OP
Today I finished up the rear half of my lift! All bolts are tightened up, bumpstops were made and installed, shocks mounted, etc. I'm not super happy with the rear shock set-up on a TJ. After cycling the suspension, the shocks do not appear to be in the correct position. I mean, they are installed in the factory location, but that doesn't work well. My track bar (on a relocation bracket) hits the crossmember before the shocks bottom out on compression. So..I installed 2" lift springs and had to add a 1.5" bumpstop extension to stop the contact. I still have about an inch of compression on the shock. Since the shock is biased higher than it should be, they are also limiting droop FAR before the springs come unseated. I'm going to buy some bar pin eliminators, which should shift the shocks to be more balanced in their travel. That is the Theory anyway. With the shock more in the middle of its travel at ride height, I should pick up some more droop and be closer to bottoming the travel of the shock out at the same time my track bar starts to contact the cross member. @jjvw or @mrblaine I'd appreciate either of your thoughts here.
One other thing I noticed is that the shock is nearly horizontal at full stuff. I can't imagine its doing any good at that kind of angle. I can almost guarantee that outboarding is in my future. It may be FAR into the future, but it just seems like something that should be done (and should have been done from the factory).
Finally, no post is complete without a pic...Here are my "custom" bumpstops. 1/2" in front and 1 1/2" in the rear. 2 1/8" diameter Aluminum. I bought the material from McMaster and spend an hour or so on the lathe at work. The material cost my 18 bucks or something. No, they are not as clever as the Currie ones, that incorporate a spring retainer, but for what I paid (both in $$ and my time) I'm happy I didn't buy bumpstop extensions.
One other thing I noticed is that the shock is nearly horizontal at full stuff. I can't imagine its doing any good at that kind of angle. I can almost guarantee that outboarding is in my future. It may be FAR into the future, but it just seems like something that should be done (and should have been done from the factory).
Finally, no post is complete without a pic...Here are my "custom" bumpstops. 1/2" in front and 1 1/2" in the rear. 2 1/8" diameter Aluminum. I bought the material from McMaster and spend an hour or so on the lathe at work. The material cost my 18 bucks or something. No, they are not as clever as the Currie ones, that incorporate a spring retainer, but for what I paid (both in $$ and my time) I'm happy I didn't buy bumpstop extensions.
