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Raising an SRT WK2?

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srt wk2
5K views 20 replies 8 participants last post by  Fullslp 
#1 ·
Hi guys, short term lurker, first time poster here.

Apparently I have unique (or stupid) taste and I can't find the answer to this question, either here or anywhere else on the web.

I'm considering a 2014/15 SRT WK2, I love the power and the relatively utilitarian design, but I hate the idea of being confined to the pavement. I don't plan on "off roading" it in the traditional Jeep sense, but I would like the ability to drive over curbs, ruts, medians and the occasional troop of hippie protestors blocking the freeways here in San Diego. Something along the lines of a "Rally capable SRT" or "urban assault vehicle", whatever that means.

I don't want to lift the whole vehicle (I've seen that thread), I just want to level it by bringing the front UP to the level of the rear, hopefully allowing room to mount some larger, more off road friendly tires on the 20" split spokes. 32's would be great, but that might be just wishful thinking.

From what I've gathered looking around the forum here, the RRO 2.5" leveling kit might work for the front as the spring system is technically the same as the other non-QL Wk2's except for the rates of the springs, but I can't find any info on anyone who's done it before. I don't mind being the guinea pig, but I'd prefer not to be if I can avoid it.

And by "off road friendly" tires, I don't mean super swampers, I'm not trying to go high end Joe Dirt here. I'm just looking for as much sidewall as I can get under there to stretch its terrain limitations and put the door sills a little further away from the curb, a relatively all terrain style tread would be good too.

I should mention I'm not afraid of taking a sawzall to a brand new $70k vehicle. When I spoke to the sales manager at the Jeep dealership last week he looked at me like he wasn't sure he wanted to sell me one if those were my intentions. I may have to find a different dealership to go to for service, lol.

I would also consider a 2014/15 WK2 Limited 5.7L (Limited is the next step down the WK2 line from SRT that doesn't have QL as standard) if I could find a way to bump up the power a little and add the SRT sway bars. Other mods on that would be RRO 2.5" with 33's and some other minor things. I think the service manager would have more issue with power adders on the WK2 motor than tire mods on the SRT, hence I'm leaning towards SRT.

Thanks for the help!
 
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#2 ·
Spoke with RRO, they said they've never tried fitting the kit on an SRT before, but if the strut mounts are the same as the other WK2's then they should go on.

Sooo, anybody know if the strut mounts are the same on the WK2 SRT as they are on the non-QL WK2's?


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#5 ·
2 inch taller and much softer springs become available. I'll bite.

I didnt get it to run at a track.

Only redlights.

I would love it ride as good as my 98 5.9 zj instead of rougher than my z roadster.
 
#6 ·
Just got back from the dealership, test drove a couple WK2's and put an order in for a 2015 SRT (Silver w/black chrome split spokes). Couldn't find one with the options I wanted (and didn't want) on any lot within 500 miles. No sun roof, no electronic nanny package. Strangely, full black leather interior isn't an option, just that odd tan color.

Was speaking with the SRT technician there about my plans for it, he mentioned that the clearance from the stock tire to the knuckle is much tighter than any of the wheel well clearances from tire to fender. No matter how high I raise it, it won't matter as the limiting factor is the knuckle, not the wheel well.

From what I could see, a possible solution might be a small spacer on the hub to keep a larger tire away from the knuckle, I'll have to check specs and tolerances before I start buying parts though. Anybody have any input on this other than the internet mantra of "spacers are ghey"?

I'm surprised that no one has done this before, the SRT is such a perfect platform for this type of build.
 
#8 ·
Hmm, that could be interesting. From what I read on the thread you provided, it appeared that the spindles were not the same and wouldn't swap, but if it's been done a lot before I must be missing something. I'll have to do a little more research.

I don't mind hacking some non-essential shit up, but I'd be hesitant to swap spindles. I'd like to keep as much of the warranty intact as possible and I think they'd probably flip if I came in rocking swapped spindles. Spacers and slightly larger tires are easier to justify to the service manager than changing out major components of the suspension geometry.

On a different but related note, anybody know if the Mopar rock rails can be mounted to the WK2 SRT?

We're getting into some sacrilegious territory here.
 
#9 ·
Hmm, that could be interesting. From what I read on the thread you provided, it appeared that the spindles were not the same and wouldn't swap, but if it's been done a lot before I must be missing something. I'll have to do a little more research.

