• RME Gear & Apparel

My 2012 JKU

filippelli

filippelli

Active Member
Location
Provo
I have mostly been out of the game for a few years after rolling and destroying my 2dr XJ. I kinda built a truck then tried a xterra but never liked them as much.
now I am trying a JKU rubicon because Im getting old tired and after a lot of injuries a full build in my driveway doesnt appeal to me anymore the rubicon route seemed easy. Its already got bumpers winch small lift on 35s but all of the suspension and steering feels old and needing a refresh. I am not after anything crazy these days. ive been doing a bunch of research on diffrent kits for the Jeep but unlike the xj world its almost too many options out there now. my plan is to keep it short arm around 3inch lift but id like a kit with all new adjustable arms and actual track bars not brackets. wondering what everyones go to is for these things.
 
mbryson

mbryson

.......a few dollars more
Supporting Member
Location
Bountiful, land of rocks
I'm assuming you'd want to just stay 35" tires? I would in a JKU. What's wrong with the lift you have? Maybe you just need some fresh bushings/ends in the control arms and you're good for another 50k miles?


Steering:
SO MANY options... no idea what's good. The JK isn't near as fragile of steering as XJ/TJ/ZJ/MJ but if you're wandering, it's time for something. Personally, I'd just find something reputable that you like the design of and roll with that.

Lift:
Names I hear of most often with good reputations:
MetalCloak
Teraflex


On my JT, I have a SkyJacker (dealer installed) with Rubicon Express fancy Falcon wanna be shocks. It's been surprisingly decent. Enough I haven't leveraged my friendships at Teraflex to make something happen there. I do have 40k miles on the suspension so I'm expecting some issues whatever I'd have.
 
filippelli

filippelli

Active Member
Location
Provo
mbryson said:
I'm assuming you'd want to just stay 35" tires? I would in a JKU. What's wrong with the lift you have? Maybe you just need some fresh bushings/ends in the control arms and you're good for another 50k miles?


Steering:
SO MANY options... no idea what's good. The JK isn't near as fragile of steering as XJ/TJ/ZJ/MJ but if you're wandering, it's time for something. Personally, I'd just find something reputable that you like the design of and roll with that.

Lift:
Names I hear of most often with good reputations:
MetalCloak
Teraflex


On my JT, I have a SkyJacker (dealer installed) with Rubicon Express fancy Falcon wanna be shocks. It's been surprisingly decent. Enough I haven't leveraged my friendships at Teraflex to make something happen there. I do have 40k miles on the suspension so I'm expecting some issues whatever I'd have.
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the coils in the front seem to be sagging or just arent the best spring rate fro the bumper and winch. the shocks are old they have a couple stickers but im pretty sure its just old bilstein 5100s it still has stock control arms. my plan is to stay with 35s for now maybe one day go bigger. honestly 35s will do everything I have been doing the last few years. its all still driveable and no death wobble you can just tell its all getting a little worn out. all the arms and sterring has 125k miles so im sure its just a lot of old tired bushings.
 
filippelli

filippelli

Active Member
Location
Provo
Agility Customs said:
Please stay away from metal cloak. I dont know why but 90% of the death wobble cases we get in the shop all have metal cloak suspension/steering.
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weird I always heard good things about them but ive never installed or driven one of their kits so I wont argue with someone who has had to deal with them.
 
filippelli

filippelli

Active Member
Location
Provo
Hickey said:
I liked my Teraflex Alpine arms. 3”is plenty of lift. The PSC steering box was one of my favorite upgrades.
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I have been doing a bit of reserch and im thinking I have one of the AEV kits. but I will look into the teraflex arms. havent delt with teraflex since my buddy died. I didnt even think about a whole power steering box upgrade I will look into it.
 
Bart

Bart

Registered User
Location
Arm Utah
I am probably comparing apples to oranges here, because I built my JKU for fairly extreme trails and one ton axles. I had the Tera Alpine arms and broke one all the way at the end of Cliff Hanger, which resulted in my first ride in Trail Mater. The current owner recently broke one also. Again, it has been wheeled a lot on hard trails so YMMV. I also think Metal Cloak lifts are overly complicated, but I love, love, love their dual rate springs, and would highly recommend them.
 
filippelli

filippelli

Active Member
Location
Provo
Bart said:
I am probably comparing apples to oranges here, because I built my JKU for fairly extreme trails and one ton axles. I had the Tera Alpine arms and broke one all the way at the end of Cliff Hanger, which resulted in my first ride in Trail Mater. The current owner recently broke one also. Again, it has been wheeled a lot on hard trails so YMMV. I also think Metal Cloak lifts are overly complicated, but I love, love, love their dual rate springs, and would highly recommend them.
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like broke the arm in half? yeah I am not doing anything too crazy these days. maybe in a few years we will go crazy with it. I did some random work and the drag link flip over the weekend and that solved a lot of my problems. front end also doesnt seem to be sagging any more. so for now probably just stick with what it had when I got it. at some point. ill do fancy shocks a full control arm kit as I just have stock arms and front brackets. also a good chance I change my mind on plans multiple times before I do anything.
 
Bart

Bart

Registered User
Location
Arm Utah
In all fairness, the arm broke right at the neck, behind the clamp, which is where the joint shank ended. I'm sure that had a lot of to do with it. If you run them see if you can run the shank further into the arms, past that neck down area. BTW, good shocks will greatly improve your ride.
 
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