2020 Black Mojave Build - I can't leave anything alone

[ruscopin]

My story begins October 6th, 2020 when we traded our Punkin Orange 2018 JL Rubicon. I wanted another truck and the wife said fine as long as the top and doors come off. We knew what we wanted and found that we couldn't make a deal in Lehigh Valley so I ended up in Warrenton, Va. The Mojave was perfect, stocked full of options, off the lot and really didn't need anything but there were two issues. A 4-hour ride home to contemplate things and the bigger problem, I can't leave well enough alone.

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[ruscopin]

The next round of change included,
Teraflex 1.5" Performance Spacer Leveling Kit – No Shocks
Daystar 3/4" rear spacer
METHOD MR301 The Standard Wheels 17x8.5
35X12.50 R17 LT Cooper Discoverer STT Pro All-Season
Fox® Racing Shox 985-02-127 Performance Series 2.0 Through Shaft Stabilizer
Rugged Ridge Armis Soft Rolling Tonneau Cover
Rugged Ridge Fortis Tube Doors
DYNOMAX® QuietCrawler™ Performance Exhaust System - more on this later below

Side Steps - Mopar (82215608)

 

[ruscopin]

After becoming bored with the 35's. I made a couple more changes.

Teraflex JT: Sport Control Arm Kit – Front Lower
Teraflex Shock Extensions Front and Rear (front drilled out for Mojave Shocks)
Rugged Ridge Arcus with Overrider
Rugged Ridge 11031.01 X-Clamp, Black, 1.25-2.0 Inches
Fat Bob's Garage 1.5" Rear Spacers
37X12.5R17 124R RWL BFGOODRICH® ALL-TERRAIN T/A® KO2
Rigid Industries - 360 Series 4 Inch LED Off Road Drive Beam Lights
JTops Jeep Gladiator Sunshades - Black

Tubular Side Steps - Mopar (82215609AB)-The steps are not only handy to get the wife in and out, but they offer some protection from flying debris.

 

[ruscopin]

I wanted a little more clearance, so the next iteration involves a 3.5" lift. I had searched through the forum and found others who had installed the 3.5" Game Changer lifts and particularly one person who had a Mojave like mine. I checked his measurements between the 37" tires and fenders and used that information to only purchase the front springs because my rear with the 1-1/2" spacers was already taller than his. After installing the front springs, my installation was taller than his and now my Mojave sat a little higher in the front and after that things have snowballed.

After installing the springs and shock extensions, I experienced death wobble over 50 mph. I had the tires balanced and played around with tire pressures. Reading the forum provided me insight so I ordered adjustable control arms, sector shaft brace which helped but the Mojave still did not drive like I was used to which sent me the direction of geometry correction brackets.

Metal Cloak
JT Gladiator 3.5", JL Wrangler 4 Door, 4.5"/ 2 Door 5.5" True Dual Rate Coils, Front
Upper Front Stock Shock Mount Kit, JT Gladiator Mojave
Sector Shaft Brace, JL Wrangler | JT Gladiator
3" Rear Shock Extension Kit, JT Gladiator All Models
JT Gladiator Rear Replacement Brake Lines, 24.5"
JT Gladiator Upper Rear DuroSpring Replacement Bump Stops
JT Gladiator Rear Track Bar Relocation Bracket
HD Control Arm Pro'lignment Kit, JL Wrangler | JT Gladiator
JT Gladiator Rear Sway Bar Link Kit, 12.25"
JT Gladiator, 3.5" True Dual Rate™ Coils, Rear

Core 4x4
Adjustable Front Set Control Arms - Jeep, Gladiator JT, 2020, 2023 - Black × 1
Adjustable Front Axle Drag Link - Jeep, Gladiator JT, 2020, 2023 - Black × 1
Adjustable Rear Set Control Arms - Jeep, Gladiator JT, 2020, 2023 × 1

JKS
JKS Quicker Disconnects 2.5-6IN LIFT

 

[ruscopin]

The Rugged Ridge Arcus with Overrider. What I like about the bumper is the stamped metal shell and stubby design and fairly lightweight. It mates to the Mojave skid plate without issue.

