Stretching a YJ

Cascadia

Cascadia

Undecided
Location
Orem, Utah
Looking at stretching my 95 yj here soon and I'm wanting to know what leaves have worked good for them and how much stretch was acquired from them? Also, what did you have to do to get them mounted?
 
Front is stretched 2 inches already. I just want to stretch the rear and I want quite a bit more wheelbase. Maybe another 8 inches or so. I've been in moab this weekend and the shorter WB is not as joyful on steeper climbs or ledges.
 
I'm using the XJ springs front/rear. I had to move the tank up through the floor to make the rear springs work.

The front is not using the stock YJ hanger locations but I am using XJ springs. To use the XJ springs in the front, I think you need to swap to an Astro/Safari van steering box or move your YJ box pretty significantly forward (or just do the full hydro?).

I've used the Waggy springs in the front, but found them to be more expensive to get my hands on than the XJ stuff.

I've thought multiple times about using an XJ lift spring and running SUA vs. SOA.
 
I'm still spring under. If I did run cherokee springs how much stretch can I expect and would I run them reversed? Same questions for the wagoneer springs? Will I have to move my tank no matter what since I have a 60 in the rear? can you still use the rear seat if you put the tank up in the floor?
 
Cascadia said:
I'm still spring under. If I did run cherokee springs how much stretch can I expect and would I run them reversed? Same questions for the wagoneer springs? Will I have to move my tank no matter what since I have a 60 in the rear? can you still use the rear seat if you put the tank up in the floor?
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I think the XJ springs give you about 6" or so? You would run them reversed. The Waggy springs give you about 2-3".

There's a fairly interesting thread on PBB about modifying a stock YJ skid and then modifying the tank to fit the new modified skid. I am still using the rear seat, just have moved it about 4-5" higher in the tub.

I'd do a few different things if I built another (not likely), but you should come over sometime and I'll walk you around my Jeep and tell you what I learned. I like a lot of the things I did, but there are some that will get fixed, others I wouldn't do again.

Mine's running right at 101" wheelbase. Same as the XJ I had before. I've just got a frame, V8, MUCHO bigger tires and axles I don't worry much about now. It doesn't climb everything out there, but it holds it own and is plenty capable for my type of wheeling.
 
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When using xj springs do you have to run new spring hangers on both sides or just one? Also would you be using stock springs or lift springs? Right now it has 4 inch teraflex springs. Anyone know the length of yj springs and xj springs and what the center pin is at on both?
 
YJ is 46" long and the pin is centered.I believe the XJ is 52" long and the pin is offset 6".I don't like to use the XJ's.Too dam long.You end up with a huge rock catcher under the frame.A traction bar is a most for both is SOA.I would just move the hangers to get the WB you want.
 
If I just move my hangers and reuse my springs how do I figure out the max I could get? Just measure from where my rear hanger is now to the furthest spot it can go on my rear bumper since that will be my new crossmember anyways once I put it on? Can I also redrill the center pin to get some more length or is it not recommended? Also, I am staying spring under, is there a u-bolt elimination kit or something like that to keep the bolts from hanging down too far?
 
i've really had no problem with my XJ leafs besides the fact the pack i got from the junkyard had an add-a-leaf which makes them a stiff SOB, another thing to do is make longer spring perches, round 7" or so and drill another center hole 2" forward of the Center hole. mine is stretched back like 9-9.5 inches back with the XJ leafs plus that.
 
If I end up using my leafs I already have on there now and just moving both hangers back, where would the best place to get hangers be? The front one will have to be a bigger one sure th the frame being on an angle there, and the rear would have to sit vertical on the rear bumper crossmember. Also, are there any tanks that would still be able to fit underneath, moved forward of the axle? One from another car maybe? I don't care about gallon capacity. I could get a cell but it'd be nice not to and I don't want an expensive gen right tank.
 
