Does this sound like my springs may need to be replaced?

EJD

TJ Overlander
Supporting Member
Ride of the Month Winner
Joined
Jul 16, 2016
Messages
1,965
Location
Oregon Coast
So not too long ago I drove my TJ across the country and have one more cross country drive approaching so I am in a good spot to do some maintenance or repairs right now. When I got here i noticed the gap between the top of the tires and fenders were all different with nothing loaded in the Jeep.

My question is does that sounds like the springs may need to be replaced? 17 yr old springs may be showing their age or is there possibly something else thats wrong?

Also if replacing the springs, should I go with a fresh set of Mopar springs or are there better options for a no lift setup?

I was thinking of adding the 0.75" BB to the front because I plan on adding a winch in the near future, and I hear those are good for retaining that original height after. Thoughts?
 
So not too long ago I drove my TJ across the country and have one more cross country drive approaching so I am in a good spot to do some maintenance or repairs right now. When I got here i noticed the gap between the top of the tires and fenders were all different with nothing loaded in the Jeep.

My question is does that sounds like the springs may need to be replaced? 17 yr old springs may be showing their age or is there possibly something else thats wrong?

Also if replacing the springs, should I go with a fresh set of Mopar springs or are there better options for a no lift setup?

I was thinking of adding the 0.75" BB to the front because I plan on adding a winch in the near future, and I hear those are good for retaining that original height after. Thoughts?
Measure the spring lengths, spring perch to spring perch to see how much difference there is. That will eliminate any frame or body funkiness, and give you an accurate indication. It's not uncommon for TJ stock springs to sag over time.

MOPAR has no TJ springs available. Your options are used springs of unknown condition and after market springs. There are several low to no lift springs sets available. I would do shocks at the same time, just because.
 
  • Like
Reactions: CodaMan and EJD
MOPAR has no TJ springs available. Your options are used springs of unknown condition and after market springs. There are several low to no lift springs sets available. I would do shocks at the same time, just because.
Mopar springs here on Amazon that are for the TJ, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0049EU4YU/?tag=wranglerorg-20

...and I have recently replaced the stock shocks with the Rancho RS5000X's, so i think i'm covered there for a little bit as they are only a couple months old now.

But what kind of Low-lift options are there, like 1" above stock? that might be cool and eliminate me having to add the small BB I was thinking of adding to the front.
 
  • Like
Reactions: StG58
Mopar springs here on Amazon that are for the TJ, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0049EU4YU/?tag=wranglerorg-20

...and I have recently replaced the stock shocks with the Rancho RS5000X's, so i think i'm covered there for a little bit as they are only a couple months old now.

But what kind of Low-lift options are there, like 1" above stock? that might be cool and eliminate me having to add the small BB I was thinking of adding to the front.
Look into the H&R springs. I have a set of those on my TJ and love them. It gave my SE an inch and a half of lift, but my SE only weighs in at 3,300 pounds, loaded for off road. They are advertised as a 1" lift spring. I have a write up on here someplace on the installation with pictures and part numbers. I paired mine with Bilstein 5100's at 0 - 2" lift and didn't even have to adjust the bump stops. Be aware that the H&R springs will give you a llittle more rake, empty, than most folks like. I was going for increased weight capacity, and the TJ gets to look like it looks.
 
  • Like
Reactions: EJD
Ok, so i'm looking at the H&R spring kit 52107.
Can someone verify that is the correct set for me? Anyone that has that set, does that part number sound right?
http://www.hrsprings.com/application/search/results/17/350/2000/

Also are they compatible with the Rancho RS5000X's I have here?
http://www.gorancho.com/products/sh...er/rancho-rs5000x-shock-absorber-rs55128.html
Would the extended length of these shocks account for the 1" of raised springs? Does that make sense?

Those are the right springs if you're just looking for a 1" lift. I believe these are the springs that @StG58 has.

