Straight axle XJ

[strokethis]

Im wondering if I should straight axle my xj. Its got 39.5 iroks with 11 inches. I need input on what I should do about the front end. And about how much straight axle is and is it worth it? Thank You for your input. Blake

[BrettM]

no, keep the IFS, just upgrade it with Chevy 1-ton IFS parts.

[strokethis]

the guy i bought the jeep from built it himself and he was a kid who thought he knew what he was doing. The steering snapped and the axle rolled. He welded all the suspension on the front end himself. So everything would have to be redone anyways. And Ive heard straight axle is much better.

[BrettM]

Okay, in that case you're right. you should get a D30 from a CJ to do the swap.

[Dragon_Fly]

I got to see some photo's of this. Please post some pic's so we can see what kind of a job this kid did.

[strokethis]

Man Im sorry i dont mean straight axle I meant leaf spring vs. coils. Its already straight axle. I just was gonna take out the coils and put leafs under it. My bad. What do you think.

[hackedxj]

Post some pics, sounds interesting....and dangerous.

[1990XJ4x4]

I wanna see a picture of what you got now.

[T&A-XJ]

NO no a ford ranger TTB setup will be the best option for you. Dont forget to mount the axle brakets high for axle ground clearance in the middle.

[BrettM]

if you want front leaf springs, start here: http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=27835

and use the search button lots.

[T&A-XJ]

damn it slow ass typing! Anyways many have done it but not my preferance. Coilover would be bad ass if you got the cash.

[1990XJ4x4]

Aw man i kinda wanted to see a cherokee with 39.5" tires with IFS. That would be amusing.

[strokethis]

yea my bad i wasnt thinking right. what would a leaf spring conversion cost

[1990XJ4x4]

yea my bad i wasnt thinking right. what would a leaf spring conversion cost

A lot cheaper than running a huge coil lift.

[Red97XJ]

Don't decide on anything until you leave and breathe this forum for the next month reading daily post and doing ALOT of searches.

You can decide for yourself.

Jason

[strokethis]

aight i talked to a shop in Alabama called Southern Offroad and they said the only way to due it without any liabilities is leaf spring. And they are my pretty good friends so i dont think they are trying to take me.

[jeepguy97]

aight i talked to a shop in Alabama called Southern Offroad and they said the only way to due it without any liabilities is leaf spring. And they are my pretty good friends so i dont think they are trying to take me.

:huh: :dunno:

[strokethis]

is i worth it to put leafs under it or part it out. I have know idea how much it would cost to leaf it.

[1990XJ4x4]

Are you doing the work yourself?

[strokethis]

no a shop is i dont knw how

[jrsxj98]

what the hell did this kid do to your XJ?

[1990XJ4x4]

Well then it is hard to tell you how much they would charge without asking them first. I myself have never done the conversion, but am very interested in doing so. I think your best bet to find out how much it will cost is to call the shop and ask them for a price quote. From what I have gathered, it shouldnt cost TOO awful much so long as you have the axle already. The majority of the parts you would need would be raw materials, springs and a steering setup.

[strokethis]

welded and made everything himself. He looked at pics of other jeeps and he tryed to build it himself. but instead fuc*ed it all up so now i have to fixe it but is leaf spring good on these or not? I need input.

[Beej]

aight i talked to a shop in Alabama called Southern Offroad and they said the only way to due it without any liabilities is leaf spring. And they are my pretty good friends so i dont think they are trying to take me.I am nowhere near an expert in this area, but even I can tell that you don't need "friends" like those. If they mean cost, then yes leaves, if they mean "liability", well, they need to learn the definition of the word. You will still have plenty of "liabilities" with a leaf sprung front end. I recommend asking them exactly what they mean by coils presenting with more liabilities than leaves, and ask specifically what becomes a liability and in what context. And how does using leaves avoid any "liabilities". That's pretty vague stuff there.
B.

[Red97XJ]

what will you do with the rig?

Do some searching, see which set-up will set you best.

Then maybe most important, ask the shop doing the work how much each will cost. Also, why they recommend one over the other.

Good luck,
Jason

[1990XJ4x4]

I still wanna see pictures of the way it is now.

