MC vs JKS Springs

[GavinH]

Update: I caved and bought MC springs, control arms, and rear trackbar
Update 2: MC Springs are amazing love their top and bottom custom pads seem to be a perfect spring rate for me as well. Love how my Jeep rides now.
Would recommend!

TLDR: Should I cancel my back ordered JKS 2.5 HD springs and order MC 2.5 springs. Are they that much better for the price?

I currently have JKS 2.5 HD springs on order however they are backordered and not supposed to ship for a few more weeks. Been looking up other brands trying to figure out what control arms I want to go with as well as steering components and that’s led me to Metalcloak specifically for the Duroflex bushings. Read great things about the Gamechanger lift so I’m considering piecing together the key components from it and creating my own custom lift to pair with my fox 2.5’s. Originally bought the J-Spec 1.5 lift kit from Jks but realized shocks are too long and I’m really unsatisfied so now I’m looking for 2.5 springs.

I see the MC springs are almost double the price of JKS but why, are they really that much better what makes them so much pricier? JKS are HD springs and MC only has one version and not sure of that spring rate either. Both claim True Dual Rate coils but MC is nearly 2 inches longer in free length vs the JKS for the same advertised 2.5 lift. If MC has a lower spring rate I suppose that could account for the longer 2 inches. I’ve also seen pretty much everyone who installs the MC lift gets .5 to 1 inch or so more than advertised so there’s that too. Overall MC does a better job at advertising to make their products seem way better but is that the case with real usage?

Anyone have real world experience with these two brands and their springs? Currently on 35’s eventually will be going to 37’s so 2.5 lift should be plenty but tell me if I’m wrong. Really wanted to have things buttoned up before Jeeptoberfest but now my goal is to have it ready for Krawlin for the Fallen in November.

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[Flip]

TLDR: Should I cancel my back ordered JKS 2.5 HD springs and order MC 2.5 springs. Are they that much better for the price?

I currently have JKS 2.5 HD springs on order however they are backordered and not supposed to ship for a few more weeks. Been looking up other brands trying to figure out what control arms I want to go with as well as steering components and that’s led me to Metalcloak specifically for the Duroflex bushings. Read great things about the Gamechanger lift so I’m considering piecing together the key components from it and creating my own custom lift to pair with my fox 2.5’s. Originally bought the J-Spec 1.5 lift kit from Jks but realized shocks are too long and I’m really unsatisfied so now I’m looking for 2.5 springs.

I see the MC springs are almost double the price of JKS but why, are they really that much better what makes them so much pricier? JKS are HD springs and MC only has one version and not sure of that spring rate either. Both claim True Dual Rate coils but MC is nearly 2 inches longer in free length vs the JKS for the same advertised 2.5 lift. If MC has a lower spring rate I suppose that could account for the longer 2 inches. I’ve also seen pretty much everyone who installs the MC lift gets .5 to 1 inch or so more than advertised so there’s that too. Overall MC does a better job at advertising to make their products seem way better but is that the case with real usage?

Anyone have real world experience with these two brands and their springs? Currently on 35’s eventually will be going to 37’s so 2.5 lift should be plenty but tell me if I’m wrong. Really wanted to have things buttoned up before Jeeptoberfest but now my goal is to have it ready for Krawlin for the Fallen in November.

I don't have either of these lift kits, this is unbiased information that I have read about on this forum.

JKS 1.5" is a good lift kit, depending on what tires size you run and how much lift you want. I thought JKS lift kit came paired with Fox shocks? If you bought them together as a kit, I don't understand why the shocks would be too long unless they sent you the wrong size shocks. I had also read that people who installed the JKS 1.5" lift kit got right around 2" of lift. (2 or 4 door, after market bumpers, winch depending) so the actual amount of lift was fairly close to what is being advertised.

Metal Cloak: I read a few people felt it was just a little too soft to their liking, outside of that, great reviews! They don't call it a game changer for nothing.

