Old Man Emu for Cherokee XJ... Thoughts?

[madizell]

The Jeep was SOA at the time, with the V-8. These things compounded the problem, but it was not the configuration of the Jeep that was the root issue, but the lack of temper in the springs. Properly treated and peened, a leaf spring should not be able to be bent by hand by someone of my small stature, and just for grins I bent the main leaf (alone) with my bare hands. Superman I am not. Presumably ARB would not be exporting springs with this problem to the US, or at least not for long, and since no one else seems to have had the experience, I assume mine were from a bad batch, and that my return of the springs to ARB was sufficient to alert the company to the problem in their inventory.

Otherwise I have heard only good things about ARB and OME.

 

[4Rescue]

The Jeep was SOA at the time, with the V-8. These things compounded the problem, but it was not the configuration of the Jeep that was the root issue, but the lack of temper in the springs. Properly treated and peened, a leaf spring should not be able to be bent by hand by someone of my small stature, and just for grins I bent the main leaf (alone) with my bare hands. Superman I am not. Presumably ARB would not be exporting springs with this problem to the US, or at least not for long, and since no one else seems to have had the experience, I assume mine were from a bad batch, and that my return of the springs to ARB was sufficient to alert the company to the problem in their inventory.

Otherwise I have heard only good things about ARB and OME.

Actualy for what it's worth I've heard from people both here in the states and when I was living in Australia that ARB has gone to a Malaysian steel supplier and that some of the springs were not up to snuff. That was a few years ago, who knows what they're doing now, but like I said, I've had great results with mine...

Haha I think I'd keep that spring around just to bend in front of people...

 

[madizell]

I've heard from people both here in the states and when I was living in Australia that ARB has gone to a Malaysian steel supplier and that some of the springs were not up to snuff.

Sorry if this has gotten a bit off track...

The problem I had was in 2002, and no doubt the supplier of steel was the problem with the springs, just as you say. Just one of those life-experiences. Not that our race in 2002 went as we had expected, not due to the springs but rather due to the destruction of the T-case in the first major event. But we repaired that, got back in the race, and had a blast anyway. We finished in 39th place overall because we were out of the race from Monday morning until Thursday afternoon securing a used T-case, but finished 4th overall in the mud run, which gave us an idea of what we could do as a team. :rally_guys: Loved it, went back the next year, finished the entire event 27th overall and 3rd place international team.

A wise man once said that he fears regret more than failure. I agree. If you get the chance to go out and do something, do it, win lose or draw. If you don't, you will never have a story to tell.

 

[richp]

Get the HD spring OME kit, add an MJ rear shackle and a 1" spacer up front. On most of the XJ's we've done the initial lift is closer to 4" and generally settles to 3" after a month or so.
The OME was designed for the mainly unimproved roads in Australia and other countries in the pacific. It's a cushy ride. It's also not a lift kit but a suspension system. As far as springs go, basically the ride can be judged by the number of leafs, the thinner and more of them the cushier the ride

 

[pathfinderdriver]

I didn't think OME made springs for a CJ, also aren't CJ's sprung under stock?

 

[cshontz]

I didn't think OME made springs for a CJ, also aren't CJ's sprung under stock?

YJ springs are often used. Its a pretty easy conversion. This one is BDS and OME shocks on a CJ-7.

 

[Purple People Eater]

If I use the 2" kit and the 1" transfer case drop kit, I shouldn't have to worry about a SYE, should I? And I can still fit my 31's?

 

[ExpoMike]

If I use the 2" kit and the 1" transfer case drop kit, I shouldn't have to worry about a SYE, should I? And I can still fit my 31's?

Most likely you will still get some rub when you flex things up. Normal driving won't be much. As for the SYE at 2", it's totally hit and miss. Some can get by with the transfer case drop, others have to do an SYE and others do niether.

My biggest issue with transfer case drops is that it puts a ton of pressure into the engine mounts by twisting them, which causes them to fail much quicker. It also puts rotates your front output shaft at a higher angle, which puts more of a bad angle from the front driveshaft. It puts the mechanical fan closer to the radiator, which could result in a strike and it places your transfer case even lower to possibly get hit by rocks.

My advice is try it without the drop and if you get vibes, pony up and do the SYE. I bought the PORC one for around $200 and it has worked great!

 

[Purple People Eater]

My advice is try it without the drop and if you get vibes, pony up and do the SYE. I bought the PORC one for around $200 and it has worked great!

Yeah, I'll give it a shot. If I do man up and get the SYE, I have to invest in a new drive shaft then too, huh?

 

[ExpoMike]

Yeah, I'll give it a shot. If I do man up and get the SYE, I have to invest in a new drive shaft then too, huh?

Depending on what your specs are. If you are using a AW4/231 tranny/transfer combo AND a Chry. 8.25 rear end, you can use the front driveshaft in the rear. That is what I am doing and a lot of people on NAXJA. Nice thing with this combo is you use the same driveshaft on each end, you only need one spare to work in both.

Sneaky like Ninja I say. :wavey:

 

[Purple People Eater]

It's on...

The details are in my signature, I put it all on today. I'm exhausted, my hands are sore, and leaving black gunk all over the keyboard. I'll post some photos tomorrow, in the meantime here's a teaser:

 

[4Rescue]

Go for the OME, I'm in love with my stuff. There are custom shops out there that don't do half the good job that OME does. Out of the box that's better? Get serious. Go OME.

Cheers

Dave

Edit... Oh wait you did. Congrats and enjoy mate...

 

[Purple People Eater]

BUMMER

 

[AFSOC]

No Way! Say it isn't so.

 

[madizell]

Hopefully, the lift had nothing to do with the result.