Rear Spring Lift

[carnuck]

I'm just adding a used leaf to each of the packs in my wagon (as soon as the 8.25 rear diff is ready to go in. FINALLY put the 235/75/15s in and get just a bit of rubbing on hard corners if I hit a bump)

Pulled the rear drum today and found gear oil all over the pass side shoes, so I cleaned it up and stuck a used pair of shoes in till I get the swap done.

[cadman929]

http://www.sdtrucksprings.com/add-a-leaf-kits/jeep
would any of these work for the rear?

[carnuck]

Too expensive. You can buy spring packs (XJ) for just a couple dollars more. IIRC, the Eagle wagon and XJ share spring packs. http://www.stylintrucks.com/parts/pro_comp_helper_spring/prohe66684/procompe3713120rear.aspx?scid=SG010000&origin=pla&ST_SRC=PPC&gclid=CJDQoIvZsbUCFWlxQgod1jEAfw

Brand new XJ leaf packs $110 to my doorstep
http://www.partsgeek.com

[Plink]

I used a set of Firestone ride rite air bags made for a 1 ton dodge truck. It was a fairly simple process too.  I removed the bumpstop then shortened the brackets the air bags came with by about 3" I think and welded them to the frame centered above the axle and drilled a half inch hole through the the spring plate where it would have hit the bumpstop and put a bolt up through it with a lock and nut on top then threaded the air bag down on that bolt and popped it into the top bracket. Plumbed the air lines and walla!  Fully adjustable air ride (kinda).  I have about 6" of adjustability and can put pretty much anything I want in the back, add a little air with a small 12v compressor and have a nice level and comfortable ride.   Oh and the Kyb shocks I used that were listed for an eagle are about 2" longer than the old ones I removed. (Not sure it the old ones were factory or not though but they appeared to be). And on the front I used new springs for a javelin with a 401.  Not real sure how it sits compared to a stock non sagging eagle since my fronts were broke and rears sagging when I bought it. But I can clear 235-76-15's now.  One of these days ill figure out how to get some pics posted of this setup.

[Prafeston]

Yes, I'm sure some of us might be interested in this air-ride setup. With more pics and details. You could create your own How-to/Write-up on it if you want!

[4hammond]

I am still trying to figure out if it is a stock XJ spring that lifts the rear or a +2 XJ that I need to order and what year. I will be also looking at the air bag idea for load. Just found a rear receiver for my wagon but worry about towing load.

[carnuck]

+2" will lift you a bit. Stock XJ makes it sit at stock height since the sprung weight is about the same from the Eagle wagon to XJ. SX4 is however different because it's lighter and the main leaf springs are shorter.

[4hammond]

Is there a certain year xj +2 spring pack I should get?

[carnuck]

I've been thinking about the XJ spring swap a bit. Where the rear spring shackle bolts to the floor, you could put a steel plate under it with the holes slotted to allow the shackle to come forward the difference in the spring lengths from XJ to Eagle (Maybe we should start calling them EJ for Eagle Jeeps?   

[captspillane]

The Eagle shackle is an oddball that has 2.5" width at the bottom and 2" width at the top. It also sits on a little hump. I cut the hump off my Red SX4 and bolted up CJ7 heavy duty eyes (2.5" wide) and then used CJ7 lift shackles. Eagle Shackles were at least 1/2" longer than CJ7 shackles and then I also lost the height of the hump, so I got CJ7 shackles advertised to lift 1" or 2". They were cheap, heavy duty, and available with grease fittings. It's worth doing to my other Eagles, especially since I can save over $100 using XJ springs instead of Eagle springs.

On the SX4 I already upgraded the shackles on I want to try XJ leaf springs. I don't know if the extra 1-5/8" in length will fit in an SX4. It should certainly work to make up the tiny difference between XJ and station wagon leafs. It's just a matter of moving the holes along the flat plate I added where the hump used to be.

At this point my only concern is the diameter of the bushing. It's bigger on an XJ, but should still fit in an Eagle bracket.

[maddog]

I have full Cherokee leaf springs on Eagle Eyes and I had no problems putting them in I will add however that the rear bushing on the Eagle springs is wider that the Cherokee ones so you will either have to cut the extra rubber that sticks out on each side of the Eagle springs like I did or use a bunch of washers because otherwise the springs will slide around on the shackles.

[HornetRWB]

Some really good info on this topic. XJs are plentiful in Europe so it really helps my plans for a mild lift that XJ springs fit almost perfectly. For the front I am thinking of using rear springs from a bigbody AMC.

[carnuck]

If the original leaves aren't rusty, then adding the XJ main leaf in #2 position is the easiest way.