anyone done a coil spring conv on front

What are the benefits of a coil spring conversion on a 75 or similar year. not happy with leafs . I have enough tools and skills , this is my first jeep just don't have enough time to make any mistakes. So far every major company has told me that their lift kits only lift and don't articulate any better...just looking 4 something different that works

 

Having run leaf and coil on the same vehicle in several different configurations, I liked the leaves due to simplicity. Articulation was great, ride was great. The only thing I didn't like was that the front shackles would catch a rock once in a while.

It's a ton-o-work to get a coil spring setup put together right. Head over to Pirate4x4 and start looking around if you want to see what others have done. You can make a coil spring setup flex like mad, but you can lose a lot of your driveablilty at the same time.

FWIW, even the rock guys generally link and coil the rear and leave the leaves on the front for driveablility and stability.

As for no time for mistakes, unless you pony up the BIG bucks for a kit, you'll almost certainly make mistakes, lots of them. There's a lot of black magic in designing a three or four link front suspension.

 

I researched the same project for my "72 a few years back, and came to the conclusion that it was more trouble than it was worth for the front. I am still considering it on the rear, but i think it is more of a drunken fantasy than a reality at this point. There is just too much stuff in the way to do it well up front in my opinion

 

have you looked at the Holbrook springs they will cost a lot less than a coil conversion, when im due for new springs thats what im probably going with.

 

There was a post on this a long while back. Pretty much the same answers last time also. It was discussed that wrangler springs on a CJ5 really flex. Here is a pic of a system that I think would be very easy to modify to fit a CJ5. Although I don't think it would be very cost effective. The pic was taken at SEMA last year.

 

Think about a YJ spring conversion. Good ride and lots of flex.

 

One of the reasons I bought a CJ5 is because of the front leaves. Not too comfy, but they can take a beating. This is a reason that I hate TJ's. Trackbars and coil overs.

From your picture, it looks like you have an m38a1. If you do, they have really stiff springs designed for the military. That might be your problem...????

 

FWIW, Warn made the XCL (Xtreme Coil Link) system for CJ's under the Black Diamond name many years ago. I believe Superlift owns the Black Diamond name now, but I don't think they make the CJ kit. If you keep an eye on the 4x4 boards and Ebay, you might be able to find one somone took off. It's the ancestor of the Full Traction setup in the picture above.

 

I have thought about doing it, but after finishing up my current set-up I am glad I didn't. You can make leaf springs work great. If you run lockers it is OK to have a tire in the air. If it was on the ground, you would not have much traction on it anyway. A coil spring can make you deceptively stable. It can have your tire on the ground and seem fine, then it can unload, (retract) and over you go. With a leaf sprung tire in the air, you do not have that false sense of security that you can get with coil springs lightly touching the ground. I believe that coil springs like on a stock TJ work OK, but when you get into long lift coil springs, that is when they seem a little unpredictable. Don't get me wrong, wheel travel is great, and I have lots of it. But the kind of travel like a lift coil gives you can give you deceptive stability. I would stay with a leaf spring set-up. What kind of problems are you having, and what are you trying to achieve?

 

I have the black diamond 3" military wrap on my '73. Notes on kit, though: they throw U-bolts in the kit that you have to modify bends on slightly and cut to length. Other than that I was happy with it. I don't have much mileage on yet, but going around the block it feels great!R)
Parts I used, Q is quadratec, 4wd is 4wd.com:
Xfer case Lowering Q-16006.104 1@24.99
Pitman Arm Q-26029.104 1@79.99
Greasable Shackles, 1/2" Q-16052.104 2@79.99 = $159.98
Grease Gun Q-98002.05 1@$29.99
Black Diamond 3" Lift Q-16110.002 1@$479.99
Bumpstop Q-26057.34 2@16.99 = $33.98
Tranny Torque Arm Grommet Q-26057.24 1@$4.99
Tranny Mount Q-36058.44 1@24.99
Xfer case Mount 4wd-30.99 1@30.99
TOTAL $869.89

 

http://www.holbrookspecialties.com/

Also do a search on these here. They are roughly 9" longer than stock, require minimal modifications, are easy to install, and most important, THEY WORK!
I drove the prototype set in Moab years ago and have them on the front of the Race Jeep. They will be going on my '68 CJ-5 also. They ride nice and flex well. Nickmil