What's the best way to lengthen a YJ's wheelbase?

[crimsonride]

I'm looking to find what length I want to go to and what's the best way to do it. Streetability isn't an issue and moderately tough wheeling is what's in mind. Mostly Moab and Rubicon stuff is what I'll be doing and I'll be on 37's.

Give me any thoughts you've got.

 

[mbryson]

Waggy fronts in front and rear........should net about 3-4" over stock


OR.....

Waggy front and XJ rear (I'll be about 103" with that setup---give or take an inch or so)

 

[fonzisjeepn]

shackel reverse in the front. and those spring mounts that give you about an inch.

 

[Caleb]

Waggy fronts in front and rear........should net about 3-4" over stock


OR.....

Waggy front and XJ rear (I'll be about 103" with that setup---give or take an inch or so)

yeah, what he said...with 37s you dont want to go too long cause then your break over will start sucking...I think waggys F+R woudl be a good setup, they flex well and are easy to find.

If you want to go a little more into it then link it up and go with your choice of Air Shock, Coilover, or coil...

Whatever you do dont go SRS, the only thing that does is help on the street and like you said, streetability is no concern

 

[crimsonride]

Hmmmmm.....SRS? Not sure what that one means. Let me do a search.

So, looks like a shackle reversal in the front? That was already in the plans. Then I want waggy axles? I guess they're offset? Sounds like I want fronts for both rear and front of the YJ?

Mark, so you're running XJ springs backwards on your YJ?

I'm planning on being sprung over, what's that going to net me with waggy springs? Super high? I was thinking of using the RE sping over springs and moving the mounts or something like that but waggy springs sound a lot cheaper.

 

[Shawn]

Hmmmmm.....SRS? Not sure what that one means. Let me do a search.

So, looks like a shackle reversal in the front? That was already in the plans. Then I want waggy axles? I guess they're offset? Sounds like I want fronts for both rear and front of the YJ?

Mark, so you're running XJ springs backwards on your YJ?

I'm planning on being sprung over, what's that going to net me with waggy springs? Super high? I was thinking of using the RE sping over springs and moving the mounts or something like that but waggy springs sound a lot cheaper.

Waggy spring pins are offset so you can run one set backwards pushing the rear back a few inches.

 

[mbryson]

Hmmmmm.....SRS? Not sure what that one means. Let me do a search.

So, looks like a shackle reversal in the front? That was already in the plans. Then I want waggy axles? I guess they're offset? Sounds like I want fronts for both rear and front of the YJ?

Mark, so you're running XJ springs backwards on your YJ?

I'm planning on being sprung over, what's that going to net me with waggy springs? Super high? I was thinking of using the RE sping over springs and moving the mounts or something like that but waggy springs sound a lot cheaper.

Waggy springs.... They are offset about 1.5" from center. The XJ are MORE than that (by a long ways, at least 3" or so).

I'll be running Waggy in the front, and XJ in the rear (backwards). I'm sprung over and just WAY to high with 2.5" lift Wrangler springs. I'll post a pic when I get the spring swap done (should be tomorrow night).

 

[mesha]

land cruiser springs are off-set also if you've got any of those.

 

[Shawn]

land cruiser springs are off-set also if you've got any of those.

but, they are a little wider than the waggies...

 

[Caleb]

Hmmmmm.....SRS? Not sure what that one means. Let me do a search.

So, looks like a shackle reversal in the front? That was already in the plans. Then I want waggy axles? I guess they're offset? Sounds like I want fronts for both rear and front of the YJ?

Mark, so you're running XJ springs backwards on your YJ?

I'm planning on being sprung over, what's that going to net me with waggy springs? Super high? I was thinking of using the RE sping over springs and moving the mounts or something like that but waggy springs sound a lot cheaper.

SRS=Shackle Reversal System...

The whole idea of one is flawed for offroad use. They may help on the street but like you said you dont care about that.

 

[queenofmoab]

SRS=Shackle Reversal System...

The whole idea of one is flawed for offroad use. They may help on the street but like you said you dont care about that.

Why is it flawed for off road use? Maybe a stupid question.

