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Jeep springs on a tracker?

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Offline jimmytrackerpower

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Jeep springs on a tracker?
« on: September 28, 2004, 08:12:22 AM »
I have a 96' tracker and I was wondering If anyone has put Jeep Coil springs under their rig? And if so how difficult was it? Any info would be great.
thanks,
jimmy ??? ???
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spinaltap

Re: Jeep springs on a tracker?
« Reply #1 on: September 28, 2004, 09:32:06 AM »
Quote
I have a 96' tracker and I was wondering If anyone has put Jeep Coil springs under their rig? And if so how difficult was it? Any info would be great.
thanks,
jimmy ??? ???


You'll have to do a search but I believe the Heep springs are too soft to use on a Tracker  ???
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Offline wildgoody

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Re: Jeep springs on a tracker?
« Reply #2 on: September 28, 2004, 11:56:41 AM »
fronts are too soft, rears work ok
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Offline hcgalvin

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Re: Jeep springs on a tracker?
« Reply #3 on: September 28, 2004, 11:59:19 AM »
....

Now this depends on what jeeps you are talking about.

I've run Jeep TJ FRONTS in the rear of my truck, and they worked great for me. When I needed more height, I went to the lifted TJ springs from BDS.

Course don't forget you'll want to go wtih longer shocks too...

They're a little large over the spring cup, but if you have access to a buddy with a press, they can be closed up to work for you.

A friend is running Jeep XJ's in the back of his, and he didn't close them up. They worked fine.

Heather

« Last Edit: September 28, 2004, 12:00:27 PM by hcgalvin »
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Heather Galvin
2005 GV with Zuki Nation 4.5" Lift.
Sidekick's gone... Still have Bob's Knob.
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Offline Bfunk

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Re: Jeep springs on a tracker?
« Reply #4 on: September 28, 2004, 05:48:38 PM »
Quote
....

Now this depends on what jeeps you are talking about.

I've run Jeep TJ FRONTS in the rear of my truck, and they worked great for me. When I needed more height, I went to the lifted TJ springs from BDS.

Course don't forget you'll want to go wtih longer shocks too...

They're a little large over the spring cup, but if you have access to a buddy with a press, they can be closed up to work for you.

A friend is running Jeep XJ's in the back of his, and he didn't close them up. They worked fine.

Heather


Aren't yours on a solid axle?  going from a solid axle to an arm will change the amount of leverage big time.
Brian
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Offline jimmytrackerpower

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Re: Jeep springs on a tracker?
« Reply #5 on: September 28, 2004, 10:46:57 PM »
Since I have an a-arm set-up do I eliminate the strut and mount a shock? Or do Jeep springs work with my stock struts?
thanks
jimmy
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Offline Zukipilot

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Re: Jeep springs on a tracker?
« Reply #6 on: September 28, 2004, 11:00:44 PM »
Unless you build an upper control arm you wont be able to just replace the Strut with a Shock. If you can find the correct spring rate on a spring that will clear the strut it should be fine.

Question: Why ??? use Jeep coils instead of Kick coils or aftermarket lift coils that are made for the Kick?

Zig
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Offline jimmytrackerpower

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Re: Jeep springs on a tracker?
« Reply #7 on: September 28, 2004, 11:10:24 PM »
from my research there are more Jeeps parts around than Track/Kick parts and they pretty cheap on Ebay.
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Offline hcgalvin

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Re: Jeep springs on a tracker?
« Reply #8 on: September 29, 2004, 01:37:44 AM »
Quote

Aren't yours on a solid axle?  going from a solid axle to an arm will change the amount of leverage big time.
Brian


No.. YJ's are, LEAFS :)

When I was still IFS, yes, I did use Jeep TJ springs.

http://www.whitepineclub.com/members/kd7hcg/pictures/springs/index.htm



You can't use the Jeep TJ or XJ springs on the front, they are way too big. Your best bet would be to find I think somebody said Ford ranger or explorer front springs for the front? I just used some longer springs out of an auto spring salvage pile for my fronts back in the day.

:)

Heather
« Last Edit: September 29, 2004, 01:39:48 AM by hcgalvin »
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Heather Galvin
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Sidekick's gone... Still have Bob's Knob.
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Offline whitfield

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Re: Jeep springs on a tracker?
« Reply #9 on: September 29, 2004, 02:13:49 AM »
Yes I have done the Jeep spring on the front of a Track/Kick.  Here is a repost of the results below.  


