1. Registration trouble? Please use the "Contact Us" link at the bottom right corner of the page and your issue will be resolved.
    Dismiss Notice

Lowering My 1975 Cj5

Discussion in 'Intermediate CJ-5/6/7/8' started by Lockman, Jan 1, 2019.

  1. Jan 4, 2019
    Lockman

    Lockman OK.....Now I Get It . 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Silver Hill,...
    Joined:
    Dec 4, 2018
    Messages:
    2,698

    Thanks Ya'll , for all your Ideas & Help. I do have a 1" body lift , also ! So....it's 28 " from ground to lower step in / tub door edge ! My main concern is that when I swap out the shackles for the 1" OEM's , that the Steering linkage will rub and hit on the front leaf's ?? 15 " Tires & wheels are goi'n on also ,
    ( BTW, The 31's are for sale.)
     
  2. Jan 4, 2019
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2015
    Messages:
    6,656
    Shackle height will not affect the distance between the springs and tie rod.

    Edit: I had my thoughts backwards in this original post. Caster will be increased by going to a shorter shackle, and will improve handling.

    I was thinking of a shackle reversal setup. :oops:
     
    Last edited: Jan 4, 2019
  3. Jan 4, 2019
    Mcruff

    Mcruff Earlycj5 Machinist

    Albertville, AL
    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2002
    Messages:
    5,349
    Changing the shackles should not change the steering tube any at all, it will just rotate backward with the changing of the angle. The axle is still attached to the spring and it all stays together.
    What size tires and what size rims? A photo from the side would help alot.

    I have 31x10.50 x 15" tires with a 2½" lift on my jeep with stock length shackles and my jeep measures 28" to the bottom of the door lip. You definitely don't have a 4" lift, the factory height was probably 23½"-24".

    Did anyone else notice how straight up and down those shackles are?
     
    Last edited: Jan 4, 2019
    Hellion likes this.
  4. Jan 4, 2019
    Hellion

    Hellion Regurgitated

    Eastern TN
    Joined:
    Dec 25, 2016
    Messages:
    534
    I’d keep your 31” tire and wheel combo. Those are decent but in no way large tires like you might think.
    In fact I think those are the minimum for an ideal all-around off-road/on-road size. I mean if you want to use the CJ5 as it was intended,

    What are those folding stirrup/step thingies you see on Jeeps every now and then? I’d get one for each side.
     
  5. Jan 4, 2019
    Lockman

    Lockman OK.....Now I Get It . 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Silver Hill,...
    Joined:
    Dec 4, 2018
    Messages:
    2,698
    Thanks everyone. It's comin' back to me , with all your advice & Knowledge. I want to change the caster. I thought that the 4" spread on the existing shackles Made it a 4" Lift :crazy:! I'm Going to the Stock shackles , and that's gonna help a bit, along with the better handling.
    Here's a pic of my Unique CJ5.... We will talk about the engine a little later. That was my expertise years back . I could make anything run right, but it 's been quite a while! (y)
     
    Hellion and 73 cj5 like this.
  6. Jan 5, 2019
    Mcruff

    Mcruff Earlycj5 Machinist

    Albertville, AL
    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2002
    Messages:
    5,349
    Yea your jeep has virtually no lift, maybe 1" springs and the longer shackles and tire diameter. I would swap the shackles back to factory and leave the tires on there, the tires and rims actually give better handling than the original smaller diameter and skinny tires. The factory tires were around 28'" accounting for only about 1½" lift total from the 31" on there now. Having the caster set to around 5-7º will help with road stability and tracking.
     
    Hellion likes this.
  7. Jan 5, 2019
    Lockman

    Lockman OK.....Now I Get It . 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Silver Hill,...
    Joined:
    Dec 4, 2018
    Messages:
    2,698
    Thanks, Mcruff. I am following your advice.Factory shackles come tomorrow. Can I ask you what you saw or reasoned on the straight up & down Shackles, now ? You being the excellent machinist that you are , with your attention to detail.....I would like to pick your brain on that issue ? Thanks, again. Richie
     
  8. Jan 5, 2019
    45es

    45es Active Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Naches, WA
    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2007
    Messages:
    1,103
    Be aware that that's going to exacerbate the driveshaft / bell housing issue you have. Will probably become your next project.
     
  9. Jan 5, 2019
    Mcruff

    Mcruff Earlycj5 Machinist

    Albertville, AL
    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2002
    Messages:
    5,349
    Shackles typically from the factory and if set up right should face with a 10-15º angle forward on the front and rearward on the rear. I there to close to straight up down or facing the other way when the springs are flexed they can roll backwards and lock in place, then the suspension doesn't really move properly. He is right about your driveshaft though. How much room is between the driveshaft and bell housing or transmission is there? A 75 never had an automatic from the factory so that is causing some of the front driveshaft issues I'm sure. What engine is in this jeep?

