Front TJ coils come out the top of the spring perch once you drop the axle and disconnect the track bar — no spring compressor needed for stock or up to 3.5" coils.
The TJ uses a coil-sprung four-link front suspension that descends directly from the XJ, but with shorter coil pockets and a panhard (track) bar that has to come loose before the axle can drop far enough to free the springs. Almost every TJ coil swap turns into a half-hour fight at the track bar because the bolt is captured in a tight bracket and the bushing is corroded onto the sleeve. Spray it with penetrant the night before and the job goes faster.
Pricing splits cleanly: OEM Mopar coils are around $100–$120 each, used to refresh a sagging stock rig. Aftermarket 2"–3" lift coils run $200–$350 a pair. Old Man Emu 2937 heavy-rate fronts are the daily-driver favorite for owners running a winch or steel front bumper; Currie and Rubicon Express are the mid-tier choices; Rock Krawler and Clayton sit above $400 with progressive-wound springs. For 4"+ lifts you'd be doing this swap as part of a full kit with longer shocks and adjustable control arms.
The TJ's geometry gets touchy past 3.5" because the factory control arms are short and the panhard angle steepens as the axle drops. Going beyond 3" of coil lift without adjustable arms will leave the axle pulled to the passenger side and the caster down around 1°–2° (factory spec is 7°). You'll feel the wandering on the freeway before you make it home from the install. Either keep the lift at 3" or budget for adjustable control arms and a longer or adjustable track bar in the same project.
Drop the axle slowly. The coils are captive in the lower spring pocket by a retainer clip but the upper pocket is an isolator. Once the axle drops about 5 inches the coil tension is gone and the spring will sit loose in the pocket. Don't let it fall out and bend the lower isolator. After install, the bumpstops should sit roughly 1" off the axle pad with the rig on the ground — if they're touching, the coils are sagging or the wrong rate. If there's a 3"+ gap, you may need bumpstop extensions to prevent the shock bottoming out before the bumpstop does.
Torque specs that matter on this job: front shock at axle 21 ft-lb (this is correct, not a typo — it's a small bolt), spring retainer clip 16 ft-lb, sway bar end link 75 ft-lb, track bar at frame 40 ft-lb, track bar at axle 125 ft-lb, lower control arm at axle 130 ft-lb, lower control arm at frame 115 ft-lb.
| Part | Vendor | Est. price |
|---|---|---|
| Mopar OEM front coil TJ | Mopar | ~$105 |
| Old Man Emu front coil 2" lift (heavy) | ARB / OME | ~$150 |
| Currie 3" front coil pair | Currie | ~$220 |
| Rubicon Express 3.5" front coil set | Rubicon Express | ~$280 |
Written and maintained by an AZ wheeler and driveway wrencher. Always cross-reference your factory service manual — modifications affect vehicle safety and warranty. Work at your own risk.