Are their any tricks for installing a 2" coil spacer in a TJ?
 

A friend called complaining about some bad vibes and the steering not
'feeling' right after a 2" skyjacker lift in his TJ.

He is describing u-joint issues and 'death wobble'...

So after quizzing him a bit, he comes up with 'oh, they didn't have time
to do the rear spacers so I am just driving around on the front ones
with it tilted way nose up.

So I explain the angles to him and shake my head and then he mentions
the death wobble. I ask some more questions like what kind of shape is
the shocks and sway bar in and.... Well he broke that sway bar link a
year ago and this shop told him to just forget it!!!

Ok.... These are the same fools that let him drive away with no axle
holding the front hub together so his wheel fell off the first tight
turn after a 50 mile highway run... What a bunch of freaking fools!

Anyway, he is coming over with beer this afternoon and I am going to
point him the right way to change the rear coil spacers. No worries, he
is one of my physio therapists so he 'won't' let me touch a wrench...
;-)

As far as I have read here, all he needs to do is undo the rear sway bar
and jack it up so the spring falls out on one side then just swap the
spacer.

Is it that simple? Is it easier to do one side first or one at a time
or drop them both?

He has bump stop extensions, so they will go on at the same time.

What about shock extensions?

I have seen the 2" extensions for the front shocks that are just an
extended end on the rod, but the back shocks have the holes with a bar
through it.

Should he just go out and get some cheap 2" lifted already shocks?

I am under the opinion/impression that stock shocks will break things
off road by limiting the travel. Am I wrong there?

Thanks,

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Re: Are their any tricks for installing a 2" coil spacer in a TJ?
 

In <409A836C.846BECEE@sympatico.ca> Mike Romain wrote:
> A friend called complaining about some bad vibes and the steering not
> 'feeling' right after a 2" skyjacker lift in his TJ.
<snip>
> Ok.... These are the same fools that let him drive away with no axle
> holding the front hub together so his wheel fell off the first tight
> turn after a 50 mile highway run... What a bunch of freaking fools!
>
> Anyway, he is coming over with beer this afternoon and I am going to
> point him the right way to change the rear coil spacers. No worries,
> he is one of my physio therapists so he 'won't' let me touch a wrench...
<snip>

Beer or not, I'd be really tempted to tell the guy not to bring me his
mechanical problems again until he stops taking it to those idiots. At
least it sounds like you won't be actually doing any labor on his Jeep.
You should ask him who is going to be HIS physical therapist when he
gets in an accident because some critical part fell off his Jeep.

As I seem to recall, the rear spacers were easier than the fronts. You
have to get the frame up on jack stands, and then release the rear
shocks and sway bar links. At that point the rear springs will pretty
much fall out when the axle drops. I had to use a spring compressor to
get the fronts in, but I don't think it was necessary on the rear.

----------------------------------------------------
Del Rawlins- del@_kills_spammers_rawlinsbrothers.org
Remove _kills_spammers_ to reply via email.
Unofficial Bearhawk FAQ website:
http://www.rawlinsbrothers.org/bhfaq/

Re: Are their any tricks for installing a 2" coil spacer in a TJ?
 

In <409A836C.846BECEE@sympatico.ca> Mike Romain wrote:
> A friend called complaining about some bad vibes and the steering not
> 'feeling' right after a 2" skyjacker lift in his TJ.
<snip>
> Ok.... These are the same fools that let him drive away with no axle
> holding the front hub together so his wheel fell off the first tight
> turn after a 50 mile highway run... What a bunch of freaking fools!
>
> Anyway, he is coming over with beer this afternoon and I am going to
> point him the right way to change the rear coil spacers. No worries,
> he is one of my physio therapists so he 'won't' let me touch a wrench...
<snip>

Beer or not, I'd be really tempted to tell the guy not to bring me his
mechanical problems again until he stops taking it to those idiots. At
least it sounds like you won't be actually doing any labor on his Jeep.
You should ask him who is going to be HIS physical therapist when he
gets in an accident because some critical part fell off his Jeep.

As I seem to recall, the rear spacers were easier than the fronts. You
have to get the frame up on jack stands, and then release the rear
shocks and sway bar links. At that point the rear springs will pretty
much fall out when the axle drops. I had to use a spring compressor to
get the fronts in, but I don't think it was necessary on the rear.

