Lowering my ZJ Any problems ????????

[exdecuk]

I have read loads of posts regarding different problems encountered regarding lifts but I like a number of others (if only they would speak up) like to go the lowered route. Can anyone who may have gone down this route point out any pitfalls to watch for. Obviously as soon as you go up or down the suspension and driveline geomery changes but enough to worry about ? Wider wheels and tyres rubbing etc. I have enough trouble parking in multi-storey car parks at present so going lower will be a positive move, plus I will be able to get my ladders on the roof easier !!!

Thoughts and pics please !!!!!!!!!!!!

Martin.

[ALWJ]

I doubt you'll have any problems. Might need shorter shocks but I doubt it. Might have to shave some of the bumpstops too. You won't encounter many (if any) problems lowering it... other than the guys on JU tearing you a new *******

[PhoenixJGC]

Search for JU members "TheBK" and "Oceanhunt". Both have some really nice looking lowered rigs.

About the guys on JU tearing you a new one, who gives a poop? Well all know what opinions are like....

[gbgary]

oceanhut

[Rensho]

I have some new Eibach lowering springs, NIB, if you are interested. I bought them but never got around to lowering it.

SJ, CA

[reggelv]

Suggest you look at this article on JU ....

http://www.jeepsunlimited.com/zj/rigs/acabrera.htm

[Puma297]

"Lowering my ZJ Any problems ???????"

See above for only problem

[LowriderWJ]

-=- originally posted by Puma297 -=-
98 4.0 -- 3 cylinder, APC racing muffler, APC racing strips, APC racing cupholders, APC racing ashtray, 1 hella, custom purple tint, 1.92 gears, D14 front and rear axles, aiwa car adapter CD player, walmart wheel covers w/ simulated disc brakes.
See above for only problem

HAHA!!! :loopyeye: :spinhead: :laugh:

[Jim Hef]

It's been posted in the past that the Eibach springs are somewhat harsh, and definitely need to have the stops chopped or you'll have clunking problems. The latest ones I believe have been redesigned, but you'd need to contact Kolak to discuss the proper part numbers. If you can find a set of Hotchkis sport springs, which are no longer available, you'd be better off. They only lower the vehicle about 1", and are meant as "handling" springs, and offer a very compliant ride without the choppiness of the normal lowering springs. You'll also want to install the Addco anti-sway bars to complete the package.

[exdecuk]

I have decided on the place for my other arsehole (thanks ALWJ) which should look unique, but getting back to the topic in hand I was looking to go more towards 2 or 3 inches lower. I am running Pirelli Scorpion 255/65/16 with 6mm spacers just to stop any rubbing. I have a suspension place near me who actually make them so what I would need is the physical dimensions eg. thickness of coil, spring rates back and front etc. Would I still be OK on the shock absorber travel and would I run into complications with the angles of the transmition drives to the diffs? As the body comes down with the transmition and t/c the angles increase dont they?

Thoughts !!!!!!!!!

Martin

[jeepraiderjoe]

l o w e r i n g :sousy: ???? what is this l o w e r i n g?????? sounds like something you should never do at least not on purpose!

joe

[exdecuk]

I live in the UK in the county of ESSEX, which adjoins Suffolk then Norfolk. When the big split happend all those millions of years ago we must have been joined around the Belgium / Holland area. You want to know why? because these must be the FLATTEST bits of land in the whole world !!!!!!! If I lived in the north of England or Wales or even the south they have hills and mountains and streams but I dont. I LIVE IN ESSEX and we have ROUNDABOUTS and SPEED HUMPS and GRASS VERGES ONLY. Take it from me "you cant get much Jeepin done on those"!!!! We have loads of roads, all twisty country lanes (with flat land either side) loads of motorways and dual carriageways. I love my Jeep and if I cant drive it where its meant to go and turn heads then I will try to turn heads other ways.

Forgive the rant but its sooooooooo frustrating.

Thoughts !!!!!!!!!

Martin

[Jim Hef]

That's the size tire that I run on my ZJ, and it actually increased the height of the vehicle by 1/4" when considering the height with the stock tires. I think you may have rub problems if you attempt to go that low. Stay with the "known" factors and you may not have any problems. I didn't, and I can assure that the entire package, springs and bars along with good tires, makes for a very capable Jeep.

[exdecuk]

Mine came originally with 225/70/16 from the factory or so I am led to believe which gives a size of 28.4" With 255/65/16 it gives 27.52" which is nearly 1" lower to start with which should allow for a larger body drop over a standard wheel tyre setup. or have i got that wrong ?

