Lessons learned in Moab

[Zachanadandy]

Anyone claiming the aev "full kit" with 5100s is an upgrade on a Mojave has 0 experience with just how good the mojave shocks are. I guarantee a Mojave with AEVs spacer kit which retains the stock shocks rides better on and off road than any JT running the 2.5" full kit with 5100s. Don't even get me started on how much better on washboards and whoops the 2.5" bypass shocks are at speed. Just because it's more expensive and replaces more parts doesn't make it better. The only way you can upgrade the mojave suspension beyond stock or stock with spacers involves $2500 in shocks alone at a minimum. I'm very happy with the AEV spacer kit and 37s but I do regularly drive freeway speed in the desert. Can you do better for a pure rock crawler? Sure with long travel shocks (the only drawback of the stock 2.5s). Will it ride as well at speed? Not a chance running any 2.0 non-resrvoir shock.

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[Sw00per]

Anyone claiming the aev "full kit" with 5100s is an upgrade on a Mojave has 0 experience with just how good the mojave shocks are. I guarantee a Mojave with AEVs spacer kit which retains the stock shocks rides better on and off road than any JT running the 2.5" full kit with 5100s. Don't even get me started on how much better on washboards and whoops the 2.5" bypass shocks are at speed. Just because it's more expensive and replaces more parts doesn't make it better. The only way you can upgrade the mojave suspension beyond stock or stock with spacers involves $2500 in shocks alone at a minimum. I'm very happy with the AEV spacer kit and 37s but I do regularly drive freeway aired in the desert. Can you do better for a pre rock crawler? Sure with long travel shocks (the only drawback of the stock 2.5s). Will it ride as well at speed? Not a chance running any 2.0 non-resrvoir shock.

More food for thought.

 

[RudeJeepin]

Here's another snack...you might think about looking at AccuTune for your shocks.

 

[starrskream]

Just my 2c here…I’ve always been told the purpose of a lift is that it give clearance for bigger tires, which give more lift. So if you lift and wheel hard like in Moab, you may want to look at tires as well.

 

[Zachanadandy]

More food for thought.

The shocks could use some more travel but are by far the best factory shock ever offered on a Jeep. I'm trying to get the Jeep to ride as good as possible at speed in the desert as that is my use, so any non-resvoir shock that is less than 2.5" body is a substantial downgrade for me. After the wheeling trip pictured below, I have added a set of metalcloak sway bar disconnects up front to help the 3 wheeling. I'm also adding the rock krawler triangulated rear 4 link to minimize the side to side motion of hitting bumps at speed soon. Eventually I'll add either long arms or drop brackets to the front to minimize the front axle arc travel, but I don't feel like they are necessary by any means. With only 2" of lift the axle is only 1/4" to 3/8" off center so I don't feel the need to go to an adjustable track bar. Obviously the spacer kit isn't the be all end all of suspension upgrades, but it's very complete for what you need at 2". It works great and retains the factory ride very well. The combination of bump stop extensions and shock extensions not only let you keep the great factory shocks, they keep them within their designed ride zone and bump travel zones. In my opinion that's why people say the metalcloak kit that retains the shocks doesn't ride well. It's not because the shocks and spring rates don't jive, it's because the amount of lift vs shock extension and bump stops aren't equal putting you outside the designed ride and compression zones of the bypass shocks.

 

[Sw00per]

The shocks could use some more travel but are by far the best factory shock ever offered on a Jeep. I'm trying to get the Jeep to ride as good as possible at speed in the desert as that is my use, so any non-resvoir shock that is less than 2.5" body is a substantial downgrade for me. After the wheeling trip pictured below, I have added a set of metalcloak sway bar disconnects up front to help the 3 wheeling. I'm also adding the rock krawler triangulated rear 4 link to minimize the side to side motion of hitting bumps at speed soon. Eventually I'll add either long arms or drop brackets to the front to minimize the front axle arc travel, but I don't feel like they are necessary by any means. With only 2" of lift the axle is only 1/4" to 3/8" off center so I don't feel the need to go to an adjustable track bar. Obviously the spacer kit isn't the be all end all of suspension upgrades, but it's very complete for what you need at 2". It works great and retains the factory ride very well. The combination of bump stop extensions and shock extensions not only let you keep the great factory shocks, they keep them within their designed ride zone and bump travel zones. In my opinion that's why people say the metalcloak kit that retains the shocks doesn't ride well. It's not because the shocks and spring rates don't jive, it's because the amount of lift vs shock extension and bump stops aren't equal putting you outside the designed ride and compression zones of the bypass shocks.

