Not much lift from RC 4.5" to 6.5"

[Mudderoy]

This weekend I replaced some 4.5" Rough Country coils with 6.5" (NEW) Rough Country coils I measured from the ground to the first bend in the fender with the 5 year old 4.5 coils then same spot 3 hours later once the 6.5" coils were installed.

I saw a increase of 1.25 inches!!! I dropped the 4.5" leaf springs from the 2nd notch on the RC shackles to the last notch (or hole) should have been a 1" increase, I saw a 1/8" increase. Has anyone else seen this when increasing your lift size? Did you figure out why this happened?

[4.3LXJ]

Not all coils are created equal. I have some 6" Skyjacker coils that go to 7"+ on my rig. They just don't come out the same. As far as the rear shackles go, you are changing the angle of the spring and pushing harder on the rear part, which is the longest part and it is probably overpowering it a bit

[Mudderoy]

Not all coils are created equal. I have some 6" Skyjacker coils that go to 7"+ on my rig. They just don't come out the same. As far as the rear shackles go, you are changing the angle of the spring and pushing harder on the rear part, which is the longest part and it is probably overpowering it a bit

That makes sense to me Steve, but I would expect that going from a RC 4.5" coil to a RC 6.5" coil would net me 2 inches of lift. Same place and you would think they would make sure that a 6.5" coil would increase your lift by 2" or more. Actually I would expect more than 2" of lift due to one set of coils being 5 years old and the other brand spanking new.

You guys may find this picture interesting...

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[denverd1]

those springs look identical

[Mudderoy]

those springs look identical

Yep they do. I checked the Rough Country box to double check the label, 6.5"

If you notice carefully the "red" coil (which I painted) actually has 1 more turn than the 6.5" coil!!!! :crazy:

[4.3LXJ]

The more turns given the same wire diameter, the less the spring rate and thus the lower it will sit.

[denverd1]

^That makes sense. Still one would think that uncompressed there would be an obvious difference

[4.3LXJ]

Intuitively, yes. But an issue from a design standpoint is that a higher spring rate gives more stability on the highway. Also there is the tie rode end angle thing too. The same length gives some safety there and lowers their responsibility from the angle of law suits for bad design.

[Mudderoy]

The more turns given the same wire diameter, the less the spring rate and thus the lower it will sit.

Great! So that means the 4.5" coils have a higher spring rate... geez!

So does this make sense to you that what I have here is a 4.5 and 6.5" coil for a Jeep Cherokee?

[4.3LXJ]

I am not convinced you have a 6.5" coil yet. You have to measure from the hub to the crease in the fender. I have it posted. I included the flare and crease for those with trimmed fenders

[Mudderoy]

I am not convinced you have a 6.5" coil yet. You have to measure from the hub to the crease in the fender. I have it posted. I included the flare and crease for those with trimmed fenders

The same crease I measured?

[4.3LXJ]

Yes, but you need to measure from the center of the hub

[Mudderoy]

Well I found this... 6.5" RC coils

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/241293_10151194719205926_1330602458_o.jpg

Loop count is the same...

[Mudderoy]

And here is a set of 4.5" RC coils...

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e73/muddeprived/cherokee/THE%20LAST%20ONE/DSCF6766.jpg

[XJ Wheeler]

Well, its even worse than that Tony. Where you measured (being further out than the springs) technically exaggerated your change in height. Its realistically less than 1.25" front / 1/8" rear you gained.

[SeniorGustas]

if your looking to sell those 4.5 inch coils PM me!

[SeniorGustas]

and or the lower control arms

[Mudderoy]

Center hub to first bend on fenders. Front 28.5 and rear 30.75 (approx.)

So in another post Steve wrote...


But many have trimmed their fenders and cannot use this method. The alternative is to measure to the first seam or bend above the flares. The distances are:

22 1/2" front
25" rear


So 6" front and 5.75" rear which means I was at 4.75" front and 5.5" rear with the 4.5" lift and 5.5" lift in rear.

After speaking to Ironman Andy today he recommended the ULTIMATE SHACKLE RELOCATION BRACKETS. JEEP XJ

http://ironman4x4fab.com/Products/images/STD-SRB-R_small.jpg

Said it would give me a 1.5" lift over stock and if I needed more I could measure and he'd build me the right sized shackles. :D

So I placed my order and now I want to know why it's not here already! You guys know the drill. :popcorn:

Andy also told me something I failed to think of. What angle are the shackles? Duh! If the shackle is straight up and down that would provide the most lift. At an angle the lift amount will decrease.

It doesn't get much straighter than this.
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[Mudderoy]

So at this point it looks like the answer was the 4.5" lift gave more than expected and the 6.5" lift gave a little less.

[bigjim350]

6.5" coils plus all that extra weight you have on the front, equaling 6" lift, is pretty good.

[Mudderoy]

6.5" coils plus all that extra weight you have on the front, equaling 6" lift, is pretty good.

Matt sent me some measurements of his and I'm 1/4" lower in front and 1" lower in back. We figured it must be bumper weight since he's running a winch and spare tire as well. Although I still think 1" lower in the rear is excessive, but I installed new coils, not new leaves.

I bet the ULTIMATE SHACKLE RELOCATION BRACKETS from Ironman Andy will take care of it.

[bigjim350]

RC doesnt have the best quality leafs. Plus Matt's leafs are brand new and still havent settled yet. I bet they will come down a 1/2" or so over the next few months. I think your leafs are right where they should be, due to there age and the weight on them. But yeah those relocation brackets will get you up where you wanna be. Plus the shackle angle you have isnt very good, and the brackets will take care of that and make it ride even smoother.

[Mudderoy]

Andy is the man. We spoke on the phone recently and I told him about how I lifted the front and the back, but didn't seem much increase in the rear. I didn't see much in the front either, but after comparing measurements, it seems to be right.

Anyway he suggested his shackle relocation brackets, probably repeating myself.

They came in yesterday and since these gots to be really easy to install I didn't something I don't normally do, I installed Jeep parts on a school night!

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I couldn't get ONE stinking bolt to thread, and Josh and I had a show to do last night "Tony And Josh Show" so I quickly finished up, showered and did the show.

I didn't take any pictures of the results until this afternoon after work.

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I'm a little concerned about how flat this leaf spring is.

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For those of you keeping score at home. I have the Ironman4x4fab.com shackle relocation brackets, the Rough Country 2" shackles, and the Rough Country 4.5" Leaf Springs that are about 4 years old.

[Mudderoy]

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