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Coil spring spacers and factory upper spring isolator

32K views 41 replies 17 participants last post by  m998dna 
#1 ·
Okay, so every picture and install video I have seen for adding front coil spring spacers is always reusing the factory upper spring isolator (i.e., factory puck) between the coil spring and the new spacer being added.

Now my dealership does not reuse them at all. They have stated there maybe issues with the coil seating properly.

So I accept this as “true” or ask them to make sure they are using them?

Also, by not using the factory upper spring isolator will my ride quality suffer?

Just trying learn and understand here…

Picture from Rubicon Express website showing their 1.75” spacer being installed:





Dealership installed RE 1.75” spacer on my JKU:

 
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#4 ·
Thanks but why? What are the consequences for not using them?

This dealership has installed many lift kits and they do this for all of them. The week I had mine done it was their 4th of the week.
 
#26 · (Edited)
#8 ·
Okay, so every picture and install video I have seen for adding front coil spring spacers is always reusing the factory upper spring isolator (i.e., factory puck) between the coil spring and the new spacer being added.

Now my dealership does not reuse them at all. They have stated there maybe issues with the coil seating properly.

So I accept this as “true” or ask them to make sure they are using them?

Also, by not using the factory upper spring isolator will my ride quality suffer?

Just trying learn and understand here…

Picture from Rubicon Express website showing their 1.75” spacer being installed:


Dealership installed RE 1.75” spacer on my JKU:
Nice. Your dealership effectively lowered your expected 1.75" lift to a 1.25" lift....

Not sure what the dealer is doing with all those factory isolators, perhaps you'll find them on ebay..

On a more serious note, I wouldn't install 1.75" spacers to lift anything, not even my lawnmower .. IMO you would have been much better off investing in a new set of 10A springs and you'd have a factory ~1.5" to 2" lift..

But it appears the deed is already done...

.
 
#9 ·
I generally keep OEM parts after installs so I have the isolators. :thumb:

I don't like the look of my JKU with 1.25" of front lift (correctly stated by you and also disclosed by the dealership before the install, "net will be 1.25 inches of lift to level it") so I'm trying to determine what to do next.

Replace the RE 1.75" spacers with Teraflex 1" spacers without the isolators OR get RE .75" spacers or TF .5" spacers and utilize the isolators?

I'm thinking factory isolator with TF .5" spacer.

 
#15 ·
Yes, it is 1.75". I looked at a pair in stock and measured them.
 
#13 ·
I will say on a plastic type spacer your coil does not know if the isolator is there or not. on an aluminum spacer I would say I would want an isolator but on plastic/urethane spacer I don't think it as important. If your coils are becoming unseated and banging around you are running shocks that are too long for spacers anyway. I know on AEV spacer kits the rear spacer does away with the stock isolators. Daystar spacer instructions say to leave the isolator in place and place the spacer so that tells me not a big deal.
 
#16 ·
Thank you for the insight.
 
#14 ·
You want the isolator for a couple reasons.

A. It gives you an additional half inch or so of height.

2. it softens the ride and keeps the spring from slipping around.

D. I have seen a couple cases of the spacers compressing on one half overtime so they are slanted.
 
#17 ·
2. it softens the ride and keeps the spring from slipping around.
I asked them that and they said it's the shock, not the coil, which makes for a "softer rider", so having the factory isolators will not necessarily make it softer - per them.

*shrug*
 
#18 ·
And thanks everyone for the replies. Good info and helpful.

:thumb: :thumb: :thumb:


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#20 ·
You absolutely want the factory isolators in there. First, they are around 1/2" that you lose without having them, but more importantly, they protect the spacer from the spring. Yes, I have first/second hand experience that the spring can damage the harder rubber in the spacer. The spring isn't perfectly flat on top and the isolator takes care of that.

