Spending the winter months getting the rig ready for better weather. Jeep still has the original springs and shocks at 198k which means they're shot. I decided to put together my own small lift based on recommendations from this forum. Went with OME 2" springs (2933 front and 2949 rear) and Rancho 5000x shocks. Rear upper shock mount bolts, at least what was left of them, were so rusted the heads were almost gone. So I decided to drop the fuel tank to give myself room to work and cut the bolts heads off, removed the shocks, the cut the weld nuts off as well. I knew it was gonna suck and I was right.
Old rear springs and shocks next to the new rear OME for reference.
New rear setup.
I was fortunate enough to to have room with the tank out to install new upper bolts and nuts.
Installed new bump stop cups and squishies and set the bump stop extension height per the excellent write up on this forum.
My OCD got to me and I took a wire brush to the bottom of the tub area above the fuel tank while it was out. Now I'll sit here and twitch knowing the rest of the underside needs it.
Drag car stance with rear springs in and stock front.
Front went pretty smooth. Old vs new setup.
Struggled with removing the old bump stop cups which had some weird extension on it. Heat and patience prevailed.
Other side was missing the bump stop cups altogether and the only thing remaining was a whittled down pointy nub of the cup bolt. I had zero faith I would get it out but once again heat did the job. Also feel I had some good karma built up from the shit show that was the rear shock install.
Shot of some of the bolts that got cut off for good measure.
Old rear springs and shocks next to the new rear OME for reference.
New rear setup.
I was fortunate enough to to have room with the tank out to install new upper bolts and nuts.
Installed new bump stop cups and squishies and set the bump stop extension height per the excellent write up on this forum.
My OCD got to me and I took a wire brush to the bottom of the tub area above the fuel tank while it was out. Now I'll sit here and twitch knowing the rest of the underside needs it.
Drag car stance with rear springs in and stock front.
Front went pretty smooth. Old vs new setup.
Struggled with removing the old bump stop cups which had some weird extension on it. Heat and patience prevailed.
Other side was missing the bump stop cups altogether and the only thing remaining was a whittled down pointy nub of the cup bolt. I had zero faith I would get it out but once again heat did the job. Also feel I had some good karma built up from the shit show that was the rear shock install.
Shot of some of the bolts that got cut off for good measure.