Clayton Offroad Spring Install Problems

[earthemigrant]

Good people of the forum I need some help. I just installed a new set of Clayton 2.5" front Diesel and 2.5" rear springs on my diesel Gladiator Rubicon. After installation two things stood out right away.

First I have a substantial lean to the passenger side in the front. From ground to the fender seam I am 45.25 on the passenger side and 46.5 on the driver side. Its listing to starboard pretty good. The springs are seated properly top and bottom.

Second I now have a revers rake. I started out with the standard 2 or so inches of rake and now I am at over 1" of reverse rake. Doesnt make sense to me. I have a SmartCap Sport with full bins on the back which is empty and no spare. Maybe 130 lbs over the stock Rubicon weight in rear. It looks level back there otherwise and the springs are seated properly.

My first thought on the front springs were they must be side specific and I am just an idiot. Wouldn't be the first time. However I looked at the packaging and at the springs themselves and there is no indication they are side specific. Identical part numbers. So I emailed Clayton. I was clear in that I had a diesel Rubicon. They got back to me today saying that their Gladiator springs are not side specific. Neither the front nor the rear. The rep said that some gladiators just lean. ? He wasn't diesel specific so I responded to clarify that this was true with the ecodiesel also but no answer yet on that.

On the rear I am really confused. I am not heavy at all. The springs advertise that they meant to hold their lift height on a vehicle that is light to moderately loaded. I would say I am definitely lightly loaded. They are also advertised to remove about an inch of the factory rake. If that were true I should still have an inch or rake. If I was squat in the rear an inch from weight I should be level.

Can anyone help me make sense of this? Should I swap the front springs to the other side? I imagine I need to go with rear 3.5 springs to get level?

If I need new rear springs I would guess I am out of luck on returning these 2.5" rear springs to Clayton since they were installed. That is really a bummer. Part of it is on me of course for not doing my due diligence with this company and their products and a number of other things I am sure. But their whole description of what these springs would provide is not at all what I am getting. I certainly dont believe I should have over and inch of reverse rake. I am certainly hesitant to go with Clayton if I do need new springs. I don't trust what I will get from them. Are there any better options I should be looking at like Synergy?

Sorry for the wall of text. Any help is appreciated.

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[Rusty PW]

I have the Clayton springs. There is no lean on my JT. My set up is a bit different. I'm using 2.5" front springs with JKS adjustable spring seats with hydro bump stops. The seats are adjusted all the way up. This gives me 4.25" lift in the front. The rear is Clayton 3.5" springs. They gave me 4" of lift. My JT sits level.

Others have reported a lean after a lift install. Even using other company springs.

 

[22EcoDs]

I have the Clayton 2.5 diesel ride right kit. No lean. No weight in the rear , normal amount of rake f/r. Maybe contact them to see if they will swap you over to some 3.5 rear.

 

[earthemigrant]

Thank you for the replies. If it leans because a Gladiator may lean when lifted I guess that is what it is. I will have to live with it. But I need to address this reverse rake. I will see if they will swap me out for a pair of 3.5" springs and take these back. I really don't want to buy another set of rear springs and be out $300.

 

[Vtur]

My Mopar lift also lean to the passenger side by 1/2". I guess it's to compensate for a full tank of fuel and def, both tanks are on the driverside. Drive it like that for a few hundred miles to let it settled, then you can figure out whether to adds rear spacers.

 

[Free2roam]

Mine leans slightly. I have a Sport S Ecodiesel with around 400 lbs constant load. Although I have their HD springs for the diesel. I have no problems with reverse rake.

 

[Free2roam]

@Clayton Off Road maybe ya can resolve this for the OP

 

[TJMarc]

First thing I would do is: put it on a level surface, loosen the control arm and track bar bolts(don’t just crack the bolts loose…back them off so there is no tension on the bolt shaft), give it a bounce on each corner, re-torque. With bonded joints, if you have significant binding in the arms at ride height…it can possibly sit funny.

I have a similar setup as you as I have a diesel with the Clayton 2.5” springs and a smartcap (I’m running a 37” spare which might put me a little bit heavier than you). When I did the springs I sat level side to side with a very subtle rake (~1/4” high in the rear measured at the fenders). Any more significant weight would set it level or tail down depending…I ended up adding a 1/2” rear spacer mostly because I often put my moto on a hitch carrier.

 

[rharr]

Thank you for the replies. If it leans because a Gladiator may lean when lifted I guess that is what it is. I will have to live with it. But I need to address this reverse rake. I will see if they will swap me out for a pair of 3.5" springs and take these back. I really don't want to buy another set of rear springs and be out $300.

to get rid of squat you can add spacers to the back or go longer springs.

I have a pair of 3" rock krawler rear springs I am not using if you want longer springs that I can let go cheap.

 

[earthemigrant]

You guys are awesome thank you. I’m going to get it level tonight and loosen the control arm and track bar bolts and jump on the bumper for a while as suggested thank you. I received an email from Clayton this morning also suggesting I do that very thing. makes a lot of sense.

If it is leaning because it’s just going to lean no matter what then I will lean along with you fellas and get on with it. I do however need to get the rear end up. I am squatting and I don’t even have a spare onboard. I still don’t understand that but I am hoping I can swap these for 3.5” rears.

I don’t know if I am compressing these 2.5” rear springs an inch with the little weight I have or not. I know I am rarely if ever heavy enough to cycle HD springs.

 

[rharr]

You guys are awesome thank you. I’m going to get it level tonight and loosen the control arm and track bar bolts and jump on the bumper for a while as suggested thank you. I received an email from Clayton this morning also suggesting I do that very thing. makes a lot of sense.

If it is leaning because it’s just going to lean no matter what then I will lean along with you fellas and get on with it. I do however need to get the rear end up. I am squatting and I don’t even have a spare onboard. I still don’t understand that but I am hoping I can swap these for 3.5” rears.

I don’t know if I am compressing these 2.5” rear springs an inch with the little weight I have or not. I know I am rarely if ever heavy enough to cycle HD springs.

FYI, I have a ARE cap, 2 bins with tools and junk, side molly panels and a 37" spare and needed 4.5" rear springs to level out. Hence my spare set of 3" springs......

 

[Vtur]

Atleast you're leaning to the right and not the left

 

[Blade1668]

Not "Clayton springs" but I installed 2" lift kit, springs on my Max-Tow ended with rear sagging like that stupid Carolina squat crap. (So factory Max-Tow springs with spacers went back in) Mine is loaded down some topper, gear, fridge, water tank, ect, ect. I figure I'll be ordering 3.5 rear springs eventually to replace factory springs, air bags, and spacers.

 

[earthemigrant]

Here is a before and after pic. The truck is sitting on a preexisting AEV 2.5” lift with AEV geometry correction brackets, Clayton front and rear adjustable track bars, and fox 2.0 performance shocks for 2-3” lift. Was only swapping springs as I did not like the AEV springs.

 

[earthemigrant]

The Rhino rack was removed prior to the install so I am even lighter in back now which makes it even more confusing. I thought the AEV springs were soft and squatting a bit but this is not what I expected.

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