Rubicon Height

[Brock9281]

Came to *you* with the steel bumper, but you said you bought it used - you need to know if it came *from the factory* with plastic or steel bumpers.

Wranglers come from the factory with different springs based on their original factory equipment. If it came with plastic bumpers from the factory, it will have shorter springs than if it came from the factory with steel bumpers.

Came from factory with steel bumper according to WS

Sponsored

 

[Brock9281]

The TF 1.5” spacer is 2” front, 1.5” rear.

Shop said this was best approach bc if I went 2” then I’d be overstretching stock Rubicon shocks

 

[rcadden]

Shop said this was best approach bc if I went 2” then I’d be overstretching stock Rubicon shocks

Why stack?

I installed this
https://teraflex.com/jl-4dr-1-5-performance-spacer-lift-kit-no-shocks.html
on my Sahara with no issues (Sahara shocks)

Added this to remove the rake
https://teraflex.com/jl-0-5-coil-spring-spacer-load-level-kit-rear.html

This is *super* easy to install yourself in your garage. Took me ~3hrs start to finish. A shop could do it in 1.5 easily - don't let them hit you hard on labor.

 

[GATORB8]

Shop said this was best approach bc if I went 2” then I’d be overstretching stock Rubicon shocks

You at the house? Measure your front shocks eye to eye at ride height real quick.

 

[Themistocles]

There seem to be a few things going on here.

First take a breath...all easy to change.

1. Now, as has been said the running boards like that are not something I have seen on a Rubicon before. They are making it look lower. If you want to change that appearance...take them off. Also they probably have a least a bit of weight to them so that weight is compressing the springs a little.

2. Check the air in your tires. It is probably fine, but you might for some reason have your tires set very low...I run mine at 34 on the street.

3. Yes steel bumpers and a winch will compress your springs. Factory spring rate is about 135 if my memory serves (which is often does not...according to my wife). But let assume 135. That means 135Lbs of weight will compress one coil spring one inch. You have two coil springs up front that means it take 270 lbs to compress your entire front end one inch. Well, as has already been said, a steel bumper and winch with wire cable will likely run around 150lbs above a plastic bumper with no winch. That equates to about 5/8s of an inch of compression.

4. Now for the easy part...all that is easy (though not always cheap) to change.
Option 1: add a couple inch spacer and some shock extensions (about $400 total) and you have gained two inches, maintained the factory ride and can clear 35s easily.

Option 2: Swap your springs out for say the Clayton 1.5 lift springs...add shock extensions, and maybe lower control arms (about say $600) and you have all the benefits of the spacers with some added articulation and corrected geometry

Option 3: Put on a full lift / suspension like a Metal Cloak 2.5 / 3.5 Game Changer or a Clayton Overland + ($2300 - $4000). You now are on your way to a really really capable vehicle, it can clear 35s and 37s and with a bit of tuning and added work can tackle all but the gnarliest of trails.

Option 4: Go hog wild, drop in a full long arm coilover suspension ($6000 - .....) You now have a vehicle that can drive over small cars, climb things that you probably cant make it up on your own two legs and will be the envy of every jeep owner who sees it. It will also consume your entire paycheck as you have to upgrade or replace part after part to deal with your new suspension and the capabilities it brings...but it is worth it....right?

 

[GATORB8]

You at the house? Measure your front shocks eye to eye at ride height real quick.

While you’re doing that.

Your front shocks have a compressed length of 15.75” and extended 23.63”.

Stock bump is 16.25” metal to metal, I’ll guess your at 19” eye to eye right now. So right now you have 2.75” of up travel (bump limited) and 4.63” of down travel (shock limited).

TF 1.5” (really 2”) spacer. 4.75” up travel, 2.63” down travel. No additional off road tire clearance.

TF 1.5 (really 2”) spacer + 2” shock extensions + 2” bump stops. 2.75” up travel, 4.63” down travel. Can stuff 35s without rubbing, 37 with some scrubbing.

 

[Brock9281]

You at the house? Measure your front shocks eye to eye at ride height real quick.

19” for both front

 

[GATORB8]

19” for both front

Ha, I guessed it. Your probably about 1/2” low, which is probably the winch.

The numbers I called above should give you an idea of shock impact.

 

[Brock9281]

Ha, I guessed it. Your probably about 1/2” low, which is probably the winch.

The numbers I called above should give you an idea of shock impact.

Cool…in your opinion should I stick with what the shop put together or stretch it and go with the ST1?

 

[Espinosa21]

I’m doing the Teraflex 1.5 kit in a few weeks because my 35s rub a little in the rear every once in a while. I have a 2 dr so it sits lower in the back but the 4dr sits lower in the front.. the Teraflex kit corrects the difference and gives you a little of the space back to clear the bigger tire size.

They suggest that you add the bump stop kit if you are putting 35s on a Rubicon.

https://teraflex.com/jl-2-bump-stop-strike-pad-extension-kit-front-rear.html

 

[GATORB8]

Cool…in your opinion should I stick with what the shop put together or stretch it and go with the ST1?

I wouldn’t do the ST1, the included jounce bumpers aren’t really bump extensions, and they add over $100 to the cost over just the 1.5” spacer kit.

My original setup was the TF 1.5, 2” bumps, 2” extensions, and extended sways on 35s. Probably an inch higher than you’d be due to the 4xe springs, pic attached.

really, if I was in your shoes, I’d consider either the AEV or Daystar 2” spacer kits instead.

 

[Brock9281]

I wouldn’t do the ST1, the included jounce bumpers aren’t really bump extensions, and they add over $100 to the cost over just the 1.5” spacer kit.

My original setup was the TF 1.5, 2” bumps, 2” extensions, and extended sways on 35s. Probably an inch higher than you’d be due to the 4xe springs, pic attached.

really, if I was in your shoes, I’d consider either the AEV or Daystar 2” spacer kits instead.

True. Also concerned that the 2” in front will over stretch the stock Rubicon shocks. Any opinion or heard of any use with this? https://fortec4x4.com/products/rubi...angler-jl-jl-unlimited?variant=12386117681261

 

[GATORB8]

True. Also concerned that the 2” in front will over stretch the stock Rubicon shocks. Any opinion or heard of any use with this? https://fortec4x4.com/products/rubi...angler-jl-jl-unlimited?variant=12386117681261

IIRC Rubicon Express got bought out by 4 Wheel Parts, no experience with them, but it’s not like you hear of their stuff failing either. Both the AEV and Daystar kits include shock extensions and bump extensions. You can also add those to the base TF kit.

 

[Brock9281]

Settled on the ST1 kit with stock Rubicon shocks. Will run that until I see a need to replace shocks with Fox 2.0.
Also adding…
Front control arms from Mopar 2” kit
Steer Smart Yeti XD Sector Shaft Reinforcement Bracket

Thanks for all the input. I think this will give me the exact look and ride that I’m trying to get on JLUR with 35s

 

[engineXI]

The straight edge is leaning a bit, probably about 05." loss.

Sponsored