wrangler and chevy spring questions

[robselina]

Okay, done some research on some suspension options and got some questions to throw at you all :D

1- anyone ever use stock wrangler rear springs on the front of a waggy SOA? I've got a set at my disposal and they seem rather appropriate. I'm getting differing spring rate numbers, but most seem in the 250 range. This would be much softer than the 330 lbs I have right now, which I really need. What I'm not sure is exactly how they will sit- flat or negatively arched.

2- For the rear, I understand that some of you have done the '93-00 Chevy Suburban 0.5 ton or 0.75 w/o overload swap and moved the axle back 3". I'm not sure if I want to stretch my wheelbase but, if I did the chevy springs I'd probably offset the axle 1" forward with the perches that'll be on it so it'd only be a 2" gain which is more managable. Anyone know the spring rate on the 0.5 ton springs or 0.75s w/o overload? I kinda want to find out so I don't do it and end up being disapointed...

Thanks again for all the help dudes! :D

Rob

P.S. Picked up the J20 axles, got them decently cleaned up, removed the rear shock mounts, welded the rear and replaced a couple of leaky seals. I need to clean them up a little more, paint them and get new perches and shock mounts (got them on order) welded on the rear and I'm set!

[ November 12, 2003, 04:27 PM: Message edited by: rselina ]

[JeepsAndGuns]

I dont know about using the wrangler springs. My wrangler's springs are close to flat at stock weight (and mabey age helping a little) and it will squat real easy when you put a trailer on it with even a little weight. So with the weight of the wag's V-8 and bigger body and frame, I'm not shure if they would hold up very well. mabey if they were brand new and you put in a another leaf they might work. Are the springs the same size? I never measured them on mine.

[KYJ10]

I didn't measure the amount of lift, but would bet my chevy 1/2 ton rears lifted me at least 10". This is with the chevy shackles, SOA 14ff and RB's kit. I run 44044 fronts, SOA 60 and chevy shackles, and still sit slightly lower in the front. I figure a SOA 60 has got to be 7" anyway, then the 44044s are 2.5", and chevy shackles should have me at about 9.5" or so if I am correct. So make sure if you go chevy rears, you get plenty up front. I would bet the rear is even higher, as I had 6" rustys, SOA 14ff and now I sit higher than I used too, so I'd bet it may be in the 11-12" range.

[KYJ10]

And I don't know the rate, but the 1/2 tons are soft. They really ride well and flex great.

[KYJ10]

And one other thing, I don't have a bed, just frame, and even thats been shortened. So Im sure that makes it sit higher. Andrew(rockjeep44) did the half tons on a chero, with RB's kit, and it came out perfect. Ask him what springs he ran front. Hes got pics also.

[robselina]

sweet! thanks for the info man. I'll check with Andrew.

[tuck]

seems like the rear wranglers wouldn't have enough rate for the front of the wagoneer..

isn't a vehicle's front spring rate usually higher than the rear.. to hold up the motor..?

right now I'm scratching my head over a cheap triangulated 4 link rear for my waggy using TJ front coils, and bushings.. i'm hoping the spring rate is adequate..

[LRRH]

if you can add another leaf to the wrangler springs you may have a decent pack....but without it I would imagine your 360 will crush those springs in no time.

[robselina]

Originally posted by tuck:
[QB]

isn't a vehicle's front spring rate usually higher than the rear.. to hold up the motor..?

QB]You'd think so, but all the vehicles I own have higher rate in the rear, probably for payload and towing. In the case of the wagoneer, it's 300lbs/in up front and 400lbs/in in the back right now.

Rancho 44044s are listed as a 4" Wrangler rear leaf, so I'm thinking the rate has to be pretty close on stock springs. I may loose 1.5" in ride height compared to stock springs in good shape (based on 4" vs 2.5" lift with 44044s), but I'm pretty sure I can get away with them. I've also got a set of J10 springs, so maybe when I get a little closer to the suspension upgrade I'll try the Wrangler springs on their own first, and then add the second leaf of the J10 leafs to the pack if I need to. I figure it's worth a shot.

Thanks guys,
Rob

[tuck]

Originally posted by rselina:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by tuck:
[QB]

isn't a vehicle's front spring rate usually higher than the rear.. to hold up the motor..?

QB]You'd think so, but all the vehicles I own have higher rate in the rear, probably for payload and towing. In the case of the wagoneer, it's 300lbs/in up front and 400lbs/in in the back right now.

Rancho 44044s are listed as a 4" Wrangler rear leaf, so I'm thinking the rate has to be pretty close on stock springs. I may loose 1.5" in ride height compared to stock springs in good shape (based on 4" vs 2.5" lift with 44044s), but I'm pretty sure I can get away with them. I've also got a set of J10 springs, so maybe when I get a little closer to the suspension upgrade I'll try the Wrangler springs on their own first, and then add the second leaf of the J10 leafs to the pack if I need to. I figure it's worth a shot.

Thanks guys,
Rob</font>[/QUOTE]4044's Wrangler springs? ... I've never heard that...

I thought they were a 2.5" wagoneer front spring. Wrangler guys use them for their offset so that they can pick up wheelbase, gain lift (4" for them) and the springs are flexy.

It all seems backward to me. YJ guys use stock wagoneer springs to gain 2" of lift, and x" of wheelbase. Logic would indicate you will shorten your wheelbase by x" and lower your vehicle by 2" if you use YJ springs in your SJ. And since YJ springs are already at a flat arch, they will probably sit negative arched on your rig, and decrease their durability drastically..

[ November 13, 2003, 02:33 PM: Message edited by: tuck ]

[robselina]

Originally posted by tuck:
4044's Wrangler springs? ... I've never heard that... Busted.... you're right. I looked them up in the Rancho spec sheet and they're listed for FSJs only. I had heard so many people talk about these for wrangler rears that I thought they where listed as such.

I've got a set of 2 leaf J10 springs that I may be able to get a little life out of. Not sure how good the 2 leaf design was, but they seem rather flexy so I think I'm going to try them out instead.

Thanks,
Rob

[tuck]

in your defense, i searched on yahoo for 44044 and found a lot of people calling them wrangler springs.. :D