A few project completed on the Cherokee

ExpoMike

Well-known member
Well, for the most part, there hasn't been a lot being done outside of regular maintenance but over the couple months I finally got a coupe things done. Still have more to do, namely build my roof rack and then all the projects that come with that. Here are some pics of the couple things I have done.

First up, I removed my fab'ed bumper to install an ARB I got a deal on. Was a good deal but not a great deal but I had always wanted one and had been wanting to put a winch on. Got the winch from BIGDaddy. :victory:

One thing I never liked about ARB bumpers is the lack of real recovery points. I found a REALLY beefy setup made to add to ARB (or any plate bumper) but for the life of me cannot find the info of where I bought them from. (Sorry).

The backside "backup" plate. I had to turn the one bolt outward to clear the winch.
PICT5987.jpg


The front tie point. Serious beef!!! Had to notch the fairlead plate to clear them.
PICT5988.jpg


Everything mounted up but before the Master Pull syn. line was installed.
PICT5989.jpg


Little better pic. Tie points right next and in line with the frame plates.
PICT5990.jpg


Well with the additional weight (even with the syn. line) the front end was sitting lower by about 1.5-2". Knowing this was likely to happen, I had about some JKS ACOS to allow me to dial in the front height. Finally got some time to do this install. Overall when well and took me about 3 hours.

As it sat before replacing parts.
PICT6010.jpg


Spring and bump stop removed.
PICT6011.jpg


Removed the original isolator and 3/4" spacer.
PICT6012.jpg


You have to cut off the stock bump stop retainer and tap the hole left at the bottom. No pics of the tap, was busy at that time...
PICT6013.jpg


ACOS installed but prior to adjustment. New bump stop screws in from below, into the hole I tapped.
PICT6014.jpg


Everything installed and adjusted. Axle is still off the ground, hence the weird curve in the spring. It goes straight at right height.
PICT6015.jpg


Well, that's about it for this time. Future projects still pending but need to do that after Thanksgiving. Enjoy.
 

Root Moose

Expedition Leader
You'll save a few pounds when you replace the steel rollers with plastic ones. You can't use steel rollers on synth line apparently.
 

Stumpalump

Expedition Leader
Typical XJ flex that last photo shows. The front is soft and flexy and the rear is so stiff the Jeep leans. You should be level in that photo with equal amounts of flex but 99.8 % of the XJ's you see on the trail do the same thing. If you are happy then great but if you want to take it to the next level then get the rear dialed in only if you think you need too with extra leafs. Next remove the adjusting collar on your ACOS and install a Deaver light jeepspeed coil. They only come in a 5.5" lift so you cut it to match the rear height with a cutoff wheel. Once the height is perfect you screw the coller inside the spring to trap and hold the top of the coil in place. No more poping and clanging of the front spring and your spring is actually controlling the axle when either one or both sides are in full droop. Now you will have the same spring rate or close to it as the rear leaf pack and you suspension will be unlike most of the XJ's you will find and be balanced. Thats when the suspension magic begins and you will float like a butterfly on the trails and be way way safer during an evasive manuver on the road. I've got 10K in mods into a 98 XJ and by far the single best improvment I have done has been the Deaver coils trapped by the ACOS. Good price here if you get to that point: http://www.bajaconcepts.com/bajaracingproducts/index.cfm?go=deaverspring.cfm
 

ExpoMike

Well-known member
Actually the setup I have does work very well and flexs just fine. Here is a picture before I added the air bags to the rear to help with the changes I did on the trailer, which added some extra tongue weight. The air bags added some stiffness to the rear but completely elimiated the bottoming issue with the trailer connected and I can adjust the pressure depending on my load setup.

Prescott_trailer_testing_210.jpg


No issue with cross stuffing the axles. :D Good info though.
 

OttawaXJ

Observer
Actually the setup I have does work very well and flexs just fine. Here is a picture before I added the air bags to the rear to help with the changes I did on the trailer, which added some extra tongue weight. The air bags added some stiffness to the rear but completely elimiated the bottoming issue with the trailer connected and I can adjust the pressure depending on my load setup.

Prescott_trailer_testing_210.jpg


No issue with cross stuffing the axles. :D Good info though.

Its amazing the difference it makes to ditch the rear sway bar. First thing I did when I bought my XJ
 

ExpoMike

Well-known member
Its amazing the difference it makes to ditch the rear sway bar. First thing I did when I bought my XJ

hahaha... here's a pic, bone stock, no lift, street tires WITH rear sway bar but front one disconnected. BTW, yes I was stuck due to a very bad line picked. :Wow1:

PICT1227.jpg


I did remove the sway bar when I did the lift but in reality, it wasn't that big of an issue for flex. Front on the other hand... :elkgrin:
 

htek

Observer
Nice looking XJ, very clean. I have never paid that much attention to the ARB bumpers and was very surprised that it really doesn't have any recovery points... kinda blows me away.

I realize this statement is ancient history by now, but I have trouble letting it pass:
They only come in a 5.5" lift so you cut it to match the rear height with a cutoff wheel.

Cutting a coil changes the spring rate - not just the height. Doing so is generally a dumb idea (unless you want a stiffer spring).
 

ExpoMike

Well-known member
Yeah, it's an older design from ARB. I noticed most of the new styles have beefier recovery points.

Oh hey Brian... I didn't have to fab and weld on a bull bar. neener neener back at ya... :D
 

Forum statistics

Threads
189,845
Messages
2,921,494
Members
233,030
Latest member
Houie
Top