However, the shocks you'll want are these ones:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000CB97D8/?tag=wranglerorg-20 (front)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000CPAFX0/?tag=wranglerorg-20 (rear)

Those shocks are meant for stock ride height. But at 1" of lift, you'd be better off with those ones than the next step up, which is for 2.5" of right height.
 
  • Like
Reactions: EJD
Those are the right springs if you're just looking for a 1" lift. I believe these are the springs that @StG58 has.

However, the shocks you'll want are these ones:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000CB97D8/?tag=wranglerorg-20 (front)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000CPAFX0/?tag=wranglerorg-20 (rear)

Those shocks are meant for stock ride height. But at 1" of lift, you'd be better off with those ones than the next step up, which is for 2.5" of right height.
Those do indeed look like the set of springs on the SE. Don't know about the shocks...
 
Those are the right springs if you're just looking for a 1" lift. I believe these are the springs that @StG58 has.

However, the shocks you'll want are these ones:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000CB97D8/?tag=wranglerorg-20 (front)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000CPAFX0/?tag=wranglerorg-20 (rear)

Those shocks are meant for stock ride height. But at 1" of lift, you'd be better off with those ones than the next step up, which is for 2.5" of right height.
Could I get by with the ones I have for now, or are they just not compatible?
If he's not doing any hard core flexing, I think his stock length shocks would be ok.
No flexing, just looking for a little extra height as i'm planning on adding a winch and possibly new bumpers down the line.
 
  • Like
Reactions: StG58
Run your current shocks. I bet you don't have any issues. If you do, you were going to replace them anyway, right? lol
Lol, they're only a couple months old...like to get some more use out of them.
 
  • Like
Reactions: StG58
They will fit fine. I ran factory replacement monroe shocks with the h&r springs for a while and no problems.
 
  • Like
Reactions: EJD
They will fit fine. I ran factory replacement monroe shocks with the h&r springs for a while and no problems.
Why were you replacing your springs, were they just old and worn a bit?
I was curious to know if the 1" is visually noticeable at all?
 
The 5000x for stock height will work with an inch or so of lift. I did it, flexed fine, no bottoming out. For springs I run Moog 3226/3227 which are spec'd for the Rubi/auto/ac and are a higher spring rate than stock. I got 1.25" lift out of them in a 4cyl/manual/ac. Those and the X shocks are a great riding combo on and off road. The Moogs on Amazon are around 150 for a set of 4.
 
topless_zpsoqf9q6tb.jpg
downloadfile.jpg
Why were you replacing your springs, were they just old and worn a bit?
I was curious to know if the 1" is visually noticeable at all?

My jeep is a 99 and springs were tired. They would squat pretty low with light loads so it was time to upgrade.

It is noticeable if you've spent hours staring at your stock jeep. :lol:
 
It is noticeable if you've spent hours staring at your stock jeep. :lol:
Lol, I hear ya man...and thanks for the couple pics, they look to be sitting proper with those on there.

Thanks a bunch I have some decisions to make now.
 
  • Like
Reactions: StG58
So, I feel like all I'm doing these days is reviving old, dead threads about other people's spring decisions, to ask how things worked out ... but I guess that's the beauty of a forum like this. :)

@EJD , it sounds like you had some recently installed, stock-height Rancho RS5000Xs, and then replaced the stock springs to H&Rs that were supposed to give a 1" lift, right? Did you do it, and did it work out well?

@StG58 , were these the same size of H&R springs that you used on your Bilstein 5100s?
 
So, I feel like all I'm doing these days is reviving old, dead threads about other people's spring decisions, to ask how things worked out ... but I guess that's the beauty of a forum like this. :)

@EJD , it sounds like you had some recently installed, stock-height Rancho RS5000Xs, and then replaced the stock springs to H&Rs that were supposed to give a 1" lift, right? Did you do it, and did it work out well?

@StG58 , were these the same size of H&R springs that you used on your Bilstein 5100s?
Oh I’ve done it and it has worked out well. I know a number folks here have the exact same setup with no issues whatsoever. Major improvement over stock.