[strokethis]

they recomend the leafs because the axle rolled and the kid welded everything himself. The steering the long arms the control arms he welded everything and his welds suck. So they would have to redo all his stuff anyways. They said it would be cheaper to leafs on it.

[Red97XJ]

If you TRUST them, leaf it.

If you don't trust them, run away, and find someone else to do it.

[scoobyxj]

Anyone got a map, 'cause I'm lost? You have leaves now, and want to go back to coils in the front, or you have coils, and want leaves in front.

[strokethis]

coils and want to go to leafs

[jeeppowermj]

you gotta post some pics

[scoobyxj]

Ok got ya. Even though I have never ridden in a leafy front xj, I would think that the coils are the better choice. From anything I've seen coils flex better, and you dont have to deal with axle wrap. On the plus side it might be cheeper, and give you better ground clearance depending on how high your wanting to go. Which would be good, and high to fit 49's.

[Red97XJ]

ya, some pics would be great. Pics would let us help ya, and of course for a laugh at his welds/setup etc.

[strokethis]

i dunno im confused with what to do.

[rock rash]

what you should do is post pics...

[strokethis]

yea i cant do it

[1990XJ4x4]

take the pics, send them to me and i can host em for ya

[Beej]

Strokethis, here is what you need to do. Post up what your overall plans for this jeep include. How do you want to wheel it? In what conditions? With what kinds of groups? I don't mean to be harsh here, but if you can't do any of the work on it at all, how are you going to troubleshoot the inevitable problems that will come from running 39.5's on 11" of lift on the trail? How experienced are you, both in wheeling and in building? What kind of budget are you working with? How much time do you have to build this thing up? What kind of front axle is currently in there? What kind of rear are you running? There are plenty more questions, but I'm sure others will chime in. And can you at least take pictures of it so that others can post them, or is it just not going to happen? You have certainly piqued the interest of several site users, so you will get some responses, we just need to know a LOT more information about your plans. Just a couple of cents for your consideration....
B.

[Beezil]

this thread sounds like a banjo

[OT]

this thread sounds like a banjo
No shit, it's like an Abott and Costello skit.

Strokethis,
Trust me when I say that nobody on NAXJA is qualified to do a job as involved as this, so taking advice from these guys wouldn't be in your best interest. You should probably post this question on the www.pirate4x4.com forum. They would be more qualified to help you with a project of this magnitude.

[XJZ]

this thread sounds like a banjo

...duelin' one's at that....

[jeepguy97]

Trust me when I say that nobody on is qualified to do a job as involved as this,

So now you know the skill level of every NAXJA member and or user. I'm not being a smartass just saying.

[Ramsey]

well how many people here are running leave sprung fronts high enough to clear 39's. besides i think they would rip into him a helluva lot better.

[MaXJohnson]

So now you know the skill level of every NAXJA member and or user. I'm not being a smartass just saying.

ha ha

ha ha

ha ha

terrry's in big trouble now :twak:

I say, why not take the leafs out of the rear and mount them in the front for simplicity. Then you can use the coils and 4-link from the front to convert the rear for maxi-flex

flippin' sweet

[Lore5]

You gotta get some pics up of your Jeep and what this kid did to it

[MaXJohnson]

ha ha

ha ha

ha ha

terrry's in big trouble now :twak:

I say, why not take the leafs out of the rear and mount them in the front for simplicity. Then you can use the coils and 4-link from the front to convert the rear for maxi-flex

flippin' sweet

Max, you're an idiot :moon:

straight axles are gay

[Capt. Nemo]

Strokethis- You get this rig off of EBAY?????????????????????????????????????????????? ?????????????????????????????????????

Coulda swore I saw the rig you're describing on Ebay a month or so ago.

[Geepfreak]

I see he left us!,,, and Okie, you for this thread, you are right! :laugh2:

[flexj]

No shit, it's like an Abott and Costello skit.

Strokethis,
You should probably post this question on the www.pirate4x4.com forum. They would be more qualified to help you with a project of this magnitude.


OOOOHHHH That's just mean :laugh3: , funny, but mean.

[Brian Felts]

this thread sounds like a banjo
Squeal like a :pig: Beezil

[Ludakris]

forget leafs and coils, Torsion bars are the wave of the future.....

