Changing a Jeep Cherokee leaf spring

[ROB 110 HICAP]

The right rear has broken one of the shorter springs. I was cross axled on a large speed bump! How disappointing! Its sitting about 4" lower on that side now.

I've got replacements on the way, but wondered if it is a DIY job. I'm presuming:

Prop the axle and remove the wheel

Jack and prop the chassis to relieve the sprung body weight

Loosen nuts on the U bolts (I'm spraying WD40 now)

Loosen rear nut and bolt

Loosen front bolt into chassis, I can't see a nut as it disappears into the chassis.

Undo everything

Refit the new one but what order?????????

[si_guru]

Myself and Skyline did this job a couple of years ago on his '97 Cherokee. It is perfectly DIY'able.

Check carefully that the axle locating holes are in the correct place on the spring - ours weren't. So we had to re-drill them 2 inches further forward. That took some doing!

SG

[ROB 110 HICAP]

Thanks Si,

Why were they different? I've just bought oe scrappy ones, so should be ok? Did you use aftermarket/pattern ones? I tried to shift the rear hanger bolt/nut but I haven't got the best kit, so I'll send it down to the garage.

11/2 hour job for them, so better than me wasting a morning and fluffing it. We've just moved house as well so there isn't enough time anyway!

[si_guru]

They were aftermarket springs - obviously the drawing was wrong or something. I don't remeber where we got them from. It was very obvious when we fitted the first on as the wheel was int he worng place compared to the wheel arch.

I think it took us 4 hours or so. But we weren't rushing and we had to drill the holes which took about 20 mins each. Also we did a few other jobs along the way like underseal the arches and repaint the axle.