Hate the RE 2.5 ride, how about upgrading to JKS/Fox?
07-15-2015, 05:57 PM
#11
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If your wife will not like the height of the additional lift then I would recommend staying with the lift size you have. The OME shocks might be stiffening up the ride as well. Most OME products are designed for vehicles with much more additional load so they are valved a little stiffer. I tried looking up their specs but OME does not seem to list them. The FOX shocks are more than likely going to be much more daily friendly. I have them on my Jeep and I liked them over my Bilstein 5100s. JKS makes super nice stuff and are innovative in some of their products as well (like their ACOS for Jeep TJs and JKs as well as secondary suspension for the JK that is not built into an ACOS assembly). They have the utmost standards for quality and most if not all their products have a lifetime warranty. I do not know if you have already decided who to get your parts from but I am a dealer for both so if you would like a quote, or have any questions let me know.
I think an inch will be fine (read: She'll get used to it) but if it jumps up 2"+ then there will definitely be an argument. If once I give it to her it's a big deal, I'll drop it back down. More importantly, the question is: is this going to cost me more money? I don't want to do it and then have issues with the front drive shaft, camber issues, track bar issues, needing control arms and anything else I don't even know about that could present. And is it really as simple as pulling the 2.5" RE springs and dropping in the 3.5" JKS springs?? Also, if it's that easy, why couldn't I just drop in evo plush 3" springs?
Last edited by TechLife; 07-15-2015 at 06:33 PM.
07-15-2015, 06:08 PM
#12
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If you feel every crack in the pavement you may be running too much air in your tires. Also are you on E rates tires or D rated? I'm on D rated nitto MT's. 315/70/17 running about 28 lbs air. I also have a RE 2.5 lift but have .75 pucks in the rear to level the jeep out. I don't have OME but rather went with the RE rebranded Bilstein 5100's. I'm very happy with the way the jeep rides.
I had 285/70 MT/Rs on it and as of when I took them off, they rode like wagon wheels at just about any pressure (and were cupping and ridiculously loud). I just put 35x10.50R17 Trail Grapplers (E rated, 8.5" wheel) on and I immediately noticed a significant difference. Felt like I drove off on pillows of air. I need to chalk test them this weekend and play around a bit. A friend of mine with the same tires recommended 28psi as well so I'll definitely try it out. Even with the difference they made right out of the shop, it's still pretty rough. Don't get me wrong, I know it's a lifted Jeep and not a Cadillac. I've driven lifted rigs my whole life so I'm not expecting a miracle. I also know from riding in friend's Jeeps that it doesn't need to be this rough either.
P.S. Your sig is pretty awesome.
Last edited by TechLife; 07-15-2015 at 07:39 PM.
07-15-2015, 07:21 PM
#13
If your wife will not like the height of the additional lift then I would recommend staying with the lift size you have. The OME shocks might be stiffening up the ride as well. Most OME products are designed for vehicles with much more additional load so they are valved a little stiffer. I tried looking up their specs but OME does not seem to list them. The FOX shocks are more than likely going to be much more daily friendly. I have them on my Jeep and I liked them over my Bilstein 5100s. JKS makes super nice stuff and are innovative in some of their products as well (like their ACOS for Jeep TJs and JKs as well as secondary suspension for the JK that is not built into an ACOS assembly). They have the utmost standards for quality and most if not all their products have a lifetime warranty. I do not know if you have already decided who to get your parts from but I am a dealer for both so if you would like a quote, or have any questions let me know.
07-16-2015, 04:48 PM
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07-16-2015, 06:16 PM
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JKS JSPEC 2 1/2" lift
I have the Rubicon Express coil 2.5" lift with OME shocks currently on my '09 JKU X. I hate the ride and am looking for a little more space now that I have upgraded to 35's. In talking to my shop about this issue, they recommended JKS springs and Fox shocks. The question is do I stick with a 2.5" or go up to the 3.5"? The price is the same either way and it sounded like it wouldn't be a big deal to go to the 3.5".
I'm posting because as much as I want to go to the 3.5", I'm a little concerned. First, I need it to be no more than 1" higher. I'm giving this one to the wife next year and buying a brand new one and more than 1" and I'm going to sleeping in the garage for a while. With her getting it, it's basically going to mean that it will be a pavement princess. Probably some light wheeling but certainly nothing serious so keep that in mind.
My biggest concern is with geometry issues that will be caused by the extra inch. I certainly want it to handle well on the highway and I don't want to be chewing through tires at $2k a set. Are there going to be any major geometry issues (or other issues) that I should be aware of and financially prepared to correct?
Am I even asking the right questions here lol? I consider myself to know my Jeeps pretty well but this is above my head.
Thanks in advance to anyone willing to point me in the right direction.
