Mix Parts

[longfiredragon]

Hello all

Just curious, how many people mix suspension part. I am learning. It seems like the basic parts are the same? Like, a track bar is a track bar, LCAs are LCAs etc.

So I was just curious how many people mix suspension parts instead of ordering a lift kit with want they want. Which might be cheaper so I get why a lot of us order a kit.

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[4xFUN]

Very 'Mixed' 2.5" JLR Lift:
MetalCloak 2.5" front springs & DuroSpring bump stops, Synergy rear springs & bump stop bracket w/MC DuroSpring bump stops, (Ass end was way too high with matching MC springs and yes, I did verify springs were 'correct' with MC) SteerSmarts drag link, tie rod and front adjustable track bar, Rancho adjustable rear track bar w/relocation bracket, Synergy rear track bar frame mount brace, Synergy rear sway bar drop brackets and sway bar links, Synergy front sway bar links, Rancho front frame mount track bar brace, Teraflex IR adjustable control arms (all eight), 1/4" right rear spring spacer, Rancho rear brake line relocation kit, SteerSmarts high clearance front stabilizer relocation bracket, Fox through-shaft front stabilizer, Fox 2.5" shocks and I am sure a couple things I am not remembering right now...

Results: Excellent ride and handling using 37x12.50R17 BFG KO2 D's on Mopar 17x8.5 wheels, both on and off road with minimal lean on corners and minimal front end drop on hard braking! Level side to side with an ever so slight front rake. This was not my first suspension try but the end result during multiple 'COVID LOCKDOWN' experiments...

EDIT: I am not advocating anyone take such severe an approach and normally would not mix front and rear spring manufactures...The MC front springs were the fifth attempt to get the front springs right and I was finally happy with the both the lift height and ride! However the rear MC springs caused the ass end to sit over an inch high! After verifying with MC the rear springs were 'correct' and after driving a couple weeks with no 'settling' I then started looking for rear springs from other manufactures that I thought would harmonize with the front MC's...I already had the Mopar rear springs left from the Mopar kit, so tried those with Teraflex spacers-height ok but did not 'feel' right. Ordered Synergy and Teraflex rears as their design looked like they could be a match and settled on the Synergy and totally happy. These worked for my JLR, with my build, mods and weight distribution...

That said, I doubt there is any 'one' suspension kit out there that another manufacturer does not do something better...

 

[Ratbert]

I'd prefer to get a complete setup from a company like AEV that designs all of it to work together, then does an incredible level of testing. Some of the big pieces don't matter, but at least consider the harmonics between the front and rear springs.

 

[tomk62]

I'd prefer to get a complete setup from a company like AEV that designs all of it to work together, then does an incredible level of testing. Some of the big pieces don't matter, but at least consider the harmonics between the front and rear springs.

^ this 1000% - otherwise when something goes wrong, it becomes harder to troubleshoot (unless you like that kind of thing)

 

[Ratbert]

^ this 1000% - otherwise when something goes wrong, it becomes harder to troubleshoot (unless you like that kind of thing)

Agreed. Some people love to build their own Frankenstein. Some don't.

 

[4xFUN]

I'd prefer to get a complete setup from a company like AEV that designs all of it to work together, then does an incredible level of testing. Some of the big pieces don't matter, but at least consider the harmonics between the front and rear springs.

I agree with you on springs and should have been more clear, please see my edit on post #2.

 

[Ratbert]

I agree with you on springs and should have been more clear, please see my edit on post #2.

Understood. My point was that I've been to AEV presentations where they go over how each component is designed and tested to work with each other. How much effort was involved in getting the harmonics right on various types of terrain. I'm not aware of another company that puts that much engineering into their overall systems.

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