OEM springs or mild lift kit?

ok, here is my delema,
The springs are shot on my 1966 cj5 and I was wondering what your opinion was.
do I drop $500 on new springs and hardware or buy a mild lift kit for $500.
I will probably leave the height near stock either way.
Is there a way to rebuild the stock ones? I've never heard of that being done though.


Thanks,
-Matt

 

That really depends on what you want to do with it. Ultimately, you are the one who has to drive it. With that said, if you do decide to lift it, you might want to look into upgrading to later CJ or YJ springs.

 

Not hijacking but I got the same debate going on.... I was considering mild lift and going with wider rim's and tires cause the stock springs feel like "no suspension"

 

I'll probably do very little off roading.
Mostly a bop around weakend driver.

 

The rancho ~1" lift springs would be my choice for your application.

http://www.4wd.com/Jeep-Parts-Tops-and-Accessories/PART4061K.aspx

 

I am in a similar boat. I have a 66 CJ-6. I don't foresee much larger tires, as I have fairly high gearing already, and the wife and small kids want a jeep not a jungle gym. Eliminating rub and giving me the options for larger tires makes a 2.5" pretty tempting. I have a 2.5" skyjacker softride on my 85 dodge p/u and I really like it. I thought I found the middle of the road when I found the Rancho 1", but I have heard they are foreign springs, and tend to be rough, and sag.

 

Thats what I run.

 

I think there are enough guys here with them to get a good opinion. I think it will go against the "rough and sag" opinions. Good shocks...........

 

It is possible to have old springs re-arched and heat treated. Commercial truck-spring places do it. But I doubt it would make economic sense except for restoring a rare original style.

A stock Early CJ5 "as new" rides pretty high even without a lift. You can fit some pretty big tires - at least 31" But the old CJ's are sagged down usually, a couple of inches at least.

Pete

 

I keep hearing good things about Black Diamond Suspension - both here and elsewhere; they have good prices too (I'm looking for springs myself and have done lots of shopping around recently). I also understand that while their springs are good, the shocks are stiff (but I have no experience with those, so take that with a grain of salt).

 

I used 1" superlift springs in my 3b and love them! wow what a diff, from old stiff/ broken stock kiddney brusers. Ff your gona spend the money it might as well look a little different

 

Bob Supplee has great prices on the BDS lift kit. I recently went to his shop here in OKC and he is a great guy. Has a nice ECJ5 too, with 225 & a fiberglass tub.

 

I went BDS 2.5" and the ride quality over stock was night and day. The original 11 or 12 leaves didn't give at all. The BDS is comfortable. I'd vote "skip" the original and got BDS.

 

Great discussion, I was just exploring my options as well...thanks for keeping this thread going!

 

I just did the same thing. I replaced the stock springs with a lift kit, and couldn't be happier.