Project: TJ rear leaf spring conversion

Here's how the t-case came out. The 1350 flange looks really good up there. :D
http://www.texasoffroad.net/albums/l...3584.sized.jpg

I got my package from High Angle a couple of days ago. :cheers:
http://www.texasoffroad.net/albums/l...3588.sized.jpg

Here's a comparison of the stock shaft to Jess' 1350 CV shaft.
http://www.texasoffroad.net/albums/l...3589.sized.jpg

Here's the shaft. I'm honestly not all that impressed by it. It's heavy, the packaging was OUTSTANDING, but it's just not all that impressive. It's just a driveshaft, and I honestly think most any local, reputable shop could build almost the same damned thing.
http://www.texasoffroad.net/albums/l...3587.sized.jpg

Here's the beast bolted up and ready to propel my junk.
http://www.texasoffroad.net/albums/l...3600.sized.jpg

Here's the axle, ready to roll under the Jeep for it's final test fitting.
http://www.texasoffroad.net/albums/l...3591.sized.jpg

axle going in
http://www.texasoffroad.net/albums/l...3594.sized.jpg

Here's the pinion angle...
http://www.texasoffroad.net/albums/l...3595.sized.jpg

and here's the current ride height...little taller than we expected/wanted...
http://www.texasoffroad.net/albums/l...3603.sized.jpg

and this is my reaction to the fact that it sits around 11" taller than a stock TJ... FAWK!
http://www.texasoffroad.net/albums/l...3602.sized.jpg
(chop fodder)

After thinking about things, I decided that the DOM I got was better suited for some homemade links, and I'll go ahead and use normal TREs for my steering.

Here's what we accomplished tonight before I got ****ty drunk...
http://www.texasoffroad.net/albums/l...LCA1.sized.jpg

http://www.texasoffroad.net/albums/l...LCA2.sized.jpg

http://www.texasoffroad.net/albums/l...LCA4.sized.jpg

http://www.texasoffroad.net/albums/l...LCA5.sized.jpg

These are the lower link frame brackets. They're mostly 1/4" strap stock.
http://www.texasoffroad.net/albums/l...044S.sized.jpg

http://www.texasoffroad.net/albums/l...063S.sized.jpg

http://www.texasoffroad.net/albums/l...089S.sized.jpg

http://www.texasoffroad.net/albums/l...092S.sized.jpg

I decided that I'd most likely bend the lowers (eventually) the way we had them made...so I sleeved them with 1.5" ID sch 40 pipe. They seem sufficient now. You can see the finished control arms in those last two pics.

Here's the axle end with a polyurethane bushing in it.
http://www.texasoffroad.net/albums/l...084S.sized.jpg

Here's the pass. side lower in place and welded up.
http://www.texasoffroad.net/albums/l...093S.sized.jpg

Here's a random pic of the rear axle that Blake took...poor driveshaft wants to be hooked up...
http://www.texasoffroad.net/albums/l...085S.sized.jpg

I got a spare D30 shaft and Madzooki tacked the caps in...these things are going to be fun to break... :laughing:
http://www.texasoffroad.net/albums/l...079S.sized.jpg

Here's my cleaned up D30 short side spare shaft next to Blake's D60 short side shaft... Just thought ya'll might enjoy a comparison pic.

lookin good

Thanks Cody!


We got it on four tires tonight. We have to do something about upper spring plates and we need to bleed the brakes.

Here's how the lower arm with the upper mounted to it turned out.
http://www.texasoffroad.net/albums/l...122s.sized.jpg

Damn it's been a while since it sat down...I'm friggin' happy :cheers:
http://www.texasoffroad.net/albums/l...121s.sized.jpg

http://www.texasoffroad.net/albums/l...120s.sized.jpg

http://www.texasoffroad.net/albums/l...119s.sized.jpg

attaboy

Looks nice!

Now you just need some 35's :cheers:

I say 37s...lookin good. Those front rear spring mounts look exactly like mine.

