Spring Size for 3.5" Metal Cloak Lift

[EricStanley]

I didn't build the Gladiator the way it sits. The previous owner installed a 3.5" Metal Cloak Gamechanger system, but didn't use their springs or shocks. Instead, they installed Skyjacker springs meant for a 4.5" lift. Unsuprisingly, there's a lot of bow in the springs. My question is essentially this: what are the benefits of dropping down to springs meant for a 3.5" lift vs. staying with these Skyjacker springs? If you were in this situation, would you stay with it or change them out?

It is both a daily driver and a toy... somehwere in the neighborhood of 15k miles /year. It's been to Moab and going back this fall. It'll see some mountain trails in NC this year and some very mild offroading here in FL. Some occassional towing a very light camper.

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[Wheelin98TJ]

It might not be a drop down to go from 4.5" Skyjacker springs to Metalcloak or someone else's 3.5"
springs. I don't know how Skyjacker springs run compared to advertised height, but Metalcloak usually runs taller than advertised height. Seems like I remember some saying they got around 5" of lift from 3.5" Metalcloak springs.

You might get more travel out of Metalcloak 3.5" springs than 4.5" Skyjacker springs. Free length for the MC 3.5" fronts is 23.5", free length for the MC 3.5" rears is 21".

I looked for measurements on the SJ coils, but couldn't find any.

To get rid of your spring bow, a different set of coil isolators will probably fix it. Metalcloak makes these:

https://metalcloak.com/jl-wrangler-jt-gladiator-front-coil-correction-pads.html

 

[Okie Gladiator]

Not sure why or what benefit the skyjacker 4.5 would have provided over 3.5 metalcloak. I will offer that I have run the metalcloak 3.5 for a couple years now and 20,000 plus miles. Had no issues and they perform great. I tow a travel trailer for camping, haul lots of weight in the back doing projects, and they handle it all. They do awesome on the trail and crawling and then run great going 80 mph down the high way.

 

[MPMB]

Short answer: You get all the benefits going to the correct 3.5" lift springs.

Let's start off with what's going on right now with the 4.5" lift springs being stuffed in there, outside of the bow.

1. The spring is compressed more than it is designed to be at normally. This will limit travel, forcing the spring into coil-bind. Not the worst thing in the world, but it's not optimal.
2. The spring requires more weight to compress it to fit and sit at ride height. If the spring isn't linear, then the extra compression is forcing the spring into the heavier spring rate much earlier, making the ride stiffer than it needs to be.

If the 3.5" lift springs end up being a little shorter, giving you a little rake, you can remedy that with a 1/2" or 3/4" levelling puck kit from almost any lift manufacturer. If given the option between standard and HD springs, I'd get the standard ones.

[leaving as evidence to not post when you're really tired ]

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

Staying with the Skyjacker springs in a 3.5" kit just means your geometry is off bow in the springs is a sign they’re working way outside their design. That leads to harsh ride, unpredictable handling, accelerated wear on bushings, and crappy axle/driveshaft angles. Dropping to the correct 3.5" springs will give you better balance, more compliant ride, and keep your suspension working the way the Gamechanger kit was engineered. For your mix of daily driving, trails, and road miles, I’d swap to the right 3.5" springs. You’ll notice smoother ride, less vibration, and fewer issues long term.

Spring bow is a common thing with Gladiators. There are stock Gladiators that have spring bow. And the Mopar 2" lift instructions tell you how to orient spring bow.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

Short answer: You get all the benefits going to the correct 3.5" lift springs.

Let's start off with what's going on right now with the 4.5" lift springs being stuffed in there, outside of the bow.

1. The spring is compressed more than it is designed to be at normally. This will limit travel, forcing the spring into coil-bind. Not the worst thing in the world, but it's not optimal.
2. The spring requires more weight to compress it to fit and sit at ride height. If the spring isn't linear, then the extra compression is forcing the spring into the heavier spring rate much earlier, making the ride stiffer than it needs to be.

If the 3.5" lift springs end up being a little shorter, giving you a little rake, you can remedy that with a 1/2" or 3/4" levelling puck kit from almost any lift manufacturer. If given the option between standard and HD springs, I'd get the standard ones.

The spring is not being compressed more than designed. The spring is designed to hold the weight of a Gladiator. There is nothing compressing the spring more than it would on any other similiar weight Gladiator.

