Mopar 2" Lift - FYI

[ColoradoGlad]

A few callouts after installing the Mopar 2 inch lift.

After installation, the front axle shifted about 1 inch to the driver’s side. *I wasn’t expecting an inch.
The rear moved slightly to the passenger side by about ¼ inch. *Really no big deal.
I also installed the FOX steering damper during the installation.

The front spring on the passenger side was about ¼ inch from the frame, the driver side was slightly bowed in.

So the test drive after the installation was interesting. Under 50 MPH wasn’t too bad, but over 50 MPH the JT definitely wandered more than usual. *Crab crawling

So i know a lot of Members have added to the Lift, but I just wasn't sure what I exactly needed to correct the issues the best way possible and keep the lift's integrity.

Fast forward; I installed the Yeti adjustable Track Bar bringing the front axle back to center. Set to 1/16 of an inch. (Used a laser)
The front springs were equal to the frame and dead center with no bow.

Installed the Teraflex Rear Relocation bracket. This was more so to level out the track bar.

Adjusted the drag link to center the steering wheel and did a quick check of the Toe setting with a hand laser.

After installing the Track Bar, the center of the steering wheel went to the 3 o’clock position.
This makes me wonder if the axle was perfectly center before I installed the lift? Hummm

After the Track Bar and the Relocation bracket, OH MY! Drives better than stock. Perfectly solid at 75 MPH with no wandering.

For those that have just installed the 2” Mopar, highly recommend checking your centers.
This make me wonder how Jeep can sell the lift without a replacement extended track bar or an adjustable one?

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[doc-ketamine]

If installed correctly the MOPAR 2" factory lift should only require an alignment. I had no issues once mine was installed (dealer did it).

When me and a buddy installed an AEV lift on his JKR it was ... a mess. Took a while to figure out how to set up the geometry right.

 

[Chris Blake]

Nice! Thanks for the write up. I'm in the market for a lift and am back in forth over 2" or 3". I'm running 35's now and don't plan on going any higher but...

 

[JeepOfTheseus]

Installed this kit at home with a buddy - didn’t experience any issues. I think this is a YMMV type situation. I don’t think the kit is inherently flawed (i.e. you shouldn’t need anything else to correct it - mine tracks straight, no wandering).

 

[OHJeeper]

I'll cross-post this since I just posted in another MOPAR-lift-related thread:

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/mopar-lift-2k-now.63219/post-1040540

Some additional "FYI" stuff when I did mine (stupidly, apparently)

 

[OHJeeper]

Installed this kit at home with a buddy - didn’t experience any issues. I think this is a YMMV type situation. I don’t think the kit is inherently flawed (i.e. you shouldn’t need anything else to correct it - mine tracks straight, no wandering).

Agreed, nothing wrong with the lift at all. But, any lift will shift the axles and change the caster.

Some kits provide more "out of the box" corrections for this, others don't.

The MOPAR lift comes with the longer LCA's to help with the caster, but the axle shift can only be corrected with an adjustable track bar - it's just the nature of the beast.

I have been VERY happy with mine - highway and off-road. The only thing I corrected "outside" the kit components was the front track bar.

 

[OHJeeper]

Nice! Thanks for the write up. I'm in the market for a lift and am back in forth over 2" or 3". I'm running 35's now and don't plan on going any higher but...

With the Rubicon you'll get roughly 2.5" so if you're torn between 2" and 3" there's your answer!

When I did mine, I measured at the far front and rear of the rock rails. With 37" tires (pre-lift) I measured 19-3/4" from the ground to the rail and after the lift I measured 22-1/4"

 

[OHJeeper]

After installing the Track Bar, the center of the steering wheel went to the 3 o’clock position.
This makes me wonder if the axle was perfectly center before I installed the lift? Hummm

Same thing happened to me when I did mine. I was also scratching my head until I realized that even though the adjustable track bar pulled the axle back to center, the length from the frame to the axle for both the track bar and the drag link is now longer with the lift.

Think of the long side of a right triangle, if you change any one of the other dimensions, the hypotenuse (long side) has to get longer. Since the width (axle) is the same and we are changing the height (lift) the drag link and track bar must be extended.

 

[JeepOfTheseus]

Think of the long side of a right triangle, if you change any one of the other dimensions, the hypotenuse (long side) has to get longer. Since the width (axle) is the same and we are changing the height (lift) the drag link and track bar must be extended.

And everyone said you’d never use Pythagoras Theorem in real life.

 

[ColoradoGlad]

Installed this kit at home with a buddy - didn’t experience any issues. I think this is a YMMV type situation. I don’t think the kit is inherently flawed (i.e. you shouldn’t need anything else to correct it - mine tracks straight, no wandering).

I think the lift is very good. The ride is excellent. I wasn't surprised the front axle shifted with the lift, I just didn't think it would shift as much as it did.

 

[ColoradoGlad]

If installed correctly the MOPAR 2" factory lift should only require an alignment. I had no issues once mine was installed (dealer did it).

When me and a buddy installed an AEV lift on his JKR it was ... a mess. Took a while to figure out how to set up the geometry right.

I'll cross-post this since I just posted in another MOPAR-lift-related thread:

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/mopar-lift-2k-now.63219/post-1040540

Some additional "FYI" stuff when I did mine (stupidly, apparently)

Excellent... I made sure I installed the correct isolators as you called out. I've read a lot of comments from members on how to correct bowed springs and isolators have been a culprit in some cases.

 

[Geoarch]

If installed correctly the MOPAR 2" factory lift should only require an alignment. I had no issues once mine was installed (dealer did it).

When me and a buddy installed an AEV lift on his JKR it was ... a mess. Took a while to figure out how to set up the geometry right.

Me neither. The alignment was all that was necessary. Something else must have happened in ColoradoGlad’s case.

 

[ColoradoGlad]

Agreed, nothing wrong with the lift at all. But, any lift will shift the axles and change the caster.

Some kits provide more "out of the box" corrections for this, others don't.

The MOPAR lift comes with the longer LCA's to help with the caster, but the axle shift can only be corrected with an adjustable track bar - it's just the nature of the beast.

I have been VERY happy with mine - highway and off-road. The only thing I corrected "outside" the kit components was the front track bar.

I'm very pleased with how the lift has come together. And you are correct, if a Gladiator is raised 2 or more inches, it's going to shift the axles. I added the rear track bar relocation bracket just to be as close to a perfect Thrust Line angle. I don't think it did much. But I will say unless you raise the rear considerably, an adjustable rear track bar isn't worth the cost.

 

[ColoradoGlad]

Appreciate the feedback... I'm pretty sure it's installed correctly. I've done my fair share of installing lifts. The Mopar lift is fairly simple and straight forward. I know many owners that have the lift, and they have no added parts.

I think when people are running bigger tires with negative offset wheels, any minor axle shift most likely has minimal effect on the ride and handling. New tires and wheels in many cases go on the same time as the lift.

BTW, I researched a !@#$ of lifts before going with the Mopar. The Mopar made more sense to me because with was easy to install without a bunch of adjustments, and the results were very positive by most owner.

I'd still recommend the Yeti track bar to dial in your thrust angle and the strength and weight helps with keeping the axle tracking straight.

 

[TrainMan]

My front axle also shifted about an inch to the drivers side. A Rancho trackbar corrected this. I also added a trackbar bracket brace to beef it up. Rear wasn't affected. Had to replace the defective steering box and drives fine.

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