after mods is suspension mod needed?

[av8tr]

Hello everyone

I bought an 08 Rubicon and added the AEV bumper, skidplate, Warn 9.5si and IPF 930 lights. With the additional weight, do I need to make modifications to the front suspension. I think the vehicle sits a little nose low, but I will tell you I never saw it before the mods and there are none here in OK to view. Also, when driving at slow speeds you can really feel the weight on the front and it seems to drive sloppy (then again I've never driven a jeep).

As you have read this is my first Jeep and I am looking for advice. I had not planned on adding a lift kit (mostly because my wife is only 5' tall).

I looked through the forum and did not see anything specific and did not see AEV calling out any mods on the Jeep conversion they sell.

Thanks!-Brett

[Mieser]

The simple answer would be to try a spacer in the front.

The proper answer would be to install a new set of front coils that where matched to the increased weight of the front suspension. Here is the OME part sheet for JKs

http://www.arbusa.com/USA-Vehicle-Application-Guides/Jeep-Wrangler-JK.pdf

They offer two springs for the front one for 0-90lbs added and one for 90-180lbs added. These are 2" front lift springs. Since I don't really think anyone else has has a shorter heavy spring I would lean toward doing the OME615 since you don't want to lift your jeep any more than you have to. The lighter OME spring should settle slighty lower in the front with slightly more weight.

As far as the mushy feeling. Again this is spring rate and shock performance based. I think the OME springs will help, but your best off adding a good pair of shocks all around while your at it. This should help firm up the ride a bit with the added front weight.

[AEV Dave]

Brett -

The absolute best answer to your needs is to get a set of stock front 4.0L TJ springs (say from 03-06), they will return the height to stock and increase the rate slightly to compensate for the bumper. Way better than a spacer and also you can probably find them for free if you look around.

dh

[av8tr]

Thank you for your answers.

Let me build on the two different answers by asking: When AEV releases their rear bumper, what effect will this have? Perhaps I should wait for suspension changes until the rear bumper is on?

[JeepinJon]

Once you ada rear bumper it will do the same to the rear as your front one did to the front, make it sit lower. The Jeep wasn't meant to sit lower with the stock suspension components so your sterring geometry is off, and this is causing your sloppy handling.

[JasonR]

I had the same issue with my 08 Rubi. I added the same componets you did. I went with 1.75" spacers in front which brought it back to sitting level. I bought my jeep stock so I had a comparision. Before I added the spacers I could defently tell a difference in the handeling with the added weight of the AEV bumper and winch. Know that the spaces are on it drives close to stock. You would have to drive the two one after another to tell. It cost me $110 (parts and labor) at a local off road shop to install them. Hope this helps.

[av8tr]

Thanks Jason!

I live in OK and bought the Jeep having it delivered in Denver, then took it to my home 4.5 hours away. When I picked it up, the shop/dealer suggested the spacers but I didn't have time to wait.

Thanks for the tip. I have a lot of options, thanks to everyones responses.

[somewhereinla]

I'll add one more thing. Everybody is right as far as you needing new suspension to compensate for the weight. However the "Poor Handling" you describe is probably due in part to the mud tires which come standard with the Rubicon. Mud tires are great for off-road, but they will affect handling on dry road because of the bigger thread. If you want a smoother ride on road, there are tires with smaller, less aggressive thread that will make a big difference on-road and still perform nicely off-road. They are usually called "all terrain" tires. The good thing is that if you keep the mud tires, you will get used to it and adjust your driving accordingly. The handling of a jeep, especially the 2 doors short wheelbase, drives quite differently than any other cars... :)

[JeepinJon]

Most of the handling is due to the suspension sagging, not the tires. I have driven both Rubicons and Sahara's and they are both very similar. The drag link and track bar are supposed to be paralel to one another, and if they aren't due to the suspension being under compresion, etc then your handling is going to suffer. It is also going to make it so your alignment is never right becuse the components aren't in proper alignment.