Please Suggest Best Shocks and Leaf Springs for CJs

[SherDil]

AOA,

I have a CJ5 and its ride is quite hard, even if compared to other CJs. I know it can never feel like a Cadillac, but it should not perform so hard either. Please suggest me part replacement OR modifications to existing leaf springs, which you think can do the job. I've heard that Rancho shocks are best in the market, can anyone tell their price and as to where they can be bought from?

Also, there is a play in steering, about quarter circle, it is running on genuine steering box. I took it to a senior jeep mechanic who suggested me to replace it. He told me not to use power steering but use the genuine one. He said that the steering setting nuts near the front bumpers are already tightened to the end and no more room is left for further setting. Can I get rid of this steering play using the same steering box?

thanks.

[saadwm38]

AOA,

I have a CJ5 and its ride is quite hard, even if compared to other CJs. I know it can never feel like a Cadillac, but it should not perform so hard either. Please suggest me part replacement OR modifications to existing leaf springs, which you think can do the job. I've heard that Rancho shocks are best in the market, can anyone tell their price and as to where they can be bought from?

Also, there is a play in steering, about quarter circle, it is running on genuine steering box. I took it to a senior jeep mechanic who suggested me to replace it. He told me not to use power steering but use the genuine one. He said that the steering setting nuts near the front bumpers are already tightened to the end and no more room is left for further setting. Can I get rid of this steering play using the same steering box?

thanks.

Hi,

For the hard suspension, u cam use original leaf springs and can have them curved via any Kamani wala for proper setting, however if you are running aftermarket leafsprings then maybe you can cut down on the number of leaf springs as it will make the ride soft. You may install Gabriel or KYB dampers as they perform pretty good both on and off road, i got Gabriel damper at 1200 each from Mehmood Sons at Garden, Karachi.

For the steering issue, we all face the same problem, i myself own a 52'Willys and in order to resolve this issue people are changing the original steering box with that of a 40 Series Landcruiser. The only downside to this alteration is that the TLC steering box is fitted outside the front grill on the chasis, in this way it is directly exposed to water and other elements, secondly a small hole will be made in the front grill right below the front driver side indicator light from where the steering rod will protrude and join the steering box at the fron. But anyways works really well, there are a few mechanics who perform this alteration quite well. I myself am planning to go for this.

[SherDil]

Hi,

For the hard suspension, u cam use original leaf springs and can have them curved via any Kamani wala for proper setting, however if you are running aftermarket leafsprings then maybe you can cut down on the number of leaf springs as it will make the ride soft. You may install Gabriel or KYB dampers as they perform pretty good both on and off road, i got Gabriel damper at 1200 each from Mehmood Sons at Garden, Karachi.

For the steering issue, we all face the same problem, i myself own a 52'Willys and in order to resolve this issue people are changing the original steering box with that of a 40 Series Landcruiser. The only downside to this alteration is that the TLC steering box is fitted outside the front grill on the chasis, in this way it is directly exposed to water and other elements, secondly a small hole will be made in the front grill right below the front driver side indicator light from where the steering rod will protrude and join the steering box at the fron. But anyways works really well, there are a few mechanics who perform this alteration quite well. I myself am planning to go for this.

Dear Saad, thank you very much for your experience based input to my issues, I will definitely look into them and will try to implement them, thanks.