NOTNSUV
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- Spring Creek, NV
I would say that there is no ideal angle. Its only necessary to understand a few things: 1) The greater the angle, the softer the ride and more travel for a given spring. 2) A greater starting shackle angle produces a faster falling spring rate. 3) The shackle angle should not ever be greater than perhaps 80 degrees from vertical at full compression of the suspension. Even that is probably too much because the spring rate at the wheels will be very soft at 80 degrees.
Unless you are planning to install an SRB, you won't have any significant control over shackle angle. Your only options to tweak it will be the length of the spring purchased and the length of the shackle. Most ready-made leaf springs for the XJ are going to put the shackle angle not far off vertical for typical lengths of aftermarket shackles.
Very helpful. I am planning SRB, it's just a matter of whether to use what I have in hand or order the HD bolt in.