I have no plans of installing a winch, so I scoured the internet searching for blank out panels for the Arcus. I was unable to find any, so I pulled the bumper off and began my quest to make the front bumper as light as possible and eliminate the large gaping holes.

I removed the bumper and created a template that I could use to cut blank out panels. I found textured bed coating that matched the bumper. When I reinstalled the bumper, I left the 23 lbs. winch plate off.

 

[ruscopin]

DYNOMAX® QuietCrawler™ Performance Exhaust System

I found a great clearance / overstock deal at RockAuto so I figured why not. The exhaust is lighter weight and provides clearance, but I wanted a little more sound. I replaced the quiet crawler muffler with a Magnaflow.

Video and Sound Comparison

 

[ruscopin]

Mojave Springs, 1.5" Teraflex Front Spacers, Fat Bob's Garage 1.5" Rear Spacers, 37" x 12.5 17 BFG KO2

Clearance between tire and front fender is ~7.5"
Clearance between tire and rear fender is ~7.5

 

[Reddout99]

You are not kidding! Nice work and quality components. Couldn't get any sound from you exhaust video though

 

[ruscopin]

JT Gladiator 3.5", JL Wrangler 4 Door, 4.5"/ 2 Door 5.5" True Dual Rate Coils, Front
JT Gladiator, 3.5" True Dual Rate™ Coils, Rear with Fat Bob's Garage 1.5" Rear Spacers, 37" x 12.5 17 BFG KO2

Clearance between tire and front fender is ~12.25"
Clearance between tire and rear fender is ~11.5"

Not realizing the amount of lift I would end up with I chose to keep the spacers however after driving it and the amount of rake, I will either remove the spacers or use 3/4".

The overall lift in the rear ends up being 5.5" over stock height. The rear drive shaft was on an angle of 13.8 degrees. I then installed a RockJock Driveshaft Carrier Bearing Drop Kit which reduced the angle to 12.3 degrees.

 

[ruscopin]

You are not kidding! Nice work and quality components. Couldn't get any sound from you exhaust video though

That's odd, I just checked, there is no sound until 40 seconds into the video.

 

[Reddout99]

Maybe I was just impatient

 

[ruscopin]

About the Springs
How do the springs compare?
Mojave Front Springs - 17.5"
3.5 Game Changer Front Springs - 23"
Mojave Rear Springs - 18.75"
3.5 Game Changer Rear Springs - 20"

I also noticed that the Metal Cloak springs are slightly stiffer than the Mojave springs.

Placing a 195 lb load on the springs
Metal Cloak compresses 7.6mm
Mojave compresses 9mm


About the Shock Extensions
I chose to reuse the factory Fox Mojave shocks, so it ordered the Upper Front Stock Shock Mount Kit, JT Gladiator Mojave. What I discovered while installing is relocating the shock to a lower position places the hose for the reservoir in a bind. I ended up swiveling the hose upward allowing a natural bend. The hose now rests against the fender liner and although they are stiff, I may find clips to secure them to the liners

 

[ruscopin]

The MetalCloak geometry correction brackets HD Control Arm Pro'lignment Kit, JL Wrangler | JT Gladiator was an easy installation. The brackets are stout, and everything lined up as it should have.

Reading the forum, I have heard the concerns for the brackets being a potential hangup, but should they become damaged, they are easy enough to replace. My scrapes and impacts seem to occur in other areas.

A steering stabilizer relocation is on my list to do.

 

[ruscopin]

The MetalCloak Sector Shaft Brace, JL Wrangler | JT Gladiator was also a straightforward installation. Read the instructions and prepare ahead of time. Most of my focus was worrying about removing the nut. I had ordered the 42 mm socket and socket adapter, and I picked up a heat gun to break down the Loctite. The one thing I missed was the drill bits. I was good up to 1/2" but I had to make a run to Ace Hardware to pick a 5/8" and 11/16".

 

[ruscopin]

The MetalCLoak JT Gladiator Rear Track Bar Relocation Bracket was also straight forward. I used a rubber mallet to put it in its place as it was a tight fit. I used a 3/8" extension bar through the hole above the M to help center it the placed the bolt through and tightened to hold it in place while drilling the 4 holes.

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