A.J.
Active Member
Just checking my thinking.
Did my first real rock trail in the JKU yesterday. It was actually a real nice little shake down run for me. Got to looking over things this morning and can see a few changes I think would work a little better. Some more obvious than others.
Current set up:
4" Rancho sport kit ( came on jeep when I bought it )
Flat fenders and 2" bumps front and rear.
Bilstein 5160 shocks
37" G/Y wrangler tires
Wheels are 4.5 backspace 17x9 with 1.5 spacers
5.13 gears and zip lockers.
Artec truss with raised trac bar bracket LCA skids c gussets ( yeah d30 waste of $ I know )
I think/want to change the rear lower shock mounts and bump stops front and rear.
If I bottom the suspension hard in front the track bar bracket hits the frame and the little rubber rings on the shocks nearly bottom as well so I think I need a little more bump in front. Simple enough.
The rear is where I need some help. I have trimmed well enough that the rear tires barely touch at full stuff. The rear lower shock mounts hit rocks several times and really hang out there with the amount of backspace I have. The little rings on the rear shocks show that I have almost 2" of travel to bottom left. So I am thinking I can go to 3" bump in rear and add EVO rock star skids. Does this sound right and will I need spring retainers with the added droop?
Otherwise I am pretty happy how the jeep performed.
Did my first real rock trail in the JKU yesterday. It was actually a real nice little shake down run for me. Got to looking over things this morning and can see a few changes I think would work a little better. Some more obvious than others.
Current set up:
4" Rancho sport kit ( came on jeep when I bought it )
Flat fenders and 2" bumps front and rear.
Bilstein 5160 shocks
37" G/Y wrangler tires
Wheels are 4.5 backspace 17x9 with 1.5 spacers
5.13 gears and zip lockers.
Artec truss with raised trac bar bracket LCA skids c gussets ( yeah d30 waste of $ I know )
I think/want to change the rear lower shock mounts and bump stops front and rear.
If I bottom the suspension hard in front the track bar bracket hits the frame and the little rubber rings on the shocks nearly bottom as well so I think I need a little more bump in front. Simple enough.
The rear is where I need some help. I have trimmed well enough that the rear tires barely touch at full stuff. The rear lower shock mounts hit rocks several times and really hang out there with the amount of backspace I have. The little rings on the rear shocks show that I have almost 2" of travel to bottom left. So I am thinking I can go to 3" bump in rear and add EVO rock star skids. Does this sound right and will I need spring retainers with the added droop?
Otherwise I am pretty happy how the jeep performed.