Need some help with a couple of suspension projects

[InvertChaos]

Hey everyone, I have a couple of small projects in mind for my jeep and its suspension. First I want to replacethe coils with new ones that are not sagged once I get those in. Next, I am pretty sure my bumpstops are too long. I would really like to take the time and measurements to optimize their length in order to get the most travel possible out of my little suspension. Finally, I saw am awesome idea to extend the shocks using spacers to just under the bumpstop length. This effectively gives back the travel lost by the bumpstops in the form of down travel.

I live on campus so I don't have anywhere to work, and I've never removed/replaced coils without significant help before. Would anyone be willing to help me with this project over the course of a few weekends?

[BadAssEddie]

You can come by my shop on the weekends. I'm out there most days. I'd recommend buying the correct length, quality shocks. I think you'll be pleased with a with a well working shock package.

[InvertChaos]

You can come by my shop on the weekends. I'm out there most days. I'd recommend buying the correct length, quality shocks. I think you'll be pleased with a with a well working shock package.

Thank you I will most likely take you up on that offer.

Ive the correct length shocks for my coil height, but I would like to regain the travel of the whole shock. Its more optimization than anything. They're OME NitroSport shocks and I believe they're model N66 and N67. If I ran the long travel shocks I would have to bumpstop the suspension even more and would actually end up with less travel. That is unless I moved the shock mounts but that is well out of my scope. Here is what I'm talking about http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f9/unlim ... st10593681

I messaged the guy asking about it and here is what he said:

So N66 fronts fit with stock bumpstops. If you extend the bumpstops 1.375" like I did, you're losing 1.375" uptravel in the shock. Thats why I installed 1" shock extensions. I also verified at full bump that they fit....basically if you look at the front track bar vs diff cover pictures, while I was doing all that, I made sure to push the shock up high enough that it compressed above the shock extension mounting point...there's about 1/2" or 3/8" uptravel left, which is perfect - i know the shocks aren't bottoming out, so the shock extensions should only see tension/compression, and very little shear.

they're steel stand-offs, which I bought from the local hardware store. PITA to get installed at first, but you get the hang of it after finger fumbling and cussing for a while.

no adverse effects yet...but as you can see, I'm properly bumpstopped. I was worried about side/shear forces under flex, but so far nothing has bent. I think if I was going to keep them, I'd weld a piece of plate between them, and brace them down to the mount somehow.

But...I'll be switching to long travel shocks shortly. I'll be doing that by cutting the stock mount off and welding on mounts I've made (page for that here). I think that's the ideal option. I'll include some detailed tech on determining shock lengths and up/down travel ratios and such.

And

remember, the long travel shocks need 2" front bumpstop extension and even more in the rear. that basically leaves you with stock travel. not the point of a lift, IMHO.

[Matt612]

I would be happy to lend a hand as well swapping out the coils. That mod looks pretty simply as well and wouldn't take any time to do if you wanted to do that as well.

[BadAssEddie]

moving shock mounts isn't hard. I could help you do that if you want to go that route. Whatever you want to do is cool. Just let me know when youre trying to get out there.

[InvertChaos]

Thanks guys I really appreciate it. At home I have hardly any tools and just bought a floor jack, so thats all I've had at my disposal to do DIY stuff.

You guys have some pretty built rigs so what exactly is the process for measuring bumpstop length? I understand what it is just not the logistics of how you fully raise an axle with no coils while supporting the rest of the jeep, then making sure there is only as much bumpstop as needed. The reason I am pretty sure mine are too long is that people with a similar setup as mine have gotten away with using just over half of what I currently have in the front. In the rear if I have 3 people in the jeep, I hit the bumpstops on speed bumps. Its ridiculous and I know I should have more travel back there. My tires are a good distance from eating my fenders as well.

[MtnManMatt]

You're also welcome at mine and Stables' garage here in south Blacksburg

[InvertChaos]

Took some measurements this weekend just to see how much height I have lost. I have lost an inch almost exactly all the way around. My front coils are 13.5" tall when they should be 14.5" tall. Rough Country said they'd honor their warranty on the springs. How much of a pain in the ass would it be to do a mml at the same time? I'm a little worried that I will have vibes and don't want to drop the transfer case. Thinking about ordering a $50 mml to solve that.

[BadAssEddie]

mml?

[willhf1011]

Motor mount lift

[InvertChaos]

Motor mount lift. The idea is to tilt the driveline back to reduce driveshaft angle

[BadAssEddie]

Oh gotcha.

I'm not familiar with TJ motor mounts but they all are somewhat of a pain. It's totally doable if you want to however. I'd try it without first to see if you have any driveline vibrations. Installing these mounts shouldn't be any easier when youre doing the coils. So, if it drives fine, you save $50 and an afternoon of time.

[InvertChaos]

Harassing RC currently for new coils, will probably have to postpone this project till next semester, or find some guys in NOVA that can help me.

[Matt612]

Harassing RC currently for new coils, will probably have to postpone this project till next semester, or find some guys in NOVA that can help me.

If you get them over break and want to make a day trip down to Williamsburg we could throw them in and do your mml as well. Should only take a few hours

[InvertChaos]

Harassing RC currently for new coils, will probably have to postpone this project till next semester, or find some guys in NOVA that can help me.

If you get them over break and want to make a day trip down to Williamsburg we could throw them in and do your mml as well. Should only take a few hours

Definitely consider it. It would be a 3 hr trip one way...so I might just wait till after break.

Good news: The coils came

Bad news:The coils were shipped to my house in NoVa, the semester is over and everyone is coming home for a month, and no mml yet.

So I think I'm just going to wait till after break, and hopefully set up a date like January 26th?