Help with stiff ride after 1.5 lift on 23 Overlander

[Wheelin98TJ]

I put a 1.5 terraflex spacer kit on my Mojave and it definitely changed the ride. I would do shock extensions or just do new longer shocks and a true 1.5 coil. The spacer is probly compressing the spring hence the rough ride.

Coil spacers do not compress the springs.

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[fcortes795]

Did you do longer shocks ? If so which ones

 

[ChrisNLA]

Did you do longer shocks ? If so which ones

I have the Teraflex 1.5" spacer up front and run these in the front:

https://cart.bilsteinus.com/shock-3...l=Sport S&DriveType=&BodyType=&Engine=V6 3.6L

Rear:

https://cart.bilsteinus.com/shock-3...l=Sport S&DriveType=&BodyType=&Engine=V6 3.6L

Though again my truck did not ride noticeably different after installing the 1.5" spacer (its been three years though - so maybe my memory is fading...) and the Bilstein 5100s are stiffer than the factory Sport shocks, but they handle added weight, offroading, jumping railroad crossing etc. a lot better.

 

[Pismo61]

Control arms are at more of an angle which can alter the ride.However,Ive never noticed a difference with a 1 inch spacer in front.

 

[GuzziMoto]

Spacer lifts are fine. Spring spacers do not change the spring rate, they only raise the ride height of the vehicle. The spring rate does not change. The TeraFlex Leveling kit does includes a set of front bumpstop extensions, but I would say installing them is optional. And by optional, I mean I would not install them as installing them is throwing away suspension travel.
If you don't change the range of suspension travel with longer shocks or shock extensions, there is no good point in bumpstop extensions. Sure, they can help you clear larger tires, but only at the cost of throwing away suspension travel if they aren't paired with longer shocks or shock extensions. If you need a lift to clear larger tires, get a lift.
If installing a spacer lift or a spacer leveling kit changed the way your Jeep rides, something was done wrong. Spacers can affect the way it steers, just like any increase in height, but a 1" - 2" spring spacer is not going to make your Jeep ride stiff unless it was not installed correctly or something else is wrong.

 

[ChrisNLA]

Spacer lifts are fine. Spring spacers do not change the spring rate, they only raise the ride height of the vehicle. The spring rate does not change. The TeraFlex Leveling kit does includes a set of front bumpstop extensions, but I would say installing them is optional. And by optional, I mean I would not install them as installing them is throwing away suspension travel.

I think it depends on tire size/Jeep model

I have the bump stop extension installed on mine with 285/70R17's and at full stuff I can just barely tuck my hand around the top of the tire, and I have room to flex and turn. Without it I'd be concerned about putting too much pressure on the fender.

A Rubi on 285's definitely wouldn't need it, though.

 

[GuzziMoto]

I think it depends on tire size/Jeep model

I have the bump stop extension installed on mine with 285/70R17's and at full stuff I can just barely tuck my hand around the top of the tire, and I have room to flex and turn. Without it I'd be concerned about putting too much pressure on the fender.

A Rubi on 285's definitely wouldn't need it, though.

If you need more clearance to run larger tires, you should get either a lift or fenders with more clearance. Rubi's have fenders with more clearance, and thus they can typically clear 35's without a lift. Non-Rubi's can usually clear 33"s without a lift. Running a leveling kit with a bumpstop extension is like a bastard child between a proper lift and a leveling kit. It may keep the tires from getting into the fenders, but only by limiting up travel. You are throwing away suspension travel to allow tires to clear. If you actually offroad, you probably want all the suspension travel you can get. Running a bumpstop extension without matching longer shocks or shock extensions is giving away suspension travel.
But to each their own.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

Spacer lifts are fine. Spring spacers do not change the spring rate, they only raise the ride height of the vehicle. The spring rate does not change. The TeraFlex Leveling kit does includes a set of front bumpstop extensions, but I would say installing them is optional. And by optional, I mean I would not install them as installing them is throwing away suspension travel.
If you don't change the range of suspension travel with longer shocks or shock extensions, there is no good point in bumpstop extensions. Sure, they can help you clear larger tires, but only at the cost of throwing away suspension travel if they aren't paired with longer shocks or shock extensions. If you need a lift to clear larger tires, get a lift.
If installing a spacer lift or a spacer leveling kit changed the way your Jeep rides, something was done wrong. Spacers can affect the way it steers, just like any increase in height, but a 1" - 2" spring spacer is not going to make your Jeep ride stiff unless it was not installed correctly or something else is wrong.

A 2" spacer lift can certainly change how your Jeep rides if you keep the stock shocks and do not use shock extensions.

You only have 8" of travel with factory shocks, 4" up and 4" down. If you add a 2" spacer, you lose 2" of down and now only have 2" of downtravel before the shocks are fully extended. 2" of downtravel is not enough for a comfortable ride on the road.

 

[GuzziMoto]

A 2" spacer lift can certainly change how your Jeep rides if you keep the stock shocks and do not use shock extensions.

You only have 8" of travel with factory shocks, 4" up and 4" down. If you add a 2" spacer, you lose 2" of down and now only have 2" of downtravel before the shocks are fully extended. 2" of downtravel is not enough for a comfortable ride on the road.

If you install 2" spacers and nothing else, you messed up. But it still will not make your suspension stiff, it will not make your springs stiff.
You may have other issues, but a stiff ride will not be one of them.
And if you were to add bumpstop extensions to that setup, you would also be loosing some of that uptravel you gained with the spring spacer.
Just for reference, a standard leveling kit for a similar JK / JKU uses 2" spring spacers up front. It does not use shocks extensions, longer shocks, or bumpstop extensions. It does not hurt the ride of the Jeep. In some ways, by giving you more suspension up travel, it can actually improve the ride quality.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

If you install 2" spacers and nothing else, you messed up. But it still will not make your suspension stiff, it will not make your springs stiff.
You may have other issues, but a stiff ride will not be one of them....

Of course it will not make the springs stiffer.

It can make the ride feel rougher.

Just for reference, a standard leveling kit for a similar JK / JKU uses 2" spring spacers up front. It does not use shocks extensions, longer shocks, or bumpstop extensions. It does not hurt the ride of the Jeep. In some ways, by giving you more suspension up travel, it can actually improve the ride quality.

But you said:

If you install 2" spacers and nothing else, you messed up....

 

[ChrisNLA]

If you need more clearance to run larger tires, you should get either a lift or fenders with more clearance. Rubi's have fenders with more clearance, and thus they can typically clear 35's without a lift. Non-Rubi's can usually clear 33"s without a lift. Running a leveling kit with a bumpstop extension is like a bastard child between a proper lift and a leveling kit. It may keep the tires from getting into the fenders, but only by limiting up travel. You are throwing away suspension travel to allow tires to clear. If you actually offroad, you probably want all the suspension travel you can get. Running a bumpstop extension without matching longer shocks or shock extensions is giving away suspension travel.
But to each their own.

Yes, 33s do fit on a Sport stock, and will press into / damage the fenders at full flex if you don't limit up travel. There isn't a lot to gain by smashing the fenders off the truck in return for a little more up travel.

I have longer shocks in the front to go with the 1.5" spacer, so my down travel is pretty good for basically stock suspension. I also have Apex disconnects. Getting all I can out of it.

My previous Jeep was a two door JK on a Metalcloak lift that I wheeled nearly coast to coast, so I'm not quite a stranger to how to set a Jeep up, if its required to be so.

However, my truck is not for wheeling. It has plenty of up travel to get over the curbs at Home Depot.

So, you're entirely correct as far as I'm concerned, it's just not applicable to my use case / budget.

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