Need rear spring recommendation for JLR

[Reinen]

@Reinen mentioned popping air bags earlier in this thread, and that's the number one reason I'd avoid going down that path. I enjoy taking my Jeep off road, and have always felt air bags were probably better suited for minimal suspension articulation.

It's not really the articulation as air can flow from one side to the other. They don't impede articulation. It's the bumps where both sides compress simultaneously.

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[zrickety]

Can anyone recommend a good set of higher-rate rear springs that maintain something close to a factory ride height on a JLR? Elaborating, I purchased my '21 JLR new, and the rear springs are way too soft for my liking. About a year after I got it, I put a 1" spacer lift in the rear because it was lower in the back than the front, but in hindsight, I really should have changed the springs then. Fast forward to today, it seems like the rear is back to where it started despite the spacers, and that's without the gear I usually take on trips.

What I'm looking for is something that gives me close to the "right" factory height, or even slightly higher, that won't drop like a rock when I start loading gear in the back. I also don't mind sacrificing ride quality if it keeps my headlights from pointing at the stars when I go exploring. I know a lot of people swap springs out when they do a lift, but I really don't want to go down the lift road (yet). I typically have a pivoting Kuat bike rack on the back during the summer, an American Adventure Lab tailgate table, factory spare, plus the factory-equipped steel bumper, and that's it for daily driver duties. If it wouldn't be for the spacer lift, it would now be way lower in the rear than the front based on that weight alone.

Anyone deal with this before, have any recommendations, or ???

PS: I have OEM 33's on it and will probably put 35's on when they wear out, but that's probably a couple years away.

I have a set of heavy duty (steel bumper, tow package, came from 4 door) springs that were new take offs.
PM me for a great deal.

 

[mqu02]

I have a set of heavy duty (steel bumper, tow package, came from 4 door) springs that were new take offs.
PM me for a great deal.

Thanks, and I just sent you a PM. A question I have for everyone though is if I should worry about these pushing the back of my Jeep too high. Elaborating, if they push the rear too high, and the shocks become the limiting factor, it is probably bad for the shocks - right? My guess is this won't be a problem but I figured I'd ask to see if anyone has experience with this particular swap.

 

[GATORB8]

Thanks, and I just sent you a PM. A question I have for everyone though is if I should worry about these pushing the back of my Jeep too high. Elaborating, if they push the rear too high, and the shocks become the limiting factor, it is probably bad for the shocks - right? My guess is this won't be a problem but I figured I'd ask to see if anyone has experience with this particular swap.

Checking AnnDee's sheet, rubi rear shocks are 17.5 compressed / 26" extended and he was seeing a 23" shock length at ride height, so 3" of shock downtravel stock.

 

[mqu02]

Update: I took the advise of @Chadillac and called Dirk @ DPG Off-Road. He was great to talk to, gave me two different part numbers, and encouraged me to call ARB's tech department to ask a couple specific questions about the Old Emu Springs.

Spring #3161 is a medium load spring that is supposed to give a 1" lift on a Rubicon, and a 2" lift on a non-Rubicon. It is the spring that is included in their 2" medium load lift kit, and ARB said it is the lightest spring they offer (for the rear of a JL).

Spring #3157 is a heavy load spring that's supposed to give the same lift as the medium load spring, but is recommended to be used when you have 330lbs of non-factory weight added. It's also the spring that's included in their 2" heavy load lift kit. What I wish I knew is how a hardtop, steel bumper, etc. factor in to a "factory weight". They really couldn't answer that, and it doesn't take much to add up 330lbs - especially when camping, etc.

FWIW, ARB recommended the medium load spring, and I'm sure that would be the safer way to go.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

PS. They gave me the spring rate and free length (only 5mm difference between medium/heavy) if anyone knows how to compare them to something OEM.

 

[AnnDee4444]

PS. They gave me the spring rate and free length (only 5mm difference between medium/heavy) if anyone knows how to compare them to something OEM.

They can't really be compared to OEM without further measurements & without knowing the material. However I can say that there are some things that are always true when isolated as the only variable:

• less coils = stiffer rate
• thicker wire = stiffer rate
• taller free length = higher ride

 

[mqu02]

I've been looking into this a little more tonight, and noticed something. In the Old Man Emu application guide located here, the #3157 is a heavy load spring for the 2-door, but is a medium load spring for the 4-door. I found it interesting the same part number is used differently on the two platforms.

 

[mqu02]

Update: I've been doing some more research and am going to place an order for a set of Old Emu #3161 (2-door) medium load springs. From what I've learned, I'm hoping they provide a good balance of not jacking the rear too high in the air while being a stiffer rate. Hopefully I don't regret going with the #3157 spring, but am worried it would give a lot more lift in the rear than I want.

I'll report back as soon as I can install them.

 

[blnewt]

Update: I've been doing some more research and am going to place an order for a set of Old Emu #3161 (2-door) medium load springs. From what I've learned, I'm hoping they provide a good balance of not jacking the rear too high in the air while being a stiffer rate. Hopefully I don't regret going with the #3157 spring, but am worried it would give a lot more lift in the rear than I want.

I'll report back as soon as I can install them.

Thanks for that link, I assume those lift ranges (like 2.5 to 3.5") would be a 4dr on the low side and a 2dr on the high side. It would seem you made the right choice based on your needs and load requirements. Look forward to seeing how this turns out.

 

[ChuckQue]

I’ve been off-road numerous times fully flexed out and have never had an issue with the bags and never felt they limited suspension travel either.
I believe Airlift has a lifetime warranty on the bags as well.

edit: yup, lifetime warranty on the bags

Not to derail this thread but would the Airlift 1000 bags be a good idea for towing a small teardrop trailer? Could I use them filled for towing or on road load leveling, then deflate them for rock crawling? I’ll probably move to a 3.5” spring for the rear in a few weeks but want to try this first as it would still be useful when towing even with the taller springs. Current lift is a 2.5” RK. I have a heavy beadlock spare, Teraflex alpha hinge/carrier, fridge and slide setup and pack out boxes in the rear.

