I'm posting for a good friend....New suspension for an 85 CJ-7 (coil overs?)

[TRNDRVR]

Here's the deal......

My next door neighbor, who is full time AF and gone a lot has some questions about his 85 CJ-7.

To start with, a little about his rig;

1985 CJ-7
LT-1 TPI 350. Done extremely well and runs like it's factory.
Here's what is unique, it has Sunray Engineering custom Ford 9" axles front and rear under it.

He wants some recommendations as to what to put in there to get rid of his "old school" doesn't flex so well spring under suspension.

Does he do the front first? The back? Both?

He's open to recommendations and advice, and also for the RME approved vendors, an estimate to have the work done.

A couple of pics so you have somewhat of an idea of what he has....

Post up.....We're doing the Rubicon in Sept.

Thanks,
Dan.

 

[chadschoon]

i run coilovers and love them. the cheeper route would be air shocks and they seem to do well too. I would do front and back at the same time.

 

[greenjeep]

Way cheaper would be SOA with YJ leafs, thats how my Commando is and it works great and clear 35s no problem.

 

[CJ Matt]

I am the friend with the CJ-7. I don't have a convenient internet access right now so I will look at this post when I can. Clearance right now is not an issue. I am running 38.5 Super Swampers and only had issues with them rubbing after I broke a shock running the hammers at Johnson Valley. The reason I am only thinking about doing front or back is $$ related. I have run with TRDRVR and his Cherokee and with others. I have been impressed with their performance with leafs in the back. Right now I have tube fenders on order and that will increase my front clearance.

I would love to do a full conversion but I think I will have to wait until next year to get that done. I would however like to improve what I have and run it this year. Would front or rear be more beneficial to do first? The rear would also include a stretch. What are the best local shops to get this done at?

 

[radjeeper]

Coilovers with a four link at least on the rear is always nice. It has the bling factor. If you're looking for simple and lots of flex I would go for the SOA with the YJ springs. We have done many of these conversions. Ask around and I think you will find that this is a great way to increase your fun in the rocks.
If you'd like, we can put together a quote for you. Call us and we can talk about the different options you have and what we can do for you. If I don't answer my phone, call Josh at 228-7952 and he'll get you set up.

 

[d-stumph]

I am the friend with the CJ-7. I don't have a convenient internet access right now so I will look at this post when I can. Clearance right now is not an issue. I am running 38.5 Super Swampers and only had issues with them rubbing after I broke a shock running the hammers at Johnson Valley. The reason I am only thinking about doing front or back is $$ related. I have run with TRDRVR and his Cherokee and with others. I have been impressed with their performance with leafs in the back. Right now I have tube fenders on order and that will increase my front clearance.

I would love to do a full conversion but I think I will have to wait until next year to get that done. I would however like to improve what I have and run it this year. Would front or rear be more beneficial to do first? The rear would also include a stretch. What are the best local shops to get this done at?

To Choose between the front or the rear is a big question, do you like verts better or approach angle for boulder crawling better. If you are a moab wheeler i would say do the rear end. A properly set up set of 2.5" Air Shocks and a 4 link or 3 link track bar setup would do wonders for your jeeps rear end. (3 link track bar = Total stability; and 4 link = bigger whoops and more consistent high speed long travel) Ther are many more pro's and cons to each.

But I can get you the parts for that front or rear for very cheap (i will send a PM with the prices on components if you would like) and do the build for a reasonable rate, I Can do work in 2 Places, At A Shop in Central Utah (Delta)and a Shop in Redmond, OR.

Go onto my website www.stumphoffroad.com And look at the gallery, there are a lot of examples of my handywork.

Later

 

[Bart]

Absolutely do the rear first. You'll be so surprised at the way it handles after that. If it's close then, maybe do a spring over in the front. For added stability I'd add some spacers to those narrow axles, to give you a wider track width.

 

[allterrain]

Way cheaper would be SOA with YJ leafs, thats how my Commando is and it works great and clear 35s no problem.

Same setup here with my CJ-7. I can also stuff 38s when I am crazy enough to run them with my 44s...
Would love coils though.

