JeepOfTheseus
Well-Known Member
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- #1
I've been modifying cars for as long as I've owned one. From the cheapest of beater cars to BMWs and Porsches. One of the things I was looking forward to with my JT is just how easy it is to mod - both from accessibility of parts to literally the accessibility of replacing the parts on the Jeep. In an arguably rushed (excited) fashion, I opted to go with the 2" lift "kit" from Iron Rock based on a suggestion as well as a couple seemingly positive reviews.
The main reason I went with this type of kit was simplicity and reversibility. I went with the DT8000 shock option so that I wouldn't have to actually modify the chassis in order to accommodate their relocating bracket (despite them claiming no modification required - not true). After some research (shocking) I also decided to get the OEM sway bar end links that are fitted for the Mopar 2" kit (foreshadowing here). The other reason for getting this kit is I'm admittedly probably never going to do any extreme off-roading, I just wanted something a little extra, but it didn't need to be all out.
What I ended up saving was hardly worth it. $400 for this kit + $100 for the end links vs. what I should have just done originally: ~$1300 for the Mopar kit. In relative terms it's not even that much, but it's quite apparent that the costs are being passed on to you. Other than maybe the spring spacers themselves, there's hardly anything that makes this a Gladiator specific kit, in my opinion. We only made it as far as the front springs and then the driver's side shock before encountering a project ending issue, resulting in reverting back to stock.
The upper sleeves and spacers provided in the kit for the front shock simply do not match OEM spec, resulting in the shock bracket crushing in on the bushings and not properly torquing down. This complication led to the pem nut on this bolt dislodging which caused a nightmare of a removal. The bottom sleeves were to be provided by the DT8000 shock kit (which itself seemed odd considering the kit came with upper hardware so as to be model specific). Again - none of these matched OEM spec. There were various options, but they were either too long, too short, too wide, or too narrow. Basically the same issue occurred - the bushings were being crushed, and properly torquing down was not going to happen. We theorized that we could repurpose the washers (which were intended to be used with the shock relocating bracket) as spacers, but that clearly wasn't the intention for them and felt unacceptable to have to accommodate the poor design.
As I said, I've been modifying for a long time. I know it requires a certain level of expectation and responsibility, especially when you try and save a few bucks. You're bound to run into minor discrepancies that you have to be prepared to adjust for. However, when you're dealing with a crucial component such as the suspension system, it is unacceptable that the tolerances be this far off. For something that was supposedly designed as and claims to be a simple stock swap without any modifications required...even for the price, I expected a little more. Instead, I'll likely be going with the Mopar 2" lift kit...even if it includes the end links that I already purchased.
The main reason I went with this type of kit was simplicity and reversibility. I went with the DT8000 shock option so that I wouldn't have to actually modify the chassis in order to accommodate their relocating bracket (despite them claiming no modification required - not true). After some research (shocking) I also decided to get the OEM sway bar end links that are fitted for the Mopar 2" kit (foreshadowing here). The other reason for getting this kit is I'm admittedly probably never going to do any extreme off-roading, I just wanted something a little extra, but it didn't need to be all out.
What I ended up saving was hardly worth it. $400 for this kit + $100 for the end links vs. what I should have just done originally: ~$1300 for the Mopar kit. In relative terms it's not even that much, but it's quite apparent that the costs are being passed on to you. Other than maybe the spring spacers themselves, there's hardly anything that makes this a Gladiator specific kit, in my opinion. We only made it as far as the front springs and then the driver's side shock before encountering a project ending issue, resulting in reverting back to stock.
The upper sleeves and spacers provided in the kit for the front shock simply do not match OEM spec, resulting in the shock bracket crushing in on the bushings and not properly torquing down. This complication led to the pem nut on this bolt dislodging which caused a nightmare of a removal. The bottom sleeves were to be provided by the DT8000 shock kit (which itself seemed odd considering the kit came with upper hardware so as to be model specific). Again - none of these matched OEM spec. There were various options, but they were either too long, too short, too wide, or too narrow. Basically the same issue occurred - the bushings were being crushed, and properly torquing down was not going to happen. We theorized that we could repurpose the washers (which were intended to be used with the shock relocating bracket) as spacers, but that clearly wasn't the intention for them and felt unacceptable to have to accommodate the poor design.
As I said, I've been modifying for a long time. I know it requires a certain level of expectation and responsibility, especially when you try and save a few bucks. You're bound to run into minor discrepancies that you have to be prepared to adjust for. However, when you're dealing with a crucial component such as the suspension system, it is unacceptable that the tolerances be this far off. For something that was supposedly designed as and claims to be a simple stock swap without any modifications required...even for the price, I expected a little more. Instead, I'll likely be going with the Mopar 2" lift kit...even if it includes the end links that I already purchased.
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