JLU rubicon suspension on sport

[HellaJL2817]

I know!!! Sorry that this is a common thread on here but my question is in regards to having the rubicon JLU suspension on the JLU sport and do I need a RC leveling kit for a metal bumper and a Smittybilt winch to prevent any problems. And if so an RC .75 good enough? If not needed should the suspension of JLU rubicon be good enough for average off-roading and recovery help.
Redrock bumper = 75lbs
xrc 9500 winch = 72lbs
Thanks in advance

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[Z&KOJL]

In short, yes. I did the rubicon take off springs/shocks and got 1.5” of lift all the way around from my sport suspension. Very happy with it and it worked great but it was a bit low in the front for my taste but only from a looks perspective so I did add a 3/4” coil spacer. First pic is before the spacer, second is after. For the price, you can’t beat this upgrade from a sport.

 

[HellaJL2817]

In short, yes. I did the rubicon take off springs/shocks and got 1.5” of lift all the way around from my sport suspension. Very happy with it and it worked great but it was a bit low in the front for my taste but only from a looks perspective so I did add a 3/4” coil spacer. First pic is before the spacer, second is after. For the price, you can’t beat this upgrade from a sport.

Thanks. So did you use a RC .75 in front or do you recommend a different one. Also did you do front control arms from a rubicon as well? Any wobble or alignment issues?

 

[txj2go]

In short, yes. I did the rubicon take off springs/shocks and got 1.5” of lift all the way around from my sport suspension

Please clarify that this was due to only changing the springs/shocks and did not include changing the tires too. I recently changed my stock 245 Kevlars for Rubicon KO2 and got almost 1" just from the tires alone.

 

[Z&KOJL]

Thanks. So did you use a RC .75 in front or do you recommend a different one. Also did you do front control arms from a rubicon as well? Any wobble or alignment issues?

Honestly I couldn’t say what the brand was I just ordered one online. there are ton out there but you can’t go wrong with RC. I did not change the control arms. The stock rubicon arms are actually the same length. I don’t personally have steering issues because of it but if you wanted to you can order longer lower control arms from Jeep that are reasonably priced as well.

 

[Z&KOJL]

Please clarify that this was due to only changing the springs/shocks and did not include changing the tires too. I recently changed my stock 245 Kevlars for Rubicon KO2 and got almost 1" just from the tires alone.

Correct, I got 1.5” from springs/shocks. I too changed tires for rubicon KO2 after the springs and got almost another inch.

 

[blnewt]

Just like Zak except mine is a 2dr. Got 180lbs of bumper & winch, added a Rugged Ridge 3/4" front spacer. It's this one, lists for a JK but works fine for the JL too!
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GT8AJPW

A few pics~ stock, after 295/70s (33.3" tall), after Rubi suspension swap, after bumper & winch, then finally after 3/4" front spacer added

 

[OnlyOne]

I know!!! Sorry that this is a common thread on here but my question is in regards to having the rubicon JLU suspension on the JLU sport and do I need a RC leveling kit for a metal bumper and a Smittybilt winch to prevent any problems. And if so an RC .75 good enough? If not needed should the suspension of JLU rubicon be good enough for average off-roading and recovery help.
Redrock bumper = 75lbs
xrc 9500 winch = 72lbs
Thanks in advance

Just buy the cheap RC 2.5 spacers and be done with it. There‘s nothing special about Rubicon suspension. Just higher spring rates. The shocks aren’t that much better than the sports. Just about any cheap aftermarket shock will be better than OEM stuff.

https://www.roughcountry.com/jeep-suspension-lift-kit-676c.html

 

[HellaJL2817]

I appreciate all the feedback.

 

[Zotch]

I know!!! Sorry that this is a common thread on here but my question is in regards to having the rubicon JLU suspension on the JLU sport and do I need a RC leveling kit for a metal bumper and a Smittybilt winch to prevent any problems. And if so an RC .75 good enough? If not needed should the suspension of JLU rubicon be good enough for average off-roading and recovery help.
Redrock bumper = 75lbs
xrc 9500 winch = 72lbs
Thanks in advance

How much are you willing to spend?

 

[Bun707]

So I've got a 2018 Sport S with a Rubicon take-off suspension (paid $50 on OfferUp!) and 1/2" spacers. Funny enough, I was just playing around with measuring sag due to weight earlier today! I'm planning on getting a new bumper and winch and wanted to know the impact on height.

