Diesel Front Spring Spacer Questions

[Yardstick]

I recently added a steel bumper and winch to the front of my otherwise stock JLRUD and lost about 1/2" of ride height. As we know, that's a significant loss of up-travel on these vehicles. I would like to eventually add a lift/tire combination that will add some up-travel but I have a trip coming up and don't have time to get into that right now. I'm considering adding 1/2-3/4" spacers up front to compensate for the extra weight. Are there any downsides to adding spacers to make a temporary adjustment like this? Some instructions make it sound like it is major surgery just to add spacers. Can they be added without disassembling the front suspension? In other words, can I just droop the front end, take the wheels off and use a spring compressor to remove/install the springs? Is there anything else I should know or consider?

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[Kleiss1]

Following. I have same issue. I think you need to remove shock and disconnect sway bar.

 

[garykk]

I have not done so on my current JL but I did add spacers to my previous Rubicon after adding a winch and tow equipment. All I had to do was jack up the Jeep from the frame, remove the wheel and front shock and was able to slide in a 1” spacer. You’ll of course get the extra height but shock travel will be the same.

 

[Z06]

I recently added a steel bumper and winch to the front of my otherwise stock JLRUD and lost about 1/2" of ride height. As we know, that's a significant loss of up-travel on these vehicles. I would like to eventually add a lift/tire combination that will add some up-travel but I have a trip coming up and don't have time to get into that right now. I'm considering adding 1/2-3/4" spacers up front to compensate for the extra weight. Are there any downsides to adding spacers to make a temporary adjustment like this? Some instructions make it sound like it is major surgery just to add spacers. Can they be added without disassembling the front suspension? In other words, can I just droop the front end, take the wheels off and use a spring compressor to remove/install the springs? Is there anything else I should know or consider?

I did exactly that. Added 1” Teraflex spacer to my diesel wrangler. Drooped front end and used a spring compressor to limit the length the spring would expand to. You will have to disconnect the sway bar end links, lower shock mount and brake line retainer. Easy job overall, a couple hours. You’ll need tall jackstands to support the frame and a decent floor jack. I think the Teraflex utube video was very helpful. Excellent results. It no longer bottoms out on road joints and speed bumps in parking lots. I also replaced rear bump stops with sumo Sprin bump stops. Again stops bottom out when towing or loaded with passengers and gear.

 

[ALeeL]

All you need to do is remove the tires and lower part of the front shocks. You will need to loosen, but not remove the bolts on your track bar and upper/lower control arms. You may need to remove the front brake line bracket depending on how high you go. This will be the worst part by far. It is a PITA to get the brake line out of this bracket so be patient and careful not to tear a hole in the line.

This will allow you drop the suspension enough to pull the coils out and install the spacers. After they are installed, you just put the lower shock and tires back on, drop the jeep and tighten the track bar and control arms to sit in their new position.

You don't have to, but I would recommend installing the Teraflex longer bump stops along with shock extensions if you are going to use your stock shocks. You don't need either if you are just driving on the road, but they are recommended if you plan on going off road and need any kind of articulation.

 

[Yardstick]

Sounds like it's a little more than I want to be doing before a big trip. I have the tools, jack and jack stands but I don't really have time for anything to go wrong in the process. If it were as simple as sneaking the springs out with spring compressors and putting the spacer in, then I would go for it.

 

[Kleiss1]

On the rubicon can you just hit the sway bar disconnect switch?

 

[Yardstick]

Interesting idea. I'm not sure if it flexes any more than full droop on both sides. I thought the shocks might be the limiting factor. I'm not sure why you'd need to disconnect the sway bar end links or loosen the track bar.

 

[StinGrayRXR]

Interesting idea. I'm not sure if it flexes any more than full droop on both sides. I thought the shocks might be the limiting factor. I'm not sure why you'd need to disconnect the sway bar end links or loosen the track bar.

I just added another Teraflex 0.5” spacer tonight (total of 1.5”), so this is fresh in my mind. For my Rubi XR, I did not need a spring compressor and did not mess with track bar or control arm bolts. I used a floorJack under the frame rail and a scissorjack under the axle. Jack up frame, Jack up axle, remove wheel, remove sway bar link bottom bolt only, remove lower shock bolt, bend brake line bracket up a little bit, disconnect bracket, disconnect wire from axle housing. Lower axle (and/or Jack up frame rail) until the spring is loose enough to remove. Add spacer on top of spring retainer, slide over bump stop tube and reinstall spring. Make sure nubs on spacer are aligned in the holes (Teraflex name should be showing on spacer). Install everything else in reverse order.

