Suspension - Best Options ?

[Willing&Able]

I'm moving from a 3.6 JLUR to a 392 20A. At current I have a full Teraflex 3.X adj suspension with their RT3 long arm kit. It is 'ok' - I don't have any complaints other than it rides a little stiffer than I thought it would. It's handled all of the trails I've thrown at it, not that I'm rock climbing the most challenging obstacles.

I'm on the fence between just swapping it over to the 392 (w stiffer springs, etc.) or going another route. Any advice?

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[Jreycnc]

What's your end game? With the 392 stock lift (non xr) I'm running 38 trail grapplers with chopped and split fenders and a small spacer.

Obviously that won't flex great, but the point is with the stock height of the 392 getting high it's worth deciding what you're looking for

 

[Willing&Able]

I'm looking for something capable offroad. I'm not looking at a tube frame rock bouncer, but something that can hit most trails without difficulty. Something at minimum as capable as my current JLUR 3.6. I'll run 37"' - just swapping them over.

Not sure if I should just swap over the teraflex or go a different route.

 

[Bzinsky]

Ultimate 392 setup =

2 sets of wheels tires, one lightweight setup for street, one for trail
lower it a couple inches + accuair so you can raise it for the trails.

then you have a low COG street monster (probably gets better gas mileage too) and a lifted trail monster with just a tire swap. Ideally some adjustable dampening as well, not sure if accuair system has that.

 

[Jreycnc]

I'm looking for something capable offroad. I'm not looking at a tube frame rock bouncer, but something that can hit most trails without difficulty. Something at minimum as capable as my current JLUR 3.6. I'll run 37"' - just swapping them over.

Not sure if I should just swap over the teraflex or go a different route.

That's tough cause it's so subjective. Personally I'm probably going to keep stock springs and shocks and buy the full rock krawler x factor arms set. That would work for your tire size and flex well.

I don't think the teraflex will swap over well because the 392 is much heavier. You'd definitely need new springs and probably shocks as well.

 

[ohthatguy]

Ultimate 392 setup =

2 sets of wheels tires, one lightweight setup for street, one for trail

then you have a low COG street monster (probably gets better gas mileage too) and a lifted trail monster with just a tire swap.

I like this theory. I’m swapping to a light street set up today (78 lbs wheel & tire) to see what it does to MPG and performance with a dragy.

 

[guarnibl]

I'm moving from a 3.6 JLUR to a 392 20A. At current I have a full Teraflex 3.X adj suspension with their RT3 long arm kit. It is 'ok' - I don't have any complaints other than it rides a little stiffer than I thought it would. It's handled all of the trails I've thrown at it, not that I'm rock climbing the most challenging obstacles.

I'm on the fence between just swapping it over to the 392 (w stiffer springs, etc.) or going another route. Any advice?

I would suggest trying to move the suspension over (ask teraflex if there's any surprises to be expected). Depending on lift height, you might need to swap driveshafts (and force rwd), or keep it at 2.5". I'm assuming, given a long arm, it's probably more than 2.5."

It may ride a bit softer on the 392 given a weight difference (stiffness seemed to be your only complaint). Might require different springs -- maybe different bumps. But you can find that out and go from there.

 

[3TV]

Keep in mind that the 392 is all wheel drive, and that suspension lifts greater than 2.5" will require a new front driveshaft. You may end up with driveline vibrations that need sorted out. The 392 XR will clear 37s up front with stock suspension, but will have some tire rub on the rear inner fender liners. But It looks like it has been lowered with 37s and stock suspension. A 1 " spring spacer all around and 1" bump stop extension in the rear will get the job done for running 37s and will leave you with a capable trail rig. I ran mine that way for months, with several offroad trips, some of them difficult enough to require a winch. And it worked well.

I just had a MetalCloak 2.5" Game Changer lift installed yesterday though. I haven't drivien it yet, but stopped by the shop last night to see how it was coming along. They had the tires on and it was sitting on the ground, and visually it looks much better than the lowered look of a 392 XR with 37s and no lift, or even 1" spacers. I have an appointment at the alignment shop tomorrow, and I will be moving the 37s from the stock 17x8 wheels w/ 5" backspacing to a set of 17x10 wheels w/ 4.78" backspacing. Too soon to say how it will do, obviously.

 

[Old Jeeper]

I'm looking for something capable offroad. I'm not looking at a tube frame rock bouncer, but something that can hit most trails without difficulty. Something at minimum as capable as my current JLUR 3.6. I'll run 37"' - just swapping them over.

Not sure if I should just swap over the teraflex or go a different route.

Most trails...as in 7++ or ?

I would find a 392 XR take off package, save major coin if you are content with under the 7+ trails

 

[utjmac]

Ultimate 392 setup =

2 sets of wheels tires, one lightweight setup for street, one for trail
lower it a couple inches + accuair so you can raise it for the trails.

then you have a low COG street monster (probably gets better gas mileage too) and a lifted trail monster with just a tire swap. Ideally some adjustable dampening as well, not sure if accuair system has that.

I contacted Accuair earlier this year, and they indicated their kits aren't fit for a 392 yet. I offered to help, but didn't hear anything back.

 

[guarnibl]

yeah once I got my XR onto 7+ trails it struggled miserably. Just doesn’t flex but of course that’s expected. I think with a spacer, control arms, track bars it would do much better. I just said F it for this year and went 40’s on 4.5” lift, new driveshafts and will just force RWD. With that much weight it shouldn’t matter. I’ll go back to full time 4wd once my Currie axles get here.

 

[Willing&Able]

yeah once I got my XR onto 7+ trails it struggled miserably. Just doesn’t flex but of course that’s expected. I think with a spacer, control arms, track bars it would do much better. I just said F it for this year and went 40’s on 4.5” lift, new driveshafts and will just force RWD. With that much weight it shouldn’t matter. I’ll go back to full time 4wd once my Currie axles get here.

Curious - what driveshaft w that lift? I hear Adam's vibrate at higher speeds...

 

[guarnibl]

Curious - what driveshaft w that lift? I hear Adam's vibrate at higher speeds...

I use a local shop. We’ll see once mine are done but the other 392 we did has no vibrations in 2wd.

 

[Zandcwhite]

That's tough cause it's so subjective. Personally I'm probably going to keep stock springs and shocks and buy the full rock krawler x factor arms set. That would work for your tire size and flex well.

I don't think the teraflex will swap over well because the 392 is much heavier. You'd definitely need new springs and probably shocks as well.

The stock shocks are laughably short and would be an entire waste of the upgraded arms to try to retain them. The 20A is an XR, which means the long front bump stops. Short shocks and relatively long bump stops are the exact opposite of flexing well in my experience. A shock change alone gained me 3" of front suspension travel on our otherwise stock XR. Once I added 2" of lift (3.5" metalcloak springs) we now have 2" more uptravel and 2.25" more down travel than stock. Factory front shocks only have a 7" stroke.

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