I'm posting because as much as I want to go to the 3.5", I'm a little concerned. First, I need it to be no more than 1" higher. I'm giving this one to the wife next year and buying a brand new one and more than 1" and I'm going to sleeping in the garage for a while. With her getting it, it's basically going to mean that it will be a pavement princess. Probably some light wheeling but certainly nothing serious so keep that in mind.
My biggest concern is with geometry issues that will be caused by the extra inch. I certainly want it to handle well on the highway and I don't want to be chewing through tires at $2k a set. Are there going to be any major geometry issues (or other issues) that I should be aware of and financially prepared to correct?
Am I even asking the right questions here lol? I consider myself to know my Jeeps pretty well but this is above my head.
Thanks in advance to anyone willing to point me in the right direction.
I believe this might be my first post here, usually hang out on the wrangler forum. I've got the 2 1/2" JKS/Fox kit and love it so far, I believe it's hard to beat for the money!
07-16-2015, 06:23 PM
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07-19-2015, 05:45 PM
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In the interested of not leaving this thread open ended, I wanted to report back with how this all worked out...
I'm fortunate to have one of the top shops in the country near me. I totally trust their advise but I also like to ask other retail-paying owners their opinions which is why I started this thread. Anyway, after listening to everyone's input here, I went in Friday morning to have the checkup on my gears and was loaded for bear with questions. I sat down with the guys and made sure to totally explain my needs and concerns. I can't express how totally awesome they were with answering every one in detail and working with me to get things taken care of at a fantastic price. I wound up going with the following:
JKS 3.5" JSPEC progressive springs w/ matched Fox Evolution 2.0 Shocks
Synergy heavy duty drag link and flip kit
Synergy track bar relocation bracket
JKS control arm correction brackets
The difference is amazing.
- The steering is so tight now, I had to relearn how to drive it and stop over correcting on the way home. I didn't realize how sloppy it was before.
- The body roll is significantly less than I had at 2.5" even though I raised my center of gravity. It is no longer tippy in the corners at all.
- The ride is night and day smoother. The cracks in the road basically disappeared. It rides like a Cadillac now in comparison to what I had.
- Bump steer is gone with the exact same OME stabilizer I had before.
- The pull to left I had is completely gone. I can drive forever straight as an arrow without touching the wheel. (Yes, I tried. lol)
- The stance. It's killer with those 35's. Perfectly proportioned in my opinion. I'll post some decent pics when I have a minute. For now, the crappy in-process pics I posted below will have to do.
All of this coupled with the 4.88's and the Black Magic/Centric brakes turned out to be exactly what I was looking for. I've realized since this was completed that the reason I was in such a hurry to give this one up is because, even though I thought I did, I didn't enjoy driving it. Now I don't want to get out of it! It's still going to the wifey eventually but it may be a little longer.
I'd like to thank everyone who commented and PM'd me. It really helped a lot!
P.S. I taught the wife the Jeep Leap. So far, no bitching. lol
I'm fortunate to have one of the top shops in the country near me. I totally trust their advise but I also like to ask other retail-paying owners their opinions which is why I started this thread. Anyway, after listening to everyone's input here, I went in Friday morning to have the checkup on my gears and was loaded for bear with questions. I sat down with the guys and made sure to totally explain my needs and concerns. I can't express how totally awesome they were with answering every one in detail and working with me to get things taken care of at a fantastic price. I wound up going with the following:
JKS 3.5" JSPEC progressive springs w/ matched Fox Evolution 2.0 Shocks
Synergy heavy duty drag link and flip kit
Synergy track bar relocation bracket
JKS control arm correction brackets
The difference is amazing.
- The steering is so tight now, I had to relearn how to drive it and stop over correcting on the way home. I didn't realize how sloppy it was before.
- The body roll is significantly less than I had at 2.5" even though I raised my center of gravity. It is no longer tippy in the corners at all.
- The ride is night and day smoother. The cracks in the road basically disappeared. It rides like a Cadillac now in comparison to what I had.
- Bump steer is gone with the exact same OME stabilizer I had before.
- The pull to left I had is completely gone. I can drive forever straight as an arrow without touching the wheel. (Yes, I tried. lol)
- The stance. It's killer with those 35's. Perfectly proportioned in my opinion. I'll post some decent pics when I have a minute. For now, the crappy in-process pics I posted below will have to do.
All of this coupled with the 4.88's and the Black Magic/Centric brakes turned out to be exactly what I was looking for. I've realized since this was completed that the reason I was in such a hurry to give this one up is because, even though I thought I did, I didn't enjoy driving it. Now I don't want to get out of it! It's still going to the wifey eventually but it may be a little longer.
I'd like to thank everyone who commented and PM'd me. It really helped a lot!
P.S. I taught the wife the Jeep Leap. So far, no bitching. lol
Last edited by TechLife; 07-19-2015 at 08:59 PM.