----------------------------------------------------
Del Rawlins- del@_kills_spammers_rawlinsbrothers.org
Remove _kills_spammers_ to reply via email.
Unofficial Bearhawk FAQ website:
http://www.rawlinsbrothers.org/bhfaq/

Re: Are their any tricks for installing a 2" coil spacer in a TJ?
 

In <409A836C.846BECEE@sympatico.ca> Mike Romain wrote:
> A friend called complaining about some bad vibes and the steering not
> 'feeling' right after a 2" skyjacker lift in his TJ.
<snip>
> Ok.... These are the same fools that let him drive away with no axle
> holding the front hub together so his wheel fell off the first tight
> turn after a 50 mile highway run... What a bunch of freaking fools!
>
> Anyway, he is coming over with beer this afternoon and I am going to
> point him the right way to change the rear coil spacers. No worries,
> he is one of my physio therapists so he 'won't' let me touch a wrench...
<snip>

Beer or not, I'd be really tempted to tell the guy not to bring me his
mechanical problems again until he stops taking it to those idiots. At
least it sounds like you won't be actually doing any labor on his Jeep.
You should ask him who is going to be HIS physical therapist when he
gets in an accident because some critical part fell off his Jeep.

As I seem to recall, the rear spacers were easier than the fronts. You
have to get the frame up on jack stands, and then release the rear
shocks and sway bar links. At that point the rear springs will pretty
much fall out when the axle drops. I had to use a spring compressor to
get the fronts in, but I don't think it was necessary on the rear.

----------------------------------------------------
Del Rawlins- del@_kills_spammers_rawlinsbrothers.org
Remove _kills_spammers_ to reply via email.
Unofficial Bearhawk FAQ website:
http://www.rawlinsbrothers.org/bhfaq/

Re: Are their any tricks for installing a 2" coil spacer in a TJ?
 

In <409A836C.846BECEE@sympatico.ca> Mike Romain wrote:
> A friend called complaining about some bad vibes and the steering not
> 'feeling' right after a 2" skyjacker lift in his TJ.
<snip>
> Ok.... These are the same fools that let him drive away with no axle
> holding the front hub together so his wheel fell off the first tight
> turn after a 50 mile highway run... What a bunch of freaking fools!
>
> Anyway, he is coming over with beer this afternoon and I am going to
> point him the right way to change the rear coil spacers. No worries,
> he is one of my physio therapists so he 'won't' let me touch a wrench...
<snip>

Beer or not, I'd be really tempted to tell the guy not to bring me his
mechanical problems again until he stops taking it to those idiots. At
least it sounds like you won't be actually doing any labor on his Jeep.
You should ask him who is going to be HIS physical therapist when he
gets in an accident because some critical part fell off his Jeep.

As I seem to recall, the rear spacers were easier than the fronts. You
have to get the frame up on jack stands, and then release the rear
shocks and sway bar links. At that point the rear springs will pretty
much fall out when the axle drops. I had to use a spring compressor to
get the fronts in, but I don't think it was necessary on the rear.

----------------------------------------------------
Del Rawlins- del@_kills_spammers_rawlinsbrothers.org
Remove _kills_spammers_ to reply via email.
Unofficial Bearhawk FAQ website:
http://www.rawlinsbrothers.org/bhfaq/

Re: Are their any tricks for installing a 2" coil spacer in a TJ?
 

Mike: We did too of the two inch budget spacer lift's on my brothers 2000
tj and a 97 tj These are as easy as they look the shock extensions are
needed. and you have to stand on and push down on the rear brake drums to
get the axel to go down far enough to pop the coil spring in but it is
pretty straight forward. A good pray bar and a little finesse and they will
pop right in. The shocks that have the bar in the rubber just need to be
pushed out as to be bolted in with out them. John put the extensions on his
2000, and Jason put in new shocks and other then the mileage difference you
couldn't tell spit between the two. And as far as that goes do the one end
first one spring at a time and then jack it back up and rehook up the sway
bar on each end as the last thing to do. Just watch out for the rear steel
brake line's with the pray bar . Your a smart guy Mike once you see all the
parts you'll know just what to do. Have fun . oh ya don't get the nitro
shocks. the Hydros are still better on a T J as well. Your right on about
the shocks they well screw it all up if there not extended or longer ones
installed.
--
CJ & XJ JIMMIE VP.of The North Iowa Off-road Club


