Our 2012 Jeep Wrangler is begging for new shocks, and a mild 2-inch lift kit has always been on our "to-do" list. There are many options out there that achieve both goals at once, but these remote reservoir Fox shocks sealed the deal.
Aren't they pretty...awesome?
They come as part of Mopar's new JK Wrangler Pre-Runner Suspension System, along with springs, new control arms to maintain proper alignment and driveshaft angles, new stabilizer links, limit straps and bump stops. And the front bump stops are TeraFlex Speedbump hydraulic units.
As the name implies, this so-called Stage-III kit isn't just for rock crawling; it's also meant to keep the tires planted in the comparitively high-speed wheeling environment found in Southern California's open deserts and fire roads -- something our Jeep sorely needs. If you want to draw parallels to the Ford Raptor, go right ahead. I'm not going to stop you.
Thing is, this is a 3-inch lift kit -- slightly more than I had in mind. But at least it's not 4-inches. That would have been too much.
As a former OE suspension development engineer myself, I like the idea of going with a kit the Jeep's Mopar division had a hand in. It's been tested and blessed by the folks that built our Wrangler in the first place. Few other such kits can say that.
Dan Edmunds, Director of Vehicle Testing
trailgp says:
03:33 PM, 02/ 2/12
I wouldn't base your decision on the high speed wheling part of this kit. It is a stellar choice for this rig, but I suggest you watch this video before going on a high speed run
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fr8QPNV6KO8
texases says:
03:36 PM, 02/ 2/12
Dan - I'm 100% behind the 'kit the Jeep's Mopar division had a hand in. It's been tested and blessed by the folks that built our Wrangler in the first place.' logic. Get it!
How much $$??
explorerx4 says:
06:00 PM, 02/ 2/12
Dan,
Hard to argue a factory tested system. You don't want one of the youngsters going ass over teakettle due to mismatched components.
The Raptor frame bending situation has bubbled up over on your namesake side.
It's probably worth looking at.
desmolicious says:
06:18 PM, 02/ 2/12
This Jeep really seems to get the most love out of any vehicle I can remember on IL's LT fleet.
I can see why. These really do rock since the changes in 2012.
heidis says:
08:07 PM, 02/ 2/12
Reservoir shocks? Slight overkill. And if you plan on doing dune jumps ala the Raptor in that short wheel base Jeep, I hope you've got that thing well insured. Yikes.
actualsize says:
09:12 PM, 02/ 2/12
This is no race setup, and we're under no illusions about that. No one really wants to fly a short wheelbase Jeep. But a lot of the dirt access roads and desert trails around here consist of miles and miles of questionably-maintained washboard, and better shocks with more fluid capacity are likely to run cooler and make it possible to run reasonable speeds, maybe even reasonably quick speeds, from point A to point B.
More importantly, perhaps, those remote reservoirs are the new home to the gas chamber and dividing piston, the floating disc that separates the shock oil from the pressurized gas. Regular monotubes house the dividing piston and gas chamber at the bottom of the main tube itself, creating a dead zone into which the piston cannot stroke. Move that stuff into the remote reservoir and you free up a good chunk of space that can be reallocated to additional suspension travel for a given length of shock body.
And it's not all about jumping; additional shock travel leads to increased suspension articulation on the ramp and on the slickrock. Someday I'll show a cutaway of this.
lostboyz says:
03:43 AM, 02/ 3/12
@trailgp, thanks for the tip, don't hit a mound on one side of the vehicle doing high speed off road maneuvers.
jeepsrt says:
06:47 AM, 02/ 3/12
"The Raptor frame bending situation has bubbled up over on your namesake side."
That was due to people going past what the truck can handle, there is a video of the Raptor engineer stating the frame bent instead of the rear end stepping out that could be deadly at that high speed. It is a $600 fix on a truck that has amazing capability but people will always exceed it and blame the truck.
104wb says:
09:12 AM, 02/ 3/12
Mind your front driveshaft to exhaust crossover clearance (interference) if you're going for increased suspension travel. See AFE crossover pipe to eliminate that concern.
mckman says:
12:06 PM, 02/ 3/12
Other than the sticker on the shocks, not sure how much of a hand Mopar had in developing this.
If you compare the kit, it looks almost exactly like the one Teraflex sells. Same name and parts.
Either way this is a great option for socal. Check out the Teraflex videos on YouTube.
Also, don't forget the important role of the SpeedBump bumpstops in reducing the effect of large high speed impacts. Pretty important when you hit something unexpected at 50mph.
csubowtie says:
12:43 PM, 02/ 3/12
Sounds like a cool kit for a general usage 4x4. Agreed I wouldn't be doing any real high speed runs in a Jeep, but I can understand the long access roads and a desire to not drive them at 5 mph. Personally I probably wouldn't get the Mopar kit. Can't fault IL's logic, but the Jeep Aftermarket has been at this game for a long time and is pretty good at it. Plus the Mopar kit is undoubtedly more expensive than an equivalent or better aftermarket kit.
heidis says:
01:51 PM, 02/ 3/12
I see your point Dan. But I lean to csubowtie's view on this. Plus, I'm pretty confident that a quality set of something like a middle grade twin tube Bilstein will suit even long washboard trips just fine. The cheapest I'm seeing the Fox reservoirs for is $189 per and the 5150 attached reservoir Bilsteins are going for $100 per. Nearly twice the price? Hrmn. I am doubtful on the value of the Mopar markup + any performance difference (likely negligible) to be worth that difference. Plus calculate in another $15-$20 per on the Fox units for a mount of some kind for that remote reservoir.
Yeah, they're pretty sexy, I'll give you that. But c'mon man. This just feels like a kid trying to justify that super sweet overpriced new bike he wants for Christmas. I hate to be the fun police, but this is a substantial chunk of cash to outlay. Throw that extra cash toward the tie rod reinforcing/relocating brackets you will need that few of these kits include. Or a beefier steering stabilizer. Or the new Tom Woods front driveshaft you will need (also not included in any lift systems). There's plenty of other places to put that extra difference than overkill shocks.