One thing to note is that as you lower the axle, the Jeep wants to move to the passenger side. If you have a floorjack, you will be fine. If you use Jack stands and/or scissorjack, just be very careful that they don’t start tipping. Just take it slow the first time and make sure the vehicle is safely supported at all times. Good luck!

 

[Kleiss1]

So the .5” spacer gave it 1.5” of lift ? Thanks

 

[Yardstick]

So the .5” spacer gave it 1.5” of lift ? Thanks

I think it had 1" of spacer and 0.5" was added for a total of 1.5". At least that's how I read it.

I took a closer look and I see why you can't just get the springs out with a spring compressor. It's a pretty tight fit between the sway bar and shock. There's just not enough room in there for the way a spring compressor works. I'll wait and do the full lift some other time.

 

[StinGrayRXR]

I think it had 1" of spacer and 0.5" was added for a total of 1.5". At least that's how I read it.

I took a closer look and I see why you can't just get the springs out with a spring compressor. It's a pretty tight fit between the sway bar and shock. There's just not enough room in there for the way a spring compressor works. I'll wait and do the full lift some other time.

Correct, I purchased the 1.5” kit (two pieces) and initially only installed the 1” spacer. I subsequently added a winch, so installed the add’l 0.5” spacer.

My spring came out pretty easy without a compressor. I was impatient and wanted to eliminate the front factory rack without waiting to do a full lift kit.

 

[Deleted User 38384]

I did exactly that. Added 1” Teraflex spacer to my diesel wrangler. Drooped front end and used a spring compressor to limit the length the spring would expand to. You will have to disconnect the sway bar end links, lower shock mount and brake line retainer. Easy job overall, a couple hours. You’ll need tall jackstands to support the frame and a decent floor jack. I think the Teraflex utube video was very helpful. Excellent results. It no longer bottoms out on road joints and speed bumps in parking lots. I also replaced rear bump stops with sumo Sprin bump stops. Again stops bottom out when towing or loaded with passengers and gear.

I recently added a steel bumper and winch to the front of my otherwise stock JLRUD and lost about 1/2" of ride height. As we know, that's a significant loss of up-travel on these vehicles. I would like to eventually add a lift/tire combination that will add some up-travel but I have a trip coming up and don't have time to get into that right now. I'm considering adding 1/2-3/4" spacers up front to compensate for the extra weight. Are there any downsides to adding spacers to make a temporary adjustment like this? Some instructions make it sound like it is major surgery just to add spacers. Can they be added without disassembling the front suspension? In other words, can I just droop the front end, take the wheels off and use a spring compressor to remove/install the springs? Is there anything else I should know or consider?

You know I never thought about this, that's probably why my front end looks shorter than when I first got it. I never noticed it when I first got it, but after I added my front bumper and and recently my winch, it's definitely looks short. Also makes sense why I seem to hit my bump stops all the time now. Also probably doesn't help that I don't have sway bar end links installed.

 

[Z06]

You know I never thought about this, that's probably why my front end looks shorter than when I first got it. I never noticed it when I first got it, but after I added my front bumper and and recently my winch, it's definitely looks short. Also makes sense why I seem to hit my bump stops all the time now. Also probably doesn't help that I don't have sway bar end links installed.

Yep, winch was around 70 pounds, Rock Hard winch mount plate 25 pounds and my front end bottomed out on every bump. It already did occasionally before the added weight because the diesel motor is heavy to start with. Adding that 1” spacer was an absolute must. The Sumo Spring bump stops on the rear helps soften the bumps and bounce off road too.

 

[Deleted User 38384]

I did exactly that. Added 1” Teraflex spacer to my diesel wrangler. Drooped front end and used a spring compressor to limit the length the spring would expand to. You will have to disconnect the sway bar end links, lower shock mount and brake line retainer. Easy job overall, a couple hours. You’ll need tall jackstands to support the frame and a decent floor jack. I think the Teraflex utube video was very helpful. Excellent results. It no longer bottoms out on road joints and speed bumps in parking lots. I also replaced rear bump stops with sumo Sprin bump stops. Again stops bottom out when towing or loaded with passengers and gear.

Just picked up my teraflex 1-in spacers earlier today. I'll have to find a time soon One of these weekends to install it. I'll post before and afters here.

Appreciate the recommendation BTW!

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