How Do You Install Coil Spring Spacers on Jeep Cherokee XJ Grand ZJ and Wrangler TJ?

Jeep coil spring spacers are a great way to lift the front or rear of your jeep. These instructions should work on 1 inch, 2 inch and 3 inch stacked spacer kits. On the 3 inch two piece spacer the 1 inch spacer is used instead of the coil isolator. These are some simple instructions on how to install Jeep Coil Spring Spacers on the following vehicles:

1984 - 2001 Jeep Cherokee XJ
1993 - 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee ZJ
1997 - 2006 Jeep Wrangler TJ

FRONT INSTRUCTIONS - Read complete instructions before beginning installation, the following special tools are recommended: Coil spring compressor, floor jack, jack stands, and hand tools from most garage home mechanics. Please note that you should have your kit installed by a professional if you are not comfortable handling basic hand tools. You also should get your vehicle aligned after installation. Please be safe when installing your spacers. This installation should take 3-4 hours per axle.

1. Using a correctly rated lift, carefully jack the front of the vehicle with the floor jack under the differential and place jack stands under the frame just behind the lower control arm frame mounts. Leave the jack stands high enough to let the floor jack down and still have the front tires suspended in the air. Keep the floor jack under the differential with slight pressure for support. This is important as you will want to make sure you can drop the axle low enough to remove the coil springs. You may want to consider a coil spring compressor as an easier way to do this job or simply lift the Jeep high enough to be able to drop the axle.

2. Remove the front tires and wheels and disconnect the lower sway bar end links from the axle you do not have to remove the tops just lift them out of the way.

3. Disconnect the shocks from the lower shock mounts and move them out of the way. Disconnect the tie rod ends with a suitable tool by removing the castle nuts and cotter pins. Now is a good time to inspect all the parts to make sure they are not worn and replace as needed.

4. Remove the clamps from the springs which are attached by a bolt and clip. (if equipped) Disconnect the track bar from the axle side and move out of the way. In most cases you can just remove certain elements and work on one side of the axle by dropping the coil springs low enough to were you can remove them with our removing all of the items above. This is an advance technique and should on be used by mechanics with adequate knowledge and the correct tools.

5. Lower the jack carefully. It is easier to do this one side at a time. Watch the brake lines for overextending this will prevent the rupturing or breaking of the lines. Keep a careful eye to make sure the vehicle is secured.

6. Remove the coil springs and the bump stops. Label the springs as to which side they were removed, left and Right so that they are reinstalled in the side in which they were removed. Visually inspect the springs for wear and compression replace as needed.

7. Remove the bump stop-mounting cup on top of the coil spring mounting post. (ZJ & TJ models only)

8. If doing a 1” lift, remove the factory rubber isolator and replace with new 1 “spacers. If doing a 2” lift, leave the factory isolators or replace with 2” spacers. If doing a 3” lift, remove the factory isolators and put a 1 inch spacer in place of the coil spring isolator and a 2 inch spacer.Please note that seem companies use full 3 inch spacers and some use a two piece system. I prefer the two piece system because it closely resembles the isolator/spacer setup normally used in a stock setup.

9. Reinstall the bump stop-mounting cup. Install the bump stops or the new ones (if supplied) and reinstall the coil spring in the same location as removed.There is a couple ways to install the bumpstops you can remove the old bumpstops and use the old cup or use longer bolts and install the new ones. Either way works well.

10. Raise the front differential and make sure that the coil springs are in their saddles and reconnect the track bar to the axle. Reconnect the spring clamps if desired.

11. Reconnect the lower sway bar end links at the differential and the tie rod ends. No would be a good time to grease them.

12. Reconnect the front lower shock mounts and install the tires and wheels. Make sure you correctly torque the wheel studs but do not over tighten.

13. Lower the vehicle to the ground slowly making sure nothing binds and noting that the coil springs are correctly sitting in their saddles and that the spacers are not severely compressed.

14. Torque all bolts to factory specs and recheck after 50 miles. Please note that it is very important to recheck all the bolts that you have tightened to make sure they have not loosened and re-tighten as needed.

REAR INSTRUCTIONS - Read complete instructions before beginning installation, the following special tools are recommended: Coil spring compressor, floor jack, jack stands, and hand tools. Please note that you should have your kit installed by a professional if you are not comfortable handling basic hand tools. You also should get your vehicle aligned after installation. Please be safe when installing your spacers. This installation should take 3-4 hours per axle.

1. Jack the rear of the vehicle with the floor jack under the differential and place jack stands under the frame just in front of the lower control arm frame mounts. Leave the jack stands high enough to let the floor jack down and still have the rear tires suspended in the air. Keep the floor jack under the differential with slight pressure for support. Remove the rear tires and wheels. Sometimes I place the tires and wheels under the front part of the jeep frame just in case.

2. Disconnect the sway bar end links from the differential. Disconnect the lower shock mounts and disconnect the rear track arm at the axle. Again a quick tip if you can jack the rear end high enough you can lower one side of the axle at a time to get the coil springs out especially if you use a coil spring compressor. This is an advance trick and should only be used by experienced mechanics.

3. Lower the rear differential so that the springs come loose. Make sure to watch the brake line, lowering too far could cause damage and rupture lines.

4. Remove the rear coil springs and the bump stops from the bump stop mounting cups. Remove the bump stop mounting cup. Jeep Grand Cherokee ZJ & Jeep Wrangler TJ only. These should be held in by bolts or removed by simply turning the entire bumpstop cup unit.

5. Install the coil spring spacer onto the upper mount and reinstall the bump stop mounting cup or proceed to step 6 if you have new bumpstops.

6. Install the bump stops or the new ones if supplied and reinstall the coil spring in the same location as removed. There is a couple ways to install the bumpstops you can remove the old bumpstops and use the old cup or use longer bolts and install the new ones. Either way works well.

7. Raise the rear differential and make sure that the coil springs are in their saddles and nothing is binding.

8. Reconnect the rear track arm and the rear lower sway bar end links if disconnected.

9. Reconnect the rear lower shock mounts and install the tires and wheels. Be careful to torque the wheel nuts correctly and do not over tighten.

10. Lower the vehicle to the ground. Torque all bolts to factory specifications and recheck after 50 miles. Please note this is simply a guide to installing a spacer on your vehicle. We do not accept any responsibility for the accuracy or problems you may incur when doing this installation. You should have your system aligned after installation and this should be installed by a professional mechanic.

Ruk Development Inc. manufactures suspension and racing products. Rukse Jeep Lift Kits is a product we have developed.