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Just Swapped in Some Rubicon Springs/Shocks On My Sport S!

6K views 53 replies 15 participants last post by  ironmatt85 
#1 ·
The rain almost stopped long enough today for me to swap in the 18/60 Rubicon springs and shocks into my Sport S 2 door that came with 14/56. The swap was super easy thanks to the write-ups on here and some advice from @Pressurized . Overall I netted initially about 1 3/4. The springs were brand new so I will drive it a bit and see where it settles, if at all. I like the look!

First drive impressions were that it rides a lot firmer than before. Feels like there is less brake dive and body lean on corners. I took it on a couple of gravel roads and pot holed roads around my house. I noticed that the stability control kicked on where it had not before. Feels like the rig is a bit jumpy, which with the higher springs is not too surprising. I would like it to settle down, but maybe that is just the deal with this kind of "lift"? Any thoughts on needs for alignment or other things now?

Anyway, here are some pics.

BEFORE


AFTER
 
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#2 ·
The rain almost stopped long enough today for me to swap in the 18/60 Rubicon springs and shocks into my Sport S 2 door that came with 14/56. The swap was super easy thanks to the write-ups on here and some advice from @Pressurized . Overall I netted initially about 1 3/4. The springs were brand new so I will drive it a bit and see where it settles, if at all. I like the look!

First drive impressions were that it rides a lot firmer than before. Feels like there is less brake dive and body lean on corners. I took it on a couple of gravel roads and pot holed roads around my house. I noticed that the stability control kicked on where it had not before. Feels like the rig is a bit jumpy, which with the higher springs is not too surprising. I would like it to settle down, but maybe that is just the deal with this kind of "lift"? Any thoughts on needs for alignment or other things now?

Anyway, here are some pics.
Sure looks good... I'm interested in the "a lot" firmer comment you made. I've done 4 of these and while none of them were mine personally, one is my daughters. I never really noticed much ride difference. I asked my daughter since she drives it every day and she said it might be a little firmer, but she also got a set of Rubicon shocks at the same time, like you, and she likes the ride much better. She said it no longer wallows around on bumpy roads.

Interested in what you think of it over time...
 
#11 ·
She said it no longer wallows around on bumpy roads.
Wallows - the perfect word to describe how my JK handles when turning on a bumpy road! LOL

Pressurized, several months ago you advised me regarding Rancho shocks, and I bought a set at that time. But it has been raining nearly constantly ever since so I haven't gotten them installed yet (garage is too narrow to work inside). Every week I look at the 10 day forecast, and it looks the same - temps in the 40's, and rain rain rain rain. :(

Anyway, new Rancho 5000X shocks and Hellwig rear anti-sway bar ready and waiting.
 
#3 ·
They were new take-offs. Maybe a few miles from the dealership to shop but that was it. Perhaps "a lot" was an overstatement. However, right away I noticed that the stability control kicked on when I hit some potholes in the road which I had not noticed before. I also got the same thing along with ABS when braking moderately hard at the end of a dirt road where the "braking bumps" usually show up. The firmer statement comes mostly from that. My thought was that the springs are a higher rate, but after thinking about it I recall hearing that the difference in the difference springs was mostly heights wasn't it? I do need to get underneath and correctly torque everything (shocks and sway bar end links). I had forgotten I had let my buddy borrow my wrench so I erred on too tight. I will be getting that today but the rain is not cooperating with my outside workspace.

Any other parts I should look at getting down the road? Was thinking sway bar disco links eventually. How about geo or rear track bar brackets? Brake line brackets?
 
#4 ·
We haven't experienced any of the nannies kicking in, I hope that isn't something that continues for you... As for add-ons, since we haven't changed anything that would give additional suspension travel, no other components are really needed. However, disconnects in the front would be a welcome addition for off-roading. They can help with flex, but also help with a softer more compliant ride on rough terrain.

