front springs????

surfkj · **Posted:** Sun Mar 29, 2009 10:54 pm

ok i dont meen to be a PITA by askin all these questions. but i got an axle and access to a machine shop, so i wanna be doing this sfa soon. i was wondering if anyone has used a regular spring up front and not a coilover? it seems like it would be cheeper that way. if so can somone maybe post a pic of it...and if not can u tell me why it wouldnt work? thanx

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Sun Mar 29, 2009 11:01 pm

surfkj wrote:

ok i dont meen to be a PITA by askin all these questions. but i got an axle and access to a machine shop, so i wanna be doing this sfa soon. i was wondering if anyone has used a regular spring up front and not a coilover? it seems like it would be cheeper that way. if so can somone maybe post a pic of it...and if not can u tell me why it wouldnt work? thanx

You will need a full width axle to be able to use a regular coil and separate shock,at least 67" WMS to WMS.The mid '70's Ford HP44 from a F100/F150 is a example of a full width front axle.If you try to mount a regular coil on say a HP30 under the front of a KJ you will be forcing the coil to rest against the unibody and severly hampering it's ability to work correctly with it being limited and forced against the unibody since it will not be sitting correctly.

I'm going with full width axles and will be using regular coils up front,actually using the RE 4.5" ZJ front coils.

chefdab · **Posted:** Tue Mar 31, 2009 7:47 pm

The only person I know of who went that route was JediJeeper. He has long since left the forums but you can check out his build on his website at: http://home.comcast.net/~jedijawa/index.html Hope that helps.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Tue Mar 31, 2009 7:53 pm

chefdab wrote:

The only person I know of who went that route was JediJeeper. He has long since left the forums but you can check out his build on his website at: http://home.comcast.net/~jedijawa/index.html Hope that helps.

Yep but he did use full width axles,HP44 in the front and 14bolt in the rear.

chefdab · **Posted:** Tue Mar 31, 2009 8:21 pm

tjkj2002 wrote:

chefdab wrote:

The only person I know of who went that route was JediJeeper. He has long since left the forums but you can check out his build on his website at: http://home.comcast.net/~jedijawa/index.html Hope that helps.

Yep but he did use full width axles,HP44 in the front and 14bolt in the rear.

Yeah, I just thought he would like to see in a little more detail what it would take to go that route instead of the coilovers.

surfkj · **Posted:** Tue Mar 31, 2009 9:03 pm

yea thanx for that. it helps a bunch and also is makin me think more haha.

JJsTJ · **Posted:** Tue Mar 31, 2009 9:29 pm

surfkj wrote:

yea thanx for that. it helps a bunch and also is makin me think more haha.

DANGER!! DANGER!! Thinking leads to trouble!!!

:wink:

surfkj · **Posted:** Wed Apr 01, 2009 10:01 am

JJsKJ wrote:

surfkj wrote:

yea thanx for that. it helps a bunch and also is makin me think more haha.

DANGER!! DANGER!! Thinking leads to trouble!!!

:wink:

yes it doess...now i got my wheels turning and a choise of about 30 diffrent axles sittin in my buddys yard. and a set of 36s to go with whatever i choose. :twisted:

JJsTJ · **Posted:** Wed Apr 01, 2009 11:46 am

surfkj wrote:

JJsKJ wrote:

surfkj wrote:

yea thanx for that. it helps a bunch and also is makin me think more haha.

DANGER!! DANGER!! Thinking leads to trouble!!!

:wink:

yes it doess...now i got my wheels turning and a choise of about 30 diffrent axles sittin in my buddys yard. and a set of 36s to go with whatever i choose. :twisted:

come on now....I'm from Jersey and I don't know of any trails there where you need 36's!! Unless you like to play in the mud pits? Ugh. :wink:

surfkj · **Posted:** Wed Apr 01, 2009 8:54 pm

mud is fun but im moving back to cali as soon as im done with school soo thats why im goin wit 36s plus i got them for free

JJsTJ · **Posted:** Wed Apr 01, 2009 10:43 pm

surfkj wrote:

mud is fun but im moving back to cali as soon as im done with school soo thats why im goin wit 36s plus i got them for free

Cool. Then I know where to take you and your 36's! Hurry up and get back here! :twisted:

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Wed Apr 01, 2009 10:49 pm

Just be aware that if swapping out the rear axle(to match width of front axle) you will need to move the speedo sensor to the t-case and that means the OEM KJ t-case(both) will not work anymore,or pay big $$$ to have a tone ring made for new rear diff and modify housing for the speedo sensor.

surfkj · **Posted:** Thu Apr 02, 2009 9:16 am

tjkj2002 wrote:

Just be aware that if swapping out the rear axle(to match width of front axle) you will need to move the speedo sensor to the t-case and that means the OEM KJ t-case(both) will not work anymore,or pay big $$$ to have a tone ring made for new rear diff and modify housing for the speedo sensor.

yeaa i know, that kinda sux so im thinking of just leavin the rear and building that up and getting the d30 front

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Thu Apr 02, 2009 12:48 pm

surfkj wrote:

tjkj2002 wrote:

Just be aware that if swapping out the rear axle(to match width of front axle) you will need to move the speedo sensor to the t-case and that means the OEM KJ t-case(both) will not work anymore,or pay big $$$ to have a tone ring made for new rear diff and modify housing for the speedo sensor.

yeaa i know, that kinda sux so im thinking of just leavin the rear and building that up and getting the d30 front

It's not hard to overcome--http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=29930

My reasoning is if I'm putting a beefy front axle might as well do the rest,the rear diff and a better t-case also.The intial cost is higher but maintaining a HP44 is way cheap,almost cheaper then a D30,and my rear D60/9" hybrid is super cheap to maintain also.And with beefier axles then a D30/8.25 I can run bigger tires without fear of breakage,that would be 35"+ tires.Your really pushing a D30 to/past it's limits on 35" tires and the 8.25 is about at it's limits with 35" tires also.If you actually plan to wheel it and somewhat hard that C-cliped 8.25 can be a cause for some serious nightmares if you break a axle.

But it's your KJ and you can do as you please,just offering some alternatives.

front springs????

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