Duane said:
In theory the higher the lift--the stiffer the spring. Am I on the right track?? Etc. Thanks
I'm not sure if you mean that springs are stiffer
because they are taller, or if you mean you want a stiffer spring with a lifted suspension. If the former -- that's not correct. Spring rate (coils) is a function of coil diameter, wire diameter, and number of coils.
I disagree with Goatman on two points. First, some springs are too stiff -- case in point, the 4" Trailmaster coils in my MJ.
Second, I don't know why Goatman posted a roll eyes emoticon to jjvande's statement, because what jjvande posted is exactly correct. What I've found works best (for me, anyway) over some 40+ years and about a million and a half miles of driving is that soft springs require a firmer shock with more "jounce" resistance, while stiff springs ride best with a softer shock that's proportioned for more "rebound" resistance. (Of course, it's virtually impossible to get a shock manufacturer to tell you how any of their shocks are calibrated.)
I vaguely recall reading that the stock XJ spring rate (front) is around 160 lb/in. and the Up Country is around 200. If you have a heavy winch bumper a spring around 220 to 240 would probably be about right, w/o the weight of a winch I would not go stiffer than 220. All else being equal, you get more articulation from a softer spring that has more coils to reach the same height.
If your concern is keeping it flat on pavement, try a stiffer anyt-sway bar. Jeep used three or four different diameter bars, the biggest being the 28mm used in the 6-cyl Wagoneer models. If you can't find one of those, Addco offers a 1-1/8" (28.6mm) replacement, available from Quadratec. They also offer a stiffer than stock rear sway bar.