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ModernJeeper Death of Rubicon Express?

Both my fronts 30 years ago were cracked and broken. Originals are brittle, and I would advise anyone who has them still, to get something better. These are what I went to. 466D2B0A-BF33-48F6-8724-9144E81F9EC4.jpeg30517E74-8D25-4C82-90AB-E3DB66D27F62.jpeg
 
Arent those crabtree only for YJ springs though?
 
I've been using Fishbone Shackle Hangers, from Summit:

fsb-fb27224_ve_xl.jpg
 
I got those, watch the swing of the shackle if you have any cross-bolts like most HD shackles do. I actually broke one because on compression the shackle was swinging up and hitting the long gusset. I'm guessing they were thinking more stock and/or tested with shackles without the cross-bolt/brace (or at least a smaller one than I have).
 
bigwalton said:
I got those, watch the swing of the shackle if you have any cross-bolts like most HD shackles do. I actually broke one because on compression the shackle was swinging up and hitting the long gusset. I'm guessing they were thinking more stock and/or tested with shackles without the cross-bolt/brace (or at least a smaller one than I have).
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Good to know. My Curries probably wouldn't work then.
 
I don't have that problem and I use them with longer, dog leg shackles that have a 9/16" cross pin, in the correct orientation. I have them on like 4 different Jeeps.

That's some major compression, like lock the spring into the frame compression?
 
Installed the rear after work today. I know it has been months, but whatever. Front will be in the morning. It was a bit hot and I was exhausted.

Before
IMG_8917.jpeg

After. I gained 3” back on both side. The 4.5 lift had sagged to about 1 or so.
IMG_8918.jpeg

I can’t wait so see what it is like after I get the front done. And to see how much softer the tide is compared to the Superlift springs I removed.
 
And now the front is done. Since I went with 2.5” wide springs in the front, I had to cut off one of the shock mounts that was on the axle tube. Grrr. So now I will need to weld a new one on or use the awful spring plate mounts.

Oh and I need to shocks. What are good shocks to get with a 4.5” lift? What should my full extension be? I measured 24 inches to the spring plate mount before the shackles would start to invert.


IMG_8923.jpeg
 
gr8dain said:
And now the front is done. Since I went with 2.5” wide springs in the front, I had to cut off one of the shock mounts that was on the axle tube. Grrr. So now I will need to weld a new one on or use the awful spring plate mounts.

Oh and I need to shocks. What are good shocks to get with a 4.5” lift? What should my full extension be? I measured 24 inches to the spring plate mount before the shackles would start to invert.


View attachment 114293
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If you can measure for the shocks. I have the bilstiens with roughly 4" lift and the back ones that are recommended are slightly too short....
 
tower210 said:
If you can measure for the shocks. I have the bilstiens with roughly 4" lift and the back ones that are recommended are slightly too short....
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Good to know that the rear are too short. I measured and it looks like 25” of full extension is as far as I want to go in the front to keep the shackles from inverting. And that is using the mount at the spring plate. But I really want to remount the tube mounted shock mount (did I say mount too many times? 😂 ).
 
When I had the 4.5 kit on mine, RE either sent me the wrong shocks or they really didn't fit right. I broke a shock shaft, and bent the skid plate mount. It is worth your time flex it out and try and estimate your options then work with accutune shock tuner to get you shocks that work. Its going to be more expense than off the shelf, but it may be better in the end.

In your measuring you should consider doing axle tube mount which would raise and alter shock position. Then figure out if you had a taller upper either with the ford tower or a hoop from some fab companies. That will give you an idea what sort of extended and collapsed lengths you could work with. Then call accutune and talk to them or go through their website and see the options. You will then be investing in bump stops and limit straps to preserve your shocks so they are not doing the function of either of those parts. Its possible your spring will limit down travel if shock travel exceeds that so limit may not be required, but opposite usually happens where the shock is the bump unless you set bumps stops right.

If none of that matters find whatever bilstein or rancho has close and go. You could probably call them too and they could go through their extended and collapsed options.
 
I do have tube mounts for tge shocks on tree locations at the moment. Had to cut one off on the passenger front due to the wider springs. But plan on putting a new one back on.
 
I'd hadn't of accutune...I like that Idea. Which level of tune did you get? I'm guessing those are pricey and you want to mak sure your done tweaking the springs and layout before you go that route.

Here's the full bilstein catalog. I think I mis-spoke earlier...I think the rears are too long...I think I have a thread on here with model numbers and measurements.
 
tower210 said:
I'd hadn't of accutune...I like that Idea. Which level of tune did you get? I'm guessing those are pricey and you want to mak sure your done tweaking the springs and layout before you go that route.

Here's the full bilstein catalog. I think I mis-spoke earlier...I think the rears are too long...I think I have a thread on here with model numbers and measurements.
Click to expand...
The sell king and fox and will valve to your vehicle. I haven't looked in a while they have 2.0 & 2.5 smooth body shocks. They would like corner weights of the vehicle loaded the way you use it. Spring rate would be helpful, but with leafs that probably isn't known. They would then valve the shock to weight and type of use. Calling them is best then you can understand what is needed. If your close to CA then you could shock tune. They do offer one free revalve if it doesn't ride like you want. But that requires shipping costs and waiting again.

I am SOA now and 2.0 reservoir fox is what I got from Accutune. They were 250ea I thought at the time, but prices are much higher on everything now. Even then that was really hard to justify.
 
Jeeper_4_Life said:
The sell king and fox and will valve to your vehicle. I haven't looked in a while they have 2.0 & 2.5 smooth body shocks. They would like corner weights of the vehicle loaded the way you use it. Spring rate would be helpful, but with leafs that probably isn't known. They would then valve the shock to weight and type of use. Calling them is best then you can understand what is needed. If your close to CA then you could shock tune. They do offer one free revalve if it doesn't ride like you want. But that requires shipping costs and waiting again.

I am SOA now and 2.0 reservoir fox is what I got from Accutune. They were 250ea I thought at the time, but prices are much higher on everything now. Even then that was really hard to justify.
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I have alcans....wonder if alcan can send me spring rates....that comination of weight and spring rates seems pretty critcal for valving. I looked at the site a litte; but mostly at the baller remote reservoir shocks that were crazy (like $2k each). I'll have to look a bit more.
 
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