Here you go:

http://www.wranglerforum.com/f202/installation-issue-with-coil-spacers-1416306.html
 
#21 ·
You absolutely want the factory isolators in there. First, they are around 1/2" that you lose without having them, but more importantly, they protect the spacer from the spring. Yes, I have first/second hand experience that the spring can damage the harder rubber in the spacer. The spring isn't perfectly flat on top and the isolator takes care of that.

Here you go:

http://www.wranglerforum.com/f202/installation-issue-with-coil-spacers-1416306.html
Thanks, yeah my thought was coil --> factory isloator --> spacer --> frame.

If I recall correctly, the dealership's position is even with the isolator between the coil and the spacer it still will not sit properly as you now have an additional item (spacer) taking a portion of the suspension load. I guess more components, greater chance of issues.
 
#25 ·
Thanks m998dna! :thumb:

So if I'm understanding this, using a .5" spacer with the factory isolator (net is 1" total lift) would, or should, "feel" the same as just using a 1" spacer and no isolator with the Mopar lift.


.
 
#29 ·
Much better.... to me.

Had Teraflex 1" spacers installed without the factory isolators.




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#31 ·
Well, the dealership would not install them and see post #13 from jadmt. It seems while it might be 'better' to have them it wasn't going to cause any issues (I hope). My local dealership has installed well over 100 of the Mopar kits and not a single one had the factory isloator re-used. Playing the odds, if issues were coming back the dealership would have changed their installation procedures (again, another 'I hope').

:beerdrinking:
 
#33 · (Edited)
OK... fair enough, but the instructions indicate to leave the isolators in place when installing the Mopar 2" lift. Not exactly sure why you or your dealer are deviating from the Mopar installation instructions - the spring rates already compensate for more weight up front while using the factory isolator.

Like I mentioned, spacers are typically an extension of the frame, not the spring.

.
 

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#32 ·
I had posted elsewhere about this, but on a related note, I had a Terflex Budget Boost installed on my 2015 JKU-HR, and the upper isolators were not used. The shop pitched them after the install. More recently, I upgraded to a Terflex 3" kit (new springs), and the shop needed the isolators during the install, when everything was torn apart. Isolators were tough to find, and I ended up paying $100 to FedEx them to Helena. So, whatever you do, hang on to yours :rant:
 
#34 ·
Per the dealership, the isolators are used only if you are not adding any other spacers. For them, once you add any additional "lift" with a spacer they are not going to use them.

But I hear you m998dna.

Only time will tell me if this was completely wrong to do (not utilize the factory isolators).

.
 
#35 ·
You will be fine. I have ran with isolators on top of the spacer, under the spacer and without the isolator. as long as you are not using steel or aluminum spacers your coils won't now the difference. some spacers actually center the coil better than the isolator does. I have been running a 1/2" TF spacer on the coil on my set up and the TF spacer actually has a tapered cone that keeps the coil centered up in the perch. It has been in there for at least 40,000 miles maybe more on 3 different front coil changes and still doing its job.
 
#36 ·
During a TF 1.5 install, We actually left then on top by mistake. Owner said he was hearing a creaking noise so he came
Back over to pull it apart again. It literally took a 1/2 hr to pull the isolators and put them in between the coil and spacer. Turned out it was something else but at least it was done. The coil had already left a imprint on the spacer after a week.
 
#38 ·
Johnny -- I didn't like the look with 1.75" Rubicon Express spacers. I couldn't imagine going anything more than 1" total additional lift a spacer gives you, at least with the 33" tires I have.

See post #9 for the picture with the RE spacers.

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#39 ·
Maybe the OP should go by the manufacturers recommendation. I had a 2" superlift spacer lift. They specifically say no reuse of the isolator. After I added a winch and bumper I replaced the front with a 2.5" Teraflex front spacer. Teraflex requires you to use the isolators. I've had no problems with either lift going by the manufacturer recommendation.
I wouldn't listen to what the boobs at the dealership say, they just install. Call your spacer manufacturer or go online and download instructions.


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