i finally did it

[superj]

i finally did it, bought an OME lift

I finally bit the bullet and bought a 2.5" ome lift with shocks for my yj. No more stock jeep look for me. I also finally bought carpet for the interior. All I have left is to fix the ac line and cruise control and everything will fixed on the ol yj.

Luckily, I have that 76 cj5 to tinker on now. I am really thinking of putting my 302 into that cj5 since the trans will bolt to the engine with only a ford bell housing needing to be swapped in and ford motor mounts.

 

[superj]

should be here monday

 

[TerryMason]

Cool, let us know how they ride.

I remember when I replaced the stock springs on my 85 CJ7 - it rode 100% better, just because the leaf springs weren't all rusted together and frozen.

 

[superj]

I have had ome before and they were nice. Real nice

 

[superj]

anxious to get off work!!! lift should be there when i get home

 

[TerryMason]

Be sure to take a bunch of photos.

 

[superj]

First pic!!!

Dash was guarding it for me. A guy had it on his cj for a few months but he decided he needed 4" of lift instead

 

[superj]

OK, here are the pre-lift pics with a tape measure.

Side shot

Driver front

Driver rear

Passenger rear

Passenger front

Passenger shot

 

[superj]

Some disassembly pics

Always use jack stands, your life/limbs are worth more then putting a lift on!

Use 2x12s to make a solid place for the jack stands. They are no good if they are going to tip over the first time you try and break a but free.

A stock front spring next to a 2.5 lift spring

Stock spring on the left, OME on the right

 

[superj]

When removing/installing, this bottom nut/bolt is one to remove

This nut/bolt must be removed also

You can remove this one or just loosen it. I am a fan of removing as little as possible so I just loosened.

This is another to remove to put the shocks on. Need the top one to but I forgot that pic. The top but is easy to find though, follow the shock up and use a 9/16ths wrench.

This is the underside of the u-bolt plate. Those four nuts must be removed to change the spring. I have the jack craddle covering the centering pin so you cannot see it but if you lay under your jeep and look under the spring, this is that area.

A little side note: unhook the air lines to the vacuum actuator or they will tear and your jeep will be two wheel drive for a while, like mine now is :/

 

[superj]

Here is the front springs swapped out and measurements taken.

This driver front after I drove down the street and tried to two wheel drive up the huge dirt hill from my normal pics

Passenger side front after driving around and wishing I hadn't torn those lines off the rubber plug.

New front shot with dog used as measuring device. Dash loves to be in film. He is a real ham

 

[greg92jeepxj]

Nice arc on those springs . Hope that means a comfortable rebound on and off road . Good boy Dash , keep an eye on daddy's jeep while he's at work . Maybe he'll let you take it out for test ! Woof !
I see a vacuum line repair kit in the works next .

 

[superj]

OME ride great. I am hoping to finish today after work and then go cruise around.

Yup, need a repair kit now. Bummed out that I forgot about that

 

[69jeepcj]

J. I noticed in your first disassembly pic that your front factory brake line is stretched tight, may want to look at that or get longer steel braided lines. I just happened to notice it.

 

[superj]

yes sir. i noticed it too. i am going to have to search and find what other make/model factory lines fit so i am not paying a ton of money. the passenger side really is the one that got taught, the driver's side didn't at all

 

[BaconYJ]

Looks great!

Bacon

 

[superj]

thanks.

 

[greg92jeepxj]

OME ride great. I am hoping to finish today after work and then go cruise around. Yup, need a repair kit now. Bummed out that I forgot about that

Well I'll take that from experience . When I get rear leaf springs for my cherokee , going to make them OME . Sorry about the vac line kit , but I know you'll get it. Up and running and taking out zombies ! I have a whole new appreciation for the YJ ! Perfectly capable vehicle , don't let 'em bad mouth the headlights.

 

[superj]

I like mine a lot more then our jku

 

[greg92jeepxj]

I remember when the JK 4 door debuted and when I saw the first one on the street . It grabbed me and I was excited over it.
The 2 door Wrangler is my favorite now of the two , but nothing will ever replace the CJ for me.