What XJ coils to go with for 2" of lift or so?

[97fordrunner]

So I am looking into lifting my 89 BII a little bit to give it a little more ground clearance, I am looking for 2" or 2.5" if I can get that aligned with new alighnment shims and I am looking into XJ coils and see that Skyjakcer makes a 3" lift coil for the XJ and was wondering if that would compress to much to lift it at all or if that would be tall enough. Also will any chevy drop shackle work or does it have to be a belltech? and How much drop are the rated for on the chevy's?

Thanks

 

[martin]

Getting the steering aligned with any kind of xj coils is quite a challenge. Even the stiffer of the xj coils are very soft when used on an rbv. That being said, I would guess you would get about 2 and a half inches of lift, but, with them being so soft you would probably be hitting the bumb stops all the time. You might be able to reduce the problem by double shocking, It gets quite involved making them work well and their biggest advantage is the amount of travel that is obtainable and I don't know if a couple of inches would give you enough advantage to make the trouble worth while. I'm not saying don't try it, I'm saying it's not a simple a bolt em in and go. Just my two cents.

 

[4x4junkie]

The 3" Skyjacker XJ coils should be good for 2.5" or so on your BII.

No, the drop shackle doesn't have to be BellTech brand... Any shackle of similar design should work.


Edit:
Why would the coils have anything to do with aligning the steering? That is purely a matter of making sure your pitman arm drop is the same amount that your lift is tall. Of course having the pitman arm matched up like that becomes much more crucial with softer coils...

 

[97fordrunner]

Thanks for the quick response guys. With the stock brackets and extended radius arms do you think it is possible to get the camber corrected with 2.5" lift? Also it will have double shocks on it. Again thanks for the quick response

 

[Will]

You want ground clearance? Why are you trying to use these springs?

I think you need the 3" drop brackets. You know how a wheel barrow is heavier when the rear is on the ground but get lighter after you lift it? The lift of these coils is only valid if the drop brackets are in the neighborhood of the coils. Also, you aren't going to see the wheel travel because your axle beam is too close to the bump stop--and even with double shocks you might spend a lot of time with the axle soldily thumping the bumpstop when you drive. I doubt you will be able to align it--I think 2.5* is the maximum bushing I could find. These don't use shims. I like things done right because then they tend to work without regret or compromise. I would buy cheap 3" brackets (try suspensionconnection.com) rather than try to mess with the stock ones. Or get the much cheaper daystar coil pads. But if you don't need 18" of wheel travel or whatever your truck will not be better by having it. A 3" body lift and a rear locker will get you through 90% of what a truck with 18" of travel and 2 lockers can do--and be much safer on the road.

 

[97fordrunner]

Pretty much looking to lift it and get a little flex out of it with out using the stiff leveling coils. I see what your saying about hitting the bumpstops, I didn't think about that. I already have a set of Daystar pads and I am kind of thinking I might go that way until I decide to lift it. Just looking for something easy and effective to get me by till then. Thanks for the input

 

[4x4junkie]

Yeah, you need at least 2.5" lift to use extended radius arms effectively. That will be pushing it on the stock brackets.
I'd get a set of 2-3" lift brackets and a standard drop pitman arm for a mild lift so you have a little more room to take advantage of the flex such coils can offer.

 

[97fordrunner]

Thanks guys, info well recieved and I am probably gonna do a 3" drop bracket and a coil that will net around 4" of flex lift after the memorial day run in Dresser WI