I had my kid climb on the bumper and measured about 6mm of drop for 79lbs. Then I traded places and measured 16mm of drop with my 158lbs. So the drop is non-linear it seems.

Keep in mind the stock plastic bumper is about 35lbs from my research. So swapping a 75lb bumper is a net increase of 40lbs. Then add your winch of 72lbs and your net increase is about 112lbs.

After adding your numbers up, I realized my wife is 114lbs! Close enough. So I grabbed her and had her hop on the bumper and got 11mm of drop! In Freedom Units, that's 0.43".

Doing the math: I'm looking at the Rugged Ridge Venator (55lbs) and already have the Apex 12k Winch Synthetic Line (58.5 lbs) subtracting the plastic OEM bumper (35lbs) I'm looking at net 78.5 lbs. Wow, my family members are useful... same weight as my daughter so I should see about 6mm drop.

Not much at all.

Even still, I'm thinking of getting the Dynatrac EnduroSport 2" lift since I hear it rides so nicely. Keep in mind, that 2" number is above a Rubicon height, and in practice that lift is about 2.1-2.2". If I take off my 1/2" spacers, it'll net me 1.6-1.7" above where I'm at right now. There are a couple people selling used DT EnduroSports on the for sale pages here, but I think they don't want to ship.

 

[SirMagnus89]

Just buy the cheap RC 2.5 spacers and be done with it. There‘s nothing special about Rubicon suspension. Just higher spring rates. The shocks aren’t that much better than the sports. Just about any cheap aftermarket shock will be better than OEM stuff.

https://www.roughcountry.com/jeep-suspension-lift-kit-676c.html

I know!!! Sorry that this is a common thread on here but my question is in regards to having the rubicon JLU suspension on the JLU sport and do I need a RC leveling kit for a metal bumper and a Smittybilt winch to prevent any problems. And if so an RC .75 good enough? If not needed should the suspension of JLU rubicon be good enough for average off-roading and recovery help.
Redrock bumper = 75lbs
xrc 9500 winch = 72lbs
Thanks in advance

I dont know if you have done anything yet about the suspension but i would steer very clear of spacer kits. Those things give you no benefit off road and they make the vehicle ride like crap in my eyes. If you want alittle more actual articulation and shock absorption then go with the take off kit. Those Rubi shocks will handle more washboard then the stock sports while being longer for more wheel travel. Legit suspension upgrades are cost more because they are upgrades. Spacers are cheap because they are for mall crawlers who want street cred

 

[OnlyOne]

I dont know if you have done anything yet about the suspension but i would steer very clear of spacer kits. Those things give you no benefit off road and they make the vehicle ride like crap in my eyes. If you want alittle more actual articulation and shock absorption then go with the take off kit. Those Rubi shocks will handle more washboard then the stock sports while being longer for more wheel travel. Legit suspension upgrades are cost more because they are upgrades. Spacers are cheap because they are for mall crawlers who want street cred

I would say there are a lot of people who wheel the piss out of their Jeep’s with spacers. They do exactly what they’re designed for. The Jeep rides like it did from the factory and you get a set amount of lift for an economical price. Once again, even the cheapest of aftermarket shocks will outperform the Rubi shocks and have more wheel travel.

Maybe give @Kevin8086 a shout and ask him how his mall travels were with his cheap mall crawler spacer lift. I think a few of us have traversed a rock or two with spacers lifts in the past.....all at the mall of course.

 

[MudHorn4xforLife]

After reading all the responses, my question is how do I determine which spring goes where. Is there a place I can input the part number from the tags? Thank you for all the advice.

 

[Htfan]

After reading all the responses, my question is how do I determine which spring goes where. Is there a place I can input the part number from the tags? Thank you for all the advice.

I don't think you posted your specific Rubicon springs numbers here yet... However, assuming traditional spring numbers, the higher number for each set goes on the passenger side. Look at the last 2 numbers before the "AA", "AC", "AD" etc

Sample front tag - 68253661AC
Sample rear tag - 68253591AA

For example,

Front set - 60/61 - the spring that ends in 61 should be on the passenger side.

Rear set - 90/91 - the spring ending with 91 goes on the passenger side

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