Lowering My Jeep?

keithgamble · 12-28-2006, 08:52 AM

I know this is odd, b/ all the threads I read people are lifting. I'm battling steering issues. I JUST picked this jeep up. I believe the jeep has a 2" or 3" shackle lift. Tire wise, I have 31x11.50x15's on it. there are flares on the fenders. If I take the lift off, do I have to worry about the tires scraping my wells? Also, does anyone have any idea what type of cost i'll be into IF i go back to the stock shackles (just part wise)? I'm trying to reach the guy I bought this off of to see if he still has the old parts but I don't think he was the one who lifted it. I know I need a steering box at the very least b/ the current one is worn out. Any help is appreciated.

**Joe Dillard** · 12-28-2006, 09:57 AM

To tell how tall a shackle lift is, you need to know 2 things.

1) Length of stock shackles (which is ~4" bolt hole to bolt hole)
2) Length of current shackles (again, bolt hole to bolt hole)

If the current shackles are 6" bolt hole to bolt hole, this means the shackles are 2" longer than stock, BUT 2" longer does not net you 2" of lift. It nets you 1" lift. Basically, divide in 1/2 the extra length the lift shackles give you over the stock length.

If they are 7" bolt hole to bolt hole, they would be 1.5" lift shackles.

Since you're running 31x11.50 tires, yes, you'll get some rubbing over bumps if the height is reduced.

One thing to keep inmind; your stock leafs (if they are stock) have probably started to sag. So this will contribute towards the tires becoming more likely to rub.

It's been almost 12 years since I bought my YJ. It was 100% stock suspension-wise back then, but had a set of 30x9.5 BFG A/T's on it. Those tires did sometimes rub over bumps & my suspension was only 4 years old at the time. Mine is a '91 which I purchased in '95.

**RockWoRM** · 12-28-2006, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keithgamble

Also, does anyone have any idea what type of cost i'll be into IF i go back to the stock shackles (just part wise)?
.

Check the 'free parts' or 'free stuff' sections in the forums... there could be lots of guys with stock parts laying around that would give them away for shipping costs.

also, if U have any amount of fab skills, shackles are pretty easy to make yourself... some good flat stock, cut to desired length and drill out the holes.

WoRM