Stifffff Springs on my '67 CJ-5

My Jeep rides like a tank. I can tell that I am starting to get old because I am noticing it a lot more now. I feel every bump on the road. Manholes feel like I just ran over a cat. Railroad tracks make me check to see if my fillings are still in my teeth. I need help.....and some advice.

I have read a lot of your guys post recently about replacement springs from Krage\4WD and also about the 1" Rancho "replacement" springs. I know my Jeep will never ride like a Cadillac, but it has to be better than what I have.

Currently, I believe that I have those 1" Rancho "replacement" springs springs on my Jeep. I say this because they used to say Rancho on them and I am running 31 x 10.5's on it with the stock shackles. They are 5 leaf, front and rear, and the second leaf has the "military wrap". I bought the Jeep in '92, therefore I believe the springs were probably put on in the early to mid 80's. I have heard that springs built back then were pretty stiff and that they are alot softer now. As an example of the stiffness, if my fat *** (weighing in at 245 lbs.) stands on the front bumper and tries to flex the suspension by shaking up and down, it only flexes maybe 1.5 to 2 inches. That isn't normal is it?

And I don't believe that it is the shocks, because several years ago I drove around without the shocks on at all, and it was about as stiff.

The new 1" Rancho springs aren't that stiff are they? Please guys, I need help. I really need to do something. I still plan on only running 31's or maybe 32's.

Thanks.

 

go to YJ spings!

I havent used this kit but it looks really easy to use and you get to reverse your shackles!!
Using YJ spings with the shackle reversel should give you a killer ride.. You can change to YJ spings without the kit if ya have the skill to weld and such!!

hope this helps!!!




http://www.windrockoffroad.com/PART/4PL.RSCYJ/V/index.htm

 

Becareful, that kit is only for 76 and up CJs.

 

wait for Mike Boyink to respond, he and many others have a lot of time spent with the ranchos under their tailbones.

 

if the shackle bolts are overtightned, it will cause stiffness as well.
shackle can't pivot as easily

 

So do you think that the springs made 20-25 years ago were made any different than the ones you bought 9 years ago? I swear I read that somewhere. Something about back in the 80's, lift kit manufacturers only cared about the lift and not necessarily the ride or articulation.

Does your Jeep rattle your teeth when going across train tracks? I mean it literally feels like I have no suspension at all. Are the Rancho springs that you have 5 leaf? How thick are the leafs?

 

not sure on the specs but i can shake my jeep easily with one hand on the rollbar. (i have the rancho replacement springs also). ride is very smooth on pavement and as good as can be expected off road. i use rs9000 shocks set on 3 most of the time.

how are your body mounts? loose mounts will give you a bad ride also.

chris

 

I've had my 2.5" Rancho kit on since early '91. Although, I'll give you that it's not the smoothest ride, it's never been uncomfortable or made me feel it's unsafe. In my 33's, I only run 25 psi on the street. I also ensured the front and rear shackles have movement in them. I believe the rough rides we feel are all part of owning an 81" wheel base vehicle, and my tolerance to a "rough ride" has been somewhat learned thru MANY years of ownership. FWIW, I remember he day I rode home with my dad in this vehicle from Kolars JEEP in Seattle, and it wasn't smooth then... My .02

 

but we should R)

 

I broke down and bought some MORE 3/4 shackles and will be installing them this weekend. Hopefully they will make a difference in the ride.

So my question is, how tight is to tight on the shackle bolts? What should these bolts be torqued to?