What to do?? Lift related....

El Cazador rides like a brick!!



I want to run 33's MAX. I want urethane bushings in the spring eyes, possible?? Looked at MORE 4X4's stuff, nothing for a 66.

Wider springs are a choice, Soft ride springs with pads and keep the brass bushings? Ill keep SUA.

Also I want to switch out the 27 front end for a 44...... I can get a 44 housing for 1200 and stuff it myself, as finding a 44 out of a CJ5 id , yea, aint going to happen ( go all Yota stuff?? )

SO, the 2 major things are:

1: softer ride, fit 33's
2: 44 front

Im not even going to get into the 225 I got coming for the wrecking yard...................





It will be used for LIGHT 4x4ing, hunting, cursing a Classic!!!

 

The easiest way to get a better ride is to tailor the tire pressure to the load. A set of 33's at around 20-22 psi should ride fairly well and be more than sufficient for the load. It's never going to ride like a late model sedan...

Hard to find an inflation chart anymore post Firestone/Ford Explorer fiasco, but the classic chalk test still works.

But you can get a smoother ride but just like "speed costs money" so does a smoother ride.

 

My front springs were shot when I bought mine. I put soft ride springs on. It still rides rougher than most other vehicles. An early Cj5 was antiquated when sold. Now nearly half a century later, there are much better starting points to build a softer riding rig.
For the uses you describe the Dana 27 should hold up just fine.

It's your jeep do it like you want it.

 

It is going to depend on what the majority of your use is. I don't think you can really beat Holbrook's off-road. The Holbrooks are going to be soft and either a sway bar or adjustable shocks will be needed to limit on-road lean. Check out Tarry99's build thread.

As for the front axle, I bought a bare R&P housing last summer for $725 including the $175 shipping. You can get these set up narrow or wide track and the off-the-shelf configuration is +5 degrees caster with the same for the pinion angle. Or, they can build it anyway you want. I also sprung for a set of Dutchman's chrome molly axles.

 

Ding ding ding - we have a winner.

Lower your tire pressure, a lot. I'd also suggest using a tire with a tall, soft sidewall. Get rid of those E rated bias ply tires (or whatever stiff tire you may have), and go with a radial with a 2-ply sidewall.

The Holbrooks must be nice, but they are expensive and I wonder how they can work. Maybe they can more easily deflect small bumps, because of their longer length.

That said, the spring stiffness of a Jeep is part of the suspension design, IMO. If you make the springs a lot softer, you will have a lot of body roll, and you may not feel safe in everyday driving.

The Jeep formula (dating to WWII) is live axles, stiff springs mounted way inboard, with a very flexible frame. You start changing that formula, and there will be side effects that could be worse than the stiff ride.

How about a 30? It should be fine if you don't hammer on it.

Really, if softening the tires does not do it for you, and you still can't stand the ride stiffness, I'd suggest you look around for a used YJ or better yet a TJ.

 

I can vouch for the skyjacker soft rides and radial tires. Made a huge difference on my rig over the stock springs.
If I were building my rig today I'd take a pretty serious look at the holbrooks.

 

I would put 33s on it and trim the offending sheet metal that rubs... Having said that, a Jeep is basically a street legal tractor designed to go 45mph. I agree with the other guys about air pressure too. That's the easiest way to adjust your vehicle for the terrain your on

 

OK, so, Hoolbrooks look good, i would like NOT to have to weld to the frame, they are still like #2 on the list. Ill be calling this week to ask a few questions. SkyJacker 2.5s are looking like my choice, but we shall see.
For now I did, 33x10.50x15 BFG MTs, and have them aired at 25 psi, much better!! Did some climbing, rutted road and no rubbing, unloaded mind you, the rears are close. For now Ill use a spacer to gain a little, next summer get a set of R&P wide track 44s..........






Thanks for the help guys!!



Got to pick up mu junkyard 225 mon.!!!!