JTR, help me with the suspension (Clayton and falcon stockish height)

[JustAGuyCalledChris]

I use my Gladiator for a mix of daily driving and offroad camping…it is sitting with a .75” level kit and 35’s at the moment. This setup works perfect for what I use it for so I do not want to go with a lift….but with that said, the rear is getting heavy and sagging slightly with the rack and tent and battery setup and all the misc. gear in the back that lives in the jeep 100% of the time.

After a bunch of research I have ordered a set of 1.5” Clayton rear springs to help with the weight, the jeep is starting to sag and bounce in the rear. I’ve also just ordered a set of falcon 3.3 shocks for a 0-1.5” lift….the rear coils will be installed tomorrow but the shocks were on back order so they won’t be here right away.

I am curious about what to do with the front though. I’ve read that the 1.5” rear coils will give me no lift, give me 1.5” of lift, and give me 2” of lift. lol. I’m almost positive I’ll be ordering the front 1.5” coils to match, but who has installed and has real world experience with the rear 1.5” Clayton coils and can tell me what to expect? I don’t mind the jeep sitting level or rear slightly higher but I do not want the front to be higher.

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[Main Line Willys]

I am currently running the 1.5 Clayton lift with 35 11.5 17
I asked about a HD spring option for the 1.5 and I was told to order the 2.5 rear spring

I have not ordered yet, but I am considering.

 

[JustAGuyCalledChris]

I am currently running the 1.5 Clayton lift with 35 11.5 17
I asked about a HD spring option for the 1.5 and I was told to order the 2.5 rear spring

I have not ordered yet, but I am considering.

how much weight are you running in the rear? How much lift did it actually give you in the front? And how much did things settle after a couple weeks of driving? I guess worst case scenario I can order the 2.5” rear springs if the front sits higher after doing the 1.5” springs but I will for sure need to make sure it will still work with the shocks coming. I guess I can add a small rear spacer if it comes to it just to bring things up level.

 

[Main Line Willys]

I have a static 150lbs
I unfortunately do not know the actual lift height. I was too excited when the lift came in, I forgot to measure the actual before and after. But if I had to guess, 1" in the back and 2" up front.

 

[JustAGuyCalledChris]

Thank you for the information.

 

[JustAGuyCalledChris]

For anyone interested, I got the 1.5” springs installed today and got everything back up pretty level. Still has bounce and roll but that was to be expected with the factory rubicon shocks…I’m sure the falcons will fix that when they arrive.

The plan as of now is to go ahead and remove the 1” spacers in the front and install the 1.5” springs when they come in. If I have to go back and add 1/2” spacers in the rear to level things back out afterwards I’ll cross that bridge when I get there.

Pictures taken today after the rear spring install from the same angles.

 

[Artidemic13]

Chris, thanks for this information. I’m in the same boat with my Mojave X (which has even softer coils than the Rubi) and have been wondering about the Clayton 1.5” rear coils. Question for you: how much constant weight do you think your carrying in the rear. I have about 500lbs constant load, and that goes up another several hundred on big trips. From your pics, the truck looks fairly level (Mojave already has 1” lift in front over Rubi, so similar to your leveling kit), but I’m hoping to restore a bit of rake at my current load so as to be level when loaded for expeditions.

Also: did you talk to anyone at Clayton before purchase/install? I was advised to also add a rear track bar when installing the 1.5” springs. Not sure if that’s actually necessary.

 

[JustAGuyCalledChris]

Chris, thanks for this information. I’m in the same boat with my Mojave X (which has even softer coils than the Rubi) and have been wondering about the Clayton 1.5” rear coils. Question for you: how much constant weight do you think your carrying in the rear. I have about 500lbs constant load, and that goes up another several hundred on big trips. From your pics, the truck looks fairly level (Mojave already has 1” lift in front over Rubi, so similar to your leveling kit), but I’m hoping to restore a bit of rake at my current load so as to be level when loaded for expeditions.

Also: did you talk to anyone at Clayton before purchase/install? I was advised to also add a rear track bar when installing the 1.5” springs. Not sure if that’s actually necessary.

Not 100% sure on the weight but I’m at 400 pounds with just the rack and tent. Then add the fridge, the dual batteries, the Milwaukee packouts loaded up, the full size spare, water, recovery gear….it all adds up (and lives on my truck 95% of the time) so sounds like we are similar weights. I did not talk to Clayton, just discussed it with my local shop and internet searches. The person above me said Clayton suggested to get the regular 2.5” springs if the 1.5 wasn’t enough and that’s not the first time I’ve seen that suggested. As for the track bar, if we had no weight and was actually using the springs for a true 1.5” lift I could possibly see the need for it to put the axle back where it belongs but since the weight is enough to bring the truck down level and not realize any lift the axle sits perfectly fine in the center and isn’t needed in my case. I can definitely feel the truck sitting level and not nose up when driving, the true test will be at night and if oncoming traffic still feels the need to flash their lights at me thinking I have my high beams on. lol. The truck still has bounce and roll to it and I can tell it’s heavy but it no longer feels like I’m pulling a heavy trailer in the back. The weight, especially on interstate speeds, had gotten pretty noticeable. I honestly can’t wait to get the shocks in and install those.

 

[Artidemic13]

Not 100% sure on the weight but I’m at 400 pounds with just the rack and tent. Then add the fridge, the dual batteries, the Milwaukee packouts loaded up, the full size spare, water, recovery gear….it all adds up (and lives on my truck 95% of the time) so sounds like we are similar weights. I did not talk to Clayton, just discussed it with my local shop and internet searches. The person above me said Clayton suggested to get the regular 2.5” springs if the 1.5 wasn’t enough and that’s not the first time I’ve seen that suggested. As for the track bar, if we had no weight and was actually using the springs for a true 1.5” lift I could possibly see the need for it to put the axle back where it belongs but since the weight is enough to bring the truck down level and not realize any lift the axle sits perfectly fine in the center and isn’t needed in my case. I can definitely feel the truck sitting level and not nose up when driving, the true test will be at night and if oncoming traffic still feels the need to flash their lights at me thinking I have my high beams on. lol. The truck still has bounce and roll to it and I can tell it’s heavy but it no longer feels like I’m pulling a heavy trailer in the back. The weight, especially on interstate speeds, had gotten pretty noticeable. I honestly can’t wait to get the shocks in and install those.

That all makes good sense. I'm torn between the two springs (1.5" or 2.5"). I've also been looking at Dobinsons springs: they offer couple different dual rate 2" lift springs rated for heavier loads than the Claytons but with shorter free lengths, which could get me more or less into the sweet spot. Hard to say. My local shop basically told me it's pretty much trial and error.

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