"Bruce" the 2014 Jeep JKUR Build Thread

[Nuclear Redneck]

I'm thinking very hard about going with the 2" Old Man Emu lift. I think it will be what I need for my application. It might work for you. I won't be doing anything lift wise until next summer. So, please, go ahead and be the guinea pig for this and let us know how it works for you.

 

[KlausVanWinkle]

I ran a plethora of old man emu suspensions in my land cruisers. They were definitely tough. They outlasted many of my friends fancy remote reservoir set ups. But I was never that impressed with the ride, except when fully loaded. The sport shocks were pretty harsh and all the bushing squeaked. You had to constantly bathe then in energy suspension lube.

Everything I've read makes me think AEV is the way to go. It sounds like some real engineering goes into them. I'm just looking for a cheap way to stiffen up the Suspension and hold me over until I get he AEV lift. But without ruining the ride.

I'm looking into these teraflex leveling coils. They're 30lbs stiffer and a bit longer than stock. I'm wondering if eliminating the factory rake will throw everything off though.

 

[jungblud]

I've added enough weight, all AEV front and rear, to my JKUR that the stock suspension is no longer performing on the road, let alone off!

Today I ordered the 2.5 inch AEV suspension kit. I think while I'm at it I'll add a set of airbags for towing level just in case. I have onboard air and while I'm swapping the coils I might as well install a set of these.

The JKUR is setting level just that the ride quality is gone with the extra weight; I'm happy to be protected by something other than a plastic set of bumpers so don't think I'm complaining!

 

[LL247]

I ran the teraflex coils on my 14 jkur and was not pleased with the ride and handling. It did stiffen up the suspension, but it was bouncy from side to side. Going AEV this time around.

 

[kojackJKU]

I ran a plethora of old man emu suspensions in my land cruisers. They were definitely tough. They outlasted many of my friends fancy remote reservoir set ups. But I was never that impressed with the ride, except when fully loaded. The sport shocks were pretty harsh and all the bushing squeaked. You had to constantly bathe then in energy suspension lube.

Everything I've read makes me think AEV is the way to go. It sounds like some real engineering goes into them. I'm just looking for a cheap way to stiffen up the Suspension and hold me over until I get he AEV lift. But without ruining the ride.

I'm looking into these teraflex leveling coils. They're 30lbs stiffer and a bit longer than stock. I'm wondering if eliminating the factory rake will throw everything off though.

I have my Jeep leveled with the teraflex leveling and it works great, Actually, Using the Monroe Reflex monotubes, with the leveling my Jeep rides, handles and works way better than the stock suspension. It corners flatter, rides smoother, and handles off road situations much better. I can just think the performance leveling works even better. I do recommend the Monroe shocks, they are awesome, lifetime warranty, and you can usually find them on BOGO.

 

[jungblud]

Good advice, however do you have the towing kit from the factory and any heavy non stock items installed? Knowing this is important as it changes the demands of the suspension drastically.

 

[kojackJKU]

I do have the tow package, my springs are 18/59s. the heavy duty 19/60s are the top spring in the jeep catalog. I will be switching over to them soon. I do not have any heavy bumpers on my rig as I travel long distances and do not need aftermarket bumpers, so the extra weight would only eat gas. I do run a surco removable roof rack, and lots of interior packing, but nothing on the exterior that's huge weight hanging outside. For 99 percent of people they are not needed.

 

[KlausVanWinkle]

I just took a look at my stock coils. It seems like a strange pairing. I have 17s in the front and 60s in the rear. Strange that my rear end still seems too soft offroad.

Teraflex said that their leveling coils only have 30lb stiffer spring rate. I think I'm going to give their kit a try and report back. It was between a new tent, skids or springs for this upcoming Death Valley trip. But I don't think the stock springs could handle the sometimes necessary higher speed off road driving in death valley.

In good news. The stock tires are so small that my crappy MV50 compressor easily aired them up. So I'm scratching the ARB compressor off my to do list for now.

 

[kojackJKU]

Its the shocks more than the springs really. If you get the tf springs, I want your 60 springs. If your selling that is. First dibs.

 

[Comanche Scott]

Thanks for the trip report, I was concerned the spring rate would be low for max capacity. I'm thinking that for $100 I may try air bags.
Looking forward to what you come up with.

I have two of those compressors, and am pretty happy with their performance. Had one hard mounted in the old Scout. The second I keep in the bag to share.

Will look forward to reading about your desert trip.
I'd like to run the Mojave Road during the Christmas break, depending on weather. More of a pre-run for next spring, when my buddies can go.

 

[KlausVanWinkle]

I'll be gone over Christmas break. Going back to the mother land. But I'm thinking about going somewhere the weekend after New years. I bet work won't start again until the 5th.