At the small amount of lift that we have, there likely isn't a need for caster correction and geo brackets would hang too low and over correct. If you are looking to improve the steering feel on your 2dr (many people are) then I would look at something like the Teraflex Sport front lower control arms and the Steer Smarts Griffin Attenuator. 2 very nice upgrades...
 
#7 ·
@Pressurized I am going to re-torque everything this evening since I know I tightened them too much. Maybe that will help everything move a little bit better so I don't get those nannies. I am also running the BFG mud terrain and the pressure might be a little bit high at 36 PSI. What would lose lower control arms do for the ride?

FWIW, I took my wife for a spin and she commented that the Jeep rode "rougher" than before, but that was ok because it is a Jeep.
 
#9 ·
The Rubicon shocks are firmer than the sports. This is also contributing to the feel.

The arms would primarily affect the steering. By adding a little caster, you increase the self center effect. That's what pushes the steering wheel back straight after you go around a corner. Lower caster feels like the Jeep wanders a little and you are constantly correcting the steering wheel. We didn't change enough to "need" this. It's just a suggestion of possible improvement in steering feel. I have it on my daughters and she noticed and liked the change.
 
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#8 ·
The rain almost stopped long enough today for me to swap in the 18/60 Rubicon springs and shocks into my Sport S 2 door that came with 14/56. The swap was super easy thanks to the write-ups on here and some advice from @Pressurized . Overall I netted initially about 1 3/4. The springs were brand new so I will drive it a bit and see where it settles, if at all. I like the look!

First drive impressions were that it rides a lot firmer than before. Feels like there is less brake dive and body lean on corners. I took it on a couple of gravel roads and pot holed roads around my house. I noticed that the stability control kicked on where it had not before. Feels like the rig is a bit jumpy, which with the higher springs is not too surprising. I would like it to settle down, but maybe that is just the deal with this kind of "lift"? Any thoughts on needs for alignment or other things now?
Awesome.... that confirms my 2"-2.25" lift height results when you install the 10A springs.

Keep up the good work, you have a nice Jeep there.

.
 
#13 ·
You just swapped stiffer springs for a heavier vehicle, it's like driving in an old pick up with no weight in the bed. Your springs are set to compensate for the heavier weight, so they are stiffer and will bounce on rough pavement more. That's​ going to kick on the traction control and may let the ass bounce out on rough pavement when cornering.
 
#15 ·
It actually HAS been raining pretty much everyday. 😤 i started my swap in the nice weather and ended up finishing in the rain! I'll report back once I get everything tightening correct. I also need to make sure the sway bars are level. I read at one point that if they aren't that can have an adverse effect.
 
#44 · (Edited)
Ditto!
I did this as well. The JKS sway bar disconnects allow you to properly adjust the disconnect arm lengths, so that the sway bar is now horizontal with the ground. It was not horz. after installing new 19/60 Mopar springs and RS9000XL shocks.
I also recommend the Griffin steering stabilizer unit. Especially if you have a 2dr JK. My JK is now, no longer "twitchy" when driving. I can now relax and not have to continually correct the steering on my short wheel base 2dr.

Before:


After 19/60 Mopar springs and RS9000XL shocks:
 
#22 · (Edited)
The JKU spring rates are still lower than aftermarket JK springs... I think we're making a mountain here out of a mole hill.

Length wise, you get roughly 1/4" longer per each number increase. There are 9 different springs that Jeep uses just for the front of our Wranglers. The wire diameter measured the same from the 15 to the 18, but that's not to say that the 12's don't have a different diameter.
 
#24 ·
Not to get off topic, but I have a set of factory take off shocks and springs form my 2017 Hard Rock. They have about 1000 miles on them. Anyway, there is a kid in town that has a stock Willy's. He doesn't make a ton of money, but he is saving up to do some stuff to his Jeep. Would he benefit at all from my stock take offs or not really?
 
#26 ·
Yours are 4dr, right?

