So to start off a little about my intentions with my build. I sold my 09 JKU and picked up a 13. I live in NC where Uwharrie national Forrest is really the only place to wheel and I did all the trails but one in stock form (used the skids a time or two) so there isn't much opportunity to utilize a serious rig around here. However, I will be moving back to Colorado in 18 months where a built rig can really be tested. When coming up with my temporary setup I didn't want to spend much on parts that won't be reused when I start my more serious build in Colorado (104 wheelbase, 37s).
So I got a set of 18/59 JKU springs for basically free and added 3/4 inch coil spacers to them $40. I didn't reuse the factory spring isolator in the rear hoping the 1/4 inch reduction would help take away part of the raked appearance. This combination yielded a bit more then 2 inches of lift. I considered just running my rubicon shocks but blackfriday yielded a set of pro comp es9000 for under $150 shipped they are 27" extended and 16 collapsed to add some significant droop. After the shock purchase I pick up currie rear coil retainers and RK front retainers
Issues
Rubi rock rails are the first point to rub I will cut them this week (it's a 2013 so no pinch seem issues) next point to bind is the rear brake lines just going to make my own bracket for now. I will be trimming the fenders this week once my PSC bumper gets here. The front brake lines seem long enough I will just remove the lower mounting bracket near the shock mount. The only costly and limiting issue is there is way more droop available and the front drive shaft has got to go! I didn't anticipate to gain as much lift as I did so I will need extended sway bar links in the rear and move the factory rears up front
I know most people do the 1.5" teraflex leveling kit or 18/59 springs without extending them so I was unsure if I would need them. The pic is on pretty level ground and I'm not sure at what angle you want to extend them but it doesn't look good to me the way they sit now
So trimmed the rock rails today and simply unbolted the rear brake line bracket, not sure if there is a reason it needs to be on the bracket it doesn't hang down in the way of anything but if anyone had a bad experience please chime in
Have enough flex out back to find that unsurprisingly the fenders are now the limiting factor. They will be trimmed next week but I was surprised to find that with the rear tire just touching the fender I'm only about an inch away from the bumpstops making contact so I'm hoping with the fenders trimmed I can with the stock ones and even gain a bit of up travel instead of losing some like I thought I might
So after the fenders are trimmed and bumper is installed I will address the rear brake lines in a more permanent fashion
I am considering the teraflex exhaust spacer to keep my front ds in tact. Has anyone used it?
Probably going to order some extended sway bar links so I can start checking on what if anything is making contact on the front end
Exhaust spacers and extended links should be here today so I flexed it out just a bit to see where I'm at
I will need 1 inch bump stops in the rear and I only disco for the picture I definitely need extended links
In these pics my rear tire is about to hit the stock bumps in the rear and very close to the radial seem and slightly rubbing the rear bumper but still have about 2 inches of brake line left when I have the bracket unbolted
The front isn't close to be maxed out anywhere except having my sway bar invert
This is the first thread I've seen that mentions having to trim the stock Rubi rock rails. I wondered about those sticking out the way they do... Can you post a pic up close on what your trimmed ones look like? Did you paint the cut part or put a cap on it to avoid rust?
There is a little plastic tab that held the cap in that I had to cut in order to remove the cap
But the end cap fits in there tight enough if hasn't come out but I'm sure if I bury the slider in some mud or bash it off a rock I could end up loosing one
Is your rig Auto or Manual? Just wondering about the exhaust bracket thing. I seem to have a fair bit of room left at full droop in the Manual at the moment.
I see you are running 16's too, you guys must get a smaller brake set up to what we get here, 17's only just clear rotors on mine.
Mine is a manual and I don't know if I really need the exhaust spacer or not it hasn't made contact yet but I got a good deal on it so I grabbed it.
If I stated my wheels were 16s it was a typo they are 17s
I have a more serious build planned for the future so doing these budget build parts is just a smart way to get my "build fix" for the time being and have a semi capable rig to hit the trails in the mean time
Great wright up, I have two questions for ya. What were your stock coils? I just pulled the trigger on a set of JKUR 18/59's myself and was just curious if I was going to expect about the same in lift. Also what size tires are you running (if you previously posted, I might have missed it)?
Awesome, the only thing I'm worried is the rake. But I'll be ready to get spacers if I don't like the way she sits.
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