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Jeep Gladiator Show/Daily Driver suspension upgrade advice needed

Kyleax1

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I handle the mods for my wife's project 2020 jeep gladiator rubicon . It's a daily driver and show jeep. It's not used for offroading and the goal of the mods is to look as good and custom as possible for shows while still being functional for daily use.

We are taking the next step by having it disassembled, powdered coated, and reassembled so I'm wanting to swap any and all parts that will make it function better for the size lift and tires we are running as well as potentially being able to run larger tires in the future if we decide to.

20x10 wheels with 37" tires
Clayton offroad overland+ 3.5" lift

I'm looking at upgrading to rockjock steering kit, adams drive shafts, possibly sway bars (but it sounds like they make it float which seems bad to me), rusty's differential covers, rusty's differential skid plates, and rusty's regear to 5.13.

I'm avoiding moving to Dana 60 as it's too much to be practical. But they say they can pull my stock dana 44 off and powder coat the whole thing.

So advice on what to replace, what to not to replace for daily driving optimization, suggested brands, and overall sex appeal for showing while being practical for daily driving.
Jeep Gladiator Jeep Gladiator Show/Daily Driver suspension upgrade advice needed 20250215_101142
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Rusty PW

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In3briatedPanda

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while my experience is very recreational and very minimal compared to your build already.

ive heard great things about clayton, i went with metalcloak and i brag about how awesome of a company they are to everyone.

clayton and metalcloak are both active on the forums and i hope they DM you!

the gatekeeping in the jeep community can be trollsome and ive been guilty of it. the good news, someone or a bunch of someones will help!
 
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Kyleax1

Kyleax1

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Emailed the same questions to Clayton Off Road and rockjock and got responses within 15 minutes that answered the questions. Oddly enough neither one recommended temu or alibaba.
 

rharr

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I am not trying to troll now but for laughs I was poking around youtube and thought I should share this.


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Kyleax1

Kyleax1

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I am not trying to troll now but for laughs I was poking around youtube and thought I should share this.


Desert Lion..... Power in every bounce.
I have the fox 2.0's. A Lion would eat a fox though
 

Gvsukids

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Wheelin98TJ

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For a DD/show Jeep that doesn't go off-road, I don't think you need much of anything you listed.

Steering, driveshafts, sway bars, diff covers, diff skid plates, those mods are mostly for off-road.

Would someone notice and appreciate RockJock steering at a show?
 
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Kyleax1

Kyleax1

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For a DD/show Jeep that doesn't go off-road, I don't think you need much of anything you listed.

Steering, driveshafts, sway bars, diff covers, diff skid plates, those mods are mostly for off-road.

Would someone notice and appreciate RockJock steering at a show?
I agree that if I'm having the axles powder coated then replacing the differential covers is pointless and skid plates aren't necessary either.

Clayton offroad said that they always recommend upgrading the driveshafts with the lift I purchased from them. They also recommended the rockJock steering kit and if I wanted to replace the sway bar the RockJock is a good option. They also told me how to go through and find the correct replacemwnt bushings for my arms because when they get pressed out for powder coating they aren't reusable.
They also said that their stiff coils help handle the cornering and floating issues I have read about.

RockJock said to go with their higg steer knuckle and sterring combo to help get it back to feeling close to stock and that upgrading the ball joints at the same time isn't a bad idea and that they like the dynatrac ones.

They also said if I want to replace the sway bars for ascetic reasons that I should do the 1" bar upfront and 1 1/8 rear to give a tighter feel on the road which will be softer than stock, but not as noticeable.

The shop I'm using does full builds so they said they can take apart as much as I want them to for powder coating it's just a matter of how long I want them to have the jeep.
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