Options for leveling with overall suspension improvement

[07052021]

I have Sport S with 35s and I know I need to lift/level the front at least 1.5" to gain room to flex without rubbing. I will crawl rock beds and trails but unlikely I ever off-road to the extreme some of you guys do. I do however like to upgrade and build for future changes but I know very little about the suspension setup.

So here is my question. I'd like to start with the Teraflex 1.5" front leveling kit and 0.75" Daystar rear. I think my springs will be fine (correct me if I'm wrong) with this setup but I'd like to upgrade at least my shocks to improve overall ride quality and account for the leveling kit / maybe wanting to go higher in the future. Is this possible? I've read some use shock extensions with the leveling kit and that is because stock shock travel isn't large enough for the leveling kit? What amount of travel on a shock would account for the leveling kit and maybe going to a little higher in the future, any?

Are there any other suspension pieces I should upgrade, or add, with the leveling kit + shocks?

Thanks!

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[WhyNotJeep]

Take it from someone that learned by doing it several times. Do it right the first time even if it costs more. Never enough money to do it right the first time but always money to do it over again.

 

[Largemarge_JT]

Take it from someone that learned by doing it several times. Do it right the first time even if it costs more. Never enough money to do it right the first time but always money to do it over again.

Fully agree with this. Wait a little while and do it right the first time. You’re going to spend more money in the long run doing this in stages and you most likely will not be happy with the performance of spacers/ shock extensions if you actually do crawl rock beds and trails. Just my 2 cents but I’ve gone the “stages” route on other trucks and was never happy especially considering you most likely will need supporting mods for each stage anyway (more $$ than expected). With my gladiator I saved up and got what I wanted from the start and couldn’t be happier.

 

[07052021]

Take it from someone that learned by doing it several times. Do it right the first time even if it costs more. Never enough money to do it right the first time but always money to do it over again.

Fully agree with this. Wait a little while and do it right the first time. You’re going to spend more money in the long run doing this in stages and you most likely will not be happy with the performance of spacers/ shock extensions if you actually do crawl rock beds and trails. Just my 2 cents but I’ve gone the “stages” route on other trucks and was never happy especially considering you most likely will need supporting mods for each stage anyway (more $$ than expected). With my gladiator I saved up and got what I wanted from the start and couldn’t be happier.

My post definitely comes across like doing it in stages but I didn’t mean it that way. I do not see a need for 2” or higher lift so I want to do a 1.5” and 0.75” the right way. I don’t see kits for this. Everything is 2” and above. Is a leveling kit not the right way with shock upgrades, control arms, etc.?

I 100% want to do this the right way even if it costs more upfront but I don’t want to go Mopar 2” or larger just to do it right.

 

[Largemarge_JT]

My post definitely comes across like doing it in stages but I didn’t mean it that way. I do not see a need for 2” or higher lift so I want to do a 1.5” and 0.75” the right way. I don’t see kits for this. Everything is 2” and above. Is a leveling kit not the right way with shock upgrades, control arms, etc.?

I 100% want to do this the right way even if it costs more upfront but I don’t want to go Mopar 2” or larger just to do it right.

Got it, I would recommend something like this to get your flex right in the front and a small spacer in the rear.

https://www.claytonoffroad.com/product/jeep-gladiator-15-leveling-kit-2020-jt

You could also look for some rubicon take off shocks to pair with it.

 

[DailyMoparGuy]

Got it, I would recommend something like this to get your flex right in the front and a small spacer in the rear.

https://www.claytonoffroad.com/product/jeep-gladiator-15-leveling-kit-2020-jt

You could also look for some rubicon take off shocks to pair with it.

This ^ (the Clayton kit I mean)

 

[JTBurns]

I'm in a similar boat and have Rubicon shocks and springs on my sport s. I also have the wild peak takeoffs, but when they wear down, I'm going with 35's and plan to use the Clayton kit to make the room.

 

[07052021]

Got it, I would recommend something like this to get your flex right in the front and a small spacer in the rear.

https://www.claytonoffroad.com/product/jeep-gladiator-15-leveling-kit-2020-jt

You could also look for some rubicon take off shocks to pair with it.

I can get behind a Clayton setup. May not need to do rear honestly.

I'm leaning towards buying new. Bilstein 5100 or 5160 (bit much), Fox 2.0, or Falcons (haven’t looked yet). I’m thinking I need shocks for 0.5” to 1.5” or 1.5-2.5” lifts. Maybe I would need rear spacer for shock upgrade.

 

[WhyNotJeep]

With my JKUR, 3 sets of springs and 3 sets of shocks. I was so sick of it when done I sold it. I learned a lot.

 

[07052021]

With my JKUR, 3 sets of springs and 3 sets of shocks. I was so sick of it when done I sold it. I learned a lot.

Care to share some of the learnings?

 

[WhyNotJeep]

If you want a nice highway street ride a performance or sport shock is not what you want. 5100s and Falcons are digressive (stiff). You can do firm springs with soft shocks and firm shocks with soft springs but not both. Front CA angle will make a stiff ride. 4 inch lift is going to transfer much of the hit into the frame. The design nature of the SFA and coils require a good steering stab no matter how perfect the front is. It's important to look at the measurements of the shock collapsed and extended and adjust the bumpstops for that to get max suspension travel. A multi rate coil is very hard to correctly valve a shock for. Build it for what you Will use if for,,, not what you wish you were going to use it for. Good skids can be as good or better than lifting to clear the rock. No shock will last forever.

 

[AustinL911]

Got it, I would recommend something like this to get your flex right in the front and a small spacer in the rear.

https://www.claytonoffroad.com/product/jeep-gladiator-15-leveling-kit-2020-jt

You could also look for some rubicon take off shocks to pair with it.

Does One need a rear adjustable trackbar and/or control arms if they run the 0.75" rear spacer?

 

[Largemarge_JT]

Does One need a rear adjustable trackbar and/or control arms if they run the 0.75" rear spacer?

I would say probably not. .75” spacers are going to have your axle off center by less than .25”.

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