Coil or Leaf In The Rear

[Crawlin87]

I am almost ready to put Ford full widths under the Cherokee and I cant decide if I should stay with leaf springs or link it and go with coil springs. I am not woried about the ride I am looking to get the most out of it on the trail. I am looking for any thoughts to help me make up my mind. Ford 10.25 in the rear and Dana 60 in the front. Help?

[Mickey]

It just depends how serious u want to get, what wheeling u planning on doing, and how much u want to spend. coilovers would be the best for crawling. If budget is an issual than coils are nice but stability isn't the greatest. I've seen some nice rigs run leafs in the back and coils in the front. Flexy leads in rear with coils in front are nice. It coils all the way around is nice to but cost a lil more cause u.need more links.

[chuckanut105]

Imo I would say leafs in the rear unless you want a full blow trail rig. I know deaver makes some really nice springs but they are pricey. Ive seen leafs that out flex coils.

[Goatman]

Links are hard to do on the rear of an XJ and get halfway decent geometry, but they work nice. Depends on how much work you're willing to do, what kind of obstacles you want to be able to do, and how well you understand link geometry. Leaves are more stable than coils, coils could need a sway bar, links control the axle better and you can get more traction on climbs, coilovers are very difficult to fit in the rear of an XJ.

A good set of leaves can get you a very long ways, and be more stable, and MUCH easier. A good set of Deavers is a little pricey, but cheap compared to the cost and time of links.

[Danimal]

Like Richard said, XJ's are tough. you really need to sit down and figure out your control arm geometry, or you'll have unloading issues like i did. Coilovers wont be hard to fit if you dont mind cutting through the floor, and you're keeping the axles full width. I would not waste my time linking it unless you were planning on going coilover or at least something like the ODI struts.
I do not run a sway bar, and it does have a lot of body roll, but it is controlable and i do not feel uncomfortable in a hard corner. The trail manners are awesome, and the go-fast is also great.

[Lake_v2]

Not an xj but i ran xj leafs in back of my yj for a while, they did ok on most trails on jv trails had issues with hanging up and not holding lines,

Now im running 4link rear with air shocks and it feels a ton better..

Fwiw i run 3link front with xj coils so other than yj frame and body i was basically running an xj suspension on my rig.

If you do decide to link it the cost of coils compared to coilovers really isnt that muh considering.

Coils for front of mine were 160 a pair, its possible to find used coulovers in the 400 dollar range, or new for lowend coilovers for 650...

I have second thoughts about my coils everytime i see a pair of good coilovers for sale

[Danimal]

[quote="Lake_v2"]Not an xj but i ran xj leafs in back of my yj for a while, they did ok on most trails on jv trails had issues with hanging up and not holding lines,

Now im running 4link rear with air shocks and it feels a ton better..

Fwiw i run 3link front with xj coils so other than yj frame and body i was basically running an xj suspension on my rig.

If you do decide to link it the cost of coils compared to coilovers really isnt that muh considering.

Coils for front of mine were 160 a pair, its possible to find used coulovers in the 400 dollar range, or new for lowend coilovers for 650...

I have second thoughts about my coils everytime i see a pair of good coilovers for sale[/quote]
coilover springs from summit are about $130 per axle. kinda makes it a wash between going with coilovers, or springs and equal quality shocks. the only thing that makes it more expensive is if and when you dont get your spring rates right the first time like me