Mopar Lift Kit vs....

[Roky]

I agree this brands in my research are better. The warranty for stress components as a result of off-geometry is my concern. I’m not looking to fuck up my new Jeep lol

This is exactly what makes me more confused with the more research and questions I try to get answered. I want to get a lift that allows for capabilities for off-roading a wide array of terrain, but I don’t know enough to correct what’s not ideally engineered (with mopar). My logic is if they designed something as an engineer who am I to question. But that’s where I’m lost. If I get mopar lift that is designed to be ready out of the box, but I hear I need additional components to correct its inadequacies which is demotivating. Perhaps I go with a super reputable brand and fork up more money lol

I’m not going to bash the Mopar lift, it’s not the lift that’s off, it’s the amount of height the lift gives you that determines the need for extra parts. If the lift gave you exactly 2” of lift then you wouldn’t need adjustable track bars. The axles will still shift at 2” of lift but it would be minimal and not far off enough to make your thrust angle out of specs.

It comes with a quarter inch longer lower control arms, again, long enough to put your caster within spec. although the jls seem to respond better with more caster.
Some guys say that they had their dealer install it and they didn’t need any additional parts and they love it. I have no idea why this is, it just seems to be inconsistent on the amount of lift the springs are giving to different rigs.

If the shocks would extend 3 more inches I might still be running it, who knows. I just felt I wasn’t getting the full potential out of my rig so that’s why I switched. Here’s a couple pictures to see the amount of shock travel and the difference in articulation. You can see Mopar shock is fully extended and it doesn’t let the wheel touch the ground in this particular situation....... sorry about the wall of text..

Mopar

Rock krawler

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[Roky]

This sure is a can of worms haha. I'll keep it simple.(maybe) I don't plan on going to a level 10 offroad trail. I do however, plan on hitting trails that require bigger tires and lift. Yes the warranty was a good part, having it done when I picked it up was good. But ultimately I wasn't going to need one more inch of drop etc. The majority of what I read people were happy with their Mopar lift and IF they needed a few extra parts they did so accordingly and still acheived that great ride. Realistically, there really isn't but maybe about 3% of people who gain a true advantage with a "higher quality" lift.

Count me in the 3%......

 

[word302]

Count me in the 3%......

#metoo

 

[Phillysays]

I was on a Mopar lift for several months, the on road ride is great. It off roads good too but doesn’t quite have the as much shock travel that the rk, mc, etc.. lifts have. The shocks only extend 26-1/2 inches. It was for this reason mainly that I’m now on rk X factor 3.5” lift.

A couple of things to keep in mind if you go with the Mopar. Pay attention to how much lift you get, I got 3.5”, if this happens you’ll need to purchase additional parts to make it ride sweet. Adjustable front/rear track bars, and adjustable front lower control arms. For centering your axles and adjusting your caster. My friends sport s axles were shifted almost an inch.

I would also recommend purchasing rk spring isolators, even though the newer kits claim to have better isolators, they still look the same to me just darker color.

So I’d say it depends on what you’re gonna be doing with your rig. If mostly on road with light wheeling, Mopar plus extra parts does ride pretty sweet. If you’re gonna be wheeling more often and more extremely than I’d suggest the rock krawler or metal cloak lifts.

100% agree with Roky! I have the mopar kit and I am very happy with how this lift rides, handles and looks on our Rubicon. Our Jeep will primarily be on asphalt and one of these days we may take it off-road. As mentioned, you will need to purchase a track bar, longer/adjustable lower control arms, and the spring isolators to make this lift complete. My caster was 4.9 degrees after installing the lift and the Jeep wondered constantly. After adjusting the LCAs another 3 turns, we were able to get the caster to 6.2/6.3 degrees and the car drives so much better. Steering is more firm, and drives perfect in both hwy and city driving. Overall very happy with this kit!

 

[OnlyOne]

I have owned many Jeeps and many lifts. There are much better kits than the Mopar one but I will say it’s the best riding one I have ever had. Also if you’re comfortable with it, 99.9% of people will NEVER even wheel their Jeeps anywhere near the stock limits, let alone one with even the cheapest of spacers lifts with shock extensions. So bear that in mind when choosing. There’s nothing wrong with letting the dealer install it and warranty the kit if it makes you feel more comfortable. There’s also nothing at all wrong with purchasing a top of the line kit that gives you more than you’ll ever need.

 

[Grayson]

This is why you buy a kit that allows you to make adjustments and dial in the geometry perfectly. The Mopar kit is not ready out of the box. It doesn't have new track bars, which means your axles aren't going to be centered. It doesn't come with adjustable control arms, which means you won't be able to dial in your caster in the front and pinion angle in the rear. The springs suck. Literally the only good part in the kit are the shocks and they are even limited in travel. If your going to spend the money, spend it on a company that specializes in Jeep lifts. You'll thank me later.

