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Stang5lgt
October 9th, 2011, 10:26 PM
Had a friend bring his TJ over to the shop Fri/Sat for leaf spring swap and stretch.
Parts he used for the swap.
XJ stock leaf springs
Canadian YJ Dana 44 rear axle
Rubicon D44 locker
4.88 gears
XJ rear drive shaft ( that I shortened for him)
Brackets and shackles I think he got from Ruff Stuff.
He already had the stretch gas tank installed and his fenders trimmed.
Here are a few pics

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c16/Stang5lgt/IMAG0353.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c16/Stang5lgt/IMAG0354.jpg
After we were done the axle had been moved back 5 inches.
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c16/Stang5lgt/IMAG0356.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c16/Stang5lgt/IMAG0355.jpg
He hit Sidewinder on the way back to Steamboat Springs and said the Jeep flexed way better then it did with short arms and coils. He said it made the TJ more stable feeling off road too. He was pleased.

Here is pic he took on Sidewinder.
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c16/Stang5lgt/303738_10150417445800530_652845529_10855449_907916 591_n.jpg
Popsgarage
October 9th, 2011, 10:32 PM
Going back to leaves. Interesting. You do that swap often?
Stang5lgt
October 9th, 2011, 10:38 PM
Going back to leaves. Interesting. You do that swap often?

No this was a first for me. I was kinda skeptical at first but after we finished I was impressed with how flexy it was.
Popsgarage
October 9th, 2011, 10:49 PM
I can understand why, I guess. Long arm kits for those thing cost an arm. Springs and Ruff Stuff brackets might have been a couple bills plus labor. Not a bad idea.
glacierpaul
October 10th, 2011, 06:10 AM
Cool!
Java
October 10th, 2011, 07:03 AM
I saw one in JP magazine a long time ago, it was a TJ that had been bought as a salvage and had leaf springs all around. It was odd because it was maybe 99 or 2000, and TJs had just come out, everyone was raving about the coils. Unfortunately it was just in the readers rigs section so there wasn't a lot of info on it. Never saw it done again until today, and I like the idea of just the rear, like an XJ. I agree with Jon, it makes a lot of $$$ sense. Thanks for posting this! Few TJ mods are interesting anymore.
jesse05lj
October 10th, 2011, 10:02 AM
my long arm made all the differance! but what is the benefit of using leafs?
Popsgarage
October 10th, 2011, 05:05 PM
Axle location and stability, mostly. And better flex than the short arms can provide at 4" of lift.