"Mike Romain" <romainm@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:409A836C.846BECEE@sympatico.ca...
> A friend called complaining about some bad vibes and the steering not
> 'feeling' right after a 2" skyjacker lift in his TJ.
>
> He is describing u-joint issues and 'death wobble'...
>
> So after quizzing him a bit, he comes up with 'oh, they didn't have time
> to do the rear spacers so I am just driving around on the front ones
> with it tilted way nose up.
>
> So I explain the angles to him and shake my head and then he mentions
> the death wobble. I ask some more questions like what kind of shape is
> the shocks and sway bar in and.... Well he broke that sway bar link a
> year ago and this shop told him to just forget it!!!
>
> Ok.... These are the same fools that let him drive away with no axle
> holding the front hub together so his wheel fell off the first tight
> turn after a 50 mile highway run... What a bunch of freaking fools!
>
> Anyway, he is coming over with beer this afternoon and I am going to
> point him the right way to change the rear coil spacers. No worries, he
> is one of my physio therapists so he 'won't' let me touch a wrench...
> ;-)
>
> As far as I have read here, all he needs to do is undo the rear sway bar
> and jack it up so the spring falls out on one side then just swap the
> spacer.
>
> Is it that simple? Is it easier to do one side first or one at a time
> or drop them both?
>
> He has bump stop extensions, so they will go on at the same time.
>
> What about shock extensions?
>
> I have seen the 2" extensions for the front shocks that are just an
> extended end on the rod, but the back shocks have the holes with a bar
> through it.
>
> Should he just go out and get some cheap 2" lifted already shocks?
>
> I am under the opinion/impression that stock shocks will break things
> off road by limiting the travel. Am I wrong there?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Mike
> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Re: Are their any tricks for installing a 2" coil spacer in a TJ?
 

Mike: We did too of the two inch budget spacer lift's on my brothers 2000
tj and a 97 tj These are as easy as they look the shock extensions are
needed. and you have to stand on and push down on the rear brake drums to
get the axel to go down far enough to pop the coil spring in but it is
pretty straight forward. A good pray bar and a little finesse and they will
pop right in. The shocks that have the bar in the rubber just need to be
pushed out as to be bolted in with out them. John put the extensions on his
2000, and Jason put in new shocks and other then the mileage difference you
couldn't tell spit between the two. And as far as that goes do the one end
first one spring at a time and then jack it back up and rehook up the sway
bar on each end as the last thing to do. Just watch out for the rear steel
brake line's with the pray bar . Your a smart guy Mike once you see all the
parts you'll know just what to do. Have fun . oh ya don't get the nitro
shocks. the Hydros are still better on a T J as well. Your right on about
the shocks they well screw it all up if there not extended or longer ones
installed.
--
CJ & XJ JIMMIE VP.of The North Iowa Off-road Club


"Mike Romain" <romainm@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:409A836C.846BECEE@sympatico.ca...
> A friend called complaining about some bad vibes and the steering not
> 'feeling' right after a 2" skyjacker lift in his TJ.
>
> He is describing u-joint issues and 'death wobble'...
>
> So after quizzing him a bit, he comes up with 'oh, they didn't have time
> to do the rear spacers so I am just driving around on the front ones
> with it tilted way nose up.
>
> So I explain the angles to him and shake my head and then he mentions
> the death wobble. I ask some more questions like what kind of shape is
> the shocks and sway bar in and.... Well he broke that sway bar link a
> year ago and this shop told him to just forget it!!!
>
> Ok.... These are the same fools that let him drive away with no axle
> holding the front hub together so his wheel fell off the first tight
> turn after a 50 mile highway run... What a bunch of freaking fools!
>
> Anyway, he is coming over with beer this afternoon and I am going to
> point him the right way to change the rear coil spacers. No worries, he
> is one of my physio therapists so he 'won't' let me touch a wrench...
> ;-)
>
> As far as I have read here, all he needs to do is undo the rear sway bar
> and jack it up so the spring falls out on one side then just swap the
> spacer.
>
> Is it that simple? Is it easier to do one side first or one at a time
> or drop them both?
>
> He has bump stop extensions, so they will go on at the same time.
>
> What about shock extensions?
>
> I have seen the 2" extensions for the front shocks that are just an
> extended end on the rod, but the back shocks have the holes with a bar
> through it.
>
> Should he just go out and get some cheap 2" lifted already shocks?
>
> I am under the opinion/impression that stock shocks will break things
> off road by limiting the travel. Am I wrong there?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Mike
> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Re: Are their any tricks for installing a 2" coil spacer in a TJ?
 