 

[Vinman]

Not to derail this thread but would the Airlift 1000 bags be a good idea for towing a small teardrop trailer? Could I use them filled for towing or on road load leveling, then deflate them for rock crawling? I’ll probably move to a 3.5” spring for the rear in a few weeks but want to try this first as it would still be useful when towing even with the taller springs. Current lift is a 2.5” RK. I have a heavy beadlock spare, Teraflex alpha hinge/carrier, fridge and slide setup and pack out boxes in the rear.

Airbags are ideal for that situation. A little air pressure gets the height back when towing the deflate when not.

 

[mqu02]

Update #2: I ordered the springs earlier this week, and they are supposed to be shipping June 1st. I'm guessing it will be a couple weeks before I'm about to provide an update, but I won't forget. Also, from what I'm reading, they appear to be two of the same spring vs. side specific. Knowing the fuel tank is on the passenger side, while I have it apart, would it be worth putting a half-inch spacer on top of the passenger spring to compensate (My 1-inch lift consisted of 2 half-inch spacers stacked together, so it wouldn't cost me anything to try it). Thoughts?

 

[blnewt]

Update #2: I ordered the springs earlier this week, and they are supposed to be shipping June 1st. I'm guessing it will be a couple weeks before I'm about to provide an update, but I won't forget. Also, from what I'm reading, they appear to be two of the same spring vs. side specific. Knowing the fuel tank is on the passenger side, while I have it apart, would it be worth putting a half-inch spacer on top of the passenger spring to compensate (My 1-inch lift consisted of 2 half-inch spacers stacked together, so it wouldn't cost me anything to try it). Thoughts?

Guess it depends if your OCD kicks in, I wouldn't sweat it, especially if you're in the Jeep alone more often than not, or you weigh a good amount more than your primary passenger

 

[mqu02]

Guess it depends if your OCD kicks in, I wouldn't sweat it, especially if you're in the Jeep alone more often than not, or you weigh a good amount more than your primary passenger

Funny you say that, I definitly have OCD, it's what's causing me to be so bothered by the rear sag in the first place!

 

[mqu02]

Post installation update: Well, I got the Old Man Emu #3161 (2-door) medium load springs installed a week ago, and have been daily driving it trying to get them settled in. Overall, this was a huge step in the right direction, however I wish I had a set of the next heavier springs to try for comparison. More below:

First, as I mentioned above, this JLR was factory equipped with a hardtop, towing package, and steel bumpers, which I'd think would've provided the stiffest spring combination. Upon disassembly, I had 9111AA springs on both the left and right hand side, and I know some JLR's had different springs on each side however mine were the same.

Free length difference: When you put the OEM 9111AA springs next to the OME springs, the OME's were 1.5" longer. I was happy to see that too as I was hoping that would translate to lift.

Height gain: No matter what this was a win as I gained 1.5" from my previous spring if I hadn't had the 1" spacers installed. Elaborating, my ride height with these springs without any spacers gained me 1/2" lift vs. the ride height I had before with 1" spacers installed.

Measurements: I took quite a few measurements before and after, and feel free to PM me if you'd like any specifics. The one I've been referencing the most is the distance from the floor to the bottom of the receive hitch, and I'm referencing that one because my daughters (factory) JLUR has an identical Mopar hitch on it as well, but for reference, hers doesn't have a factory steel bumper or factory towing package.

This was also an area of a little disappointment for me, as her Jeep in it's factory configuration is still 1/2" higher than mine on that distance, and that's without my bike rack installed. I'm guessing I would probably pick up at least 1/4" of that height if I took off the American Adventure Labs tailgate table, simply because it's pretty heavy for what it is (which is totally fine by the way, it's awesome!). Other than that difference, both my daughters JLUR and my JLR were totally empty. The only other difference that would contribute to a weight difference would be my Teraflex spare rim probably weighing a couple pounds more than OEM, and the Rhino-rack cross bars I have installed, which again are only a few pounds each. I'd consider both of those a non-event, and for reference, as you can see in the picture, mine measures 18" and hers measures 18.5". I was really, really hoping to at least get to her Jeep's level, which is why I kind of regret not getting the stiffer spring.

Spring rate: This is one area I know I improved upon too, because even though I don't have a spring rate measuring machine, there is enough difference you can tell it just by trying to compress the two different springs using body weight/strength. From there, it's also noticeable when driving it too. With the OME's, it feels less spongy in the back, and you can tell there is less spring compression where there would have been before. So even though I might not have got the entire lift I wanted, I don't think it will squat as much when loaded down as a result of these springs. I'd also say the ride quality improved as a result of these springs, because the last ones were spongy enough they probably made the shocks work harder. I just can't feel as much rear bounce as I had before, which is a welcome change, and that is with my bike rack installed too.

Conclusion: Overall this was a step in the right direction and I have zero regrets swapping these springs out as it's an improvement in every way. I'd also argue this is a lot closer to how it should have been from the factory too. All that said, I'd rather it be a little stiffer rate - but its close. Because I still have the spacers left over (2 sets of half-inch were stacked together), I'm planning on adding (at minimum) one set of 1/2" spacers to offset the squat my bike rack causes. While I don't mind a tiny bit of positive rake in the rear, I have no desire to recreate the '70's by having it jacked way up in the back. No matter what, I have a win, and can dial it in a little bit with stuff I've already got.

PS. Feel free to PM me if you'd be interested in my old springs too. They might be a big help to a Sport or similar.

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