So XJ spring pack, and moving the mounts can get 6 - 9" of stretch? (Depending if you re-drill the center hole)

I assume this is moving the rear spring hanger back (rear axle)

Doing SUA does anyone know what size lift XJ springs would be required to maintain my current 4" lift "again SUA" on my YJ?

Sorry to jump in with questions on your thread, but It seemed like you also had the similar question.
 
Cascadia said:
If I end up using my leafs I already have on there now and just moving both hangers back, where would the best place to get hangers be? The front one will have to be a bigger one sure th the frame being on an angle there, and the rear would have to sit vertical on the rear bumper crossmember. Also, are there any tanks that would still be able to fit underneath, moved forward of the axle? One from another car maybe? I don't care about gallon capacity. I could get a cell but it'd be nice not to and I don't want an expensive gen right tank.
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I have a couple of stock hangers kicking around. I'd assume they are available from almost anywhere, though? Dan @ RuffStuff has been great to work with. I'd check there. I'm using some of his hangers on my front springs.

I don't know what to tell you on the tank. I pulled mine up through the floor and remounted my rear seat accordingly higher. Search www.pirate4x4.com/forum for "H8Monday" threads (that was my source) for that info. There's also another thread on there where guys are reshaping the front of their stock tank. Worth a try to look for. They had cut their skidplate for clearance and heated the stock plastic tank with a heat gun to fit the new skid. That reportedly works fairly well?
 
Silly Willy said:
So XJ spring pack, and moving the mounts can get 6 - 9" of stretch? (Depending if you re-drill the center hole)

I assume this is moving the rear spring hanger back (rear axle)

Doing SUA does anyone know what size lift XJ springs would be required to maintain my current 4" lift "again SUA" on my YJ?

Sorry to jump in with questions on your thread, but It seemed like you also had the similar question.
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just the packs themselves move your axle back 6 1/2". i didnt modify my hangers at all, the XJ packs are 2 1/2" wide but you do have to drill the hole out to use the XJ bolt size (metric, can't remember what size)
re-drilling packs has always been a pain for me, always burn least 1 bit every leaf no matter how much cutting oil i use. easier to just re-drill the pin hole on the leaf spring perch.

lift wise, depending on how big of shackle you use and how you mount the hanger for it you could get enough to equal out id imagine.
 
Cascadia said:
Front is stretched 2 inches already. I just want to stretch the rear and I want quite a bit more wheelbase. Maybe another 8 inches or so. I've been in moab this weekend and the shorter WB is not as joyful on steeper climbs or ledges.
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What you don't like doing a wheelie on all the steep stuff??
 
YJ_Auzzy said:
just the packs themselves move your axle back 6 1/2". i didnt modify my hangers at all, the XJ packs are 2 1/2" wide but you do have to drill the hole out to use the XJ bolt size (metric, can't remember what size)
re-drilling packs has always been a pain for me, always burn least 1 bit every leaf no matter how much cutting oil i use. easier to just re-drill the pin hole on the leaf spring perch.

lift wise, depending on how big of shackle you use and how you mount the hanger for it you could get enough to equal out id imagine.
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So with xj leafs do you use the existing front hanger and for the rear hanger weld in a rear cross member/bumper and weld the shackle hanger on that? Something like the way back shackle hanger from ruff stuff?
 
Cascadia said:
So with xj leafs do you use the existing front hanger and for the rear hanger weld in a rear cross member/bumper and weld the shackle hanger on that? Something like the way back shackle hanger from ruff stuff?
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Correct. i okey rigged mine awhile back just using some old CJ brackets i had for rear shackle hangers welded to a ghetto rear cross member i hope to hack off someday and re-do or just link it out.
 
i removed my rear seat and used the stock tank and skid. the skid under the tank also is the mount for it, the straps hook to it etc etc. i simply drilled holes in it and used the old seat mount bolt holes to hold it down then drilled two more to help support it then put a piece of 3/8" rubber matt in between the tank and the bolts so they didnt decide to pop it one day. and its been there for bout a year n half now. oh and cut a hole to feed the lines through the floor to the filter and stock lines
 
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