Diesel Desert and Trail Build

[Hdog911]

Hi
Yep so I bought a 22 JTRD about 9 months ago. I got it new, I wanted a warranty and no hassles; so I ordered and paid for the Mopar lift with my purchase.

After 4 months of enduring the stock suspension the Mopar suspension was still backordered. So I got in contact with Phil Licardi aka Shock Jesus at Liberty Mountain Fabrication and we ordered some ADS external triple bypass shocks, ADS Air bumps, JKS geometry correction and 4" Synergy lift. Fast forward another 5 months and all my parts are basically here.

Part List with cost in thousands:
ADS Triple External Bypass Shocks 4.8
ADS Air Bumps 1.2
4" Synergy Stage 3 Lift 3.1
JKS Geometry Correction .2
Nexus 2.2 Steering Stabilizer .5
5 * Method MR108 Beadlock 3
5 * 37/13.5/R17 Toyo Open Country 2
Stage 1 EOC + Trans Tune 1.5
Spare PCM .3
Taser JL Mini .48
Rugged Ridge Armis Hard Tonneau Cover 1.2
Mopar Trail Rail System .4
Rockhard RLCA and Shock skids .16
Rear Hitch Armour. 12
Warn Zeon 10s Winch + Warn Plate 2
Recovery Kit (Tow Strap, Shackle, Powerbank battery jumper, Traction Boards + Mount, Air Comp, CO2) .6

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[Hdog911]

Here are some shots of the front and rear shocks. In order for the tires to clear the shocks, the rims will need less then 3.5" of backspacing (EDIT: around 3.5" depending on tire size but 4.0" or less would probably work) And the tires need to be 37s or less in order for the spare to clear the rear Synergy track bar. Method Racing MR108 Matte Black Beadlocks were chosen along with 37/13.5/R17 Toyo Open County mud terrians.

The fronts have extetnal remote reservoirs:

And the rears are piggyback resevoir for better response or something:

 

[wildtaco]

Looking forward to seeing this built up! Parts list looks great.

 

[Hdog911]

Nice Z. Looks just like ours ?

Haha yep. I sold mine. After 10 years of ownership and 200k miles it was time to move on. Well, at least that's what I tell myself...

 

[Okambot]

Here are some shots of the front and rear shocks. In order for the tires to clear the shocks, the rims will need less than 3.5" of backspacing. And the tires need to be 37s or less in order for the spare to clear the rear Synergy track bar. Method Racing MR108 Matte Black Beadlocks were chosen along with 37/13.5/R17 Toyo Open County mud terrians.

The fronts have reservoirs:

And the rears do not:

Can’t believe I’ve never heard of ADS. I figured eventually I would upgrade to King suspension but this is very intriguing. Please keep us up to date!

 

[mx5red]

Here are some shots of the front and rear shocks. In order for the tires to clear the shocks, the rims will need less than 3.5" of backspacing. And the tires need to be 37s or less in order for the spare to clear the rear Synergy track bar. Method Racing MR108 Matte Black Beadlocks were chosen along with 37/13.5/R17 Toyo Open County mud terrians.

The fronts have reservoirs:

And the rears do not:

Less than 3.5” of backspacing?! That seems like a lot?

 

[rharr]

Would love to hear your feedback on ADS. My home town neighbor. Had a good friend working for them for a few years.

Had one of the lead guys drive my diesel JTR when I first got it so he could check what came stock out of the box.

He was showing me his prototype bump stops back then. Looks like they moved into production with them. Might have to swing by and see what's up.

 

[Rusty PW]

Fellow Z owner and JTRD owner. ?

 

[Hdog911]

Less than 3.5” of backspacing?! That seems like a lot?

Whoops I meant to say around 3.5" of backspacing to clear the tires.

 

[Hdog911]

Would love to hear your feedback on ADS. My home town neighbor. Had a good friend working for them for a few years.

Had one of the lead guys drive my diesel JTR when I first got it so he could check what came stock out of the box.

He was showing me his prototype bump stops back then. Looks like they moved into production with them. Might have to swing by and see what's up.

I dont know too much about them except that all their stuff is manufactured to be the best. Fox and King which have budget lines but ADS uses the same race quality stuff in all their shocks. They also build everything in house. I went with them because my builder uses them. These shocks are only available through him but the smooth bodies they have are supposed be really good according to him.

 

[mx5red]

Whoops I meant to say around 3.5" of backspacing to clear the tires.

I was gonna say, 3.5” seems to be the most I’ve heard of people running, and that seems like a lot to me!

 

[Hdog911]

Well the winch got put in at Tom's Automotive here in Red Bluff, CA but so did a 1.5" spacer lift and a clayton rear track bar. The winch was done last week but the sag was so bad that my Jeep wouldn't clear the 37s in the front. It was gonna take a spacer lift for the 37s to clear in the front; so I thought what the heck let's go ahead put the spare where it belongs too. I had the Clayton rear track bar sitting around from when I was planning a more frugal build. Here are the pics as it sits: Warn 12k Zeon winch, Clayton rear track bar and a 1.5" Teraflex spacer lift that almost levels it out.

It definitely could use a a black or red hook and black fairlead but I'll ride with it for now.

At Bob's Tire in Red Bluff in the late afternoon on Friday but they told me beadlocks take an hour each and they don't have time today so we rescheduled for Monday.

Just a different perspective of the side; having it level makes it handle a lot better then when it was sagging. Still, the extra weight upfront is noticeable and while the Jeep isn't doing any autocross anytime soon it does make it less enjoyable to drive. But my friend thinks it drives better than stock now ?‍.

I'll run it for now but maybe something detachable in the future would be better. Once the 37s are on I may ride like that for a week or 2 untill I figure out the logistics of dropping my Gladiator off at Liberty Mountain Fabrication in Garnerville, NV which is about 3 hours away.. They'll install the synergy lift, geo correction, ads shocks, bumps and do the shock tuning as needed.

 

[CrazyCooter]

Getting off to a great start!

You will probably have to ditch the front bumper wings too for tire clearance.

I think you and I messaged on FB last month or so about some Fox air bumps i had for sale?

 

[Hdog911]

Getting off to a great start!

You will probably have to ditch the front bumper wings too for tire clearance.

I think you and I messaged on FB last month or so about some Fox air bumps i had for sale?

Yeah I remember that now. How's your new e-suspension? Ill DM you if you ever wanna wheel sometime.

 

[Hdog911]

Fellow Z owner and JTRD owner. ?

Beautiful Z. What's your username on the370.com?

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