Best lift kits - 2" or 2.5" ?

[GATORB8]

I’m not bashing MC in this. I had the 2.5 springs. They could have been bad, but I also know the 4xE isn’t as heavy in the front as the diesel. I’m not the only one that has a diesel that had problems with sag with MC springs.
I was just as surprised as you but I’m not going to lie just because I bought a manufactures product and continue to like them. Their springs are all the same with just differing sizes of spacers for the JL/JT. That’s the biggest problem.

Wow, you're right. Had to look back, didn't remember that they were the standard JL springs with the thicker isolator.

The 4xe is only 36 lbs lighter in front. I wonder if its a difference in 2.5 vs 3.5.

Sponsored

 

[CarbonSteel]

We re-grease ours every two summers (even though MC recommends every year in the instructions below). You have to take the control arm out, pull the snap ring, remove the bushing, apply new grease (sold by MC), reassemble and reinstall. So far the bushings are holding up well but the grease doesn't. As I mentioned though, these are on a JK kit and maybe the control arm joints on a MC JL kit are different.

None of the JL installation instructions for the control arms have the paragraph listed that you have circled, but the JK installation instructions clearly do, so I can only assume they are different somehow.

I bought mine used and replaced all of the bushings with new ones and the instructions for the new bushings only mentioned very lightly lubricating for the installation and nothing thereafter.

 

[kah.mun.rah]

None of the JL installation instructions for the control arms have the paragraph listed that you have circled, but the JK installation instructions clearly do, so I can only assume they are different somehow.

I bought mine used and replaced all of the bushings with new ones and the instructions for the new bushings only mentioned very lightly lubricating for the installation and nothing thereafter.

From what I can tell MC engineering hasn't changed the bushing design in the past 10 years but their marketing/sales department has probably influenced the once added recommendation about yearly maintenance. Either way, if a person rarely drives in water or dirt they will probably last forever untouched (which is what MC probably now realizes the majority of Jeep owners do). If a person does drive in a lot of water or dirt it's probably a good idea to check and re-grease now and then like a person would do with any suspension maintenance. My original point was that if you are a person that requires or likes suspension maintenance, these are more work to maintain than other types of joints.

 

[CarbonSteel]

From what I can tell MC engineering hasn't changed the bushing design in the past 10 years but their marketing/sales department has probably influenced the once added recommendation about yearly maintenance. Either way, if a person rarely drives in water or dirt they will probably last forever untouched (which is what MC probably now realizes the majority of Jeep owners do). If a person does drive in a lot of water or dirt it's probably a good idea to check and re-grease now and then like a person would do with any suspension maintenance. My original point was that if you are a person that requires or likes suspension maintenance, these are more work to maintain than other types of joints.

Since they are able to rotate within the housing (not just twist the rubber back and forth around the metal sleeve) I cannot see why they would need to be lubricated at all.

Were the JK ones able to do that or did they "flex" as they twisted?

 

[kah.mun.rah]

Since they are able to rotate within the housing (not just twist the rubber back and forth around the metal sleeve) I cannot see why they would need to be lubricated at all.

Were the JK ones able to do that or did they "flex" as they twisted?

The JK ones rotate as well which is why you need the lubrication. You don't want friction between the bushing and housing when they rotate or it will start to eat away at the bushing and make them loose. I mean it's a good design and because of the design you don't have to wait until they are on the ground to torque the bolts like you do other control arms. There are even channels built into the bushing to hold a reserve of grease to make sure it is well lubricated. It's just a lot of work to take apart to inspect and re-grease if needed. For the type of off-roading we do we found that yearly inspecting and re-greasing was overkill but after two years it was worth a fresh application.

 

[Roky]

 

[CarbonSteel]

The JK ones rotate as well which is why you need the lubrication. You don't want friction between the bushing and housing when they rotate or it will start to eat away at the bushing and make them loose. I mean it's a good design and because of the design you don't have to wait until they are on the ground to torque the bolts like you do other control arms. There are even channels built into the bushing to hold a reserve of grease to make sure it is well lubricated. It's just a lot of work to take apart to inspect and re-grease if needed. For the type of off-roading we do we found that yearly inspecting and re-greasing was overkill but after two years it was worth a fresh application.

