MOPAR lift springs - location dependent?

[chorky]

So a while ago I recall reading a thread discussing the MOPAR lift and needing to make sure the springs in the kit go on the proper side due to weight differences from the fuel tank and other reasons.

A few months ago I questioned my dealer about that and they looked at me sideways and said thats crazy. So I requested a copy of the install manual and see that the springs have individual part numbers.

so as the title suggests, are these springs side specific? Or does that not really matter?

Also does anyone have a side by side comparison of the MOPAR springs compared with AEV ones?

Sponsored

 

[WK2JT]

Yes, it matters. Go to a different dealer. I went through this with the dealer that incorrectly installed my lift. Eventually paid an independent shop to correct it. Your truck will lean if they are installed in the wrong location.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Synergy springs are like MOPAR springs, side specific. When I installed my new front springs I had to watch the part numbers stamped on the springs.
If the stock springs are enough different, it should make sense that you would want any replacements to be the same way. If it takes different springs from the factory to sit level - why would it be different with a lift?
That's my thinking on it and I was happy to see Synergy takes that into account. Can't speak for any of the others.

 

[chorky]

Yes, it matters. Go to a different dealer. I went through this with the dealer that incorrectly installed my lift. Eventually paid an independent shop to correct it. Your truck will lean if they are installed in the wrong location.

Synergy springs are like MOPAR springs, side specific. When I installed my new front springs I had to watch the part numbers stamped on the springs.
If the stock springs are enough different, it should make sense that you would want any replacements to be the same way. If it takes different springs from the factory to sit level - why would it be different with a lift?
That's my thinking on it and I was happy to see Synergy takes that into account. Can't speak for any of the others.

Ok that's exactly what I thought - I just couldn't find the particular thread here that I was looking for. Thanks for the replies

 

[Rahkmalla]

I questioned my dealer about that and they looked at me sideways and said thats crazy

Service writers are not a font of knowledge. Personal experience from working at a half dozen dealerships (sales and service) tells me that service writers know as much about your cars as salesmen. Which is to say 99% of them don't know shit.

What they do know is that confidence sells. Want someone off your back and paying you money as quickly as possible? Act like you know what you're talking about.

The biggest problem with the system is "fake it til you make it" is real and the average service writer has been faking their confidence/knowledge long enough that they think they actually know what they're bullshitting about.

With the turnover at the average dealership, there's a good chance your Jeep service writer was writing Hyundai, Ford, or Acura ROs less than 6 months ago. Do you really think they've learned the ins and out of Jeeps in that time?

 

[Uparms]

A good reminder for all new "lifters" don't cut the identifying tags - label's off your springs as you unbox. May not apply to OP but may help someone else. Not sure if my Mopar 2 inch springs are stamped with a code and doubt it since there is no flat spots to do so. Tags still attached after 50K miles on the lift.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

A good reminder for all new "lifters" don't cut the identifying tags - label's off your springs as you unbox. May not apply to OP but may help someone else. Not sure if my Mopar 2 inch springs are stamped with a code and doubt it since there is no flat spots to do so. Tags still attached after 50K miles on the lift.

Yes, PLEASE leave the tags on!
Flat spots don't matter - it's a matter of cost. They could mark anything if they wanted to. Synergy marks their springs. You'd be surprised the small parts I have either inked, paint-stamped or metal stamped.
But things like springs from OEM get tags and have for decades. The part number tags were still on the front springs from my 1970 Javelin back in 2007 when I rebuilt the suspension and steering. So tags have been used by car makers for over 50 years.

Synergy marks their springs with a paint stamp -

And gee, back in the dark ages of your parents, springs were tagged and the last 3 digits were what told them which side they went on - look familiar?
(A guy in Florida made perfect reproduction part number tags for springs so after powder coating, I re-tagged them for the future owners)

Anyway, agree with Jay - please leave tags on.

