"Bruce" the 2014 Jeep JKUR Build Thread

[zigsrig]

The AEV lift (2.5" or 3.5") will help with that. Loaded up, mine with the 3.5" early sags (4 grown men, gear and a dog). If i tow my trailer, I get a little more sag... but the jeep wasn't really designed as a tow rig anyhow.

When you wrap up your ham install, toss up some more pictures. Im copying you best i can with the exception of my antenna being on top of my AEV tire carrier.

 

[kojackJKU]

If you've been reading this thread, and I hope you have, you know I've been trying to figure out what to do with the suspension. After talking to Teraflex extensively, I swapped in some front 2dr 1.5" coil springs and some rear 4dr 1.5" coil springs. This was supposed to give me a 1" lift front and rear as well as more load capacity.

This turned out not to be true. Initially, it was 1" higher front and rear. But the driver's side was 1/2-inch taller than the passenger side and the Jeep sat almost level. I put a bundle of firewood, camp chairs, sleeping pads, a bin of food, fridge and camp kitchen in the back seat and cargo area and the rear end sank 2". This ruined the breakover angle and caused me to high center on small ledges twice. The negative rake was so bad that oncoming drivers flashed me with their high beams the entire way home thinking my low beams were my high beams.

I swapped the stock springs back in during a rare Santa Monica flood. And now I'm trying to return these springs to Northridge/Teraflex. I'm assuming mine were defective because they didn't provide the stated lift, the linear spring rate couldn't handle any load and it generally drove like crap. Once I swapped the stock coil springs back in the stance immediately corrected itself even with a load in the back. Time to wait for the AEV lift.

Teraflex low rider suspension:

So did your rig squat a lot with the same load and stock springs?

 

[mikeJKUR]

If you've been reading this thread, and I hope you have, you know I've been trying to figure out what to do with the suspension. After talking to Teraflex extensively, I swapped in some front 2dr 1.5" coil springs and some rear 4dr 1.5" coil springs. This was supposed to give me a 1" lift front and rear as well as more load capacity.

This turned out not to be true. Initially, it was 1" higher front and rear. But the driver's side was 1/2-inch taller than the passenger side and the Jeep sat almost level. I put a bundle of firewood, camp chairs, sleeping pads, a bin of food, fridge and camp kitchen in the back seat and cargo area and the rear end sank 2". This ruined the breakover angle and caused me to high center on small ledges twice. The negative rake was so bad that oncoming drivers flashed me with their high beams the entire way home thinking my low beams were my high beams.

I swapped the stock springs back in during a rare Santa Monica flood. And now I'm trying to return these springs to Northridge/Teraflex. I'm assuming mine were defective because they didn't provide the stated lift, the linear spring rate couldn't handle any load and it generally drove like crap. Once I swapped the stock coil springs back in the stance immediately corrected itself even with a load in the back. Time to wait for the AEV lift.

Teraflex low rider suspension:

I sent a few emails about two weeks ago to find out the spring rate on each 1.5 coils. I only asked about the coils for a 4 door and couldn't find an email for Rock Krawler.


Teraflex 1.5 coils for a 4 door are: front 170/rear 200.

TJM 1.5 coils for a 4 door are: front 170/rear 235.

 

[kojackJKU]

anyone know the rates for the stock 60s'

 

[KlausVanWinkle]

With the stock 60 rear springs and almost the same load it sat slightly lower in the rear. But the Teraflex's seemed worse. Possibly because they're linear springs. I didn't know that TJM made 1.5" springs, interesting.

 

[kojackJKU]

I am scared to replace my springs as I love the way my jeep rides and drives now. I am thinking that upping the rates would compromise my ride and handling.

 

[spressomon]

Ok...just a casual/fly on the wall observation: Looking from outside the Jeep world to inside same (from a Toyota perspective) I assumed all things suspension would be much more clear cut in the JKUR arena relative to the available choices/expected goal-outcome.

 

[kojackJKU]

Well, for the most part they are, Looking for a great on road rig, go AEV, looking for a rock crawling rig, go teraflex, looking for an adventure rig with lots of weight capacity go with OME. I just don't want to install one system, and be bummed with the way it drives compared to my rig now. I think AEV would be my best bet, but I am not sure. The issue with the Jeep side of things there are SO MANY OPTIONS. You don't know what to choose. I am guessing that the Toy side of life has probably 2 or 3 choices in suspension bits?

 

[LL247]

The issue with the Jeep side of things there are SO MANY OPTIONS. You don't know what to choose.