Based on the video that @Roky posted above has to be the reason that in the JL docs no maintenance is mentioned.

 

[Flip]

Mine is a 3 inch lift.. but I have the Zone 3 inch and upgraded the shocks to the fox performance series.

Damn nice looking Willys bro! Even in a 4 door

 

[kah.mun.rah]

Based on the video that @Roky posted above has to be the reason that in the JL docs no maintenance is mentioned.

Interesting. My guess is that video was created after someone decided that their previous maintenance requirement was losing them sales. It doesn’t look like the design has changed to being a completely sealed joint so it’s interesting that they have gone 180 with their maintenance stance. In my case after two years in snow, water, mud, and dirt (video or not, instructions or not) the grease is mostly gone and what’s left on the bushing is dirty. I also change my Jeep fluids and filters more regularly than Mopar says is necessary as well. Keep things clean and well lubricated and it’s amazing how long they will last.

 

[Twisted Patriot]

Damn nice looking Willys bro! Even in a 4 door

Thanks man.. I love it.. it's my pride and joy.. still a work in progress but only can do so much as the bank account allows.. lol

 

[CarbonSteel]

Interesting. My guess is that video was created after someone decided that their previous maintenance requirement was losing them sales. It doesn’t look like the design has changed to being a completely sealed joint so it’s interesting that they have gone 180 with their maintenance stance. In my case after two years in snow, water, mud, and dirt (video or not, instructions or not) the grease is mostly gone and what’s left on the bushing is dirty. I also change my Jeep fluids and filters more regularly than Mopar says is necessary as well. Keep things clean and well lubricated and it’s amazing how long they will last.

45K miles later of it's fair share of climate differences/terrain and no issues. I'm good with not tearing them apart until they need to be replaced...it's a lot of work.

As far the other maintenance, agree...I change my fluids far more often than the average Joe.

 

[kah.mun.rah]

45K miles later of it's fair share of climate differences/terrain and no issues. I'm good with not tearing them apart until they need to be replaced...it's a lot of work.

As far the other maintenance, agree...I change my fluids far more often than the average Joe.

If you take them apart you might be surprised what they look like after 45K miles. It’s certainly more time effective and possibly more cost effective to let the bushings dry up and destroy themselves every 6 or so years than taking them apart and re-greasing every 2 years but I’m from the school of preventative maintenance to make things last as long as possible…and am a little OCD about suspension noises. To each their own though.

 

[Greendezl]

MC, Rancho and Synergy all run basically “dual durometer “ bushings. They are pretty much service free. No need to do anything until they need replaced.

 

[Roky]

If you take them apart you might be surprised what they look like after 45K miles. It’s certainly more time effective and possibly more cost effective to let the bushings dry up and destroy themselves every 6 or so years than taking them apart and re-greasing every 2 years but I’m from the school of preventative maintenance to make things last as long as possible…and am a little OCD about suspension noises. To each their own though.

I can appreciate the preventative maintenance, OCD appeasing approach, I too am locked into this way of life…..I think it has a lot to do with how, where , and what type of use your rig endures whether or not you’d need to be concerned about maintaining the MC arms…..For instance, around here mud is a way of life when wheeling. Not just mud, but a sand and clay mixture that wreaks havoc on bushings….example here…..

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...brands-suspension-general-conversation.68964/

So…. living here….If I was using MC arms I would definitely be using your maintenance schedule….if I still lived in AZ and CO (Mesa, and the Springs) I probably would use carbonsteels maintenance schedule……

 

[CarbonSteel]

I can appreciate the preventative maintenance, OCD appeasing approach, I too am locked into this way of life…..I think it has a lot to do with how, where , and what type of use your rig endures whether or not you’d need to be concerned about maintaining the MC arms…..For instance, around here mud is a way of life when wheeling. Not just mud, but a sand and clay mixture that wreaks havoc on bushings….example here…..

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...brands-suspension-general-conversation.68964/

So…. living here….If I was using MC arms I would definitely be using your maintenance schedule….if I still lived in AZ and CO (Mesa, and the Springs) I probably would use carbonsteels maintenance schedule……

I had thought about drilling and tapping them for a grease zerk, but decided in the end, the juice was not worth the squeeze.

Sponsored