Spring Advice w/ Shock replacement - '21 Sport S, not-lifted

[Undecided]

Just at 75k miles, and after our waterfall exploration through some forest roads yesterday I am thinking it's time to start shopping shocks. Been reading a ton from here to learn but haven't found talks on my specific spring question.

From what I can find around here (within my budget and for non-lifted JTs) it's likely going to be the Bilstein 5100s. What I am wondering though is if I should swap out my front springs at the same time?

With the added weight of a bumper/winch in the front I am guessing it would be beneficial? Or are they fine as is with a new shocks? I don't want to swap the rear to maintain payload, but can you split spring "types" like that? If I should swap them, do I need a "lift" one? Would take off front Rubi ones work since they supposedly for the steel bumper?

Relevant info:

• Sport S, Max Tow
• no lift
• 285/70R17, no plan to go bigger. If anything I am going 255/80 after these
• Steal front bumper & winch
• Mostly road driving, easy to moderate off road "overland type", rarely rock crawl
• Daily travel is empty, but do somewhat often tow 4500lb camper or have the bed filled with dirt/mulch/wood/bricks etc etc
• I would lean towards better road/tow driving but don't want to sacrifice too much off road performance (at least for the off roading I do)

Thanks for any input, got a lot to learn still.

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[ScottBeach]

What is the total weight added from the bumper winch and plate? Did you add or plan to add a front skid plate?

 

[Undecided]

What is the total weight added from the bumper winch and plate? Did you add or plan to add a front skid plate?

it’s a RC 10585 claimed 120lbs which includes the mount plate and a front skid-ish id call it.

Apex Badlands 12k at ~65lbs off .

I believe the stock front plastic is around 35lbs? So roughly 150lb increase. It has settled to roughly a 1/2 in sag over the years.

I know RC isn’t seen as a great brand here but I’ve been really happy with the bumper. No rust or anything yet.

 

[ScottBeach]

That little weight change should change your spring from factory.

 

[KQL]

That little weight change should change your spring from factory.

Guessing you mean “should not change”? I am also curious on this topic. I put a winch+plate into my plastic bumper on my 22 sport. Added aluminum skids from quadratec, and typically have quite a bit of stuff in the bed. Wondering if I measure the bump stop distance now, how it would compare to a stock height. But having trouble finding stock 22 sport bump stop distance between the cup and pad to compare to.

 

[ScottBeach]

Yea. That amount of weight shouldn't cause you to change spring rate.

 

[KQL]

When I installed my winch, I did try to get a before and after measurement, but had to move the truck before the project was completed. Assuming I got it back to the same spot where I took the before measurement, I dropped 1/4 inch after the install, but can’t be certain that is accurate due to moving the truck. The other mods have been over time, and I stopped taking a height measurement every time. So curious where I am at now, just thinking out loud.

 

[Sandman 4x4]

Just at 75k miles, and after our waterfall exploration through some forest roads yesterday I am thinking it's time to start shopping shocks. Been reading a ton from here to learn but haven't found talks on my specific spring question.

From what I can find around here (within my budget and for non-lifted JTs) it's likely going to be the Bilstein 5100s. What I am wondering though is if I should swap out my front springs at the same time?

With the added weight of a bumper/winch in the front I am guessing it would be beneficial? Or are they fine as is with a new shocks? I don't want to swap the rear to maintain payload, but can you split spring "types" like that? If I should swap them, do I need a "lift" one? Would take off front Rubi ones work since they supposedly for the steel bumper?

Relevant info:

• Sport S, Max Tow
• no lift
• 285/70R17, no plan to go bigger. If anything I am going 255/80 after these
• Steal front bumper & winch
• Mostly road driving, easy to moderate off road "overland type", rarely rock crawl
• Daily travel is empty, but do somewhat often tow 4500lb camper or have the bed filled with dirt/mulch/wood/bricks etc etc
• I would lean towards better road/tow driving but don't want to sacrifice too much off road performance (at least for the off roading I do)

Thanks for any input, got a lot to learn still.

5100’s are designed to allow up to 1.5-2” of lift, with extended suspension travel. As far as springs? Lift spring won’t work correctly with extra weight. That requires a stiffer spring, that I suggest you get with a progressive rate. To add an inch or two and hold extra weight. But 5100’s are the way to go especially for the price.