I dont care what suspension this guy has, just him on 39's is scary enough..
Go JU!!

[Lawn Cher']

I dont care what suspension this guy has, just him on 39's is scary enough.

I am pro- learning curve.

[rock rash]

so are we gettin pics or no?

[Beej]

so are we gettin pics or no?I'm guessing no. Methinks he might be trollin'....he sure hooked me good.

[strokethis]

how do i post them

[Beej]

how do i post themYou can't post them up directly, you need to host them on your own website and then link to them. If you don't have a site, there are some free ones available on the internet ( here is a place to start (http://www.free-webhosts.com/free-image-hosting.php)). I think 1990XJ4x4 offered to host them for you. Click on his name on his post and you will be able to send him a PM or possibly an email. You can then email him the pics and he will host them. Assuming he's still on here right now that is. I'm very curious to see them too... What did this guy do to your jeep? :D
B.

[balloo93]

To see what all is involved, check out these links:

http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/billavista/Leafspring_conversion/leafs.htm
http://www.patricksnorton.com/cherokee/tech/leafs.php

That should give you a rough idea of what will need to be done. They planning on running a kit or fabbing the hardware to do it?

[1990XJ4x4]

WE HAVE PICTURES
Be patient on the load times, the server is kinda busy right now.

http://www.biguglygreenjeep.kicks-ass.net/SmkinZ71/Jeep_1.jpg
http://www.biguglygreenjeep.kicks-ass.net/SmkinZ71/Jeep_2.jpg
http://www.biguglygreenjeep.kicks-ass.net/SmkinZ71/Jeep_3.jpg
http://www.biguglygreenjeep.kicks-ass.net/SmkinZ71/Jeep_4.jpg
http://www.biguglygreenjeep.kicks-ass.net/SmkinZ71/Jeep_5.jpg

[OT]

WE HAVE PICTURES
Be patient on the load times, the server is kinda busy right now.

http://www.biguglygreenjeep.kicks-ass.net/SmkinZ71/Jeep_1.jpg
http://www.biguglygreenjeep.kicks-ass.net/SmkinZ71/Jeep_2.jpg
http://www.biguglygreenjeep.kicks-ass.net/SmkinZ71/Jeep_3.jpg
http://www.biguglygreenjeep.kicks-ass.net/SmkinZ71/Jeep_4.jpg
http://www.biguglygreenjeep.kicks-ass.net/SmkinZ71/Jeep_5.jpg
You suck at this internet thing.

[shimmy]

ok i thought we were going to get pix of the suspesion components and axles, steering? i can't see $h!t from thos pix. strokethis, if you need our help, you need to post more about what components, axles, etc. you have, and what your plans are.

brandon
this thread is helpless

[Red97XJ]

wow.

[Beej]

Did the pictures get pulled or something? In the immortal words of Col. Klink's sidekick: "I see nothing, NOTHING!!!!" I really want to see this sucker, booger welds and all....
B.

[oldmustangjunkie]

Did the pictures get pulled or something? In the immortal words of Col. Klink's sidekick: "I see nothing, NOTHING!!!!" I really want to see this sucker, booger welds and all....
B.

The pictures are there, they just take forever to load. I'm on a DSL.

[strokethis]

Its all i had from where he sent them to me I dont have a digital camera. Just believe me he sucks and welding and good at fu**in stuff up. It needs somebody who knows how to fix it and it would be fine but I dont have the time or knowledge.

[Beej]

It needs somebody who knows how to fix it and it would be fine but I dont have the time or knowledge.Again, not to be a knob here, but you might want to consider selling it instead...that is unless you have endless access to $$$$.

[OT]

Its all i had from where he sent them to me I dont have a digital camera. Just believe me he sucks and welding and good at fu**in stuff up. It needs somebody who knows how to fix it and it would be fine but I dont have the time or knowledge.
You didn't happen to buy that from JohnJohn, did you?

[strokethis]

Ive just decided to sell it and let someone who knows how to fix it take care of it.

[Inisadow]

I think the dana30 and 35 could hold up fine with those tires.

[strokethis]

For Sale $2500

[1990XJ4x4]

Pictures should load a lot faster now, sorry about that.