Rubicon to Sport S suspension swap

[jebiruph]

First drive today with the Rubicon shocks installed, they really firmed up the ride. That combined with the tighter steering of the TSB have greatly improved the responsiveness and handling.

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[93civej1]

I can relate to the struggle. The back two kicked my butt too, twice because I realized I had them upside down the first time (I did not do any research prior to the installation). I did find that after manually compressing the bottom of the shock into the mount, I was able to use a flat blade screw driver to get it lined up with the bolt hole.

I thought the rears were a breeze to do. With it off the ground I was able to just push really hard by hand and compress what I needed and then push the bolt in really fast as they were decompressing in the mount.

 

[jebiruph]

I thought the rears were a breeze to do. With it off the ground I was able to just push really hard by hand and compress what I needed and then push the bolt in really fast as they were decompressing in the mount.

Mine wasn't off the ground, I installed them as it sits without using a jack.

 

[Jack'D]

interesting yours was different.
looked under mine and higher number was indeed on passenger side and lower on driver side. So I put the new springs in the same exact way.

Maybe its cause yours is a max tow?
When I did mine I figured it was safe to assume the numbers corresponded, and when it was done I wasn't leaning to one side lol, so.. all good!

 

[basicGlad]

Just swapped out the springs and shocks on my non max tow sport s.

Do you have the part numbers for the non Max tow sport s springs? Is yours manual or automatic?

Normally the higher part number is on the right side.
Two examples of JT Rubicon spring numbers (both are rear spring numbers) -

450/451 - 451 would go on the right
449/450 - 450 on the right

When you say right is that passenger? I'm not sure if your sayings right sitting in the vehicle facing forward or if right outside facing the front

 

[93civej1]

Do you have the part numbers for the non Max tow sport s springs? Is yours manual or automatic?


When you say right is that passenger? I'm not sure if your sayings right sitting in the vehicle facing forward or if right outside facing the front

Passenger.

Look at your own springs and place higher number where your higher number spring is,

 

[Liftr]

I just did this swap.
Sport S, standard tow package, with hardtop and Plastic bumper.
Stock spring numbers: 324AB, 325AB. 438AC, 439AC.
Donor Rubicon was hardtop with metal bumper.
New Springs: 339AC, 340AC. 449AC, 450AB.

I also added 3/4” Daystar spacer to the fronts only. I bought rear spacers just in case I needed them, but didn’t install them (yet).
The result was exactly 2” lift in the front and 1/2” in the back.
You can see my painter’s tape on the fenders where I measured the change.
The truck now sits exactly level. The tires are 255/70/18.

Edit: after driving for a day, the front may have settled down 1/4”.
The second picture shows the bed rail being 1/4 bubble off of level.
The rear is on the right of the picture. I took the pic from the opposite side of the truck.

I’m very pleased with the aesthetics, and what appears to be a softer ride quality.

 

[Jack'D]

I just did this swap.
Sport S, standard tow package, with hardtop and Plastic bumper.
Stock spring numbers: 324AB, 325AB. 438AC, 439AC.
Donor Rubicon was hardtop with metal bumper.
New Shocks: 339AC, 340AC. 449AC, 450AB.

I also added 3/4” Daystar spacer to the fronts only. I bought rear spacers just in case I needed them, but didn’t install them (yet).
The result was exactly 2” lift in the front and 1/2” in the back.
You can see my painter’s tape on the fenders where I measured the change.
The truck now sits exactly level. The tires are 255/70/18.

Looks great, love that color! The improvement in ride totally sold me, every sport owner should make this swap!

 

[Orange01z28]

I added the bumper (about 110lbs) after the suspension so it might be closer to even now. I have not measured again since the bumper.

What bumper is that?

 

[gerky18]

What bumper is that?

https://www.quadratec.com/p/quadratec/qrc-front-winch-ready-bumper-jeep-wrangler-jl-gladiator-jt

There are two versions. This is the stubby one.

 

[MainePure]

Looks great, love that color! The improvement in ride totally sold me, every sport owner should make this swap!

Yes, 100%

I just did Rubicon springs and shocks swap on mine this morning(easy job)Yesterday got charcoal Rubicon take off wheels with some 285/70/17 Falken Wildpeaks AT3W put on. Its like a totally different truck. I absolutely love it.

 

[Orange01z28]

Rubicon shocks and springs, Teraflex level kit, Toyo Open Country MTs, Black Rhino Armory

 

[Cmdrcoupe]

are shock extenders needed for 1 - 1/2 teraflex leveling kit ? I am first time jeep owner and want to level it for 35s, any and all suggestions are welcome.

 

[Jeeperjamie]

are shock extenders needed for 1 - 1/2 teraflex leveling kit ? I am first time jeep owner and want to level it for 35s, any and all suggestions are welcome.

No you want need shock extenders unless you get over 2" of lift.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

No you want need shock extenders unless you get over 2" of lift.

Sort of off this topic but still related to another question here - I hate shock extenders - are quality shocks made with the longer length to compensate?
I prefer the shocks be longer than to add the complexity of extending them. It just adds more points of failure.
I doubt I'll ever go that far, and I've totally lost track of how high my Overland was originally so I can't even tell you how much I've changed the height since I lost my initial notes from last year.

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