 

[ChrisNLA]

If you like the ride quality you currently have and aren't hard core wheeling - I personally think just throwing in a Teraflex 1.5" spacer lift in the front will be fine.

I have a '22 Max Tow, 1.5" Teraflex front level, Apex sway disconnects, Bilstein 5100's all the way around, factory springs. Truck sits proper level with a winch and handles mild off roading fine.

With the 5100's you'll have a slightly firmer ride than you have now. Sounds like our use case is similar. I wheel (forest roads, mild trails) on great occasion but far more often I put several hundred pounds of crap in the bed for honey do projects. Daily driver.

 

[Undecided]

If you like the ride quality you currently have and aren't hard core wheeling - I personally think just throwing in a Teraflex 1.5" spacer lift in the front will be fine.

I have a '22 Max Tow, 1.5" Teraflex front level, Apex sway disconnects, Bilstein 5100's all the way around, factory springs. Truck sits proper level with a winch and handles mild off roading fine.

With the 5100's you'll have a slightly firmer ride than you have now. Sounds like our use case is similar. I wheel (forest roads, mild trails) on great occasion but far more often I put several hundred pounds of crap in the bed for honey do projects. Daily driver.

yeah our use cases sound similar. I’m not necessarily wanting to lift or level the front - more wanted to confirm the addition of the bumper/winch/shocks wouldn’t require or highly recommend a swap of springs. Thank you

 

[ChrisNLA]

yeah our use cases sound similar. I’m not necessarily wanting to lift or level the front - more wanted to confirm the addition of the bumper/winch/shocks wouldn’t require or highly recommend a swap of springs. Thank you

If you don't mind the forward rake, then the drop won't be terrible with a winch and bumper, but it will probably be just noticeable. Personally the forward lean bothers me and I wanted my truck to sit relatively level - so the 1.5" spacer was perfect and did not sacrifice ride quality.

On my JK I lost 3/4" in the front with the steel bumper and winch and I swapped in Rubicon front springs to compensate (I eventually went to a complete lift kit). I'd guess its slightly less than that you'll lose on a JT.

My JT however, I bought very specifically wanting the Max Tow suspension, so since I wanted compensate for the winch weight and wanted to be level, I opted for spacers instead.

Edit: Also, the shortest 5100's for the front are made for 1" - 1.5" worth of lift. From what I saw when installing my 5100's, I would be concerned that the shock body would bottom out before the bump stops in the front end if I did not have my lift spacers or longer springs. That could cause shock or suspension damage. The spacer lift however came with bump stop spacers, so the small front lift and the slightly longer 5100's will work well together now, and the bump stop spacer will keep me from over-compressing the front shocks.

 

[Undecided]

If you don't mind the forward rake, then the drop won't be terrible with a winch and bumper, but it will probably be just noticeable. Personally the forward lean bothers me and I wanted my truck to sit relatively level - so the 1.5" spacer was perfect and did not sacrifice ride quality.

On my JK I lost 3/4" in the front with the steel bumper and winch and I swapped in Rubicon front springs to compensate (I eventually went to a complete lift kit). I'd guess its slightly less than that you'll lose on a JT.

My JT however, I bought very specifically wanting the Max Tow suspension, so since I wanted compensate for the winch weight and wanted to be level, I opted for spacers instead.

Edit: Also, the shortest 5100's for the front are made for 1" - 1.5" worth of lift. From what I saw when installing my 5100's, I would be concerned that the shock body would bottom out before the bump stops in the front end if I did not have my lift spacers or longer springs. That could cause shock or suspension damage. The spacer lift however came with bump stop spacers, so the small front lift and the slightly longer 5100's will work well together now, and the bump stop spacer will keep me from over-compressing the front shocks.

Is that issue only with the front? Do you have anything in the rear for the 5100s?

 

[ChrisNLA]

Is that issue only with the front? Do you have anything in the rear for the 5100s?

Rear looked good. Confident the rear bump stops will touch before the shocks will bottom out. The rear 5100's don't have as much extra length over stock as the front ones do.

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