G
Guest
·I am replacing the leaf springs on my '85 CJ-7 with a set of Rancho Stock Replacements Leafs with Heavy-Duty, Greasable Shackles. No lift yet, that comes later in about a year or two after the motor and drivetrain have been beefed up, but that's another story.
Anyway, I started with the front end first, one spring at a time theory. I first removed the old spring and shackle and then replaced the bushings on the stabilizer bar. I then put the new spring on starting with the rear pivot bolt, then the shackles, then lowered the axle down to the spring plate and put the U-bolts in and attached the stabilizer bar. Last thing was to torq all the bolts to spec. With this, I look at the front and found one problem.....the leaf spring no longer lines up with the frame mount and is pushing the shackle sidways about 1/2 to 1 inch. I monkeyed with it a little but ran out of time and with no change to the problem. I called 4WD (where I bought them) and was told this is not uncommon and to leave the nuts loose on the U-bolts till all 4 were done and then to put full weight on the tires and bounce the jeep up and down, this should fix it, and then tighten the U-bolts.
Any experience with this???? Does this solution sound right?
Thanks....
Don M. Leners
1985 CJ-7 :: 4.2L/258, Project Jeep
Home Page: http://www.geocities.com/~dmleners
Jeep Page: http://www.geocities.com/~dmleners/jp.htm
Anyway, I started with the front end first, one spring at a time theory. I first removed the old spring and shackle and then replaced the bushings on the stabilizer bar. I then put the new spring on starting with the rear pivot bolt, then the shackles, then lowered the axle down to the spring plate and put the U-bolts in and attached the stabilizer bar. Last thing was to torq all the bolts to spec. With this, I look at the front and found one problem.....the leaf spring no longer lines up with the frame mount and is pushing the shackle sidways about 1/2 to 1 inch. I monkeyed with it a little but ran out of time and with no change to the problem. I called 4WD (where I bought them) and was told this is not uncommon and to leave the nuts loose on the U-bolts till all 4 were done and then to put full weight on the tires and bounce the jeep up and down, this should fix it, and then tighten the U-bolts.
Any experience with this???? Does this solution sound right?
Thanks....
Don M. Leners
1985 CJ-7 :: 4.2L/258, Project Jeep
Home Page: http://www.geocities.com/~dmleners
Jeep Page: http://www.geocities.com/~dmleners/jp.htm