What would you recommend?

 

[Grayson]

I’m not going to bash the Mopar lift, it’s not the lift that’s off, it’s the amount of height the lift gives you that determines the need for extra parts. If the lift gave you exactly 2” of lift then you wouldn’t need adjustable track bars. The axles will still shift at 2” of lift but it would be minimal and not far off enough to make your thrust angle out of specs.

It comes with a quarter inch longer lower control arms, again, long enough to put your caster within spec. although the jls seem to respond better with more caster.
Some guys say that they had their dealer install it and they didn’t need any additional parts and they love it. I have no idea why this is, it just seems to be inconsistent on the amount of lift the springs are giving to different rigs.

If the shocks would extend 3 more inches I might still be running it, who knows. I just felt I wasn’t getting the full potential out of my rig so that’s why I switched. Here’s a couple pictures to see the amount of shock travel and the difference in articulation. You can see Mopar shock is fully extended and it doesn’t let the wheel touch the ground in this particular situation....... sorry about the wall of text..

Mopar

Rock krawler

Why does the mopar 2” lift result in varying actual lift length? Wouldn’t it be the same for all JLs? I don’t understand why some guys get 2” and others claim to be more than 3” which would speak to the concern you bring up.

 

[word302]

Why does the mopar 2” lift result in varying actual lift length? Wouldn’t it be the same for all JLs? I don’t understand why some guys get 2” and others claim to be more than 3” which would speak to the concern you bring up.

Guessing the Rubicon is gonna see about 2" and the Sport/Sahara are gonna see more.

 

[word302]

What would you recommend?

I already did. I run Rock Krawler. EVO, Metal Cloak, and Terraflex all build far superior kits to the Mopar.

 

[Pig-Pen]

Guessing the Rubicon is gonna see about 2" and the Sport/Sahara are gonna see more.

this. the rubicon starts out higher so swapping to mopar isnt as drastic of an increase. the rubicon sits about 1.5" higher than the sport/sahara to begin with.

so it would seem that the rubis see 2" of lift while sports/saharas see 3.5"

have any rubicons seen 3-3.5" of lift? that would mean even more on a sport.

 

[Pig-Pen]

does the mopar lift level the stance? or is it still raked?

 

[TrewJL]

does the mopar lift level the stance? or is it still raked?

No rake with the Mopar lift. I actually see more with my 3.5 RK

 

[Roky]

Why does the mopar 2” lift result in varying actual lift length? Wouldn’t it be the same for all JLs? I don’t understand why some guys get 2” and others claim to be more than 3” which would speak to the concern you bring up.

I have know idea....I got 3.5” of lift on my rubicon, measured before and after the lift. Also measured another rubicon on the lot for further verification.

By the time I changed lifts to the rock krawler 3.5”, my Mopar had settled in at 3 inches, and I only gained a half inch in the switch. No one has been able to tell me why the lift heights are so inconsistent, so I quit worrying about it.

Here’s before and after.
Mopar

Rk

 

[Headbarcode]

My research has concluded that most, if not all, companies design their lift kits based off of fully loaded and trail-ready Rubicon's. That'll easily explain why the Sport and Sahara models see more lift than a Rubicon.

Its the "fully loaded and trail-ready" part that adds a lot of gray area to the mix. Each company differs in both the number of items and specific flavors of items to define that phrase. The resulting total weight over stock will be all over the place from one company to the next.

Say company x designs around a full width thick gauge steel front bumper with a big stinger and 10k winch. Add to that a full length belly pan skid system. They'll choose a spring rate and length that will achieve their target height. If the customer that buys that lift doesn't add comparable weight, they'll end up with what is often mentioned in these pages. More than advertised ride height and stiffer than expected.

In a perfect world, each company would add the specific weight over stock that their kit was designed around. That tidbit of info would provide us with a base line and make final ride height and comfort a bit more predictable as we outfit our rigs to our own intended use and lifestyle. Emphasis on "a bit more" because of the varying weights of individual vehicles coming out of the factory (model, trim, and packages).

 

[Thill444]

I read through the entire Suspension Lift thread and didn’t see much discussion specifically about he Mopar lift. I’ve called teraflex, 4wp, local well-known shops, and they all have differing opinions of the mopar lift. I like the lift for obvious reasons (possible resale, warranty, brand, etc), but curious to start a discussion here about thoughts overall, and compared to other lift kits in the same range. And I also gather that many members here also have same curiosity. Ready. Set. Go. Let’s chat....

What size wheels and tires are you going with? Keep in mind with a non-Rubicon model this will give you just under 3” of lift, not 2”. With 35-37” tires that should work but for 33-34” I think it looks off.

If your sticking with 33-35” tires a Rubicon set of takeoff springs and shocks along with the longer Mopar LCA’s and Teraflex .5-1” leveling kit will get you the perfect lift for about $300.

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