I've had a few suspensions under the front of my J20, and I'd like to announce I've finally hit it right. A lot of research reading American sites revealed a many different ways to perform a Spring Over. Here's a simple, effective way:
F100 Coil Spring Solid Dana 44 Axle.('74 to '79)
Flat top Knuckles from the States (Need to be Chevy or Jeep) Buy them milled, tapped, with studs installed.
Hi Steer Arms
2 1/2" Drop Pitman Arm.
The F100 Dana 44 is a High Pinion, and the Pumpkin is sufficiently inboard that the leaf springs will sit on the axle tube, not on the Pumpkin. Every other Dana 44 I've found has the spring pad cast into the Pumpkin. Rather difficult to perform a SOA.
So, torch off the "Ears" off the Dana 44 the Leading Arms clamp around. weld on a couple of spring pads.
Remove the knuckles, and outer axles. Install the flat top knuckles, Jeep Stubs, Brakes and Hubs, and outer axles. Always use whatever outer axles came with the stubs.
Install under a pair of FSJ Cherokee front Springs. The ride of a Cherokee, with a considerable amount of lift.
I shortened a Cherokee Tie Rod for the Tie rod between the wheels, by cutting off the Left Hand TRE, and threading the end of the Tie Rod, as the Hi Steer arms need a shorter Tie rod. Then simply use another adjuster sleeve, and Tie Rod End on the LHS.
I rotated the standard shocky mount on the chassis for the best angle, and mounted the bottom of the shockies to the Sway Bar mounting bolt on the Spring Plate. (Sway Bars are over rated on a Wide Track FSJ.
Of course, If you've got a narrow track Cherokee, you'll have to work out how to narrow down a Wide track F100 Dana44. But I'm lucky, I play with Wide Track Trucks.
J20 Dualcab
Dualcab J20
J20: FSJ Spring Over Front End
Jethro
