With a longer shackle the angle will be less than desireable. You could get the relocater brackets but it might lift it more than you're looking for.
So it sounds like obtaining the jks shackle won't do much at this point but raise me around an inch.
It will most likely keep a similar shackle angle and ride quality.
I'm not all that concerned with ride quality as I am with performance. I'm just a bit worried having a camping load in the back and taking it on the trails. But I'm running out of time and money so it may be my only option.
Is there any huge downside or ill-effect to driving it/4wheeling it with the shackles as they are now?
I have always been interested in a fender trim. But that's down the road a bit
you are correct. And that is a smart idea that I will definitely try. Passenger in the back is about 120. A 30lb dog and a 55lb. So there's 205 right there. I just got a roof rack so that should displace some of the weight of gear. I think the HD is rating at 700 plus lbs.If I recall you purchased some HD springs, I doubt a camping load, perhaps 200lbs, is going to compress the rear much. Throw a few hundred lbs in the back and take measurements before and after. You risk nothing trying that first in your driveway and it cost zero dollars.
So pardon my ignorance, but when concerned with bottoming out we are talking about these two points hitting, correct? And my shackles have a bit of rearward angle now it seems. Rearward meaning the shackle pointing towards the rear
thanks dude. yea I'm starting to think so too. I sure can be a worry wort. I just want everything to go smooth for the people and dogs I'm taking camping. I'll go and try to find something to put my back tire up onIt doesn't travel backwards as much as you think. I can't be positive but I bet you'd hit the bumpstop before that shackle would run into interference. All these questions you're asking you can run a few simple tests and see if it's a problem. Go find a dirt mound or a log, back your jeep up so that one rear tire is 24"-30" off the ground or high enough that you axle hits the bump stop. Then take a look and see if the shackle is hitting. Better yet do it with a 2 sacks of concrete in the back to simulate your camping load
Personally I think your good!
Cmahaff: the issue with the shackle hitting the rear cross member is exactly the issue the boomerang shackles eliminate.
Longer shackles will worsen the angle you have now making the ride worse..
Cmahaff: the issue with the shackle hitting the rear cross member is exactly the issue the boomerang shackles eliminate.
so you guys both recommend the JKS shackle on these HD springs in the original shackle mounting spot?This!
do you happen to have any photos of yoursThe Jks' greatly improved my ride and got rid of the harshness.
The Jks' greatly improved my ride and got rid of the harshness.
If you mean the boomerangs with minimal lift yeah doubt it will do much to make the ride worse. But better id be doubtful before I got my shackle relocations i tried jks boomerangs and it didn't do much to improve my ride with the xj length leaf packs. The relocation kit along with a slightly longer shackle for added lift gave me a factory ride quality along with more flex in the rear.
I'm a huge fan of the relocation brackets on lifted xj's they are cheap and do what they are supposed to do.
Exactly what I wanted to see. Thanks.I hear good things about the relocation brackets too... but the boomerang brackets did help alleviate the pogo stick effect of the stock shackles.. the added lift was a bonus.. if I ever lift more in the rear I'll go to the relocation boxes next and get a better angle... here's my setup..