:cheers:

I'm getting some 36" TSL/SXs from a guy on the LoneStar board.:cheers: :D

guess who drove their Jeep tonight...?:flipoff2:

WHOOOOO HOO!

Awesome... how does it drive? I see a beach run on the 15th, eh?

Haha...I already exploded Jess's Spicer long life 1330 u-joint on the 8.8 :D

No, I don't know what happened, but the burnouts and "axle wrap testing" I was doing may have had something to do with it.

It drives...ok. There are shakes and wobbles that I haven't figured out yet, but I still need to do a lot of adjusting. The control arms need a little fine tuning, and the steering REALLY needs some help. I had to take the stabilizer off for the TJ steering to fit on the XJ axle...:rolleyes:

I'm waiting on a track bar, then it may be a little better...the front axle is cocked an inch or two to the driver's side, but it all hooked up, so I was stupid and went ahead and drove it.

details details. why worry? WFO, right?

My guess.

Pinion's allready pointed up for the CV shaft, soft springs wrap, pinion gets too high, joint binds, something bad happens.

Are you using the 57" ford springs?

Yes, David...WFO. I swapped the u-joint out in Circle K parking lot and kept on going. It spit another cap out on the way home so I salvaged one off the busted joint and babied it home. I just got up, so now I need to go get another collection of 1330 joints for the weekend.

Quote:

---

Originally posted by eight
My guess.

Pinion's allready pointed up for the CV shaft, soft springs wrap, pinion gets too high, joint binds, something bad happens.

---

Good guess, but we've already checked it for all those problems. The pinion was pointed at the t-case, then 5* down. The springs relly don't wrap at all, it's really wierd. If I drop the clutch or power brake it the whole Jeep jumps up a few inches front and rear, then bounces up and down a few times and rolls forward. I had everyone at the meeting watching the pinion angle and then had a friend do the same thing I was doing and the pinion never points up past where it should. I know I still need a traction bar for when the leaves break in, but this doesn't seem to be the current problem.

Derek - No, they're kustom packs. It's an XJ main leaf and second leaf with two chevy leaves under that (one has the little spring keeper on the front) and the bottom leaf is the bottom XJ leaf. It ended up close to the right height and it should break in well. These probably won't last long since the three of us collectively have 4 sets of YJ springs, two sets of Waggy springs, another set of XJ leaves, some oddballl j-yard leaves to take apart and a whole bunch of useless Samurai leaves. I'm pretty sure we can figure out a good combination someday.:D

i've got two sets of rear ford leaves. one is a `78 and one is a `95. if you want 'em for any reason, if for nothing else than to add to the collection, they're CHEAP.

Are they 2.5" wide? That's mostley what we've been 'collecting'.

i dont know about kate's but mine are 3" wide

I'm pretty sure hers are too. I think the preferred F150 leaves are the 2WD ones.

there is also another set laying close to austin's and kate's off my 80 bronco... they are the same as the 95 but have an add-a-leaf

i think i might have some 2.5 inch rear springs off of my 78 ford parts truck in Mcallen, if my dad hasnt taken the truck to the bone yard, but i wouldn't be able to take them off till thanksgiving

I don't think we need any more. Paul's wife already complains about the various "useless" **** that's laying around the shop. Thanks for all the offers though... :cheers:

I figured I'd update with recent pics. We used Paul's engine hoist to "ramp" it a few days ago while the 33s were still on. I picked up a set of 36" SXs this weekend, so this is my Jeep's last night with 33s. I guess I'm going to see how long the D30 will hold up...
http://www.texasoffroad.net/albums/l...125S.sized.jpg

http://www.texasoffroad.net/albums/l...126S.sized.jpg

http://www.texasoffroad.net/albums/l...129S.sized.jpg

http://www.texasoffroad.net/albums/l...128S.sized.jpg

A forklift is much easier. :flipoff2:

Yup, cause we all have one of those laying around. :flipoff2:



Brett, did you get 36x12.50? Where from, how much?