CJ-10a: Inboarding springs - springs not parallel???

[1x1_Speed_Craig]

For those of you who have inboarded the rear springs...

Are your rear springs parallel to one another? I'm inboarding the springs on a CJ-10a tug (frame is a shortened FSJ frame), and found that the distance between the frame rails is different in front than it is in the rear. The frame tapers inward ~1-1.5" just behind the front spring hanger on the rear springs. My spring hangers (Sky Manufacturing) will be located in the "arch" of the frame, and I'll probably outboard the shackle hangers slightly. It would obviously be easiest to mount the rear shackle hangers under the frame and have the springs be slightly out of parallel, but I don't know how this would affect functionality/wear.

I'm just curious if you encountered this same situation, and if you addressed it at all.

Craig

[BRUTUS]

I am pretty sure that you need to have the springs parallel. At full flex is the only time I can think that would have an adverse effect. The springs would bind abnormally bad and limit flex. If you don't intend on flexing out the springs it would probably be ok.

I would just cut a couple of quick gussets and weld them from the frame to the spring hanger to make up the 1-1.5" change.

[Elliott]

Chassis builders put in a slight pinch at the rear to reduce squat on hot rods, I don't know that Jeep springs are perfectly parallel.... (I know mine aren't ).

[BRUTUS]

Originally Posted by Elliott

Chassis builders put in a slight pinch at the rear to reduce squat on hot rods, I don't know that Jeep springs are perfectly parallel.... (I know mine aren't ).

That is exactly what I am saying, springs at an angle reduce spring flex because it forces the spring to bind rather than flex. Like a poor man's version of a anti-roll bar! My springs are 100% parallel and flex to 33.50"

[LaJ10]

Just ran into the same problem when I did mine.As you said mine were 1.5" off also.
If you havent welded on the front yet you can bring them in just a little and the rear out just alittle.If the fronts are welded ,like mine were,then I would bring the rear out to match.Like Brutus said it shouldnt be hard just measure the width of the front and the width of the frame at the rear divide the difference by 2 and push each out that much.If as you said the difference is 1.5 then bring each out 3/4 inch and weld it then cut some gussetts from flat bar and weld in.
I did mine somewhat different to keep from getting so much hieght I used chevy front leaf shackle set up,but still had to move them out about 3/4 inch each side.

[1x1_Speed_Craig]

Guys,

Thanks for confirming what I already suspected. I'll outboard the rear shackle hanger ~1".

Here's an update on my project, BTW.

My used 4-Runner wheels are now painted (POR-15/POR self-etching primer/Krylon topcoat), and I'll be getting the 32" TSLs mounted on them shortly. The front Grand Waggy Dana 44 is with my friends at Five Star Auto, getting rebuilt with 4.10s, Detroit Truetrac, new bearings/seals/ball joints, etc...I'm trading this work for technical writing & website update work.

I got the rear spring hangers aligned and tack-welded on last night. The rear springs I'm using are actually another set of front Waggy springs (from JC Whitney), BTW. Check out the position of the axle centering pin relative to the location of the bump stop on the frame. This is how much the wheelbase will be extended (~14" IIRC).

Tonight, I'll finish removing the other spring perch from the Isuzu D44 rear axle, and get it hung underneath the tug.

Exxxxx-cellent.


Craig

[Bob Barry]

FWIW, I can't see how a little angle or offset of one end of the spring is going to be an issue; ever see how out-of-whack your springs get when they're all twisted up?

[1x1_Speed_Craig]

I decided to reuse the original rear shackle hangers by flipping them and the shackles. The rears will be outboarded by ~1", and the springs will be parallel. I also decided to run the short end of the spring on the front, which allowed me to reuse these parts. Wheelbase will be ~96" with this setup. It's going to work out nicely.

Craig