IVIaverick,

I'm currently installing the 2.5" YJ to CJ conversion kit from 4WD. With shocks, including a new steering stabilizer shock, I spent about $1450 on everything.

The kit appears to come with quite a bit of hardware that I won't need. And the OME nitro-shocks that came are the wrong style to fit my CJ.

If I had to do it again, I would buy the parts individually, instead of the kit. You will need:

1. (4) springs with bushings and sleeves.

2. (4) shocks with eyelets at both ends. (The OME shocks I was sent, only have the eyelet of one side)

3. (2) shackle spacers for the very front shackles to accommodate the wider YJ spring. The rest of the stock CJ shackles work fine.

4. If you want it to all look new for a while, then order new U-bolts and mounting plates. If your current U-bolts and plates are in good shape, They should work with the OME springs.

5. I installed the rear break line spacer from the kit, but I'm not sure it was necessary.

That's about all I can think of, right now. I haven't tackled my fronts, yet, so there may be additional items that I haven't realized. Here's the link to my install thread:

http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f8/old-man-emu-2-5-yj-cj-suspension-install-1245523/

Matt

 

look at http://www.crabtreetool.com/jeep%20products.html
he make the hangers in the USA and can help you out

 

Thanks for the reply Matt and for the Link Tractor.

So, basically all I need to do is buy the CJ/YJ Front Hangers for $89 and then get 4 YJ Springs and 4 Shocks? I should be able to do that for a reasonable price, I would think.

Would it be better to buy a pre-assembled kit or buy the lift components separately? I know a lot of the lift kits normally come with subpar to mediocre shocks at best.

When buying Shocks, do I search for YJ Shocks or CJ Shocks?

Thanks for the help!!!

 

You'll need YJ spring plates also, as the Ubolt holes on the CJ plates are narrower. The problem you run into there is the YJ plates have only one pin for the sway bar, and that won't work if your CJ has the sway bar and shock attached to the plate. I was lucky as my shock attaches to the axle and I only need the pin for the sway bar.

As far as buying as a kit, or piecemeal, I just bought parts here and there, instead of a kit. It would be nice to have it all delivered to you at once, but it wasn't that difficult to figure out what was needed and order it. I probably have only $150 in the whole setup compared to the prices of the kits.

 

There are a couple of good posts on doing the conversion so you might want to search for those. (I'd give you the link but I'm at the in laws' for Thanksgiving and don't know how to do that on my phone.)

The YJ springs are longer too so you should move the front hanger forward. Look for Crabtree hangers that don't require removing the frame rivet and leave room to remount the bumper.

 

To put YJ springs on the front of a CJ7 you have to move the front hangar forward 1" as well as do all that other stuff.

 

I'm getting ready to install BDS YJ 5" springs under my CJ which has had a 4" lift on it for many years. I found a heck of a deal on YJ rubicon express spring plates on ebay. Crabtree makes some nice stuff but I think I may go with the M.O.R.E. spring hangers for $72 a pair at 4wd. If you use all YJ bushings which are 1 1/4" compared to CJ's 1" you may want to change the rear spring hangers also. You should stay with CJ shocks because IIRC the YJ shocks mount different. also don't forget that the front shackle needs to be for 2 1/2" wide springs. There is a conversion shackle available but to me it just doesn't look right.

 

If you piece together a kit do you need yj ubolts? Or is there even a difference? I know yj dana 30s are different and some are offset to the driver side rather than passenger, but I don't really know if that matters. I assume they still have 1 larger u-bolt to go over the thicker differential part. So: cj or yj u-bolts for the conversion?

 

Has anyone ever tried installing stock yj takeoff springs that someone took off to swap in bigger ones? Or tried piecing together the kit using used parts?

Also, has anyone tried installing yj springs on a cj with 1.75" wide springs and spent the time and money swapping out the spring perches?