Yes, we are all saying that using shocks to limit axle travel 'will'
break something.

I have seen the repeated impacts snap frames, snap off shock towers,
punch shocks right through the body into the back seat, etc...

Even with 2.5" lifted shocks I managed to snap off the bottom shock
mount on my CJ7 when the back wheel dropped into a hole fast. (it was
already slightly cracked from a rock impact, but...)

There are two ways to lift a TJ.

One is longer springs for more travel. This requires a shock with a
corresponding longer travel.

The other way is to put a spacer on top of the spring for increased
ground clearance and to fit larger tires. This does not increase the
travel or articulation, just raises the vehicle. For this kind of lift,
you only need shocks that are taller, they don't need to move more.

Then an extended bump stop is very important. This limits the
compression so you don't over compress the stock spring.

I am of the belief/impression that the skyjacker kit is designed to
destroy the stock shocks in short order so you have to go back and pay
big bucks for the 'longer spring' lift kit. They do this by shorting
the bump stop so the spring will over compress and sag out sooner than
later.

You know, a 2" lift with 1" higher bump stops....

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

"Fred W." wrote:
>
> "David C. Moller" <dmoller@verizon.net> wrote in message
> news:gcql90houbs295vuvc9ju82kmp6i3srhl2@4ax.com...
> > 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. :(
>
> OK guys,
>
> I'm following along at home here, and I'm not getting it.
>
> I can see how putting the 2" spacers on increases the total spring length
> and the ride height, but I don't see how or why you would "need to" replace
> the shocks, or why they would then break. Sure, if you want to get maximum
> articulation benefit offroad, the shocks can be 2" longer to go along with
> the lengthened springs. But if you kept the stock shocks, wouldn't they
> just limit the maximum extension of that wheel?
>
> Are you saying that you'd be topping out so much that you'd tear the shock
> mount off or something? I'm pretty interested because I'd like to do a
> small lift on my '98 TJ to compensate for heavier bumpers and an added
> winch. I live in New England where we don't do a lot of rock crawling, etc.
> So I only have 30" Kumko MT's on it. I don't need a 4" lift and it would
> look kind of goofy with that much lift and my current small wheels IMO.
>
> So maybe a budget lift is the answer for me too? I had just replaced the
> shocks a few thousand miles ago with some new OEM take-offs, but they were
> cheap as dirt. Maybe the best bet is getting a set of *good* shocks along
> with the spacers.
>
> -Fred W

 

Thanks we got it.

Any recommendations on shock extensions?

Mike

JIM LAIRD wrote:
>
> 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

 

Thanks we got it.

Any recommendations on shock extensions?

Mike

JIM LAIRD wrote:
>
> 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

 

Thanks we got it.

Any recommendations on shock extensions?

Mike

JIM LAIRD wrote:
>
> 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

 

Thanks we got it.

Any recommendations on shock extensions?

Mike

JIM LAIRD wrote:
>
> 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

 

In <409B97E4.FF3FFABF@sympatico.ca> Mike Romain wrote:
> Yes, we are all saying that using shocks to limit axle travel 'will'
> break something.

The shocks are what limit the axle travel even with the stock springs.
I haven't heard of any stock TJs that suffered the damage you described.
If you install spacers and retain the stock shocks, the suspension just
won't droop as far as it would with longer shocks.


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

 

In <409B97E4.FF3FFABF@sympatico.ca> Mike Romain wrote:
> Yes, we are all saying that using shocks to limit axle travel 'will'
> break something.

The shocks are what limit the axle travel even with the stock springs.
I haven't heard of any stock TJs that suffered the damage you described.
If you install spacers and retain the stock shocks, the suspension just
won't droop as far as it would with longer shocks.


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

 

In <409B97E4.FF3FFABF@sympatico.ca> Mike Romain wrote:
> Yes, we are all saying that using shocks to limit axle travel 'will'
> break something.

The shocks are what limit the axle travel even with the stock springs.
I haven't heard of any stock TJs that suffered the damage you described.
If you install spacers and retain the stock shocks, the suspension just
won't droop as far as it would with longer shocks.


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

 

In <409B97E4.FF3FFABF@sympatico.ca> Mike Romain wrote:
> Yes, we are all saying that using shocks to limit axle travel 'will'
> break something.

The shocks are what limit the axle travel even with the stock springs.
I haven't heard of any stock TJs that suffered the damage you described.
If you install spacers and retain the stock shocks, the suspension just
won't droop as far as it would with longer shocks.


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

 

We undid the shocks and still couldn't get the springs out. We are both
over 200 lb and standing on the brake drum wouldn't come close.

Then we undid the anti sway bar and the axle dropped right down so the
spring fell out.

The shock is not the limiting factor.

Mike

Del Rawlins wrote:
>
> In <409B97E4.FF3FFABF@sympatico.ca> Mike Romain wrote:
> > Yes, we are all saying that using shocks to limit axle travel 'will'
> > break something.
>
> The shocks are what limit the axle travel even with the stock springs.
> I haven't heard of any stock TJs that suffered the damage you described.
> If you install spacers and retain the stock shocks, the suspension just
> won't droop as far as it would with longer shocks.
>
> ----------------------------------------------------
> Del Rawlins- del@_kills_spammers_rawlinsbrothers.org
> Remove _kills_spammers_ to reply via email.
> Unofficial Bearhawk FAQ website:
> http://www.rawlinsbrothers.org/bhfaq/