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Springs: Which Springs Provide The Softest, Most Forgiving Ride?

Discussion in 'Intermediate CJ-5/6/7/8' started by OverEngineer, Sep 1, 2017.

  1. Sep 1, 2017
    OverEngineer

    OverEngineer Member

    Iowa
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    Aug 7, 2008
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    1970 CJ5 - I need to find the softest most forgiving ride I can for this CJ. Right now it is lifted and I need to solve that. For trails, I'd be willing to increase the ride height a bit, 1-2" if I had too. Are the stock 860 pound springs the way to go or, should I have Deaver racing or someone else make springs. I am interested in any opinions you folks can muster.
     
  2. Sep 1, 2017
    Focker

    Focker That's a terrible idea...What time? Staff Member

    WA
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  3. Sep 1, 2017
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    There will always be a trade-off between body roll and spring stiffness. You can go very soft, but the Jeep probably will be undriveable on the street. With the springs as far inboard as they are, they need to be stiff to control body roll. The more height, the more roll... so increasing the ride height seems like the wrong approach. My advice - just don't have unrealistic expectations. I have the BDS 2.5" kit, and for me, with nice soft radial tires, the ride is fine ... for a Jeep.
     
  4. Sep 1, 2017
    4wealn

    4wealn Member

    Ontario, Canada
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    Nov 15, 2013
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    I agree with timgr, I have the YJ conversion from RR and have 6" BDS spring under and the ride is great, even going down the street. It performs really well off road too.
    Just my .02.
     
  5. Sep 1, 2017
    Broylz

    Broylz Member

    Gallatin, TN
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    Oct 9, 2012
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    I have some 11 leaf 2.5 inch lift springs of some sort and they ride like an empty dump truck. It's pretty harsh. I've been debating YJ springs or coil conversion
     
  6. Sep 2, 2017
    sterlclan

    sterlclan Member 2022 Sponsor

    exploring the...
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    love my bds
     
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  7. Sep 5, 2017
    Dauntless1971

    Dauntless1971 Member

    Bend, OR
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    Oct 22, 2004
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    Question if one is using a Dana 30 front axle on a 1971 CJ5 do you get the BDS kit for 72-75 or 69-71?
     
  8. Sep 5, 2017
    Rich M.

    Rich M. Shoe salesman 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Maryland
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    You will need the 69-71 springs but the ubolts and front spring plates for 72-75. The 30 has a larger axle tube od than the 27.
     
  9. Sep 5, 2017
    Beach66Bum

    Beach66Bum 1966 Tuxedo Park Mark IV 2024 Sponsor

    Big Island on...
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    And another very happy owner with the 2.5" BDS suspension. Running 23575R15 tires. :)
     
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  10. Sep 6, 2017
    tarry99

    tarry99 Member

    Northern California
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    A longer, wider, flatter spring is better........but where do you put it in a short wheelbase vehicle? Coil over shocks will allow the best tune-ability overall but in either case leafs or coil , a tune-able sway bar needs to be added to control body roll while on pavement..........weighing each corner of the vehicle and having custom springs made is a step in the right direction.............but , everything is still a compromise.........one guy loves this spring the next guy this spring but as always there is no two vehicles and driving styles that are alike..............suspension and getting that perfect ride are only limited by how much time & money you are willing to invest to get there.
     
  11. Sep 10, 2017
    don87401

    don87401 Member 2022 Sponsor

    Farmington NM
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    I used custom built springs 4" lift from Alcan Springs for my 82 CJ5 I liked them. Road way better than the Rancho I had on at first. The set cost me $659 several years ago.
     
  12. Sep 11, 2017
    johneyboy03

    johneyboy03 The green beast

    Quebec, Canada
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    I'm running 5 inch lift with all corner coil spring. I run wide track axle. But with a sway bar it ride very well and i don't have any more body roll than stock CJ5
     
  13. Sep 11, 2017
    47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    USA
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    I run 4" lift wrangler springs on my CJ2a with NT d30 up front and a FF D44 in the rear. It rides on 35" tires. The springs have high arch and are stiff. The body roll is not bad at all. It rides like a jeep, not a car. To do it again, I would almost certainly go coil up front and flat wrangler SOA in the rear.
     
  14. Sep 20, 2017
    bh10

    bh10 New Member

    Woodstock & WNC
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    YJ Old Man Emu Conversion is the best leaf spring setup for CJ's.
     
  15. Oct 16, 2017
    TroyGT

    TroyGT Member

    High Point, NC
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    I'm replaced my rough country springs on my 73 CJ5 with SkyJacker SoftRides. God it rides nice now and didn't cost me an arm and a leg... rode like a turnip truck before. I highway commute now at 65mph and it's really nice.
    -Troy
     
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  16. Apr 4, 2018
    fhoehle

    fhoehle Sponsor

    Harford Township, PA
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    I have the BDS springs as well and they ride great.
     
  17. Apr 4, 2018
    NCRenII

    NCRenII yellow fever

    Far Nor Cal
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    In the past I've had very good luck with custom packs. Atlas Suspension (atlassuspension.com) is heavily involved with 4x's and offroading and probably with a few minutes of talking can help with springs (progressive or mini packs) that "soften" the ride" but will have the backbone for safety in corners.
     
  18. Apr 5, 2018
    Sierra Bum

    Sierra Bum Member

    The High Sierra
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    A few different ideas:
    First, I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Holbrook LongLeaves. They require moving spring hangers, but not really a big deal. Great articulation, 3" of lift and a soft ride.
    On my last jeep I put the longer rear-end early cj5 springs in the front and reversed the front shackles. I used McCoy 1" springs, SPOA front and rear. It flexed great and had a soft ride for about 5.5-6 inches of lift. The SPOA took a bit of simple engineering and fabrication to set up correctly but the articulation was a game changer and I discovered that obstacles I had to negotiate around before I could just drive over with the added height and flex. I'd consider doing it again. Some folks use the RS9000 adjustable shocks to try and stiffen up a soft ride for the highway.
     
  19. Apr 5, 2018
    tarry99

    tarry99 Member

    Northern California
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    That's a great spring package......have used them myself in the past and do work quite well off road........w/ a hard top or high center of gravity vehicles on the street a sway bar w/ disconnects calms down that roll........Although moving spring perches is not that big of deal , for some that is a daunting task and perhaps why most venture towards a direct bolt in replacement.
     
  20. Apr 10, 2018
    NCRenII

    NCRenII yellow fever

    Far Nor Cal
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    There are so many options, but remember op primarily wants the softest ride and to go toward stock height (or, at most 1-2").
    I'be been around plenty of lifted jeeps and can sympathize with the desire to drop height and soften ride. This even though I'm close to 6'2", and 60 years young...
     
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