Service writers are not a font of knowledge. Personal experience from working at a half dozen dealerships (sales and service) tells me that service writers know as much about your cars as salesmen. Which is to say 99% of them don't know shit.

What they do know is that confidence sells. Want someone off your back and paying you money as quickly as possible? Act like you know what you're talking about.

Dang, sad to say that I agree with this as well. I've had both types of service writers and both types of sales people. Some shrug with a "gee, I dunno" and drop it, others say "I am not sure but I'll get you the answer (and they get partial credit for that, IMO) and others, like Scott, at Stew Hansen's, pays to go to advanced classes on Jeeps he sells and if you ask, 95% of the time he answers on the spot - otherwise he will get you an answer, and at times, I've asked some technical questions and he goes to the shop and gets an answer. How many do that?
Further, when going to the back office to do the paperwork and pay, I mentioned that hey, I forgot to clear our garage door opener codes from the truck......... someone passing by said "I'll figure out how to do that and go do it" and the finance guy started telling them exactly how to do it like he'd done it dozens of times. I mentioned some other aspect of these trucks and he started giving specs and numbers and holy cow, he knew more than most sales guys I had dealt with. I later asked Scott - what's up with your guy in finance, he knows about as much as you do?
He was a former top Jeep sales guy that wanted a change in pace. He had also put himself through classes.

The biggest problem with the system is "fake it til you make it" is real and the average service writer has been faking their confidence/knowledge long enough that they think they actually know what they're bullshitting about.

With the turnover at the average dealership, there's a good chance your Jeep service writer was writing Hyundai, Ford, or Acura ROs less than 6 months ago. Do you really think they've learned the ins and out of Jeeps in that time?

Yeah, especially that last part. Experienced that first-hand as well in another Jeep store - and that's one reason I didn't buy there - besides their unwillingness to talk about price. They had no idea what they were selling.
As for the first part - think of their typical or average customer! How many walk in there knowing even how to inflate tires?
To get around their first-line BS - I right away start some simple conversation and tell them "yeah, I used to work on vehicles for a living, I'm a former mechanic myself" and from there on they don't have a lot to say. Cuts through the crap.

 

[chorky]

Service writers are not a font of knowledge. Personal experience from working at a half dozen dealerships (sales and service) tells me that service writers know as much about your cars as salesmen. Which is to say 99% of them don't know shit.

What they do know is that confidence sells. Want someone off your back and paying you money as quickly as possible? Act like you know what you're talking about.

The biggest problem with the system is "fake it til you make it" is real and the average service writer has been faking their confidence/knowledge long enough that they think they actually know what they're bullshitting about.

With the turnover at the average dealership, there's a good chance your Jeep service writer was writing Hyundai, Ford, or Acura ROs less than 6 months ago. Do you really think they've learned the ins and out of Jeeps in that time?

yeah theres a reason I quit working at Ford not long after getting my senior master cert. i couldnt handle the terrible quality of repairs most others made and the lack of knowledge from most service writers. Some were on point as they were decent techs for a while. Most just lied through their teeth sadly. The sales guy I got my JT from didnt even know how to turn on the radio!! So, I researched everything myself. Im sure they didnt give a ratts ass. The parts gal, when I asked about the springs, even made the comment ”I know you know more than I do because you research all this stuff, but heres the install documents”. It was staring them right in the face! Its a shame that this type of lack of care and quality for ones own work is so commonplace

and it also beggs the question of if they even know how to properly torque the control arm bolts, or if they know the vehicle needs to be lowered before torquing. Probably not. :-(

I probably should have a off road shop locally that knows their stuff do the lift but due to my distance from another dealer I just dont want the dealer to give me crap about warranty stuff later on….

