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I would contact www.rocky-road.com on the issue of wether the OME shocks work for a CJ or not...these guys seem to be the most knowledgeable reagrding putting an OME YJ kit on a CJ.
another 2 cents
another 2 cents
Old Man EMU 2.5" YJ to CJ Suspension Install
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I did Bilstein 5100. Got the part numbers from ok4wd if you want them. I dig the stainless with the black rubber boot over the yellow OMEs.
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I'm interested in this kit, too. It sounds like the new front shackle hanger is mounted forward of the stock location. Does that mean the front axle is moved forward as well? If I moved my axle forward even one inch, the sway bar links would be grinding against the housing, and I happen to like my sway bar for the highway. How about driveshaft length? I want to know all this before I drop the money, which is kinda tight these days.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I've been told that Old Man Emu doesn't make any parts for a CJ. The catalogs sell kits with OME springs and their own hardware to convert YJ springs to CJ vehicles. That would explain the incompatible shocks.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I've been told that Old Man Emu doesn't make any parts for a CJ. The catalogs sell kits with OME springs and their own hardware to convert YJ springs to CJ vehicles. That would explain the incompatible shocks.
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My kit is going as planned.....no problems yet. The front hangers mount about 1" farther forward than the OE ones because the YJ leaf is a little longer, about an inch. I don't think it will move the front axle that much farther forward, maybe .25-.50" at most. And I would use the OE YJ shackles due to the additional length of the leaf....which is what OK4wd recommends and sells with their kits. I picked mine up for free.....a wire brush and some chassis black and they looked new. And yes......the shocks should have eyelets at both ends.
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You are correct. If you call them and ask any questions about a CJ, they have no idea, unless you ask for TR Burris. If you want, I can give you a complete parts list, including the correct shocks (Bilsteins).
JKS the disconnect people used to sell OME. They had a nice kit that they put together. If you call them they can still probably still put together a list of all the part numbers you need.
They do make shocks for the CJ.
I believe that they are Part #N95. Have to go out to the garage in the AM and check for sure but they were designed to work with a 2" lift on the CJ.
Carl
They do make shocks for the CJ.
I believe that they are Part #N95. Have to go out to the garage in the AM and check for sure but they were designed to work with a 2" lift on the CJ.
Carl
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Matt....nice original paint and decal CJ you have there.....here is mine before it went under the knife for the lift....still waiting to see the end result.
I will put up pics after the lift is on for a before and after comparison.
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I will put up pics after the lift is on for a before and after comparison.
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Another day, another hold up....
You guys were absolutely correct. The stock front Cj shackles won't work with the wider YJ springs and conversion spacer because the bolts are too short. If you want to use the stock shackles in front, you need to buy (4) 1/2" x 4.5" bolts with nuts.
Also, if you want new bushings and sleeves all the way around , you need (2) sleeves per shackle, for a total of (8) sleeves. The kit from 4WD only came with (4) shackle sleeves. So you need to order (4) more.
Four bolts and sleeves are darn cheaper than buying new shackles, but the delays and cost of finding those parts probably make it a wash. If I were to do it again, I'd buy the OME YJ shackles.
My Ol' Girl is still in pieces in the garage, so I don't have much else to share. I hope to find the extra sleeves I need in town, tomorrow...I'm sure that will turn into a treasure hunt like everything else on this thing.
Last note for the evening: OME does make an appropriate shock for the CJ. Apparently, there was a part # mistake at 4WD, and that's why I received the wrong ones...so they say. Anyway, I'm supposed to get the correct ones on Monday or Tuesday.
Matt
You guys were absolutely correct. The stock front Cj shackles won't work with the wider YJ springs and conversion spacer because the bolts are too short. If you want to use the stock shackles in front, you need to buy (4) 1/2" x 4.5" bolts with nuts.
Also, if you want new bushings and sleeves all the way around , you need (2) sleeves per shackle, for a total of (8) sleeves. The kit from 4WD only came with (4) shackle sleeves. So you need to order (4) more.
Four bolts and sleeves are darn cheaper than buying new shackles, but the delays and cost of finding those parts probably make it a wash. If I were to do it again, I'd buy the OME YJ shackles.
My Ol' Girl is still in pieces in the garage, so I don't have much else to share. I hope to find the extra sleeves I need in town, tomorrow...I'm sure that will turn into a treasure hunt like everything else on this thing.
Last note for the evening: OME does make an appropriate shock for the CJ. Apparently, there was a part # mistake at 4WD, and that's why I received the wrong ones...so they say. Anyway, I'm supposed to get the correct ones on Monday or Tuesday.
Matt
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Looking at the bags of OME bushings, are the extra 2 per bag for the hanger?
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Yes, there are extra bushings for the hangers in those bags, but only one sleeve for the larger end of the spring.
My kit included (4) additional sleeves, in a separate hardware pack, that work for the small ends, but you need (8) total if you want new all the way around.
85LaredoCJ7, thanks, that's a fine Laredo you have, as well. What kind of surgery are you doing to her?
Matt
My kit included (4) additional sleeves, in a separate hardware pack, that work for the small ends, but you need (8) total if you want new all the way around.
85LaredoCJ7, thanks, that's a fine Laredo you have, as well. What kind of surgery are you doing to her?
Matt
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Uhh...its getting the OME lift done, HD tie rod and drag link flip, and HD steering box brace. Having the front axle stripped down and re-painted while its out as well.
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85LaredoCJ7,
Nice. I should probably look into replacing some of my steering components, as well. It's all straight, and the bushings are all intact, but they are getting a little sloppy.
Will you run a steering stabilizer shock with that setup?
It's looks like I'll need a special tool for that exercise, as well, eh?
