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Leaf spring twist

Discussion in 'CJ' started by Icebear2, Apr 10, 2019.

  1. Apr 10, 2019 at 2:13 PM
    #1
    Icebear2

    Icebear2 [OP] Member

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    I am having trouble with my leaf spring twisting in the shackles. i bought this as a project and the previous owner did some weird things to it. I will post some pics later of the problem, but looking for some info if someone has this problem before. the leaf bushings look new but the bolts look old and not the correct size.
     
  2. Apr 10, 2019 at 2:35 PM
    #2
    Jim Beam

    Jim Beam Well-Known Member

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    You could start checking the leaf springs for being out of parallel. On the later CJs the assembly tooling was pretty worn out making the spacing between the spring locating pins on the rear axle spaced farther apart. On my '86, I had the spring mounting pads on the rear axle removed and rewelded. That way the leaf springs were parallel, the pinion angle was set for the high lift springs and the lower shock mounts moved to the axle housing. A lot of spring flexing can bend them also, especially in the rocks.
     
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  3. Apr 10, 2019 at 3:43 PM
    #3
    chris4x4

    chris4x4 With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine Moderator

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    Welcome aboard!
     
  4. Apr 10, 2019 at 3:45 PM
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    Icebear2

    Icebear2 [OP] Member

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    I’ll take look thx.
     
  5. Apr 10, 2019 at 3:46 PM
    #5
    Icebear2

    Icebear2 [OP] Member

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    Thanks
    Chris4x4
     
  6. Apr 10, 2019 at 3:51 PM
    #6
    Icebear2

    Icebear2 [OP] Member

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  7. Apr 10, 2019 at 3:52 PM
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    Icebear2

    Icebear2 [OP] Member

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  8. Apr 10, 2019 at 3:55 PM
    #8
    Icebear2

    Icebear2 [OP] Member

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    Just got this project started so there are a lot of things that I need to do. He didn’t use replacement frame ends. Obviously you can see he used some tube steel for that section. Don’t know if I will cut that off and replace it. Trying to do a cheap build just for fun.
     
  9. Apr 10, 2019 at 4:45 PM
    #9
    Icebear2

    Icebear2 [OP] Member

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  10. Apr 10, 2019 at 5:46 PM
    #10
    aggrex

    aggrex Well-Known Member

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    Welcome @Icebear2 . It's possible the thin steel tubing used for frame repair are twisting or the frame has been twisted from accidents or off-road use.
     
  11. Apr 11, 2019 at 5:17 AM
    #11
    TJ_abuser

    TJ_abuser Well-Known Member

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  12. Apr 11, 2019 at 7:48 AM
    #12
    Icebear2

    Icebear2 [OP] Member

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    Thx TJ abuser
     
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  13. Apr 17, 2019 at 6:56 AM
    #13
    OFFGRID

    OFFGRID Well-Known Member

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    Your front and rear hangers, how long are they from bolt to bolt. longer than 5in is too much. Your rears look okay, but the fronts look long. I will say that these old CJs get a lot of metal fatigue, and the frame gets twisted and slightly out of square. A little shackle shifting is not uncommon. My rears were shifted some. My frame was in pretty bad shape. It would break every time I wheeled it. I did a frame swap and all of my shackles are now straight.
     
  14. Apr 17, 2019 at 10:37 AM
    #14
    Icebear2

    Icebear2 [OP] Member

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    Thx Offgrid,
    They are around 6" center to center. They were on the project when i bought it.
    Side Question- Could i buy shorter shackles and make these same leaf springs work? These are brand new leaf springs that the previous owner installed. or would i need to get different leaf springs also?
    Any help is greatly appreciated
     
  15. Apr 17, 2019 at 10:52 AM
    #15
    OFFGRID

    OFFGRID Well-Known Member

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    Go to Rocky-road and order their shackles. You will not need to buy new springs. I would suggest that you replace the shackle bushings at the frame. The new springs should have come with their own new bushings. https://www.rocky-road.com/jeep-shackles.html Measure the with of your front springs. If they are 2in then you have CJ springs, If they are 2.5in then someone has upgraded to YJ springs which is a nice upgrade for a smoother ride. The rear springs for both the CJ and YJ are 2.5in wide and are interchangeable. Rocky-road also as a front YJ spring upgrade kit that comes with some awesome front shackles.
     
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  16. May 11, 2019 at 12:01 PM
    #16
    Drd88

    Drd88 Active Member

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    Is mount in correct spot on axle
     
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