 

[MPMB]

The spring is not being compressed more than designed. The spring is designed to hold the weight of a Gladiator. There is nothing compressing the spring more than it would on any other similiar weight Gladiator.

Right. I was a little tired when I wrote that and was pulling from my history with coil-overs.

I was thinking for some odd reason that the shocks would be limiting up travel. Since the OP didn't mention anything wrong with the ride, that isn't an issue right now.

If the MC 3.5" actually nets 4.5" for non-Rubicons, does the SkyJacker 4.5" actually net 4.5"? And what's the uninstalled height difference between the springs?

Assuming SJ springs do net 4.5" lift. If the MC 3.5" springs = SJ 4.5" springs in terms of actual lift, but are 2" shorter, that means the SJ springs are compressing 2" further than the MC springs for the same lift. You'd have to measure both springs for number of coils and coil diameter and run the maths to calculate rates and how far before coil-bind, etc.

Usually taller springs are made with smaller diameter coils and/or fewer coils to keep the similar spring rates, so it all equals out.

 

[Zachanadandy]

Short answer: You get all the benefits going to the correct 3.5" lift springs.

Let's start off with what's going on right now with the 4.5" lift springs being stuffed in there, outside of the bow.

1. The spring is compressed more than it is designed to be at normally. This will limit travel, forcing the spring into coil-bind. Not the worst thing in the world, but it's not optimal.
2. The spring requires more weight to compress it to fit and sit at ride height. If the spring isn't linear, then the extra compression is forcing the spring into the heavier spring rate much earlier, making the ride stiffer than it needs to be.

If the 3.5" lift springs end up being a little shorter, giving you a little rake, you can remedy that with a 1/2" or 3/4" levelling puck kit from almost any lift manufacturer. If given the option between standard and HD springs, I'd get the standard ones.

[leaving as evidence to not post when you're really tired ]

I disagree with your logic here. The only thing determining ride height is the springs. The metalcloak arms are adjustable and the same ones come with their 2.5, 3.5, and 4.5" lifts. They probably have enough adjustability to run 6" of lift if you wanted to. Why would the springs be compressed more than they are designed to be. The only thing compressing them is the weight of the vehicle. No different than if the whole kit was skyjacker or metalcloaks 4.5". Assuming the shocks used are for a 4.5" lift, the rest of the metalcloak parts are perfectly fine from 2-5" of lift. The spring bow is easy to fix with coil correction pads which most of the better kits include for 3"+ lifts. Rockkrawler and metalcloak both sell them separately. If the OP feels the springs are too stiff or too soft I could see replacing them, but otherwise just get some coil correction pads and he's good to go.

 

[MPMB]

I disagree with your logic here. The only thing determining ride height is the springs. The metalcloak arms are adjustable and the same ones come with their 2.5, 3.5, and 4.5" lifts. They probably have enough adjustability to run 6" of lift if you wanted to. Why would the springs be compressed more than they are designed to be. The only thing compressing them is the weight of the vehicle. No different than if the whole kit was skyjacker or metalcloaks 4.5". Assuming the shocks used are for a 4.5" lift, the rest of the metalcloak parts are perfectly fine from 2-5" of lift. The spring bow is easy to fix with coil correction pads which most of the better kits include for 3"+ lifts. Rockkrawler and metalcloak both sell them separately. If the OP feels the springs are too stiff or too soft I could see replacing them, but otherwise just get some coil correction pads and he's good to go.

It's already been addressed.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

Right. I was a little tired when I wrote that and was pulling from my history with coil-overs.

I was thinking for some odd reason that the shocks would be limiting up travel. Since the OP didn't mention anything wrong with the ride, that isn't an issue right now.

If the MC 3.5" actually nets 4.5" for non-Rubicons, does the SkyJacker 4.5" actually net 4.5"? And what's the uninstalled height difference between the springs?

Assuming SJ springs do net 4.5" lift. If the MC 3.5" springs = SJ 4.5" springs in terms of actual lift, but are 2" shorter, that means the SJ springs are compressing 2" further than the MC springs for the same lift. You'd have to measure both springs for number of coils and coil diameter and run the maths to calculate rates and how far before coil-bind, etc.

Usually taller springs are made with smaller diameter coils and/or fewer coils to keep the similar spring rates, so it all equals out.

With Jeeps, taller springs almost always have a higher rate so they have an acceptable slenderness ratio.

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