Thoughts !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Martin

[Jeepin' Wolf]

-=- originally posted by exdecuk -=-
I live in the UK in the county of ESSEX, which adjoins Suffolk then Norfolk.

Oh I see the problem then. Here the Essex and Suffolk counties are separated by several other counties and then Norfolk, well that's all the way up in Connecticut. I think we've split in a different era and ended up with off road areas in the middle. Ok lame joke attempt.

As far as problems lowering it, you'll run into the same problems that the people that lift'em only on the other side of the scale. If you go like 3" lower (which is OMFG) you may find that your steering linkage ain't working like it should, track bars are rubbing and/or banging, shocks bottoming out, the wheels rub like crazy and eat into anything in their path, the ride though presumably more controlled is unbelieveably harsh and things begin to rattle after a bit cause every bushing and part is working overtime to dampen whatever shocks they encounter.

If you wanna go 2-3" lower you'll need to begin shorter shocks, shave your bumpstops, adjustable track bars and probably few other things. The driveline should be fine, I'd be more worried about the steering and trackbars interference, which there hopefully won't be much.

Although I hear you on the "flatland" part, truthfully, I don't understand why people would go that route unless that is simply what they're into. Maybe 0.5" to gain some stability or maybe close some fender gaps but 3", my God. Why buy a Jeep? Personally I love it, but it ain't that great of a vehicle in the broad spectrum of available options. As for turning heads, unless the roads in Britain are much smoother than ours (my only ventures are in and around London so I have no idea) it is mostly your head that will be turning although up and down from all the jarring movements. If you want to make it behave well on the roads you travel, put some Addco's front and rear, an aftermarket stabilizer and decent gas shocks, slap on sime nice rims and fat tires and you'll turn more heads that you care to count, have you superb street ride matching that of a sedan and still not feel every damn bump on the road. But that's just me of course. I've seen quite a few lowered vehicles including 4x4's and though many are interesting to look at, they'd have to pay me big bucks to drive or ride in one on a daily basis on anything other than a 100mi stretch of highway. Your Jeep of course but to me lowering a Jeep cause you drive in the city makes as much sense as lifting a BMW cause you live in the country. JMO of course.

[exdecuk]

You make some good points Jeepin Wolf which is why I posted this thread to get the general fesability of how far it is practical to go. I have not set my heart on a 3" drop and if 2" is about the maximum then so be it. By lowering the springs but keeping the same spring poundage rate the ride would not suffer would it? Normally shorter springs are stiffer which would cause your teeth to rattle. Could I not do the following as it does not have to drive like it is on rails:

Springs as above.
Standard shocks.
Trim the bump stops.
Addco sway bars (anti-roll bars in the UK).
Poly bushes

That way the ride should not be to harsh !

Thoughts !!!!!!!!

Martin

[Gcherokee97]

i dont know how much help i can be but, i have the addco bars and lowered mine 1.5" with the eibach springs, they do give off a stiff ride with the stock shocks, i just installed edelbrock ias shocks about 3 days ago and they made a big improvement, so i woudl say if you lowere it you shoudl upgrade the shocks too, it can only make the ride better

[oceanhut]

My roomate, Thebk, and I both have ours lowered about 1.5" as was stated above. We both love it. Anything more than 2" seems extreme in my mind, but that is because i really didnt want my jeep to look lowered. If you saw it now, you wouldnt know it was lowered unless you parked it next to a stock GC. 1.5, maybe 2 keeps puts the jeep into a more sporty realm, while anything over that will actually decrease the performance unless other suspension modifications are made.

[Jim Hef]

-=- originally posted by exdecuk -=-
...or have i got that wrong ?

Yes, wrong! 10" (255mm) x .65 (sidewall ratio) x 2 (each side of wheel) + 16" wheel = 29" plus or minus. Each manufacturer is somewhat close to that theoretical size, but round off to the nominal sizing. So, you have a wider tread and shorter ratio sidewall, but the overall is a larger diameter tire.
With the tire size you are using, it will not look "slammed" like the link posted above. Using very short sidewall heights contributes to the super-lowered look, but you have tires that are more stock in appearance. I agree with Oceanhut's outlook, that within moderation, the vehicle will not look out of place. And I agree that you should definitely change out the shocks to complete the handling parts. Here they are anti-roll or anti-sway bars...just incorrectly shortened to roll bars or sway bars, and everyone knows of which you speak!

[exdecuk]

Never was much good at maths and my last post with the maths on it were WRONG. I got the information from this site which works out all the sizes for you: http://www.tyresave.co.uk/tyresize.html It just goes to show that you should not belive all you read in the paper or the internet unless its on the JU site.

thanks again,

Martin