Sagging OME leafs on XJ

[cnskate]

When I load up my XJ with camping and recovery gear my 3" HD OME becomes a 1 1/2" lift in back. Is that par for the course? I have a standard roof tent, Pull Pal and Hi lift right over the back axle, and about a 150 lbs of food and camping gear. An AAL was suggested, but that would impair the ride and add 3/4", which would require the installation of a SYE to reduce vibrations, costing about $700 total. I'm considering an airbag helper, but I don't have time to install it before my big summer trip.

My departure angel suffers and it looks kind of silly, and it's frustrating considering the expense of the system, but otherwise, I think the running gear seems to be real happy running low in the back. Need I worry?

 

[adrenaline503]

I ran Rubicon Express full leaf packs on my XJ and I sagged about the same amount when fully loaded. If you go higher, you will need to go the SYE route. I have never seen airbags on an XJ, I wonder if putting stress on the unibody frame rails would be a problem? The other route would be a custom leaf pack with a higher weight leaf spring rating. That probably didn't help much, but I do think your sag is par for the course

 

[cnskate]

This guy has an airbag write up: http://go.jeep-xj.info/. Tons of cool mods on that site.

He's tested his a bunch in the Aussie outback with no problems, although he beefed his up a bit. He also mentions that he has done stock installations that have worked fine.

 

[adrenaline503]

This guy has an airbag write up: http://go.jeep-xj.info/. Tons of cool mods on that site.

He's tested his a bunch in the Aussie outback with no problems, although he beefed his up a bit. He also mentions that he has done stock installations he has done that have worked fine.

I used to frequent that site a lot when I had my XJ. Thats really cool about the airbags, that would be a good route to go since they wont impact how the Jeep drives when empty. Sometime in the future I'll be putting a pair on my Frontier. My XJ frame did crack above the rear axle, I personally would recommend the reinforcement.

 

[cnskate]

What did it take to crack the frame? Big tires and ORV parks?

 

[IH8RDS]

Don't freak out about the SYE. If you have an automatic, you can use a front DS in the rear with a PORC SYE. I think it cost me $180 total. I would add the AAL and then the SYE I mentioned. I put it off for so long because of the price of new rear DS and SYE, but when I found out that I could do it for way cheaper, I wish I did it sooner.

 

[adrenaline503]

What did it take to crack the frame? Big tires and ORV parks?

No, I only had 31"s on there. Honestly, I have no idea what actually caused it, I washed the mud off one day and there it was, on both sides right where the frame arches above the rear axle. A few plates were welded on both sides and she was good to go. The shop I went to here in Seattle works with XJs a lot, and they had seen it happen quite a few times. Anyway, something to consider if you are going to throw a lot of money at it.

 

[ExpoMike]

I agree with the air bag route. That is what I am planning for my XJ. I just need to get out and flex everything up, so I can get measurements for compressed and extended lengths, then I will order up air bags. My problem is not only adding stuff in the XJ but towing the trailer behind it. The tongue weight adds more then just the gear alone.

 

[cnskate]

I agree with the air bag route. That is what I am planning for my XJ. I just need to get out and flex everything up, so I can get measurements for compressed and extended lengths, then I will order up air bags. My problem is not only adding stuff in the XJ but towing the trailer behind it. The tongue weight adds more then just the gear alone.

I'd be curious what airbag you end up buying since we have the same leafs.

 

[FshTaco99]

When I had my Xj I beat the piss out of it. I never experienced cracking of the rear section on the unibody. BUT, I've torn the steering box out of the front rail three times, and right before I put the forsale sign in it the apron started to pull away from the firewall. Unibody braces from T&T Customs saved my but. Add a C-Rok steering box brace for the mount, then the Rusty's brace for the pitman arm. I have no clue why the rear would start cracking though.