Rubi take offs and spacer lift lessons learned

[Southerncl]

Hi all, first post here!
I recently upgraded the suspension on my 22 sport s manual and thought I'd share some pictures and some lessons learned.
Upgrades applied - gladiator rubicon springs and fox shocks, AEV 2 inch spacer lift, and rancho geometry correction / drop brackets.
After watching [Banned Site]'s video on the suspension install and a few on the aev install I felt pretty confident and capable. I'm a mechanical person and had a jk way back in 2011, so I also had a little prior experience and understanding.

First lesson
Make sure you have lots of free time. It easily took me 15 plus hours to be done done.
2nd lesson
Have someone around to help. I did it all alone, but damn I was wore out and some things like torqueing the control arms sucked! An extra set of hands here and there would have cut way down on time and massively of frustration!
3rd lesson
Aev doesn't come with directions, you have to download it. It also doesn't clearly show what bolts in the hardware bag go to what part of the install. You should pair it all up prior to installing.
4th lesson
Aev kit requires drilling 8 holes. 2 entirely new and 6 you make larger. So be prepared for that and have some paint.
5th lesson
The rear axel will not droop low enough without removing the brakes and completely loosening all the control arms.
Side note on this one. The manual transmission comes with a 3rd shock on the real axel that I removed thinking it was keeping the axel from drooping enough. Don't remove it. It was the control arms that keep the axel from drooping enough. That 3rd shock is a pita to get reinstalled...so just leave it!
Lesson 6
Torqueing the control arms is crazy hard. I've got a long ass torque wrench and it is still a pita! Alone it was near impossible to get it done. You really need a 2nd set of hands.
Lesson 7
Use a torque pen, be sure you torqued everything and be able to verify if something comes loose.
Lesson 8
Make sure you have all the correct tools. I was missing a 21 mm wrench. Off the top of my head you need a wrench and ratchet in the following sizes 10mm, 15mm 18mm, 19mm, 21mm, 24mm

Some things to note.
My sport front springs were 1 inch taller than the rubicon springs when I compared them side by side. The rubicon springs did "appear" thicker but I didn't have a gage to verify.
I did the 2inch spacer and rubicon take offs all at once so I can guess on what the rubicon added height wise, but that's all it would be.
Height before on semi lvl ground.
40.25 PR
39.25 DR
37.75 FD
37.5 FP
Height after
40.25 both front sides
42.75 both rear sides
So roughly 2.5in in the front and the same in the rear.
The rubi suspension is alot stiffer. The sport s was really good.....I'm undecided at this point which I like better. I need some burn in time!

Before

After

Here is a pic of the 3rd shock on the manuals rear axel

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[ErrngeElise]

Interesting. My ‘21 rubicon 6MT doesn’t have that third shock. What’s it for? Mitigate shift shock?

 

[@californiajeeping]

lol torque. Impact go brrrrt.

 

[SnazzGlad]

Yea I don’t know how the YT video guys got their rear spacers in with just removing the shock mount and sway bar links. I did a similar swap but didn’t do the front control arms. I was able to get my rear JTR springs and 3/4” spacer in by unbolting the rear track bar and it gave me plenty of axle drop. I’m a certified shade tree mechanic lol.

 

[Southerncl]

Definitely no way to get a 2in spacer in the rear without loosening the control arms!
Well maybe if you have someone standing on that side of the axel while to force it in!

Yea I don’t know how the YT video guys got their rear spacers in with just removing the shock mount and sway bar links. I did a similar swap but didn’t do the front control arms. I was able to get my rear JTR springs and 3/4” spacer in by unbolting the rear track bar and it gave me plenty of axle drop. I’m a certified shade tree mechanic lol.

 

[Southerncl]

I wonder if it was added in 22 or maybe not on the rubicons.

Interesting. My ‘21 rubicon 6MT doesn’t have that third shock. What’s it for? Mitigate shift shock?

 

[Lunentucker]

Many of the true published torque specs call for x lbs/ft plus degrees.
This alleviates the hernia and busted knuckles issues very effectively.

Simply torque to the designated lower setting and then use a marked socket and impact to add the correct amount of additional turn using an impact wrench.

All Torque Specs Here
https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...torque-values-all-of-them-in-one-place.67915/

 

[Hootbro]

I wonder if it was added in 22 or maybe not on the rubicons.

The axle shock has been seen sporadically since the launch in 2019. Only on manuals and so far, no known reason why some manual gladiators get them and most manual gladiators do not.

 

[ecidiego]

The axle shock has been seen sporadically since the launch in 2019. Only on manuals and so far, no known reason why some manual gladiators get them and most manual gladiators do not.

tow package?

 

[Jeeperjamie]

Jesus Christ, 15 hours. I had my Rubicon suspension on and shocks installed on less than 2.5 hours in my Driveway. I just dropped both axles and put the springs on and then put them back on. I had never done it before either but I watched and helped a buddy do his so I decided to try to tackle the job myself. I had my 2.5 inch spacer lift done at a shop but after doing the springs and shocks I feel like another hour and I could of had the spacers installed as well. I also added Geo brackets while I did the springs.

 

[Gvsukids]

torqueing the control arms sucke

Use a floor jack to raise the torque wrench enough to click.

 

[Southerncl]

Man I wish mine had gone that quick! 2.5 hours just seems too fast to me! Just getting it on jack stands, secured properly and the front wheels off took 30 min. Hell the control arm removals and reinstall took an hour each for the front and rear.
I didn't run into any issues.....guess I'm just slow!!

Can i ask....if it only took you 2.5 hours, why didn't you do the spacer lift yourself? Why take it to a shop?

Jesus Christ, 15 hours. I had my Rubicon suspension on and shocks installed on less than 2.5 hours in my Driveway. I just dropped both axles and put the springs on and then put them back on. I had never done it before either but I watched and helped a buddy do his so I decided to try to tackle the job myself. I had my 2.5 inch spacer lift done at a shop but after doing the springs and shocks I feel like another hour and I could of had the spacers installed as well. I also added Geo brackets while I did the springs.

 

[Southerncl]

It was only me....so I need a hand to secure a wrench to the back of the bolt so it doesn't spin, then a hand on the torque wrench so it doesn't pip off, and a hand on a floor jack. That's more hands then I've got!!
That being said I do like the thought.
Honestly if I just had another person so I could get 2 hands on the torque wrench it would be all good. That's why the lesson learned is have a buddy with you for that part!

Use a floor jack to raise the torque wrench enough to click.

 

[Jeeperjamie]

Man I wish mine had gone that quick! 2.5 hours just seems too fast to me! Just getting it on jack stands, secured properly and the front wheels off took 30 min. Hell the control arm removals and reinstall took an hour each for the front and rear.
I didn't run into any issues.....guess I'm just slow!!

Can i ask....if it only took you 2.5 hours, why didn't you do the spacer lift yourself? Why take it to a shop?

Because I had never done it before and didn't have the time to do it. Thought it was going to be a huge job to do. Plus the shop quoted me $800 out the door with alignment so I figured that was a good deal for me not to touch it. It took the shop 2 hours plus alignment to have it done. It was the third day I owned it so I called the shop and set it up while I was signing the deal. Had 35's put on the second day I had it. If I would of known it was that easy to do I would of done it myself honestly. I figure 4 or 5 hours tops to do it all. Dang dude I feel for ya brother, 15 hours that's a lot of time.

 

[Southerncl]

Mine does have to tow package, but not max tow obviously because of the manual 6. So possible that's a factor

tow package?

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