Are you physic? I woke up this am think I need to ask you how you drive and BAM you beat me to the punch. THANKS!

On level ground how much clearance do you have from the diff to the ground with the AEV spacer?

 

[Sw00per]

Here's another snack...you might think about looking at Accutane for your shocks.

This? AccuTune Off-Road

 

[Zachanadandy]

Are you physic? I woke up this am think I need to ask you how you drive and BAM you beat me to the punch. THANKS!

On level ground how much clearance do you have from the diff to the ground with the AEV spacer?

I'll try to measure it this weekend. The 37s would create the sane dif clearance with any lift though.

 

[b-roc]

If you do the Rubicon with the JT you will not come out undamaged! Take friends with winch capability and spare parts....

Ummm ... definitely bring all of that ... scratched skid plates and scratched rock rails exactly where they should be scratched is all that I drove out with ... no obstacles bypassed ... so it isn't guaranteed but it would be unwise to be underprepared

 

[b-roc]

More food for thought.

This is why I recommended picking shock and springs first (also why i went spacer before goin all in ... it does take $) ... @Zachanadandy is exactly correct.... IF you like stock Mojave manners

 

[Minty JL]

On the driver home last week from Moab I was thinking what upgrades would help on the next trip. A few things came to mind the last of which I need some advice.

Upgraded compressor hose from single to four. I might also upgrade my MESA to a MOAB with the hyperflex

Considering a front bumper of the stubby type

The most important is a lift. I have just started a quick search and came up with the AEV Galdiator specific 2 inch spacer lift. Not knowing whats best yet I thought I would open it up for some suggestions on options. I am more of the buy once cry once type within reason.

I would like to keep the current shocks and what to maintain good on road handling. No tire upgrade at this point since I have fairly new 35" BFG KO2s.

Thanks in advance.

The AEV kits is a great product for the money; that's what I currently have on my JTM. I will be moving up to the MetalCloak 4.5 Gamechanger kit soon; its in the garage, just need to make time to install it

 

[b-roc]

@Sw00per -
1) if you are a numbers guy, let me know and I will dig up a suspension spreadsheet from the JL forum that I added some mojave numbers and shock info to ... it is a bit to parse though
2) the 4 link rear is a solid option (mentioned above ... it should give better travel than what i describe next) ... read up on their bushings though ... I opted for a track bar relocation bracket (helped hop) but still had limited droop due to rear control arm geometry and added rear upper control arm relocation brackets (only needed if changing to shocks with increased travel and a lift greater than 2")
3) this was only mentioned in passing in one of the replies above and is one of the biggest bangs for the buck ... pick some way of disconnecting your front sway bar

#2 isn't necessary though but it can help

 

[Sw00per]

@Sw00per -
1) if you are a numbers guy, let me know and I will dig up a suspension spreadsheet from the JL forum that I added some mojave numbers and shock info to ... it is a bit to parse though
2) the 4 link rear is a solid option (mentioned above ... it should give better travel than what i describe next) ... read up on their bushings though ... I opted for a track bar relocation bracket (helped hop) but still had limited droop due to rear control arm geometry and added rear upper control arm relocation brackets (only needed if changing to shocks with increased travel and a lift greater than 2")
3) this was only mentioned in passing in one of the replies above and is one of the biggest bangs for the buck ... pick some way of disconnecting your front sway bar

#2 isn't necessary though but it can help

Thanks for the additional info. Not much of a numbers guy unless I happen o be in Vegas

 

[b-roc]

Shock summary (everone has their favorite) ... from what i could tell these were the closest to nearing or exceeding mojave manners:

Accutune fox 2.5 (kings would have worked too ... but I was going to just reuse the mojave reservoir mounts and figured that there were fewer unknown interference issues with fox)
Sdi eclik (test drove these through the generosity of another forum member before buying these ... I was truly impressed)
Stopped going down the rabbit hole part way through the following:
Coil overs ... some require mount modification... not so good with varying loads so thought about coil over front and standard rear (decided that I didn’t want to go down that rabbit hole even though others have)
Never went down this rabbit hole because my craziness does have limits and I didn't want to deal with the potential structural interference issues

 

[JTGuy]

Yes on AccuTune shocks. I have the Fox 2.5 remote res adjustable ones from them and they are great.

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