 

[1993yj]

I would do the SOA in the front, and then if you have the cash you could do the coilovers in the rear. Front SOA's usually flex much better than rears, and with a 4-link in the rear you won't have to worry about controlling axle wrap.

 

[Seth]

I sure like my sway-a-ways.

 

[CJ Matt]

Well this has really opened my eyes. I am surprised that everyone is saying the rear should be done first. My Jeep is used for rock crawling but I would like to keep it street legal. I will try to get a hold of a couple of you next week. Untill then I am still up for any advice.

 

[rondo]

I would recommend linking the rear and stretching the wheelbase. This is what i did and i have no regrets. it's capability in the rocks is unbelievable compared to how it was stock width. not sure how that would effect street legality. Spring over in front might be needed, might not. You can check out my junker some time, but if you do bring your CJ because i'd love to see it. I'm military also. BTW i live in tooele, cold drive

 

[Bart]

Well this has really opened my eyes. I am surprised that everyone is saying the rear should be done first. My Jeep is used for rock crawling but I would like to keep it street legal. I will try to get a hold of a couple of you next week. Untill then I am still up for any advice.

I really liked the way the XJ with coils in the front and leafs in the rear handled, but there are several things that come into play. The leafs in front or rear help as an anti sway device.

First, if you 4 link the front you will prolly need to change your steering, adding additional costs.

Second if you went spring over in the rear you'd need to add a traction bar.

With those two potential problems you might as well just 4 link the rear and simplify things.

 

[Badger]

I just so happen to be selling some 14" SwayAways right now........

 

[jet_aj]

...I would like to keep it street legal...

This is going to be a problem if you have someone build your custom links... According to a good friend of mine that does inspections, newer safety inspection laws requires ALL suspension components to be DOT approved or it wont pass. If you can adapt an already designed, DOT approved Long arm kit to work with your jeep it should pass, but if you just want someone to build your links it prob wont pass unless you can find a shop that can make DOT approved suspension mods, or someone willing to risk loosing their inspection license by 'overlooking' your custom links. This was going to be the problem I had with another project, then decided to go a different route to keep things street legal.

just something to think about :-\

 

[I Lean]

This is going to be a problem if you have someone build your custom links... According to a good friend of mine that does inspections, newer safety inspection laws requires ALL suspension components to be DOT approved or it wont pass. If you can adapt an already designed, DOT approved Long arm kit to work with your jeep it should pass, but if you just want someone to build your links it prob wont pass unless you can find a shop that can make DOT approved suspension mods, or someone willing to risk loosing their inspection license by 'overlooking' your custom links. This was going to be the problem I had with another project, then decided to go a different route to keep things street legal.

just something to think about :-\

Your friend is misinformed.

 

[1993yj]

This is going to be a problem if you have someone build your custom links... According to a good friend of mine that does inspections, newer safety inspection laws requires ALL suspension components to be DOT approved or it wont pass. If you can adapt an already designed, DOT approved Long arm kit to work with your jeep it should pass, but if you just want someone to build your links it prob wont pass unless you can find a shop that can make DOT approved suspension mods, or someone willing to risk loosing their inspection license by 'overlooking' your custom links. This was going to be the problem I had with another project, then decided to go a different route to keep things street legal.

just something to think about :-\

Yeah, never heard of that, and I cannot find it anywhere in the inspection manual. And how would you get something like that DOT approved anyways?

 

[jet_aj]

Yeah, never heard of that, and I cannot find it anywhere in the inspection manual. And how would you get something like that DOT approved anyways?

Well I just talked to another shop to verify what I had been told... the links are not the problem, its welding the mounts to the frame... something about welding to the heat treated frame they worry about cracks in the frame from welding that they said they would fail it...
Even still he said that if they felt that it was done properly and sufficient support was added to the mounting location they would probably pass it which is good news... so I don't feel so bad about continuing with where I was originally headed with my own project.

I guess its always good to double check your sources

 

[CJ Matt]

I think with all the advice I will do the rear. I am still out of the state untill at least the end of this week. I will call radjeeper and d-stump this week. I would like to be able to take it somewhere close though. Are there any other suggestions for shops?

Thanks for all the advice and info
Matt

 

[Jay5.9L]

Try www.benhanksracing.com in sandy.