A good reminder for all new "lifters" don't cut the identifying tags - label's off your springs as you unbox. May not apply to OP but may help someone else. Not sure if my Mopar 2 inch springs are stamped with a code and doubt it since there is no flat spots to do so. Tags still attached after 50K miles on the lift.

yeah I took pics of my factory tags before they got dirty and shriveled. But good point I will make an extra point to tell whoever I decide on to install this that they leave tags on so I can verify after install. And if they dont, they will be getting replacement parts and doing it right. I dont play those kinda games, which is why I do as much as I can myself.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

yeah theres a reason I quit working at Ford not long after getting my senior master cert. i couldnt handle the terrible quality of repairs most others made and the lack of knowledge from most service writers. Some were on point as they were decent techs for a while. Most just lied through their teeth sadly. The sales guy I got my JT from didnt even know how to turn on the radio!! So, I researched everything myself. Im sure they didnt give a ratts ass. The parts gal, when I asked about the springs, even made the comment ”I know you know more than I do because you research all this stuff, but heres the install documents”. It was staring them right in the face! Its a shame that this type of lack of care and quality for ones own work is so commonplace

I literally walked out of a job years ago - "service manager" insisted I send a family back out on their vacation with bad brakes - claiming "oh, it just needs the brakes bled, they'll be fine". I argued the point and he said do it or else, he knew better.
I put the tools back in my box, walked out to my truck, backed up to the doors, loaded my tools and drove away. You don't send a family back out on the road with a shot master cylinder. Yeah, you could "pump it up" and that's what told him it needed to be bled - but if you held the pedal, it slowly dropped to the floor. (and the way they bled brakes would have made it worse - pump it up and hold it while another guy released the bleeder - that sends the cups through the sludge and rust and crap in the master cylinder, making them worse - horrible way to bleed brakes)

and it also beggs the question of if they even know how to properly torque the control arm bolts, or if they know the vehicle needs to be lowered before torquing. Probably not. :-(

Depends on their lift/(HOIST). As long as the vehicle weight is squarely on the suspension......... such as the way a typical "4 post lift" lifts the vehicles (with the ability to remove weight from the springs, or have it on the springs) or the alignment pits and racks I've worked with in the past. You swap parts, set the vehicle down, and torque, never letting the vehicle on the ground because the thing is sitting on the wheels while in the air. (or a 2 post lift that lifted a vehicle under each axle - rear post lifted the rear axle, front post lifted the front axle)
So depends on what shops have or are equipped with.
It can be done with vehicle in the air and frankly, it's how I'd do it if I had a 4 post lift.

 

[shokker70]

Sad as it is, this is definitely true. They installed mine incorrectly and couldn't figure out why it didn't sit right. Took it all apart multiple times and had calls with FCA before they figured it out. Not good when the dealer boasts it's own 4X4 shop!!

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Sad as it is, this is definitely true. They installed mine incorrectly and couldn't figure out why it didn't sit right. Took it all apart multiple times and had calls with FCA before they figured it out. Not good when the dealer boasts it's own 4X4 shop!!

There's only 2 shops I have ever felt comfortable working in - other than my own, that is........
The first real shop job as a mechanic I had in my home town - former AMC dealership shop. Andy treated his customers with care and respect. Do the job right. Don't make them bring it back.
Then after college - Neil Porter in Altoona - the man insisted things be done right or else. No comebacks, get those customers coming back because they were happy with the work, establish real relationships with them so they refer others (and we did some work on police and patrol cars as well - don't even think about messing up on one of those! Ohh, boy)
And the people working in that shop he pretty much hand-picked or his service manager did and they were both picky people.
I cringed at what I saw, and heard in other places.
And I see a pro restoration shop on TV doing an auto restore and a guy has the differential up on the bench rebuilding it and has to ask for help because now that it's back together, nothing will turn. He had the shims reversed. Uh, fool didn't even bother checking pinion depth, backlash, whatever and they were a pro restoration shop - on TV? I laughed out loud, what fools and people are lapping it up like it's candy. Gee, I'll take my stuff to them! HAHAHA
Just goes to show - "respected", "pro", "highly recommended" sometimes have no meaning.

Sponsored