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Well I Went & Did It.. Rocky Road Conversion On The Way.

Discussion in 'Intermediate CJ-5/6/7/8' started by zila, Sep 21, 2017.

  1. Apr 25, 2018
    fesser

    fesser Napa, CA 2024 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Napa, CA
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    Oct 16, 2014
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    I might have missed it, but at what point did your shackles finally move to where the were leaning away from the axle instead of toward it. My frame, with the engine, trans, and transfer case on it, still hasn't had enough weight to make the front shackles lean forward as they should. The rears aren't even close to leaning toward the back. I can't imagine the body weight is going to be enough to orient them the right way. Starting to get a bit nervous.
     
  2. Apr 25, 2018
    zila

    zila I throw poop

    Rock Springs,...
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    Oct 6, 2003
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    1,201
    Haven't looked.. The rears are perpendicular though.. Fronts are forward just slightly.. [just looked] Seems to work fine as is..

    Question? Do you have any additional bump stop spacers in there?? I do, and am thinking I need to remove them so the spring can go full flex
     
  3. Apr 29, 2018
    zila

    zila I throw poop

    Rock Springs,...
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    Oct 6, 2003
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    Ok, first issue raises it's head. I was out in the shop just looking things over. And I noticed that the passenger side bottom shock was hanging loose. Seems the bolt that secures it went AWOL. It threads into the U-bolt skid. Either I didn't truely tighten it up or it worked loose and took a hike.. Either way it is gone. I have spare bolts as Rocky Road sent extras. Blue lock tight is gonna happen. And while I am at it the other three are gonna get the treatment as well..
     
  4. Apr 30, 2018
    zila

    zila I throw poop

    Rock Springs,...
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    Oct 6, 2003
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    Found the culprit. Powder coat. Cleaned the powder coat off the mating surface where the shock connects to the skid plate.. Lock-Tighted as well. checked the other shock bolts and all are loose. Ran a tap into the threads and re-installed
     
    Last edited: Apr 30, 2018
  5. May 19, 2018
    zila

    zila I throw poop

    Rock Springs,...
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    Oct 6, 2003
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    Wel damn. After all that I lost another shock bolt. Safety wire and an allen screw into the thread is next..

    Safety wired bolts all the way around..
     
    Last edited: May 19, 2018
  6. May 19, 2018
    Welderr

    Welderr Member

    NW New Jersey
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    May 29, 2015
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    82
    Thanks for an informative thread I think this is going to be a part of my rebuild, the Mrs. has a bad back and I want her to be as comfortable as possible in the Willy's. I have a lot of issues to deal with and I am gonna pull the body to actually make it quicker. I want to do the YJ suspension, power steering, new motor mounts properly welded in, an Sm420 swap, and a disc-11 in.drum upgrade. Someone very crudely installed a snow plow set up and I think they must have charged by the pound for welding rod, so I have that to clean up as well. T J
     
    zila likes this.
  7. May 20, 2018
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Northern California
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    What about a nyloc or toploc nut?

    Now that your out and driving, how do you like the ride? Better than your one bds? Have the springs settled at all?
     
  8. May 20, 2018
    zila

    zila I throw poop

    Rock Springs,...
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    Oct 6, 2003
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    The shock mounts into the U-bolt skid using a bolt. The ride seems better, but not Cadillac smooth. Going to Moab this week so we'll see. It doesn't jolt you as much as the old suspension.. Springs should be arched now as I have been on several rides so far..
     
  9. May 21, 2018
    Buildflycrash

    Buildflycrash More or Less in Line. 2024 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Gulf Breeze FL...
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    This kit is pretty easy with the body off the jeep. I'm pretty much complete with mine and maybe 6 or 8hrs in it total.
     
  10. May 21, 2018
    zila

    zila I throw poop

    Rock Springs,...
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    Oct 6, 2003
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    With the body on it is kind of a PITA. Something is always in the road.
     
  11. Aug 16, 2018
    zila

    zila I throw poop

    Rock Springs,...
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    Oct 6, 2003
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    Final post. Took the Jeep into Shoshone lake for a several day fishing trip.. This road just gets progressively worse as you go. Lots of rocks big and little. Usually takes 3 hours to go the ten miles to the lake. This year it was just a touch under 2-1/2. The new springs ride noticeably better on this trail than the other 75 size springs they replaced. FWIW I used to have BDS 2-1/2" lift springs on there.. The ride on the small trail junk rocks was much much better.. Eventually you get into boulders and large rocks.. The only thing that I don't care for is that my Jeep now seems to roll a bit farther to the sides.. But over all it is worlds better..
     
