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small block the front axle.

Discussion in 'Intermediate CJ-5/6/7/8' started by '72CJ5, Nov 8, 2010.

  1. Nov 8, 2010
    '72CJ5

    '72CJ5 Member

    Modesto,...
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    May 12, 2010
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    Well after puting thos yota springs on the jeep, I found the front is sagging about 2" lower in the front. Now I know once i drop that bigger tranny and t-case in it, and my fuel tank and skid it will sit the rear down a little bit but I know it wont that much. So I got some advise to cut a 1" block, drill a hole through it in the center and then weld a bolt down through it and then leave one end of the hole open so the spring pin can sit in the open hole and the nub can rest in the spring perch and give me a little lift in the front. Is that a good idea or what do yall think?
     
  2. Nov 8, 2010
    '72CJ5

    '72CJ5 Member

    Modesto,...
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    Here is a picture of how it sits now. Hard to get a better pic due to it being in a sort of tight area.
    Driver side...
    [​IMG]
    Passenger side...
    [​IMG]
    Its hard to see from the pictures, but if you look at the top of tire to fender gap you can see what I mean. She is raked purdy good in the front.
     
  3. Nov 8, 2010
    colojeepguy

    colojeepguy Colorado Springs

    At the foot of...
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    Apr 4, 2010
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    7,167
    Front lift blocks=big no-no!!
    I bought a 4x4 pickup one time that had been lifted that way. After the 2nd tine I sheared of the leaf spring center bolt, I bought some lift springs.
     
  4. Nov 8, 2010
    mb82

    mb82 I feel great!

    Charlottesville Va
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    Mar 17, 2003
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    2,706
    Yep big big big no no. It makes any axlewrap even worse by making the lever even longer.
     
  5. Nov 8, 2010
    Patrick

    Patrick Super Moderator Staff Member

    Los Alamos, NM
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    Sep 22, 2002
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    8,360
    Axle wrap on the front isn't really an issue.
    Don't put lift blocks on the front. BTDT, years ago on one of my Blazers. It spit them out twice and broke one block before I just put springs on it..
     
  6. Nov 8, 2010
    cj6/442

    cj6/442 Sponsor

    Fallbrook, Calif
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  7. Nov 8, 2010
    nickmil

    nickmil In mothballs.

    Happy Valley, OR
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    12,529
    Definitely NO like the others said. Too much leverage in front for blocks. It's illegal in some states as well.
     
  8. Nov 8, 2010
    Corveeper

    Corveeper Member

    Chanute, Kansas
    Joined:
    Jul 29, 2005
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    817
    Yea, lift blocks on the front are bad, mkay.
    You might try an Add-A-Leaf instead. It’ll make the spring pack stiffer but will take most of the sag out of it.
     
  9. Nov 8, 2010
    pathkiller

    pathkiller Member

    Lorton, VA
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    You sure it's actually raked to the front? Fender gap doesn't tell you anything since you've got those big TJ flares on there and cut out wheel openings. Doesn't look bad to me, but I'd wait until it's running and you have a better idea of true ride height. When you load up a full tank of fuel (at 6lbs/gallon, a 15 gal tank will be 90lbs), spare tire, gear, passengers, etc. the rear will squat significantly. I'd much rather have a forward rake than a rearward rake.
     
  10. Nov 8, 2010
    54cj3b

    54cj3b Member

    evergreen colorado
    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2010
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    add a spring to your pack avoid blocks in the front
     
  11. Nov 8, 2010
    LarryD

    LarryD Member

    Gallup NM/ 4 Corners
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    Jul 7, 2006
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    637
    Would longer than stock shackles be a good fix, I have 2 inches longer than stock on my intermediate and have noticed no ill effects ?
     
  12. Nov 12, 2010
    '72CJ5

    '72CJ5 Member

    Modesto,...
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    Thanks for all the comments. My shackles are already 2" shackles and I dont want to put smaller ones on the rear because I like the way it sits in the back. I was just referring to the flare gap because its hard to tell from the pictures. I meassured and its 2 1/4 inch lower in the front then the rear. I was thinking about buying two more springs and just making a pack using the arched springs and one from the center to try and boost her up. And I agree, a forward rake trumps a rear rake hands down.
     
  13. Nov 13, 2010
    eyotajeeper

    eyotajeeper Member

    Iron Range
    Joined:
    Aug 18, 2010
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    Are the springs new? If so run them awhile, see if they settle any.

    Then if it doesn't look right and you can't live with it, either add-a-leaf or new springs.

    As stated by others, don't EVER put blocks in front! It actually stresses the spring also.
     
  14. Nov 13, 2010
    '72CJ5

    '72CJ5 Member

    Modesto,...
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    Ya Im not going to block the front, never really wanted to in the first place and even though I have never ran into this question or issue, it just didn't set well with my mind. The springs arnt new, they are used. All four are 79-83 toyota rear leafs which i put on all corners. With the springs having the same load rating, i new the front was going to rake on me a little but i was not expecting that much. I am going to leave it as it sits for now and when everything is buttoned up, full tank of fuel etc.. I will see where she sets and adjust fromt there. I will probably drop the very bottom load spring (the big fat one) from the rear and add a couple leafs to the front...not sure yet.
     
  15. Nov 14, 2010
    cerial

    cerial Banned

    Middleville MI
    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2010
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    139
    You could always move your spring mount down and install a larger shackle up front. This is far safer then any kind of a spring block. You need to move the spring mount down to maintain proper geometry otherwise your going to run into the possibility of the larger shackel going 180 on you.

    Or simply get larger springs with more arch.
     
  16. Nov 15, 2010
    '72CJ5

    '72CJ5 Member

    Modesto,...
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    After $80 worth of cutting/grinding/flap disks and over 15 sawzall blades, I am in no way moving my spring mounts haha. I wanted to move my mounts as far back as possible (on the front and not the shackle end) but couldn't due to my clutch bracket being in the way. I even had to cut and notch out that bracket to get them where they are now. My shackles are already 6" long and aint going to go any longer then that. Once its all said and done, i will see how it measures with a full tank of fuel and everything bolted/welded in place and see where it sits. If its still raked too much then I will throw a couple more leafs in the front springs.
     
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