I took ages deciding on what to do with the suspension on the XJ, after 85k miles the rears were really saggy.
As I do alot of miles I didn’t want to ruin the ride so I settled for a Pro-Comp 2.5 in lift kit, this included uprated parabolic rear springs, uprated front coils, nylon bushes and ES9000 gas dampers.
A day before you start, go around all the suspension bolts with WD40 to loosen the rust and crap that collects, I did and I still got a bolt to shear. I started with the rear as I thought it would be the easiest to complete, it took 2 of us (cheers Russ) 4 hours to do, if you have access to a pit or lift it will take alot less time. NOTE, free off all the nuts before you remove the wheels, they are done up really tight.
It is fairly straight forward, remove the shock (and dont break the bar pin bolts they are a bitch to drill and tap, I know!) remove the 4 nuts on the axle U-bolts and lower the axle away from the spring. Remove the rear chassis/spring bolt leaving the shackle on the spring then take off the front spring bolt (doing the front first means you have to support the front of the spring as when it swings down you cant get at the rear shackle, I know ;o)
Fitting is the reverse of the removal, be carfull not to trap any brake lines in the u-bolt and make sure you have a large vise to press in the new nylon bushes (try and get them fitted to the spring b4 you buy them).
And now the fronts, If you have a coil spring compressor this is actually quite simple, it took me about 45minutes per side (where were you Russ?) First off remove the ARB link bar, then fit a spring compressor while the jeep is still on its wheels, when you jack up the body of the jeep you just need to remove 2 bolts that hold the bottom of the coil spring to the axle and lift out the spring, dead easy!
With a 2.5in lift the new springs just drop in, a bigger lift will require a spring compressor to fit them or for you to remove one of the axle control arms (big hassle). Fitting the dampers is quite easy, the only problem being the lack of access for the 2 spanners you will need to remove the top nut.
Refit the front shocks and thats it!
With 2 people and a warm garage it can be done within a day easily. The handling on road is much improved and off road there are a lot less bangs from underneath, just got to get some disconnects now :o)