Mike: We did too of the two inch budget spacer lift's on my brothers 2000
tj and a 97 tj These are as easy as they look the shock extensions are
needed. and you have to stand on and push down on the rear brake drums to
get the axel to go down far enough to pop the coil spring in but it is
pretty straight forward. A good pray bar and a little finesse and they will
pop right in. The shocks that have the bar in the rubber just need to be
pushed out as to be bolted in with out them. John put the extensions on his
2000, and Jason put in new shocks and other then the mileage difference you
couldn't tell spit between the two. And as far as that goes do the one end
first one spring at a time and then jack it back up and rehook up the sway
bar on each end as the last thing to do. Just watch out for the rear steel
brake line's with the pray bar . Your a smart guy Mike once you see all the
parts you'll know just what to do. Have fun . oh ya don't get the nitro
shocks. the Hydros are still better on a T J as well. Your right on about
the shocks they well screw it all up if there not extended or longer ones
installed.
--
CJ & XJ JIMMIE VP.of The North Iowa Off-road Club


"Mike Romain" <romainm@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:409A836C.846BECEE@sympatico.ca...
> A friend called complaining about some bad vibes and the steering not
> 'feeling' right after a 2" skyjacker lift in his TJ.
>
> He is describing u-joint issues and 'death wobble'...
>
> So after quizzing him a bit, he comes up with 'oh, they didn't have time
> to do the rear spacers so I am just driving around on the front ones
> with it tilted way nose up.
>
> So I explain the angles to him and shake my head and then he mentions
> the death wobble. I ask some more questions like what kind of shape is
> the shocks and sway bar in and.... Well he broke that sway bar link a
> year ago and this shop told him to just forget it!!!
>
> Ok.... These are the same fools that let him drive away with no axle
> holding the front hub together so his wheel fell off the first tight
> turn after a 50 mile highway run... What a bunch of freaking fools!
>
> Anyway, he is coming over with beer this afternoon and I am going to
> point him the right way to change the rear coil spacers. No worries, he
> is one of my physio therapists so he 'won't' let me touch a wrench...
> ;-)
>
> As far as I have read here, all he needs to do is undo the rear sway bar
> and jack it up so the spring falls out on one side then just swap the
> spacer.
>
> Is it that simple? Is it easier to do one side first or one at a time
> or drop them both?
>
> He has bump stop extensions, so they will go on at the same time.
>
> What about shock extensions?
>
> I have seen the 2" extensions for the front shocks that are just an
> extended end on the rod, but the back shocks have the holes with a bar
> through it.
>
> Should he just go out and get some cheap 2" lifted already shocks?
>
> I am under the opinion/impression that stock shocks will break things
> off road by limiting the travel. Am I wrong there?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Mike
> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Re: Are their any tricks for installing a 2" coil spacer in a TJ?
 

Mike: We did too of the two inch budget spacer lift's on my brothers 2000
tj and a 97 tj These are as easy as they look the shock extensions are
needed. and you have to stand on and push down on the rear brake drums to
get the axel to go down far enough to pop the coil spring in but it is
pretty straight forward. A good pray bar and a little finesse and they will
pop right in. The shocks that have the bar in the rubber just need to be
pushed out as to be bolted in with out them. John put the extensions on his
2000, and Jason put in new shocks and other then the mileage difference you
couldn't tell spit between the two. And as far as that goes do the one end
first one spring at a time and then jack it back up and rehook up the sway
bar on each end as the last thing to do. Just watch out for the rear steel
brake line's with the pray bar . Your a smart guy Mike once you see all the
parts you'll know just what to do. Have fun . oh ya don't get the nitro
shocks. the Hydros are still better on a T J as well. Your right on about
the shocks they well screw it all up if there not extended or longer ones
installed.
--
CJ & XJ JIMMIE VP.of The North Iowa Off-road Club


