeep and drove around the neighborhood a bit. You can see towards the end of the video how much the diff. was rotating under accel. and braking. I stopped driving it after that until I could put a traction bar on it. I had 4.88 gears and a tired 2.5L at the time if that makes any difference. I bet it would be even worse with a torquey v8.
     
    Last edited: Jul 9, 2013
  8. Jul 10, 2013
    bigjohn

    bigjohn Active Member

    Kelso Wa
    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2010
    Messages:
    1,054
    Yes sir, I will say high steer is a must. I had a drop pitman arm on mine for about a year and in that time the increased leverage wiped out the splines on the pitman arm and sector shaft splines. The pitman arm just fell off when I pulled the nut. Not good. Look at the RP4wd.com highsteer kits. Thats what I have on mine and it has worked out really well, made my SOA a non-deathtrap.

    How much higher is the rear? Take some measurements and figure out where you need to be. Stock wrangler or late model rear CJ leafs will work, but I would go with something aftermarket to address previously mentioned stock spring concerns. Other than that, you are probably looking at shims to adjust your rear pinion angle and if dropping the rear 2 inches don't forget shorter shocks.
     
  9. Jul 10, 2013
    y2grey

    y2grey Member

    Fayetteville NY
    Joined:
    Sep 18, 2011
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    106
    It's funny how there is so much chat about swapping in YJ springs. There is a reason why there are so many YJ springs around... because they s...! They were crap OEM and they are still crap! That's why most YJs that see any real use have aftermarket springs.
     
  10. Jul 10, 2013
    jdarg

    jdarg Member

    SE Wisconsin
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    Jan 27, 2010
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    I wouldn't call them crap. They flex like crazy and ride very soft. Nothing aftermarket comes close to touching them. But they need repacking every year and replacing every two, for me at least. That's still years and years of wheeling on flexy springs for less than the cost of new ones. Frankly given the choice of aftermarket leafs or linking it, I'd link it. The cost of a spendy new set of leafs doesn't justify keeping them.
     
  11. Jul 11, 2013
    y2grey

    y2grey Member

    Fayetteville NY
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    Sep 18, 2011
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    They flex well when grafted to a CJ but on a YJ no way that's why I went ARB. Of course on a yj you are also dealing with panard rods and sway bars. The main problem with them is the long unsupported main leaf.
     
  12. Jul 12, 2013
    jdarg

    jdarg Member

    SE Wisconsin
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    We'll I'll keep them despite their shortcomings. OME springs are a good choice but not the holy grail of leaf springs IMHO.
     
  13. Jul 15, 2013
    dbrito

    dbrito New Member

    Northern California
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    Jun 6, 2010
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    Thanks for all the advice, I will look into the high steer for sure and I'm looking at an anti wrap set-up on CL. In the meantime I took a leaf out of the rear spring pack this morning and it brought it down a bit, at least it sits a little more level.
    [​IMG][/URL][/IMG]
     
  14. Jul 16, 2013
    y2grey

    y2grey Member

    Fayetteville NY
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    Sharp!
     
  15. Jul 16, 2013
    dbrito

    dbrito New Member

    Northern California
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    Thanks
     
  16. Jul 21, 2013
    Texis

    Texis Member

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    Feb 21, 2011
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    IMHO spring under is always better, unless you want a 10" lift. I realize the SU set up cost you a bit in ground clearance, but the there is no comparison in the traction. I've owned (6) 4x4 Chevy that were all OEM spring overs, and building my 3rd spring under cj. I won't go back to a spring over for off road. hop.. hop... hop.. hop no thanks, been there, done that. Keep those tires planted, spinning and grabbing turf... not bouncing up in the air!

    Just me, just say'in
     
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