My suggestion would be to ask yourself: Exactly how much lift do you want between the top of your tire and the bottom of your fender flare? Take some physical measurements, look up tire specs and take additional measurements for your future tires as well. Can't quite decide with just a measuring tape? Jack it up to get a visual, see exactly where it looks good to you, now take a measurement. (note: it wouldn't take much to cut a 37" round piece of cardboard) This should give you a really good idea of how much actual lift you want to achieve. Then ask yourself, how do you want your jeep to ride? Soft like a Cadillac, mild or do you like more of a firm, truck like ride. This should give you a good idea of how firm of a spring to look for e.g., Metal Cloak springs are softer, a more comfortable ride than a firmer spring like Old Man EMU or so I've read.

My factory springs were soft & spongy, great on road but not so great off-road, too bouncy. I installed Rubicon springs & shocks, great off-road, but more firm on road, so slightly less comfortable on pavement, definitely more of a truck like ride. I prefer this set up over the factory but that's just me.

I hope this helps, best of luck with your decision and have a great time at the Jeeptoberfestival.

 

[Flip]

Check out this build thread to see a Metal Cloak lift and 37" tires. This guy is literally the John Hammond of Jeep Recon, he spared no expense!

Rubi Recon | Page 10 | Jeep Wrangler Forums (JL / JLU) -- Rubicon, 4xe, 392, Sahara, Sport - JLwranglerforums.com

 

[GavinH]

I don't have either of these lift kits, this is unbiased information that I have read about on this forum.

JKS 1.5" is a good lift kit, depending on what tires size you run and how much lift you want. I thought JKS lift kit came paired with Fox shocks? If you bought them together as a kit, I don't understand why the shocks would be too long unless they sent you the wrong size shocks. I had also read that people who installed the JKS 1.5" lift kit got right around 2" of lift. (2 or 4 door, after market bumpers, winch depending) so the actual amount of lift was fairly close to what is being advertised.

Metal Cloak: I read a few people felt it was just a little too soft to their liking, outside of that, great reviews! They don't call it a game changer for nothing.

My suggestion would be to ask yourself: Exactly how much lift do you want between the top of your tire and the bottom of your fender flare? Take some physical measurements, look up tire specs and take additional measurements for your future tires as well. Can't quite decide with just a measuring tape? Jack it up to get a visual, see exactly where it looks good to you, now take a measurement. (note: it wouldn't take much to cut a 37" round piece of cardboard) This should give you a really good idea of how much actual lift you want to achieve. Then ask yourself, how do you want your jeep to ride? Soft like a Cadillac, mild or do you like more of a firm, truck like ride. This should give you a good idea of how firm of a spring to look for e.g., Metal Cloak springs are softer, a more comfortable ride than a firmer spring like Old Man EMU or so I've read.

My factory springs were soft & spongy, great on road but not so great off-road, too bouncy. I installed Rubicon springs & shocks, great off-road, but more firm on road, so slightly less comfortable on pavement, definitely more of a truck like ride. I prefer this set up over the factory but that's just me.

I hope this helps, best of luck with your decision and have a great time at the Jeeptoberfestival.

Thanks for all the info, I have the JKS 1.5 lift installed with their 2.5 ifp shocks. They use the same Fox 2-3.5 lift shocks for all their lift kits when selecting Fox so when using the 1.5 springs it severely limits your uptravel which I have personally found to be too harsh for my liking. I also have a 4 door with hardtop, etorque, front steely and winch.
I wanted springs a little firmer than stock but JKS standard duty springs are about the same rate as my stock Rubi springs. Stock was 124 JKS is 130 for the fronts. Rear stock Rubi springs were 180 whereas JKS is only 130 so way softer in the rear. Due to those spring rates I assumed the 240 rate HD JKS springs is what I’d want but they only sell them in 2.5 length so I bought them a couple weeks ago but now am waiting over a month to receive them. MC doesn’t disclose their rates but I read they’re somewhere in the ballpark of 175 front 200+ rear. MC also has a 2 inch longer free length, not sure if that’ll result in a higher lift but will allow for greater droop as long as my shocks can correlate. Shocks will be the limiting factor for downtravel atm and they’re right under driveshaft replacement length so no need to worry of that yet. I also just know MC is regarded as one of the top brands and I’m swapping to their other components so why not pair with their springs.