I need to rebuild my MV50 and maybe add a second one. Dual modded MV50s would work pretty well with a pressure switch. And it'd still be way cheaper than the ARB compressor. But the ARB is a nice, reliable complete system though. It worked great in my 100.

I'm weighing a bunch of suspension options.

Teraflex 1.5" rear coils springs w/ TF 1.5" 2DR front springs = 1" lift front and rear.
Mopar 19 front springs w/ TF rear 1.5" coil springs = .5-1" front lift and 1" rear.
Mopar 10A springs front and rear = 1/2" all around. Probably not worth the trouble or expense.
Rock Crawler 1.5" triple rated springs front and rear.
Keep the stock 17 front springs and add 61 springs in the rear. That's the most conservative and cheapest approach. But ideally adding 19s in the front would help keep things level or a slight rake. But you can't find used 19/61 springs and that's $300 for not much of a change.

 

[kojackJKU]

the 61 is the 10a spring, its not a stiffer spring than the 60, just longer. I would just go to 19/60 and get a tf leveling kit if you were looking at that route.

 

[kojackJKU]

what are you planning on carrying? As I said, I had 2 16 year old boys, who are over 6ft tall and around 160-180, two sets of hockey gear, my wife, and I, and all our clothes etc in the jeep and drove 4.5 hrs each way and never found much of a difference. The only time I notice a sag in the rear of my Jeep is when I have the pop up connected. I am guessing my shocks did a much better job than either the sport or the rubicon shocks at controlling the extra weight on the trip. If I sagged 1/4 of inch that's it. With all that gear, im perfectly fine with that.

 

[Comanche Scott]

I'll be gone over Christmas break. Going back to the mother land. But I'm thinking about going somewhere the weekend after New years. I bet work won't start again until the 5th.

I need to rebuild my MV50 and maybe add a second one. Dual modded MV50s would work pretty well with a pressure switch. And it'd still be way cheaper than the ARB compressor. But the ARB is a nice, reliable complete system though. It worked great in my 100.

I'm weighing a bunch of suspension options.

Teraflex 1.5" rear coils springs w/ TF 1.5" 2DR front springs = 1" lift front and rear.
Mopar 19 front springs w/ TF rear 1.5" coil springs = .5-1" front lift and 1" rear.
Mopar 10A springs front and rear = 1/2" all around. Probably not worth the trouble or expense.
Rock Crawler 1.5" triple rated springs front and rear.
Keep the stock 17 front springs and add 61 springs in the rear. That's the most conservative and cheapest approach. But ideally adding 19s in the front would help keep things level or a slight rake. But you can't find used 19/61 springs and that's $300 for not much of a change.

Sounds like a great plan for the holidays!

Just got news that we are working over Christmas break, and the first quarter of next year is packed, so that ends any plans for an escape... Lot's of work and no time to spend the money... what is the world coming to?... rofl.

I've tried progressive, and multi rate springs before. Except for certain coil over applications, I prefer a straight rate. Progressive & multi rate springs compress quickly in the top few inches then get stiffer, so they are bit more tippy in the curves, and drop with a load.

I *think* the TF springs are straight rate, so they may work out. If I remember correctly the AEV springs are single rate as well, but I don't know what the rate is.

A couple of years back, I read an article where a guy used a bell crank with a 4:1 ratio to run a set of air bags tucked up horizontal in the frame rails of his pickup. It allowed him to have long travel suspension, with a light overload protection when he had stuff in the bed. I looked at the Wrangler, and not sure if it is possible to duplicate that without extensive modifications, but if it is that would be a really nice option. If the spring air bags don't work out, I'll probably investigate that more.

 

[KlausVanWinkle]

Sounds like a great plan for the holidays!

Just got news that we are working over Christmas break, and the first quarter of next year is packed, so that ends any plans for an escape... Lot's of work and no time to spend the money... what is the world coming to?... rofl.

I've tried progressive, and multi rate springs before. Except for certain coil over applications, I prefer a straight rate. Progressive & multi rate springs compress quickly in the top few inches then get stiffer, so they are bit more tippy in the curves, and drop with a load.

I *think* the TF springs are straight rate, so they may work out. If I remember correctly the AEV springs are single rate as well, but I don't know what the rate is.

A couple of years back, I read an article where a guy used a bell crank with a 4:1 ratio to run a set of air bags tucked up horizontal in the frame rails of his pickup. It allowed him to have long travel suspension, with a light overload protection when he had stuff in the bed. I looked at the Wrangler, and not sure if it is possible to duplicate that without extensive modifications, but if it is that would be a really nice option. If the spring air bags don't work out, I'll probably investigate that more.

Bummer about Christmas.

AEV springs are progressive. I don't like progressive spring did the same reason. They often just turn into short coils when loaded.

I think hydraulic bump stops would work better than airbags for what you described. I thought about that too.