Completely agree with this. An additional problem is how hard it can be to get a solid opinion on whatever setup you're looking for. This guy says suspension X is awesome, the next person says suspension X rides too harsh, another says it handles weight poorly, yet another says his loaded rig behaves great. So basically of all the options available to the Jeep community, there's no definitive clear path. On top of that, every rig is so completely different from armor, recovery gear, wheels/tires, ect. that it's hard to say what will work on a specific Jeep. Maybe my setup works great for me, but the next guy has a wheel/tire combo that's 15lbs heavier per wheel and has more serious and heavier bumpers...so for him it's a different animal altogether.

 

[MTSN]

I almost wonder if there too many options in the Jeep world! There are thousands of permutations of how to set up a JK, and the opinions on the same kit differ wildly. I also remember from my Jeep XJ days that the amount of lift some kits offered was all over the place too like someone with stock weight rating would get 4" and some would get 6". I went with mostly Rubicon Express stuff back in the day because they seemed to be the most consistent, and IIRC I went with ZJ 4.5" coils up front which gave my XJ 6.5" lift. It's amazing the aftermarket support these days with all models of Jeep compared to when I was building mine!

 

[KlausVanWinkle]

Ok...just a casual/fly on the wall observation: Looking from outside the Jeep world to inside same (from a Toyota perspective) I assumed all things suspension would be much more clear cut in the JKUR arena relative to the available choices/expected goal-outcome.

What I've learned so far is that there were very few Land Cruiser options. Among those options a few were crap and everyone knew it. And the rest were expensive but good. In Jeep world there's everything under the sun. Some of it is good but most of it is cheap chinese crap. So it's hard to separate what's for real overlanding use and what's just for show.

The last two products I've bought, I've been very disappointed with. With the Teraflex situation, I contacted them and exchanged a lot of emails discussing exactly what I was going for. I went with their recommendation and it wasn't even close to functional. Now they want me to pay original shipping and return shipping and said that they think the problem was ordering 2dr front springs and 4dr rear springs even though they're the ones that said to do that.

I had a similar experience with M.O.R.E.'s dual battery tray. They seem to know that it doesn't hold batteries securely but don't care. I think I've learned my lesson and will stick to AEV and ARB for important parts. ARB's suspension always felt too harsh but at least it worked and supported the weight it said it would.

This changes my plans to buy future parts from Teraflex.

 

[Comanche Scott]

I think any mfg that tells you one spring will service both loaded and unloaded situations without compromises, either lacks the chassis engineering skill set or is misleading their customer base. It just doesn't work that way.
You may have been dealing with someone at Teraflex who just doesn't have the education and experience to ask the right questions, then provide you the correct information for your application. That would leave me with a bad taste as well, even when their product is awesome (in the right application).
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How do you feel about a firmer ride when unloaded? Do you have washboard freeways, that cause chassis oscillations (like bucking front to back). If so, I'd discuss this, along with wheel/tire/shock choice. So that you both have a good feeling for what you want.
Might want to follow up the conversation with an email stating what your understanding of the conversation is. This way there is no "he said - she said" issues down the road.
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Good luck with this. I'm following along closely, as this will directly affect me down the road... if I ever get a chance to go play...

 

[KlausVanWinkle]

I forwarded the email conversation to northridge who have been brokering this return. They said I shouldn't have to pay shipping charges. So we'll see.

We didn't go into that much detail. I said I was looking for 1" lift, maintain factory rake and have a stiffer rear spring rate to handle 200-300lb load. I don't think teraflex designs for over landing use.

A friend works at fox. And I overland with his brother often. They suggest the AEV lift with their shocks to smooth out the harshness of the bilstein shocks. That's probably the best combo for over landing a JKUR right now.

 

[Coby65]

Good thing you got Bruce from Stevens Creek when you did. A week later I was looking for that JKRU over there for the wife because it was still on the internet inventory. She has to settle for a silver Hard Rock Edition JKRU.

Sounds like we have the same goals in mind as far a use of the vehicle. I have a 05 Rubicon Unlimited with long arms and 35s for heavy trails but we wanted something a little more comfy for exploring around the west.

 

[DallasJKU]

Yeah I'm considering the leveling kit during this "no lift period." But suspect that it'l change the dynamics and limited the uptravel by whatever the lift is.

I hear that the oem suspension is too soft and bottoms out easily. And that the AEV handles better and doesn't brake dive as much. But so far I like it on the road.

I will give my 2 cents on this. I had a '13 Sport with 2.5" AEV and 315's. It handled great, but rode very stiff and rough. I bought a '15 Rubicon and will be going a much different route. I will probably stay with 33's or maybe 35's with flat fenders, but will not go with a lift at this time. Love the look of a lifted JKU, but way too problems can be opened when lifting a vehicle. I enjoy the stock Rubicon suspension. Although AEV is a good small lift that uses many of the stock parts. Good luck with the build.