To lower or not?

[jeep_boss]

I started a thread that is lost on me about putting RE 4.5" springs on my 5.5" RE long arm lift. Before I look at what would be involved in doing so, another thread that was started recently has me thinking whther or not I should even consider lowering my lift from where it currectly sits.

A couple of weeks ago, I parked my Jeep on a small boulder in an attempt to look at how much space I have in my bump stops, with one of the wheels articulated up towards my fender. It apoeared be be around 2.5":

Are my concerns with "slamming" the bump stops valid, if I were to use shorter springs?

 

[Chris]

Personally I would just ditch the long arm lift altogether. Short arms are all you need, long arms are just a waste of money if you ask me.

However, you probably don't want to do that. Assuming that it's got the correct bump stop (meaning whoever installed it cycled the axles), you can put new springs on there without an issue. However, you'd probably be best to cycle the axles again, because chances are you'll need to adjust the bump stop more. You'll be bringing your tires closer to your fenders (which means they could hit under full flex), etc.

Basically you need to cycle the suspension, otherwise it's going to be a mystery.

 

[bobthetj03]

How much clearance do you have from the tires hitting the inner fenders?

 

[Drizit]

Also check shock length, you want about 1/2-3/4 of an inch of shaft showing when your bump stops make contact

—
There must have been a time
when we could have said no.

 

[jeep_boss]

Personally I would just ditch the long arm lift altogether. Short arms are all you need, long arms are just a waste of money if you ask me.

However, you probably don't want to do that. Assuming that it's got the correct bump stop (meaning whoever installed it cycled the axles), you can put new springs on there without an issue. However, you'd probably be best to cycle the axles again, because chances are you'll need to adjust the bump stop more. You'll be bringing your tires closer to your fenders (which means they could hit under full flex), etc.

Basically you need to cycle the suspension, otherwise it's going to be a mystery.

Nah, my long arm isn't going anywhere. I love it, I have always dug the looks of them and I do get some degree of driveline protection with it (it saved my front driveline from certain disaster once already). Not wanting to spark another flame war though between long and short arm though, so I digress

How much clearance do you have from the tires hitting the inner fenders?

I was able to get it to articulate further that afternoon along the trail, my phone died so I don't have any pics - but I estimated 5-6" (and maybe 2" from the flares).

I'm open to modifying my front fenders, I just have to decide whether to keep my current lift height and figure out which type fender setup to roll with (I'm leaning more towards doing a JK type mod with light relocations and whatnot).

Regardless, I think i'd be happier with it an inch or so lower than it sits currently. I'm sitting pretty tall right now, privably ine of the tallest in my area for being on 35's. It does sound like WORK though, so I can live with it where it's at, and not have it bother me OCD style.

Also check shock length, you want about 1/2-3/4 of an inch of shaft showing when your bump stops make contact

Good point. Are tou talking min-max BTW? I'm fairly cerrain that I have more than that, just by calculating roughly the distance left for travel between my bumpstops with the wheel articulted in the fender well.

 

[bobthetj03]

Sounds like you have room to drop an inch. Just cut an inch off your bump stops.

 

[Drizit]

Look at the chrome shaft of the shock. The amount showing between the end of the shock body and the end of the chrome is how much more you have to go until you hit the minimum compressed length. If you have more than an 1.75" of chrome showing after your bump stops touch (you can do it by measuring the air gap left as well and subtracting that from the amount of shaft left) then you are ok to knock an inch off the bump stops when you lower the jeep an inch. If not then you can't shorten your bump stops and it will effect your up travel. In an ideal world you would like at least 4" of up travel at ride height. (I only have about 3" but mine is a dedicated wheeling rig and it has a fairly stiff suspension to compensate)

—
There must have been a time
when we could have said no.