FLip FLop

[KeyWest FSJ]

I am looking for a little bit of lift on my 78 Cherokee and I thought of doing something really simple: Take the axles off and mount them under the leaf springs instead of over them. Is this a good idea? Also will it screw up my steering linkage or will i have to buy new steering stuff to accomodate this mod?

[Stuka]

ahh..lots of people here have done SOA's (spring over axle) conversions. For the back you can buy Todd's (river beast) rear shackle inversion kit which will level the jeep out for you. Its not a hard proccess..just bring the axle in to have new pearches welded on to it (unless you are a experianced welder and can get the angles correct)

Annd boom you will have nearly 7" of lift smile.gif

[KeyWest FSJ]

so doing SOA will not affect my steering components?? LIke the length of the column or anything like that????

[Rockwagon]

You may want a 4" drop pitman arm but that is about it.

[KeyWest FSJ]

Got any ideas where to get one of those, and you say with Riverbeast's kit, I will have to take it somewhere and have those perches welded on??? Front and back both???

[Rockwagon]

The pitman arm can be had out of an 4X4 magazine or 4X4 shop it is listed as a Ford/Jeep 4" drop arm!

[tomd]

The rear is already SOA, so you just need the front perches welded, and get Todds kit http://home.earthlink.net/~riverbeast/RB_Kustoms/

You are going to also need extended brake lines, or possibly relocate your current ones, also shock mounts need moved, or replaced with longer ones.

[River Beast]

Steering will not be affected if you weld the perches on the axle parallel with the OEM perches. If you need more angle you can always install shims to get the pinion angle up if need be. As stated... a 4" drop pitman arm (DPA) will reduce the bump steer from draglink angle.

The biggest concern with this for you is your QT unit. Being a full time unit (front and rear shafts consistantly turning) it is HIGHLY recommended that you get a high angle CV up front with a part time kit installed... at least the P/T kit anyway. this will allow the use of hubs on the front and make is so the front shaft is not always running. Front hubs is NOT a part time kit but part of it.. Mile Marker makes 2 P/T kits for the QT's 1:1 kit and 16% overdirve kit.

Read shaft should be ok, but the front will need lengthening most likely... also if you have the facotry 'Y' pipe... it will need to be modified to clear the front shaft.

you will need longer shocks and possibility fo relocating the mounts if you so desire. the E-Brake hard lines out back can be re-routed with no problems.

Any questions.... post 'em here.... we are more than happy to help and WELCOME to the FSJ Cyber World!!!

PS--- my Rear Shackle Inversion kit is a bolt on kit with common tools and angle grinder and a drill... check out the info page posted above or in my sig...

(thanks for the referrals guys ;) )

[ September 22, 2002, 02:43 PM: Message edited by: River Beast ]

[Sycho15]

The SOA conversion isn't just a "little bit of lift" though. It's a good 5-7" depending on how you do it.

[FSJeeper]

I think the SOA and RB 7" kit are the most viable lift for the FSJ. You get to keep the excellent flexy stock FSJ springs, you have no blocks in the rear, and it is at least $300 to $400 cheaper than going with a 4 spring lift kit.

The RB 7" kit is very well thought out and is easy to install. It looks factory. I installed the kit on the bare frame flipped upside down and it was a piece of cake. I used the bolts to get it all hooked up, then fully welded them. I would imagine it would probably take a full day with an assembled FSJ. I think the RB kit is a lot of product for the money.