Leveling kit for a 2023 Willys JLU

[Blckdog]

Now that the Jeep is paid for, time to start a small build for my use case.
Keeping to the KISS method. Want to level the front rake now that I have a ARB Bondi Deluxe front bumper.
Not really a fan of coiler spacer lifts (but won’t rule it out) but more inclined to change our the Willys front coils and all shocks.

I live in CT and since Clayton is located here, I‘ve reached out to them for some advice. I really don’t want to do a full lift kit. Clayton has a leveling kit for a Gladiator and I am considering doing it for my JL.

Here is the Gladiator kit option.
Give me the good , bad and ugly opinions for the Forum brain trust.

https://claytonoffroad.com/products...eling-kit-2020-jt?_pos=1&_sid=af321a80c&_ss=r

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[jadmt]

I would be a bit worried about a JT on a JL as they say expect 2" of lift on a JT...your front may really be jacked up...I would ask Clayton about it. remember if you are perfectly level without any gear in the back of the jeep when you load up for a trip you will be squating. a rubicon jl should have pretty close to the same weight on the front axle as a gladi tho.

 

[Terrymo]

Ok I’m not an expert so let’s get that out of the way.

We have a 23 XR with the absurdly long front jounce tubes. Once I installed an ARB bumper and winch we were hitting the front bump stops far too often. I added Terraflex front and rear spacers, moved the rear sway bar links to the front, got longer rear sway bar links and installed longer Bilstein 5100 shocks.

I felt like this was a pretty good, very economical compromise. If you are ok with how your springs feel, the spacers won’t change that. At least I couldn’t feel a difference in ride quality on or off road.

 

[Blckdog]

So far the stock ride is a bit soft for me. So I am considering doing Bilstein 5100 shocks to stiffen it a bit. Cargo area usually only has the 100# lab and Cooler. So my concern is the front being too high.
Clayton mentioned that the nose maybe a bit higher on a JLU too, and offered spacers in the rear as a potential solution.
Teraflex has different size plastic / rubber coil spacers and Metalcloak has metal zinc washer spacers as an alternative. If I went the spacer route, which I would you choose and why?

 

[Crawldad58]

Ok I’m not an expert so let’s get that out of the way.

We have a 23 XR with the absurdly long front jounce tubes. Once I installed an ARB bumper and winch we were hitting the front bump stops far too often. I added Terraflex front and rear spacers, moved the rear sway bar links to the front, got longer rear sway bar links and installed longer Bilstein 5100 shocks.

I felt like this was a pretty good, very economical compromise. If you are ok with how your springs feel, the spacers won’t change that. At least I couldn’t feel a difference in ride quality on or off road.

After watching these video’s





I’m thinking of doing something similar to gain a little more height and travel.
What size spacers did you use?
Did you use the 0-1-1/2” or 2-3” shocks?

 

[Blckdog]

0-1.5 shocks.

 

[Terrymo]

After watching these video’s





I’m thinking of doing something similar to gain a little more height and travel.
What size spacers did you use?
Did you use the 0-1-1/2” or 2-3” shocks?

Here’s a cut and paste from an older post

First a disclaimer. I’m a rookie when it comes to suspensions. I was looking for a stop gap until I installed a Rock Krawler 3.5” lift. I have a 23 JLU Rubicon XR and after installing an aftermarket bumper and Warn winch, I was tired of slamming into the bump stops in the front jounce tubes off road.

I installed a Teraflex 1.5” spacer lift, Bilstein 5100’s for 2-3” lift, and Mopar longer lower front control arms. I moved the rear OEM sway bar links to the front and installed these Teraflex sway bar links in the rear
https://teraflex.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=1764300
I also installed the Metalcloak durospring bump stops
https://metalcloak.com/durospring-replacement-jounce-bumper-jeep-jk-jl.html
I bent/straightened the front brake line brackets that attach to the front lower control arm, but later installed these instead
https://teraflex.com/brake-line-anchor-kit-w-1-mounting-hole.html
I relocated my parking brake cables for more slack and installed this
https://www.synergymfg.com/synergy-jeep-jl-jlu-parking-brake-cable-relocation-bracket.html

Some of what I did was probably unnecessary just out of lack of knowledge and experience. I didn’t feel any difference in ride quality with the spacer lift on or off road.

I got good advice from @Roky and @Zandcwhite

 

[Crawldad58]

Here’s a cut and paste from an older post

First a disclaimer. I’m a rookie when it comes to suspensions. I was looking for a stop gap until I installed a Rock Krawler 3.5” lift. I have a 23 JLU Rubicon XR and after installing an aftermarket bumper and Warn winch, I was tired of slamming into the bump stops in the front jounce tubes off road.

I installed a Teraflex 1.5” spacer lift, Bilstein 5100’s for 2-3” lift, and Mopar longer lower front control arms. I moved the rear OEM sway bar links to the front and installed these Teraflex sway bar links in the rear
https://teraflex.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=1764300
I also installed the Metalcloak durospring bump stops
https://metalcloak.com/durospring-replacement-jounce-bumper-jeep-jk-jl.html
I bent/straightened the front brake line brackets that attach to the front lower control arm, but later installed these instead
https://teraflex.com/brake-line-anchor-kit-w-1-mounting-hole.html
I relocated my parking brake cables for more slack and installed this
https://www.synergymfg.com/synergy-jeep-jl-jlu-parking-brake-cable-relocation-bracket.html

Some of what I did was probably unnecessary just out of lack of knowledge and experience. I didn’t feel any difference in ride quality with the spacer lift on or off road.

I got good advice from @Roky and @Zandcwhite

Thanks, just the info I was looking for.

Did you cut down the front bumpstop tubes?

What would you say was unnecessary?

 

[Terrymo]

Thanks, just the info I was looking for.

Did you cut down the front bumpstop tubes?

What would you say was unnecessary?

I didn’t find it necessary.
Ultimately I ended up with a full Rock Krawler 3.5” lift.

 

[Crawldad58]

I didn’t find it necessary.
Ultimately I ended up with a full Rock Krawler 3.5” lift.

Nice, RK makes good kits, I’ve had a couple Jeeps in the past with their long arm lifts.

Unfortunately at this stage in my life I need to keep my upgrades budget friendly, hence the Rubicon with the 35” Extreme Tire Pkg. I thought I was good to go out of the box only to find out I was WRONG!

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