Since Zuwharie I have been collecting coil springs to replace the GV coils on the front of my Kick.  I custom fabbed the IFS suspension to drop 4" and then Installed a pair of GV V-6 front coils with a Jeep Cherokee Coil spacer and a .5" thick ring (Piece of hard plactic / cutting board).   I now have 3 sets of Jeep Coil springs (unknown applications TJ & XJ and  a set of Like new Sammy Coils.  Well chatting on the BBS about Tracker Lifts and having to go cut grass around my dead Kick.  Got me itchin to check out the coils I've been collecting.  The GV coils and coil spacer did not give me the lift I expected so Installing longer coils seem like the next best answer.   If only it were that EASY...  



GV Front coils (2wd V-6) compared to stock 4-door Front Coils (Rears are the same size).



Fronts standing upright  to give a better ideia of height differance.  GV coils have one more wrap.



Jeep Tj Coils compared to GV 4-door coils  4.25" longer (But smaller Dia wire with similar # of wraps...   Hmmm ???  :-\\\\ )


TJ coils inplace of the GV ones...


Desired 4-dr ride hight / stance.  Ok maybe not quite that high (tires are off of the ground), But close...   [naughty]



But once down off of the Jack stands ...  THe coils compress to the bump stops.   [crying] [crying] [crying]   THe A-Arms act as a leaver requiring a much greater spring rate.  

I need a list of coil spring rates for OEM vehicles springs...  

I am now running Explorer +2" coils up front and the TJ coils in the back.

You might check into Ford Ranger 4wd coils.  



The coils pictured here are stock 4dr, Vitara V-6 2wd 4dr, Ranger 4wd std cab, and Explorer 2wd +2"...


« Last Edit: September 29, 2004, 03:27:37 AM by whitfield »
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Offline jimmytrackerpower

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Re: Jeep springs on a tracker?
« Reply #10 on: September 29, 2004, 03:31:56 AM »
Thanks for all the pics and info this forum is just great. Can I install these springs without any other mods needed? All I have is 3" body lift w/30" BF's
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Offline whitfield

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Re: Jeep springs on a tracker?
« Reply #11 on: September 29, 2004, 03:56:18 AM »
No,  Alignment will be an issue and many shops will not want to do custom work.

You will need to look at the Strut legnth (Custom Drop / mount flip), A-arm angle, CV geometry, and steering.  

Also depends on what you are running them on.  
GV's on a 2 dr, or rangers on a 4-door, might work and live but getting the proper alignment of the front end will take some doing, you would need some one trained in the art of alignment, not just a by the book #'s guy.




A word of caution:

My 4-dr Kick is heavily modified, I have not yet tried these coils on stock applications.  My ideias are just dangerous enough to get you in over your head, so proceed with caution and realize that you might be breaking new ground, do not toy with your daily driver, But if it's a trail rig then give it a go.  Ã‚   

Also ranger coils are not an exact fit.  They are much bigger.  To fit them you need to cut 1" off of the small end and flip the coil so the small end goes into the upper spring bucket.  The lowers will work ok but will be larger then the stock lower spring position.   I'm also looking to try Ranger 4wd Ext cab coils, and stock Explorer 4wd coils.  I just have not found those coils cheap yet.
« Last Edit: September 29, 2004, 04:48:08 AM by whitfield »
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Offline Bfunk

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Re: Jeep springs on a tracker?
« Reply #12 on: September 30, 2004, 05:41:52 PM »
Does anyone know how long stock XJ coils are ???  Just trying to get out of a trip to local wrecking yard.
Brian
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Offline jagular7

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Re: Jeep springs on a tracker?
« Reply #13 on: October 03, 2004, 03:17:49 PM »
I don't have the XJ's spring #'s, but I have some for the ZJ springs. A friend has a ZJ with a 3" lift so I borrowed his stock springs today to do a comparison. Pics forthcoming.

#'s:

XL7 coil height, unloaded - 12.75" front
ZJ coil height, unloaded - 17.5" front, 14" rear (id: front - 5208 9141, rear - 5208 9145)

XL7 coil height, loaded - 8.5" front

Wire Diameter:  XL7 - 1/2" front, ZJ - 9/16" front/rear
Spring Diameter O: XL7 - 3-3/4" front, ZJ - 4-5/8" front/rear

Bump Stop Mount diameter: XL7 - 2-1/4", ZJ - 2".
Distance from arm rear mout bolt to center of spring pad: XL7 - ~9".

I was able to place the ZJ front coil onto the lower control arm to see about fit. The coil wrap sits on the outside edge of the coil cavity in the arm. Then I wasn't able to get the front coil to work with the bump stop mount. Same for the ZJ rear coil going up front on XL7. I was not able to get either ZJ coil to be placed into the arm and swing up into position. It was all I could do to remove the stock coil.
In review of the swing arm, it appears the bushings are not rotating and thus create torsional tension on the movement of the arm.

Also took measurements of Pro Comps 5-1/2" lift coils for a Ford Ranger: 3/4" diameter wire, 4-1/4" spring diameter O, 19" free height.
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