    Last edited: Aug 16, 2018
    montanacj and colojeepguy like this.
  12. Feb 21, 2019
    fesser

    fesser Napa, CA 2024 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Napa, CA
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    Nope. No final post for you!

    I have to know, did your rear shackles ever move outward (toward the rear)? I have recently kick started my CJ6 project and have set the tub on the chassis. The front shackles are leaning backward, not a lot, and I can see them settling into proper orientation when all parts are back on. The rear shackles are pointing forward at a pretty severe angle (I know I need pictures). Other than a fuel tank and a seat, I don't see anything that is likely to change their angle enough to make them point outward.

    It has been so long since I put the kit in that I have forgotten things. Do you recall if all four springs were identical (I think they were). If you have a chance, can you measure the space between the mounting holes on the front frame perches and the rear ones (I am assuming they should be the same distance apart if the springs are the same length).

    I have so much stuff to do on the Jeep, in a short period of time (trying to get it driving before one of my Daughters gets home) that I really need to figure out if the spring hanger for the back is going to have to be relocated. I sure hope not. The kit wasn't cheap and there are a lot of new holes in my frame.

    Thanks.
     
    tarry99 likes this.
  13. Feb 21, 2019
    tarry99

    tarry99 Member

    Northern California
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    Put all the weight in it at ride height.....and then move the fixed hanger to get the right starting angle position on the shackle....new springs about 15-20 degrees leaning away from the fixed end.........none of these Spring people ever tell you what the correct way is to set them up!
     
  14. Feb 22, 2019
    fesser

    fesser Napa, CA 2024 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Napa, CA
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    That is probably what I should have done. This kit indexes off of the original holes in the stock spring hangers though, so you would think the bracket was designed to move the spring eye in relation to stock. If I have to I will move them though. It needs to work.

    Zila, if you read this, I see that my questions were answered in this thread, except for if your rear shackles ever settled down to where they are pointed outboard.
     
  15. Feb 22, 2019
    NCRenII

    NCRenII yellow fever

    Far Nor Cal
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    431
    After doing many spring pack installs I disregard the markings. Simply set all the springs on the ground arch up and measure the height. Match up the heights and pair them up. I generally run the tallest two in the front if a winch is planned. If you check the markings you may find that they have no correlation to the height, rather it's the steel used.
    Re: the ome. Remember to grease. I find it easy to grease by taking an old screwdriver and insert it between leaves and use a chain saw bay pump grease gun. Each leaf/each end needs to be slightly separated and grease pumped in topurge the crud that ends up in there. Setting frame on jack stands to get droop helps too.
     
    Danefraz likes this.
  16. Feb 22, 2019
    zila

    zila I throw poop

    Rock Springs,...
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    Mine in the rear are hanging pretty much straight down.. If they are tilted rearward it is only slightly. Doesn't seem to be a problem.. Rides just fine.. All my springs were the same spring..
     
  17. Feb 22, 2019
    fesser

    fesser Napa, CA 2024 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Napa, CA
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    Thank you. I will continue to bolt stuff on and see if they move after getting a chance to compress a few times.
     
  18. Feb 22, 2019
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Northern California
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    Steve's 71 is here at my shop if you need any pics of the Rocky Road spring hangers. We installed his kit to RR specs. The shackles literally stand straight up on the front and rear. This is with a winch on the front, spare tire with two full jerry cans on the back. All 4 of his springs are CSO36R Old man emu.
    At some point, after my yj springs are installed, we are going to oblong the holes for the mounting locations of the RR kit for more shackle angle. We of course will weld the brackets on then. His jeep currently rides way better than any stock springs or rancho springs ever will..... but I think it could be made to ride better.
     
  19. Feb 22, 2019
    tarry99

    tarry99 Member

    Northern California
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    Yes you would......if the spring is a lifted spring the physical length of the spring material is longer along the arch.......although the eye to eye length is probably close to the factory mount locations..............spring guys know that but will rarely tell an over the counter customer that installation may require some additional movement of bracket locations or welding.........Go to Deaver , Alcan or Holbrook and it's "put all the weight in it and adjust the shackle angle accordingly"...

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Feb 22, 2019
    Timber Cruiser likes this.
  20. Feb 22, 2019
    Oldriginal86

    Oldriginal86 Member

    Pasadena, Md.
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    Nov 5, 2014
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    This issue comes up here quite often after or during a lift kit is installed. Mine had it until the spring mounts were moved. Has anyone contacted the spring manufacturer?
     
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