Probably another rear spring relocation and shock question

[Matt99TJ]

Hi All, new member but have been using this website for a few years now.

I have made some recent modifications to my 99 TJ and I am experiencing some issues. Here is the short version of what I have done and what I am currently running that applies to my question.

Dana 44 Axle swap front and rear with 5.13 gearing and ARB lockers (bought axles used). Rear axle has shock extenders also so that the shocks won't hit the spring perch. I don't know if I can remove these or not currently, but the shocks are body up style, shaft at the bottom.
Savvy Skid plate and tummy tuck.
Savvy 1.25 Body lift and 1" MM lift.
Savvy cable shifter.
Tom woods front and rear driveshafts.
Came with what I believe was a Pro-Comp or RE 4.5" lift (I really have no idea, I should probably see if the springs can give me some info.)
I am running 35" Pitbull Rockers.
RE short arm upper and Lower adjustable control arms (Super Flex).
LKS adjustable rear track bar with angled mount.
New Bilstein 5100 33-185514 Rear shocks (took off Pro Comp MX 6 adjustable, they are about the same collapsed and expanded lengths).
Garvin rear bumper with tire carrier and full size matching spare.
Rear Poison Spyder aluminum armor and 4" Steel flares.
Hardtop.
Con Fer rack that is on most of the time.
Normal tools for wheeling in the back. (I carry various different things for multiple uses i.e. camping, wheeling, hunting, etc.).

I have no issues with the front of my setup (so far).

My problem is that my shocks are bottoming out now. My old setup with stock axle, no tummy tuck and old shocks and same springs did not have this problem. I fear that now my pinion angle is so extreme (from the tummy tuck) that it has moved my spring location to a point that my spring is lower than what it was before. I have the Metal Cloak spring relocation kit to install in the future, but I am wondering if there is something that I can do in the immediate future to help. I plan on outboarding the shocks and relocating the springs at the same time. I am wondering also if the spring relocation will add some height back to the rear?

I checked my shocks and I only have 2.5" of shaft showing. I believe that my bump stops are about 4" of spacing. With that being said, if I choose a taller spring to compensate for the shock, I will still have bump stop issues. If I use a shorter body shock, I believe I will be limiting the amount of up-travel that I have.

I am not really sure how to solve this problem in the short term until I can do the fab work (I do not have the facility for this currently). I am thinking about putting the old shocks on to see if they have the same issue.

Any ideas??

 

[someguysjeep]

use a shorter body shock,
2.5" of exposed shaft is what would be limiting you now, it can only compress that much. and you should be closer to double that for an exposed shaft length on a proper shock.

remove the jounces and shocks and jack the axle up until it's touching something either the jounce cups or another interference at this point this is what your collapsed shock length can be. and the bumps can be set to stop you at that point.

 

[someguysjeep]

if your not wheelin in rocks you could scoot by with extension bracket but most don't favor them for the leverage they add to easily bend the factory bracket with a hard bump.
you can take a semi circle bite from the spring perch if it allows you to not use the extensions.

 

[Matt99TJ]

use a shorter body shock,
2.5" of exposed shaft is what would be limiting you now, it can only compress that much. and you should be closer to double that for an exposed shaft length on a proper shock.

remove the jounces and shocks and jack the axle up until it's touching something either the jounce cups or another interference at this point this is what your collapsed shock length can be. and the bumps can be set to stop you at that point.

Yeah i understand. That may be my only option until the shock outboard project.

 

[Matt99TJ]

if your not wheelin in rocks you could scoot by with extension bracket but most don't favor them for the leverage they add to easily bend the factory bracket with a hard bump.
you can take a semi circle bite from the spring perch if it allows you to not use the extensions.

No rocks yet but will be in my future. Sounds like the grinder is calling me from the shop.

 

[someguysjeep]

Yeah i understand. That may be my only option until the shock outboard project.

those shocks might could be made to fit when you do your mod, they are not trash, just not what you need right now.