Is his Willys a 2dr? If so, nice upgrade on springs. He already has the red shocks...

If it's 4dr to 4dr, depending on other specs, like hard top etc. he may already have the same springs. Probably no benefit.
 
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#31 ·
The rain almost stopped long enough today for me to swap in the 18/60 Rubicon springs and shocks into my Sport S 2 door that came with 14/56. The swap was super easy thanks to the write-ups on here and some advice from @Pressurized . Overall I netted initially about 1 3/4. The springs were brand new so I will drive it a bit and see where it settles, if at all. I like the look!

First drive impressions were that it rides a lot firmer than before. Feels like there is less brake dive and body lean on corners. I took it on a couple of gravel roads and pot holed roads around my house. I noticed that the stability control kicked on where it had not before. Feels like the rig is a bit jumpy, which with the higher springs is not too surprising. I would like it to settle down, but maybe that is just the deal with this kind of "lift"? Any thoughts on needs for alignment or other things now?

Anyway, here are some pics.

BEFORE


AFTER
Your Jeep looks great!!!
Nice job.
 
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#33 ·
Thanks! I found this on the lot for a decent deal, but have always liked the Rubicon/Willys look. I dont need the lockers and 4:1 transfer case, so this is working out great. So far Im into my "upgrades" for the Rubi look for about $700-Wheels/tires/sliders/suspension.

DAVE
 
#34 ·
Very nice. It's looking great
 
#35 ·
Crawled under the rig just now to check the torque. Since I tightened by hand I was I worried I over torqued things. I was wrong...everything was too loose. It was tight, but not up to the right tightness..well, all except the rear upper shock bolts :)

Also noticed the front and rear sway bars were a few degrees down when sitting. I didn't measure but I would say they are less than 5. Probably not enough to worry about.
 
#36 ·
Since you are still running stock length shocks, there is no issue. The axle cannot droop any further than it could before the spring change.
 
#37 ·
Did you loosen your control arms before the spring install? Before you retorqued everything? It's possible you had a little bind going on. It may be a little factor in the ride but sometimes the little stuff adds up. You also changed your caster slightly. Lower caster will make things feel funny when driving. Mostly tracking but again, the little stuff... Tire pressure?

Love the new look! Congrats on the lift.
 
#38 ·
Thanks! I did not loosen the control arms for the spring swap. On the rear I pulled the shocks, upper sway bar end, brake line bracket and axle breather. On the front I did the same, but pulled the bottom of the sway bar end.
 
#47 ·
I did a similar swap. On my JK Sahara with dual tops I had 13/55 from the factory. Purchased a set of springs and Rubi shocks from a guy who took them off his JKUR. Right from the dealer and into a new lift so they were brand new. I netted about 1.5" up front and 1.25" in the rear. The increase was exactly what I was looking for. Eliminated the slight stock rake and leveled it out. The ride is great. Less body roll and less nose dive on braking. It does not feel rough at all. All that was needed was a slight steering wheel recenter.


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#50 ·
Did some fine tuning over the last couple of days. I loosened and tightened the control arms and straightened the steering wheel. After the first try, I went too far in the opposite direction. On my test ride the stability control kicked in while going straight, but the wheel turned maybe 5 degrees. Made me realize that the first time the stability control kicked in after the "lift" was probably because the steering wheel was turned a bit and confused the system...or caused it to calibrate. Overall it rides very nice. I don't know if it is time in the seat or the control arm retorque or it just settled, but it rides very nice.

Even a half asses Jedi could control my suggestion susceptible brain. I do notice that the wheel does not self-center as my work car, a 2015 Ford Taurus. Thing is, I cannot recall if my Jeep stock was any different. It "feels" like it is less, but again, it might be because I read it here and tricked my brain. The lift obviously is very slight and the Terfelex Sport lower control arms say they are for 2.5 lift. Would those add too much caster to the rig? I have not measured my caster yet, so I do not know what it is.
 
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