Stock front springs - either direction?

Is there a specific orientation the front springs need to be installed, i.e. if you have them backwards will it mess up the caster?

 

Yes , some springs do have an orientation where the center bolt is placed that locates the front axle. You should be able to look at yours and make that determination.

 

Thanks Tarry99. Do you know - does this include the stock 9 leaf springs? I can't really find any discernable difference front or rear on mine but I haven't exactly removed them to measure things either.

 

Not sure my 9 leaves have a front or back without removing them to look.

 

Why is it you ask? Is there a problem?...................If the center bolt is off set from eye to eye some manufactures do that for proper caster.........do you have lift on this Jeep? is that why you ask the question?

 

The Jeep is twitchy above 35mph and doesn't return to center too well. Doesn't feel safe above that speed because it still kind of overreacts to the minor steering corrections needed to keep it straight. I wouldn't feel comfortable letting someone else drive it at all - nor am I if I go that fast.

Everything from the horn button down is brand new - new top bearing/AA lower bushing in the column, new steering shaft u-joint, new manual box, new TREs, toe is 3/16". Ball joints and wheel bearings are good as far as I can tell.

Everything was definitely really bad - tons of play in bearings, TREs had dead spots and would flop around, the steering ujoint had no needle bearings any more, and my old box had a cracked ball hut inside it.

At this point I only have about 2.5 degrees of caster so I'm pretty sure 4 degree shims are in my future and will resolve the issue but I thought perhaps it was spring orientation because if the PO could have mounted them backwards, he would have.

 

It would be good to know what year you have................obviously 2.5 degrees is not enough........6 would be better.......if you look at the spring and imagine where the center bolt pin is and the arch in the spring........now think about if the spring was turned around if that would help your caster........meaning if it would be higher on the arch would it rotate the housing some? If not steel shims would be your next step........also shocks, spring bushings, shackles would all be Items to look at.............some pictures along with what year your working on would also help.

 

Yes, increase caster to 5-7* positive and decrease toe to 1/16-1/8" toed in. 3/16" is too much.

 

Thanks guys.

This is a 75 CJ5, stock springs.

It doesn't appear flipping the springs would help just eyeballing it. They look symmetrical front to rear to the naked eye.

I've got a pair 4 degree shims on order now so we'll see what happens.

 

Where are the "buckles" or whatever things that hold the spring pack straight? Should be toward the rear of the spring pack/behind the axle.

 

I ended up pulling the front leaf springs and disassembling/cleaning them up last weekend while putting in my new shims and new centering pins. They are indeed non-directional. Not sure what the result is yet, I had to order longer ubolts because the existing ones were cut off below the nuts already (PO...).

 

I'm assuming that they ubolts were cut so they wouldn't drag on the trail. They should be replaced anyway though. Never reuse ubolts

 

They were cut below the nuts before I loosened them. He must have figured 3-4 threads out of 10 was good enough.

I don't want a debate, but I've never had an issue reusing good bolts BUT I always make sure the threads aren't messed up and if I had to fight the nuts off I toss the ubolt.

I have the axles in and out of my YJ at least once a year and reuse the bolts, for example - never had an issue, never have to retorque.