    Similar to this:

    Sag-3.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jan 5, 2019
    Hellion likes this.
  10. Jan 6, 2019
    sterlclan

    sterlclan Member 2022 Sponsor

    exploring the...
    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2009
    Messages:
    3,869
    He has a turbo Buick v6
     
  11. Jan 6, 2019
    3b a runnin

    3b a runnin Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    virginia
    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2015
    Messages:
    1,290
    My wife uses a small folding step stool to get in any of my Jeeps, and none have more than 2in lift. We are both short and not young anymore.
     
    zila likes this.
  12. Jan 9, 2019
    Terry Rogers

    Terry Rogers New Member

    Deadwood, South...
    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2018
    Messages:
    13
    I am currently debating this issue as well, I have SOA conversion and my springs are shot, they are flat and sitting on 35" tires. Was gonna drop back to a 33" and do the Old Man Emu YJ spring conversion but cannot decide on staying SOA or go back to SUA with maybe a 2' lift. I know I would have to cut spring perches off and reweld but kinda wondering about the driveshafts if they will still work and all
     
  13. Jan 13, 2019
    Lockman

    Lockman OK.....Now I Get It . 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Silver Hill,...
    Joined:
    Dec 4, 2018
    Messages:
    2,698
    Hi , Mcruff.. Got my stock shackles. Their 1 1/2 "s shorter than the PO installed ones. I need to put a level on my rear axle tube, but I saw just this morning that there is a single wedge shim at the rear passenger side and two at the drivers side rear ? What's the reason for shims ? The front has none ? I want to remove them when I change out the shackles. I appreciate any more knowledge on this. Oh.... and as Sterlclan said... I've got a unique power unit in my CJ5 . Its from a 1984 Buick Regal TType. V6 Turbo SFI w/ a 400R 4 speed automatic . Quadratrac system for the 4WD. Tilt wheel w/ Cruise control. All controlled by an ECM.
    There is ~ 1" between my front shaft and my Tranny pan , pretty much parallel , w/ the Shaft to the right , looking toward the Front. See Pic. I also just am finishing my mechanical gauge install. I'll be posting some B & A's of that, later. Thanks, again.
    Lockman ( Richie )
     
    Last edited: Jan 13, 2019
  14. Jan 13, 2019
    Lockman

    Lockman OK.....Now I Get It . 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Silver Hill,...
    Joined:
    Dec 4, 2018
    Messages:
    2,698
  15. Jan 13, 2019
    Lockman

    Lockman OK.....Now I Get It . 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Silver Hill,...
    Joined:
    Dec 4, 2018
    Messages:
    2,698
  16. Jan 13, 2019
    jeep2003

    jeep2003 Well-Known Member

    Upstate NY
    Joined:
    May 30, 2006
    Messages:
    1,918
    You should check the castor angle maybe you can adjust that and get more driveshaft clearance. Thats going to be the biggest problem when lowering it since its already rubbing. It looks like youve just got alot of little thing adding up to a bunch of lift. I think youll find every little bit you can get it lower helps. Make sure your shocks and driveshafts have room to lower.
     
  17. Jan 14, 2019
    Mcruff

    Mcruff Earlycj5 Machinist

    Albertville, AL
    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2002
    Messages:
    5,349
    I'm guessing the shims were to help correct driveshaft angles for u-joint vibration. I'm also guessing with that driveline your rear driveshaft is pretty short. How thick or what angle are your rear shims?
     
  18. Jan 16, 2019
    Lockman

    Lockman OK.....Now I Get It . 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Silver Hill,...
    Joined:
    Dec 4, 2018
    Messages:
    2,698
    Measurement Rear Drive Shaft.jpg Rear Drive Line.jpg Rear Driver Side Shims.jpg Passenger side Shims.jpg
    The one on the driver side rear is a wedge type , about 3/8" total thickness. The passenger side rear is Two shims , about 5/8" thick . The shaft measures 13", O.C. / joint to joint. I cannot locate my angle tool , but is there tooo much pitch on the rear diff. ??? I'm going to guess , right now, at 12 to 15 degrees !! ??
     
  19. Jan 23, 2019
    Lockman

    Lockman OK.....Now I Get It . 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Silver Hill,...
    Joined:
    Dec 4, 2018
    Messages:
    2,698
    Hey .... everyone & Mcruff especially, too!!!! I Just scored a new 'Offset' Tranny Pan ( Please See Pic ) I believe it was designed for my front shaft to 700R4 clearance problem. 2qtdeep_thumbnail.jpg ( That I bought , OF Course !!! , LoL ) I 'm very pleased. My stock pan measures 3" deep , from flange to bottom. The shallow part of the new pan is just 2" deep X ......3" , going right to left , looking forward . The deep part is 4" & that clesrs the tranny cross brace with 2" to spare . I Love the smell of new aluminum in the Morning ! It's from Transmission Depot in Hudson FL. www.transdepot.net - Daniel is top notch ! ....Your Pal, Richie
    ( Lockman)
     
  20. Jan 23, 2019
    Dphillip

    Dphillip Member

    Omaha NE
    Joined:
    Nov 25, 2008
    Messages:
    322
    That’s pretty interesting, I hope it solves your clearance issue.
     
New Posts