"Mike Romain" <romainm@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:409A836C.846BECEE@sympatico.ca...
> A friend called complaining about some bad vibes and the steering not
> 'feeling' right after a 2" skyjacker lift in his TJ.
>
> He is describing u-joint issues and 'death wobble'...
>
> So after quizzing him a bit, he comes up with 'oh, they didn't have time
> to do the rear spacers so I am just driving around on the front ones
> with it tilted way nose up.
>
> So I explain the angles to him and shake my head and then he mentions
> the death wobble. I ask some more questions like what kind of shape is
> the shocks and sway bar in and.... Well he broke that sway bar link a
> year ago and this shop told him to just forget it!!!
>
> Ok.... These are the same fools that let him drive away with no axle
> holding the front hub together so his wheel fell off the first tight
> turn after a 50 mile highway run... What a bunch of freaking fools!
>
> Anyway, he is coming over with beer this afternoon and I am going to
> point him the right way to change the rear coil spacers. No worries, he
> is one of my physio therapists so he 'won't' let me touch a wrench...
> ;-)
>
> As far as I have read here, all he needs to do is undo the rear sway bar
> and jack it up so the spring falls out on one side then just swap the
> spacer.
>
> Is it that simple? Is it easier to do one side first or one at a time
> or drop them both?
>
> He has bump stop extensions, so they will go on at the same time.
>
> What about shock extensions?
>
> I have seen the 2" extensions for the front shocks that are just an
> extended end on the rod, but the back shocks have the holes with a bar
> through it.
>
> Should he just go out and get some cheap 2" lifted already shocks?
>
> I am under the opinion/impression that stock shocks will break things
> off road by limiting the travel. Am I wrong there?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Mike
> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Re: Are their any tricks for installing a 2" coil spacer in a TJ?
 

Ya, rears are pretty easy (like others have mentioned). I ran with
stock length shocks for a while, but they definitely were limiting
wheel travel, and I'm sure would have broken after a while. He should
probably get an alignment, too (mine was off after my install). If he
still has vibes, he *may* have to lower the transfer case a smidge.
Rare, but I had to. :(

Dave
http://mysite.verizon.net/res0p2es/david/index.htm

On Thu, 06 May 2004 14:26:52 -0400, Mike Romain <romainm@sympatico.ca>
wrote:

>A friend called complaining about some bad vibes and the steering not
>'feeling' right after a 2" skyjacker lift in his TJ.
>
>He is describing u-joint issues and 'death wobble'...
>
>So after quizzing him a bit, he comes up with 'oh, they didn't have time
>to do the rear spacers so I am just driving around on the front ones
>with it tilted way nose up.
>
>So I explain the angles to him and shake my head and then he mentions
>the death wobble. I ask some more questions like what kind of shape is
>the shocks and sway bar in and.... Well he broke that sway bar link a
>year ago and this shop told him to just forget it!!!
>
>Ok.... These are the same fools that let him drive away with no axle
>holding the front hub together so his wheel fell off the first tight
>turn after a 50 mile highway run... What a bunch of freaking fools!
>
>Anyway, he is coming over with beer this afternoon and I am going to
>point him the right way to change the rear coil spacers. No worries, he
>is one of my physio therapists so he 'won't' let me touch a wrench...
>;-)
>
>As far as I have read here, all he needs to do is undo the rear sway bar
>and jack it up so the spring falls out on one side then just swap the
>spacer.
>
>Is it that simple? Is it easier to do one side first or one at a time
>or drop them both?
>
>He has bump stop extensions, so they will go on at the same time.
>
>What about shock extensions?
>
>I have seen the 2" extensions for the front shocks that are just an
>extended end on the rod, but the back shocks have the holes with a bar
>through it.
>
>Should he just go out and get some cheap 2" lifted already shocks?
>
>I am under the opinion/impression that stock shocks will break things
>off road by limiting the travel. Am I wrong there?
>
>Thanks,
>
>Mike
>86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
>88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's