1994 yj rear leaf spring swap

Thebigshow79

Active Member
Joined
Nov 12, 2018
Location
Newport nc
Hey there. Got a new to me already built yj. Looking at swapping rear springs to an xj set. But don't wanna cut the tub and lose fuel tank. Has anyone done the swap and left the springs in the xj orientation. My concern is the length of the spring behind the axle. The jeep is setup as follows.
1994 yj 4.0 5sp 231sye
Dana 44 detroit 4.88s 9 inch grizzly 488s
Re soa 2.5 leaf springs all the way around.
Anti wrap bar and 37s

If anyone has done this without flipping the springs how did it ride and flex and did it wreck the springs way too fast. Thanks
 
Here's a few pictures of the jeep
 

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I ran the XJ and Dakota springs with a stretch. Trying to fit XJ springs and keep the axle in the stock location will put the spring eye way far forward. I am now using Waggy fronts and an anti wrap and it works well.
 
Monkeynono said:
I ran the XJ and Dakota springs with a stretch. Trying to fit XJ springs and keep the axle in the stock location will put the spring eye way far forward. I am now using Waggy fronts and an anti wrap and it works well.
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The springs are almost identical from front bolt to pin. 22 11/16 for yj and 23 for xj. What year Dakota leaf pack. Thanks
 
Thebigshow79 said:
The springs are almost identical from front bolt to pin. 22 11/16 for yj and 23 for xj. What year Dakota leaf pack. Thanks
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What are you gaining by hanging a spring way out the back? You just lose departure angle. That's why people only run them with and extended wheelbase. The waggy springs will bump you back few inches and the diff will just kiss the tank skid. I dented mine in with a sledge for clearance.
 
justjeepin86 said:
What are you gaining by hanging a spring way out the back? You just lose departure angle. That's why people only run them with and extended wheelbase. The waggy springs will bump you back few inches and the diff will just kiss the tank skid. I dented mine in with a sledge for clearance.
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Departure angle isn't a big deal for me right now the jeep is already taller than I'd like. I'm more doing it for ride. I'm driving it alot and plan on driving it basically everyday. The rubicon express springs aren't terrible but softening it up would be nice. My cherokee spoiled me on ride. But this one is much more fun to drive. I get the departure angle will be shit. But it was fine this last trip to ure as a shake down run. Eventually it will get stretched. But not until I damage the tub enough to need to cut it up
 
Thebigshow79 said:
Departure angle isn't a big deal for me right now the jeep is already taller than I'd like. I'm more doing it for ride. I'm driving it alot and plan on driving it basically everyday. The rubicon express springs aren't terrible but softening it up would be nice. My cherokee spoiled me on ride. But this one is much more fun to drive. I get the departure angle will be shit. But it was fine this last trip to ure as a shake down run. Eventually it will get stretched. But not until I damage the tub enough to need to cut it up
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Pull the 3rd leaf from the spring packs.
 
Thebigshow79 said:
The springs are almost identical from front bolt to pin. 22 11/16 for yj and 23 for xj. What year Dakota leaf pack. Thanks
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I just realized what you were saying. You want to keep the XJ orientation (short side forward. I still believe you will end up with a lot of spring out the back but there's no harm in trying.
 
You could move the front hanger forward and flip the springs around to maintain your current wheelbase and departure angle, and although it would absolutely require an anti wrap bar, you should get a better ride and it ought to flex a bit more. Kind of like going with longer link arms on a link suspension. May need to french the getting hanger into the frame to avoid additional lift.
 
Thebigshow79 said:
Re soa 2.5 leaf springs all the way around.
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IIRC, there are 2 different springs "RE SOA" (reversed eyes) available...
I run the in the front of my Commando, opted for the 6-leaf packs (V8/bumper/winch)

So, if'n you have the 6-leafs or even the 5-leafs... follow @drkelly excellent advice and remove that 3rd leaf before you start re-engineering (moving hangers/XJ leafs)
 
Caver Dave said:
IIRC, there are 2 different springs "RE SOA" (reversed eyes) available...
I run the in the front of my Commando, opted for the 6-leaf packs (V8/bumper/winch)

So, if'n you have the 6-leafs or even the 5-leafs... follow @drkelly excellent advice and remove that 3rd leaf before you start re-engineering (moving hangers/XJ leafs)
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Yes these are the reverse eyes and 5 leaf fronts ans 6 leaf rears. I might try and switch them front to back as it seems the fronts ride pretty decent. But if not I'll take a leaf out and see how it does. It does have a very nice floating anti wrap setup so in not worried about axle wrap. But with the stock xj springs it might still bend them all to pieces
 
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