The Ol' Girl's bumper got a facelift this morning.
Matt
Nice. I should probably look into replacing some of my steering components, as well. It's all straight, and the bushings are all intact, but they are getting a little sloppy.
Will you run a steering stabilizer shock with that setup?
It's looks like I'll need a special tool for that exercise, as well, eh?
The Ol' Girl's bumper got a facelift this morning.
Matt
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Yeah....will be running a new stabilizer as well. You can buy the flip kit from ok4wd. It comes with the 3 sleeves for the bottom part of the hole for the TR and DL, and the reemer.
I am going to be going with a new front bumper. Something small and simple. I guess the Laredo bumper will be going to the stash of OE parts in the garage taking up space. I thought about trimming up the Laredo bumper......but don't have the heart.
I am going to be going with a new front bumper. Something small and simple. I guess the Laredo bumper will be going to the stash of OE parts in the garage taking up space
. I thought about trimming up the Laredo bumper......but don't have the heart.
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you guys both are doing a bang up job on the suspension lifts...a pain now but well worth it in the end. One suggestion I would make is to beef up your shackle hangers with Crabtree Shackle hangers. He is here on the forum, I just put his hangers on my CJ and pound for pound they have to be the strongest part on my Jeep!
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Thanks for the kind word, mvigo, and the tip about the shackles.
I got the front springs on, today, and they look awesome!! Here's a recap:
Picture #1 - The hardest part on the fronts was grinding the frame rivets, and punching them out, to accommodate the new shackle mounts.
Picture #2 - Front shackle installed using the stock shackles and longer bolts.
Picture #3 - I was mistaken earlier. I did have to do a little grinding on the front pumpkin so that the inside passenger U-bolt would fit.
Picture#4 - A little touchup paint took care of that.
Picture #5 - Back on the wheels...minus shocks, of course.
I got the front springs on, today, and they look awesome!! Here's a recap:
Picture #1 - The hardest part on the fronts was grinding the frame rivets, and punching them out, to accommodate the new shackle mounts.
Picture #2 - Front shackle installed using the stock shackles and longer bolts.
Picture #3 - I was mistaken earlier. I did have to do a little grinding on the front pumpkin so that the inside passenger U-bolt would fit.
Picture#4 - A little touchup paint took care of that.
Picture #5 - Back on the wheels...minus shocks, of course.
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Nicely done!
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Hey 85LaredoCJ7,
I see we have the same winch. I'm not sure how yours mounts, but I had to pull mine to remove the bumper...Good grief, I had forgotten how friggen heavy those old beasts are!!
Anyway, I wanted the readers to know that my old springs sagged noticeably from the weight of the winch. When I lifted it off, the front end came up probably an inch! After the lift, when I reinstalled the winch, the front didn't move at all with the heavy OME springs. Nice!
The other thing I noticed, when taking the Ol' Girl off the jack stands, was how much more flex there is in the system. I have to jack her up a good 8-10" higher in order to get the wheels off the ground.
I'm holding off driving her until I get the shocks on. With any luck they'll arrive, today. I''ll post "after" pics, and a complete parts list, when I'm done.
Lastly, I cannot recommend buying 4WD's version of this lift. I've already shared the screw-up over the shocks and missing parts (shackle sleeves). The final straw came yesterday when I realized they sent me the wrong steering stabilizer shock, too!! The irony is it's the exact opposite problem I had with the regular shocks. I need one that has an eyelet at one end and a post at the other. They sent me one with eyelets at both ends. AAArrrggghhh!!
Fortunately, my Jeep isn't a DD, so the delays are a little easier to swallow.
Matt
I see we have the same winch. I'm not sure how yours mounts, but I had to pull mine to remove the bumper...Good grief, I had forgotten how friggen heavy those old beasts are!!
Anyway, I wanted the readers to know that my old springs sagged noticeably from the weight of the winch. When I lifted it off, the front end came up probably an inch! After the lift, when I reinstalled the winch, the front didn't move at all with the heavy OME springs. Nice!
The other thing I noticed, when taking the Ol' Girl off the jack stands, was how much more flex there is in the system. I have to jack her up a good 8-10" higher in order to get the wheels off the ground.
I'm holding off driving her until I get the shocks on. With any luck they'll arrive, today. I''ll post "after" pics, and a complete parts list, when I'm done.
Lastly, I cannot recommend buying 4WD's version of this lift. I've already shared the screw-up over the shocks and missing parts (shackle sleeves). The final straw came yesterday when I realized they sent me the wrong steering stabilizer shock, too!! The irony is it's the exact opposite problem I had with the regular shocks. I need one that has an eyelet at one end and a post at the other. They sent me one with eyelets at both ends. AAArrrggghhh!!
Fortunately, my Jeep isn't a DD, so the delays are a little easier to swallow.
Matt
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Oh yes.......I know all about the removal of the winch to get the front bumper off.....and that is one heavy son of a *****! As far as the kit goes, we ordered everything separately because I wanted Bilstein 5100 shocks. We also did the greasable shackle bolts as well. Did you get brake lines?
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No brake lines, only a spacer for the existing rear. There are two more similar spacers in the kit, but the instructions didn't mention where they are to be used.
There's also a small box that says "T-case drop kit". It contains several spacers and new bolts, but again, the instructions say nothing about it.
Did you have to drop your t-case?
Matt
There's also a small box that says "T-case drop kit". It contains several spacers and new bolts, but again, the instructions say nothing about it.
Did you have to drop your t-case?
Matt
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I didn't drop my T-case. It's sort of optional. This is one of the reasons why I stayed away from the kits and parted everything myself. I knew there would be stuff I was paying for that would end up not being used.
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