 

[Caleb]

Why is it flawed for off road use? Maybe a stupid question.

search, its been discussed...but to quickly answer, when you bump an obstacle with a SRS your tire wants to pull away from the obstacle because the shackle is giving...when the shackle is in front it forces the tire over the obstacle...you will have less traction with the SRS, I know some people have it and love it but a lot of people also dont understand the way it works...

 

[RockMonkey]

The wuestion is what is the best way. I'd say the best way is a four link rear and coilovers or air shocks. You plannin on moving your tank?

 

[cruiseroutfit]

search, its been discussed...but to quickly answer, when you bump an obstacle with a SRS your tire wants to pull away from the obstacle because the shackle is giving...when the shackle is in front it forces the tire over the obstacle...you will have less traction with the SRS, I know some people have it and love it but a lot of people also dont understand the way it works...

Then why not shackles in the front of the rear leaf springs? How does it push away when its distance is constrained by the length of the fixed end of the spring? The tires pull the vehicle through the obstacle, regardless of the location of the shackle... Some of the best out of the box climbers (solid axle Toyota trucks and 4Runners) came from the factory SR'd, wrong? Improved approach angle, not a good thing?

(Just adding two sides to the debate based on commnets from similar arguments, as there is no right answer on that one... )

edit: spelling

 

[Caleb]

Then why not shackles in the front of the rear leaf springs? How does it push away when its distance is constrained by the length of the fixed end of the spring? The tires pull the vehicle through the obstacle, regardless of the location of the shackle... Some of the best out of the box climbers (solid axle Toyota trucks and 4Runners) came from the factory SR'd, wrong? Improved approach angle, not a good thing?

(Just adding two sides to the debate based on commnets from similar arguments, as there is no right answer on that one... )

edit: spelling

you are right, there are two side to it, but as you know when the spring flattens out with a SR the tire will pull away, its simple...even if its marginal or not doenst matter the fact is it does pull away

same thing can be said about jeeps, some older ones came with SR'd, but the latest leaf sprung Jeep (Wranglers) had them in front...

 

[RockMonkey]

you are right, there are two side to it, but as you know when the spring flattens out with a SR the tire will pull away, its simple...even if its marginal or not doenst matter the fact is it does pull away

same thing can be said about jeeps, some older ones came with SR'd, but the latest leaf sprung Jeep (Wranglers) had them in front...

So why didn't the rear leafs have the shackles in the front? Same rules apply to the rear as the front. Basically, for rockcrawling, leaf springs suck. No matter where you put the shackle you can't make it ideal.

 

[crimsonride]

Eventually I'll link it and do air shocks but to get it going now I'm going to stick with leafs.

Considering how flat a waggy spring in a soa axle setup is I'd say the axle isn't going to be traveling back very far. I guess it depends on how arched your spring is. If the spring is pretty flat and goes through a backwards bend wouldn't it move the axle forward in a SRS setup?
Anyway, I think I'd lean toward a shackle reversal just for the lengthened wheelbase, aproach angle and fewer bent springs, on the concept that whatever springs I'm going to be running aren't going to have much of an arch to them so I won't be losing as much traction as in a traditional setup.

How does that sound?

 

[crimsonride]

So why didn't the rear leafs have the shackles in the front? Same rules apply to the rear as the front. Basically, for rockcrawling, leaf springs suck. No matter where you put the shackle you can't make it ideal.

Probably because the vehicle was designed with simplicity and driveability in mind, not four wheeling.

 

[crimsonride]

The wuestion is what is the best way. I'd say the best way is a four link rear and coilovers or air shocks. You plannin on moving your tank?

I have a fuel cell, so the tank can go. But I probalby won't link it for a few years, it's a money issue.

 

[bobdog]

Has anyone ever seen a rear leaf spring suspention with the shackles at the front of the springs. I have often wondered why not. It seems to me that it may work better off road.
I have seen with my eyes the dissadvantages of a SRS on a rig climbing a ledges. I think of it as a SRS axle trying to push on a rope tied to the front of the rig and a non SRS axle pulling on the rope tied to the hanger.