I don't mind hacking some non-essential shit up, but I'd be hesitant to swap spindles. I'd like to keep as much of the warranty intact as possible and I think they'd probably flip if I came in rocking swapped spindles. Spacers and slightly larger tires are easier to justify to the service manager than changing out major components of the suspension geometry.

On a different but related note, anybody know if the Mopar rock rails can be mounted to the WK2 SRT?

We're getting into some sacrilegious territory here.
I like your style i almost put duratracs on mine lol
 
#10 ·
Ha, that would be sick!

My ride should be at the dealership in 6-8 weeks, or so I'm told, I guess I'll find out the answers to these questions once it's in my hands and I can start taking some measurements.

So far it looks like I'll need the following:

1. A leveling kit for the front
2. Small spacers to help the tires clear the spindle knuckle
3. Largest tires I can fit under there that don't rub "too" much

The tires will have to be the last item after I take all the measurements and see how much room I have.

Mopar rock rails would look tough as f*ck on this, I'll have to do more digging to see if that's possible.

Thanks for all the help so far, guys
 
#14 ·
Wow bro, you definitely have a wild idea here. Most guys would just go buy a raptor or something but man I would love to see this thing. I'm also in San diego and I'd love to be able to pull out of our crazy traffic and just blow by everyone plus much more clearance for a Big Bear snowboarding excursion.
 
#15 ·
Yeah, I think 33's would be pushing it. I have those on my Toyota SUV right now and they still rub, and it's nowhere near as low as the SRT.

Thanks for the chart and info, Josh, I think the 275/55/20 size might be the way to go, especially if you've already got them on your 20" 2011 without issues. 32's (31.91) should be big enough to pull off what I want to do with it without causing other issues (speedo calibration, loss of torque, computer management glitches, etc.).

I was up at Symbolic Motors a couple days ago getting a PPI done on my other car (selling it to finance the SRT), I was going to have the dealership do the work on the SRT to make sure it's a quality job and doesn't void my warranty, but after talking with the guys at Symbolic I would really rather have them take care of it.

The cars at Symbolic were insane. Had a Lamborghini LM002 (the SUV) in the back, SO sick!

Anybody have any info on how the dealer looks at parts and mods done by outside shops? I don't mind hacking up fenders but I don't want to hack up my warranty.
 
#16 · (Edited)
I doubt you'd be able to fit anything very much over a 32" tire on the SRT honestly. Standard WK2s with the highest lift (2" max) are barely able to fit 33" tires without some pinch weld folding and pinning back the felt. Offset of the wheels seems to really affect it as well, more than I'd expect. And I know the SRT already sit lower and may have less space than in the wheel wells than standards do, aside from suspension height.

You should check out Zybane's thread. He modded his Summit (probably the closest you'll find to someone doing off road mods to an SRT for example). I think the body style is almost identical to the SRT aside from the front/rear bumper and fascia.

http://www.jeepgarage.org/f222/zybanes-arctic-diesel-build-65755.html

 
#17 ·
Great link, Pinetar, thanks! I just read through that whole thing, very good info. Looks like the Rock Rails will fit on the SRT, although they'll be a headache (for the shop doing the install, lol). I'll take some pics of the install.

I'll be selling the car in late 2016 anyway so I'll be sure to keep the stock SRT side skirts to convert back to stock before selling.

I've never kept a car longer than 2 or 2.5 years in my life. Stupid and expensive habit, but at 37, I've found it's easier if I just acknowledge my car ADHD and make plans accordingly.

I appreciate all the helpful links, thanks guys! I'll log the progress once the car comes in and I can start making some moves on it.

Still hard to believe no one has done this before, it seems like such a logical progression for this platform.
 
#20 ·
The SRT finally arrived, ended up taking 3 months instead of the 6 weeks the dealership said it would, supposedly because of the storms on the east coast. It was surprisingly hard to find these things without sunroofs and the electronics packages (adaptive cruise control + assisted braking), neither of which I wanted, had to special order one to get it without that stuff.

Then it shows up and I find out Jeep automatically added the adaptive cruise control and assisted braking for all 2015 SRT's. The way I drive, I absolutely cannot have the car braking for me at the wrong moment. I was at the dealership with check written out, about to sign paperwork and drive off with it when I noticed the little eyeball on the front bumper and found out Jeep added all the crap I didn't want anyway. I was going to cancel the order and walk away from the car until I found out it's possible to disable the assisted braking. Still annoying it's even on there though.

The car is in the final stages of break in now (300-500 miles) and the Mufflex bypasses should be arriving later this week. Gonna slap those on then get started on the rest of it.
 

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