74 cj5 suspension help

I came home with a 75 cj5 today. I want to use it on the road, drive it on the week ends and take a kayak to the river every so often.
I jeep rides like a horse with a loss saddle, some did a SOA to it and made longer shackles. Of course there are other things I want to do to it, but first I need to get it safe to drive a 55 or 60. Looking at the board was thinking of getting a 2.5 BDS lift and setting it back to SUA. Does this sound like a good start?
I'd have to get the 35" tires out and stick some 31" but thats ok.

Please give me some advice.

 

Sounds like a plan. Would have much better street manners with less lift and shorter (stock length or just over) shackles. Still aint gonna ride like a Caddy, but will take out most of the sway you are experiencing. I have some saggy original springs on mine and 31's fit with plenty of room to spare (1" body lift). 2.5" spring would get you at least 31's if not 32"s with the right backspacing on the wheel so they don't rub springs when wheel is at full lock. Title says 74, post says 75, which is it? Not that it matters, they are the same. Stop by the intro section if you haven't already, and welcome from se Michigan. You are going to get ribbed if you don't put up a couple pics of the Jeep in the intro post. Great bunch of people here that can answer most any Ques you may have. Fill out your user profile too. We are scattered all over the country, Canada, Austrailia, Great Britain. Most will go out of their way to lend a hand to a fellow Jeeper.

 

Sorry it is a 74.
I filled out the into. Thanks
The wife wants me to try and do the new 2.5 lift with a SOA to see if we can keep the hight and make it a little better driving. Does this sound do able or am I just going to do alot more work just to undo it and redo it AOS?

 

2.5in with SOA will be huge. Your original plan is a good one, you could even fit 33s with the right backspacing on a 2.5in lift. SOA is about 4-6 inches of lift total and with longer shackles you have even more then that

 

OK 2.5 SUA sounds right. I figure I can dig up some old rims and tires to see how it drives before sinking money in a nice set of rims and tires.

Who has a good kit (complete) I was leaning for the BDS. Am I going in a good direction? Who is good to order from?

 

A couple of us have black diamond 3". I have 33s on (do have wheel spacers installed).

 

I think you're on the right track with this. I put my BDS 2.5" lift on about 3 years ago and am completely satisfied with it both on and off road. The ride is great and much better than the stock springs. The kit was complete with springs, shocks and u-bolts. I also have the M.O.R.E. shackles that give me ~3/4" lift. I easily fit 33's under the jeep and could probably go with 35's. I also had to use wheel spacers when I got the 33's because they did scrub a little a full lock. Also, in case you didn't know, BDS and Black Diamond Suspension are not the same company. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

 

I'm going to call and order the 2.5 BDS lift today. I'll have to get a set of new shackles for the back (stock), should I get new ones for the front or should they be fine?

 

BDS is not Black Diamond?
can someone give more detail on this. I am lost.

 

BDS used to be Big Dick's Springs; name changed for obvious reasons. Nothing to do with Black Diamond AFAIK.

 

OK figured it out. What kit is better, BDS, or black diamond, and why?

 

When I get new springs, it will almost certainly be through Bob Supplee. I expect he will recommend BDS.

 

Thats who I called, A1 service and a seems like a great guy. I'd call him for any part.

 

Just to let you guys know. BMJA. Blue Moutain jeep aliance has a guy from a local dealership runing a special this month on BDS kits. He quoted me $488. for the 3" kit for my 72. Shocks included. I have heard a lot of good things about Bob, and I don't really know anything about the other guy. But for the price it may be worth checking out.

 

i run BDS "YJ" springs and like them. for SUA i think they flex pretty good.

 

check this out. I just ordered one (2") for my '78 CJ5. I believe it is made by Superlift. $450 shipped. Complete w/ springs, shocks, shock boots & U-bolts.
http://www.ntwonline.com/acb/showdetl.cfm?&DID=48&Product_ID=2060&CATID=12

 

Rubicon Express - Quality on par with BDS, plus you get YJ width. Seriously though, I doubt you could go wrong with anything mentioned so far, I was just feeling left out cuz nobody mentioned RE (which is what I have).

 

i would add a swaybar that what idid with a 4"sua. the swaybar made all the differance.