S.O.A. or not

[FlipFlop]

Getting input from others on getting my rig. Think SOA (right 78CJ7) and thinking thats my direction. Any put?

[RangerPaul]

First ? that comes to mind, for any mod, is: why do you want to do it/ what do you want to accomplish?

[missouri]

You can get more articulation with SOA but with it comes a negetive -spring wrap-which then can led to broken spring pac. But if you know your rig well enough you'll know it's limits and not exceed them. You will also make your vehicle more top heavy. Things like drive shafts/steering and a few other mechanisms come to mind.

Just my 2

missouri

[78cj7]

If you go soa ditch the springs you have, get re soa springs help to control axle wrap. Then we can build you a bam bar to take care of the rest, 2 years on my springs and they are still working great. brake lines will need to be extended for the extra travel as will shocks. High steer will be a soon to do on the list but a tie rod flip would suffice for a short time. i have the reamer tool for the 1 ton steering so just get the tops drilled when you pick them up or we could probably do that as well.

being top heavy is a concern since the name flip flop brings visions of side recoveries to mind due to rolling over :eek: but on the positive note at tleast your cage is tied in and cosmetics were never a concern right :D .

rs 9000 shocks for the new ones the adjustability helps with street driving as you can turn the dial and firm them up if you wanted too.;)

[Smirty]

To Paul's point, what are you trying to accomplish? Is it height/clearance or articulation or both? There are many ways to skin a cat. From you previous posts, I would surmise that articulation is number one on your list and with your name being Flip Flop, stability should be second, and lift would come in third. Why not get the benefits of all three and do a front coil spring conversion for articulation with an SOA in the rear for stability and height. I have no experience in this but have been reading about this recently in some of the off road mags.

Check out this info from Superlift
http://www.superlift.com/suspension/jeep/BD-X2.asp

It pretty much hits the highlights of what the articles talked about but with sales spin. It looks rather interesting.

[RangerPaul]

I ran behind a YJ with a 4-Link suspension. It had huge tires and insane articulation. It looked as thought it was going to roll on its side yet all four wheels were on the ground. I wish I had pics, but since I don't, view these. -> http://www.cardomain.com/ride/679400

[xtrm4xjp]

Paul hit the nail on the head in his first post. When it comes to SOA on CJ's VS YJ's there is a world of differance. the cost of a properly done SOA on a YJ will be as much if not more then a GOOD SUA lift. As brian advised you don't want to do it on your current springs so you already have that cost. Your going to buy new shocks so that cost is a wash. You will have to do a high steer kit of some sort (tie rod flip will run into the springs). A high steer on a stock YJ axle is quite expensive (knuckles on a YJ are differant and not interchangeable with Chevy flat tops). Look at the true break down of costs and I think that you will find that even spending $800-$1000 on a nice SUA kit will still work out more cost effective and work just as nice. Here is some food for thought, K.I.S.S, Keep It Simple Stupid.

JMHO,
Anders

[jeepskate]

I'll give you my standard spiel in condensed format. Do not modify in a vacuum. Look at where you are today and where you're heading. Every thing that you change has an effect on parts/systems up *and* downstream from it. With the RE SOA springs, you're talking in the nieghborhood of 6"-7" of lift which will likely have you looking to ditch the 34's, which will then have you breaking axles, which leads to yet another upgrade. Personally, I think you're in a decent spot right now and just need to tweak what you have....the next step comes with a $$ tag and you need to be prepared to dole out that cash. We went through that whole thing a couple of weeks ago about your suspension, but haven't heard anything back. Did you try any of the suggestions?

[FlipFlop]

I took rear pack apart. I have proper torque on all my shackles, I cleaned them (leafs) and took a little out of the spring pack straps. It helped a little but RE spring packs are famous for never breaking in. The curve is the same as the day i put them on.

reason for mod: From NC, to NM, to CO, i have watched SOA make climbs that TJ could not make. The articulation is beyond anything i have ever seen. I would be ditching the RE springs if I go SOA.

[jeepskate]

Paul & I both told you *not* to torque the shackles...that's too tight for poly bushings...

[RangerPaul]

FlipFlop

If you use nylock nuts, you can leave them kinda loose. The shackles themselves should not be bent inwards at at, and they should be just tight enough so that when you turn the bolt head, the nut spins, too. Do that to all three fastening point on each spring. Two at the front and one at the back.

I don't know if that will apply to your rears. I have no experience with revolvers. Try that first. I sure wish you were coming this weekend. e could have tweaked them at night and tried them out the next day.