Currently my setup is 1.5 springs with 2-3.5 inch shocks (18 compressed - 27 front, 28 rear extended). I have 2 inch bumps which leave my shocks with about .5 inch before bottoming out which is perfect, this will be the case regardless of springs higher springs will just equal more uptravel. So assuming I’m only messing with swapping springs I don’t have to worry about finding out my bump to shock travel and what not. I only have 35’s rn that clear fully stuffed with about a finger gap between so I’m also not worried about tire rubbing especially going up in lift. Wheel to fender measurements will be really easy when going bigger in the future too.

 

[GavinH]

In the even further future after seeing how the MC 2.5 springs will look with my 35’s I could swap in MC 3.5 for the 37’s. Because MC components will allow for it I’ll eventually get longer shocks and a driveshaft and all the “next level” goodies when needed and get as much travel I can and really dial things in. Atm I’m just trying to get it out of its stock form and look and get it to drive awesome so I can take long highway trips and not hate it as well as perform really well on trails.

 

[JLAFAKASI]

Jks1.5 lift works great for mild trails, reducing body roll, smooth driving

 

[GavinH]

Jks1.5 lift works great for mild trails, reducing body roll, smooth driving

Looks awesome I do love the way this kit looks and about a month after my initial impressions I’ve came around to the lift some more. Other than speed bumps and whoops the kit does handle quite well, its a huge improvement at highway speeds overall just feels tighter and smoother.

Hows your mpg been with this kit? What engine do you have?

 

[JLAFAKASI]

Looks awesome I do love the way this kit looks and about a month after my initial impressions I’ve came around to the lift some more. Other than speed bumps and whoops the kit does handle quite well, its a huge improvement at highway speeds overall just feels tighter and smoother.

Hows your mpg been with this kit? What engine do you have?

3.6 8 speed Auto 2019 on 33…I figured with a small lift it wouldn’t be a Baja killer haha, but having Fox shocks makes you want drive the Jeep like it is…I can only imaging running the taller springs to give the Jeep more up and down travel…I do plan on running 2.5 springs way down the road… I get 18/19 on highway gearing is 3.45 …from what I read to upgrade just need springs and adjust track bar and bump stops

 

[GavinH]

My dash is saying Im only getting around 12-13mpg which I know is an average always being updated. Biggest thing I can think of hurting mpg avg other than it being less aerodynamic than a cow and mud tires is when I go wheeling, I go through some swampy and muddy stuff when on the trails down here often times requiring constant throttle to clear the mud out of my tires and keep me moving through stuff that looks like wet concrete any stoppage and you’re bogged good. But even then I go wheeling about every other weekend with hour drives in between I feel I should at least be seeing 15 or above.
2.0 etorque 4.10 89 octane. Top off with 93 every time before I go wheeling hard so it mixes with 89 creating 91.

 

[Roky]

My dash is saying Im only getting around 12-13mpg which I know is an average always being updated. Biggest thing I can think of hurting mpg avg other than it being less aerodynamic than a cow and mud tires is when I go wheeling, I go through some swampy and muddy stuff when on the trails down here often times requiring constant throttle to clear the mud out of my tires and keep me moving through stuff that looks like wet concrete any stoppage and you’re bogged good. But even then I go wheeling about every other weekend with hour drives in between I feel I should at least be seeing 15 or above.
2.0 etorque 4.10 89 octane. Top off with 93 every time before I go wheeling hard so it mixes with 89 creating 91.

I drive responsibly all week, get avg up to 18 and change, then when I come off the trail over the weekend it says 13-14 …. … I really don’t care though, one of the last things that bothers me is fuel mileage….I did gain 2 mpg when I put my 4.88s in though fwiw…

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