Where'd my lift go?

I'm hoping someone can help me figure out where the hell my 4" of lift went! I've attached some photos as it looks right now on 33" tires.

The first photo is of the day I drove it home.



Here it is as it currently sits :





I bought this CJ5 in 2005. The PO had a shop just install a 4" lift that same spring(according to the receipts/invoice) with the 33" tires seen in the photos.

I pulled the parts number of the lift from the invoice and google'd, the result came back as a 4" Superlift Superide. I even pull the parts number labeled on the springs(1-503F6 fronts and 1-503R6 rears) and google'd - they came back as 4" springs

The stance has been the same since the day I drove it home. My understanding is that I should have way more room with a 4" lift on 33" tires. I'm not sure how long the shackles are but they appear longer than stock.

There's no reason these springs should be sagging as they've only seen at the most 300 miles on them. It's just been sitting in my garage the past 4 years more or less and the springs are still stiff as hell!

Any thoughts?

 

I expect it's close to 4" higher than it would be with the standard CJ-5 springs. How much space is there between the frame bumpers and the axles?

 

I gained 4" of lift when I replaced my tub. The back half was so rusty it sagged 4" on the frame!

 

Ouch that must've been one rusty tub! Can't say there's much more on mine than some surface rust.

Timgr-I don't quite follow. What exactly is the 'frame bumper'?

 

The bumpstops that are attached to the frame above the axle tube. Measure between the bottom of the bumpstop to the top of the axle tube.

 

Ah okay I gotcha now. Is there a another(stock?) measurement I can compare this to?

 

When I first went to 4" lift springs I ordered the Superlift set. When they arrived I could see there was no way I was going to get 4" out of them. I sent them back and ordered a Skyjacker Soft Ride 4" lift. Tons more arc in them over the Superlift springs. Bottom line is I don't think Superlift knows what they are talking about when they claim their springs will give you 4" of lift. I had previously run a 2" Rancho spring set and when I compared them to the new 4" Superlift springs they were essentially the same as far as length and arc. Go figure.

 

That's funny because looking at the springs leafs thickness and arc I didn't think it looked any where near what 4" lift springs look like. I'm glad I'm not the only person who had this issue.

After thinking, would I be able to add a leaf to these springs? I'd really hate to buy brand new springs just because these are basically still new.

 

don't use add a leafs......please, my jeep came with those and they stink! Maybe they have use in a Cj-6/8 in the back for load carrying or something........ You will highly regret the time spent wrenching putting them in, which is almost the same amount of time to change springs out.

 

BDS only has a 2.5 lift kit for early cj's. I have the front springs and they are no where near 4inches of lift. I wish they would have had them when I was buying my lift.

 

I just installed a pair of BDS 2" lift YJ springs on my CJ. Very pleased with the results. The BDS springs are a quality product.

 

I appreciate all the input but I have to say that's pretty lame that the PO had those springs put on and didn't raise cane over it. I honestly don't think added leafs could make these POS springs any stifferR)

Buying a new lift just isn't in the immediate future due to the recent ice storm we had here and school expenses, but I suppose it's incentive to just do a yj spring swap when I do

 

If you're going to go with YJ springs, now you have more options. May want to take a look at the Rubicon Express 4.5" springs.