New to me Gladiator; Help me understand what I've got.

[Underpants]

First, the glamour shot.

I think I already answered the question I'm about to ask but have some follow-ons for discussion.


Front Spring: Is the donut on top of the spring a factory item? (I'm trying to figure out if it's something cheap to add height)

Front control arms

Lower is mopar/stock. Are the factory uppers round?

Factory rear springs on a half inch spacer:

It looks like there's (part of?) a Teraflex 3.5 inch lift, and they kept the rear springs to keep it sitting level. Which looks cool for pictures but isn't practical if you're carrying around some weight or a trailer.


I want to raise the back probably an inch and a half, and correct any geometries that need correcting.


What path should I take? I can get a full kit with control arms and track bars from MetalCloak/JKS/Clayton/etc. Or I can get the matching teraflex rear springs and possibly LCA's and track bars.


What say you, internet?

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[GuzziMoto]

I would just replace that with a lift of the desired height from a quality vendor like Clayton, MetalCLoak, or AEV.
Which vendor and what height would depend on how you will be using it, and what size tires you are going to run, along with how you want it to look.

 

[Sandman 4x4]

With any lift using the stock front control arms, you risk removing a little caster from the front end alignment. That can be corrected with adjustable lower control arms, that you can lengthen to lay the front axle back, for the correct caster. That helps the steering to reset to forward after a turn, plus resistance to follow lines in the road, keeping you going straight. Also a very good idea to read the owners manual!

 

[Underpants]

With any lift using the stock front control arms, you risk removing a little caster from the front end alignment. That can be corrected with adjustable lower control arms, that you can lengthen to lay the front axle back, for the correct caster. That helps the steering to reset to forward after a turn, plus resistance to follow lines in the road, keeping you going straight. Also a very good idea to read the owners manual!

I'm familiar with all of that - My third jeep, but first with pre-installed aftermarket stuff

 

[GuzziMoto]

I'm familiar with all of that - My third jeep, but first with pre-installed aftermarket stuff

Hard to know without measuring the lower front control arm if it is stock or the Mopar longer arm.
As mentioned, it is mainly about what you want, how you are going to use it. I like geometry brackets, even when I run adjustable arms, I prefer the improvement to ride quality they bring to the table vs a lift with just longer / adjustable arms. When I started playing with Jeeps I dismissed the brackets, thinking I was fine without them. But eventually I tried them and was impressed with the improvement. Anything past a leveling kit and I am looking at geometry brackets. The geometry brackets improve the ride, both on road and off. And while they do give up a small amount of ground clearance, I have not found that to be an issue, just pick a better line. Also, the brackets I run are stronger than the stock mount points for the control arms, so they are actually tougher than the stock mount points.
But in the end it depends on what you want, how you will use it. My intended use means using my Gladiator to tow a trailer to the trails, then drive them in it, then tow the trailer back home.

 

[GuzziMoto]

Anyway, that looks like a hodge-podge lift. A spacer up front along with an aftermarket spring, and a stock spring with a smaller spacer in back. But the concerning thing I saw was the pretty decent sized bumpstop extensions up front. I wonder how long the shocks are.

 

[Underpants]

A spacer up front

Is that a spacer on top of the front spring? I like the front height and want to plan accordingly for potentially a new set of springs.

 

[GuzziMoto]

Is that a spacer on top of the front spring? I like the front height and want to plan accordingly for potentially a new set of springs.

It certainly looks like it in the photos.
And then inside the spring at the bottom is a bumpstop extension.

Of course, that looks to be a spring spacer on the top but since that is not a stock height spring it gets more complicated. But that looks like a 3.5" lift spring with a decent size spacer added on. I assume it sits pretty high. Is there a spacer at the top of the rear spring?

 

[Underpants]

As far as height, it's 25 inches from the axle centerline to this spot on the fender.

Doesn't look like there's anything on top of the rear spring, but not sure. It is sitting on a half inch spacer on the bottom.

 

[azmojave]

Looks like this kit
https://www.extremeterrain.com/tera...inch-coil-spring-spacer-lift-kit-1364020.html

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

Those are not coil spacers in the front.

You have dual rate springs.

Edit: Sorry, I misunderstood your question. The donut you see above the front springs appears to be a factory coil isolator.

 

[Underpants]

Those are not coil spacers in the front.

You have dual rate springs.

Edit: Sorry, I misunderstood your question. The donut you see above the front springs appears to be a factory coil isolator.

Awesome. Thank you. That's very helpful.

 

[Underpants]

Looks like this kit
https://www.extremeterrain.com/tera...inch-coil-spring-spacer-lift-kit-1364020.html

But with 3.5 inch lift springs.

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