Well, I'm finally back from Aghan and getting ready to lift my WK that I purchased just before I left. Since I have no experience with WKs, I do have some questions/ideas.
I want to lift 2"-3" So I was originally thinking an OME with HD springs and a .25" strut plate to keep the front up after the springs settle a bit and armor is added. Then I got to reading around and decided to go with a better strut for the front and shock for the rear. Then I thought, why not replace the rear spring as well and just order a set of OME HD Springs for the front... So here is my layout, please feel free to add suggestions/ideas. Thanks all.
Front: Should settle out to be about 2.5"(Correct me if I'm wrong)
Bilstein Strut-(Still looking for part number)
OME HD Spring-2991
.25" Strut plate
Rear: Should be just over 2.5"
Bilstein or FOX(I found 2" FOX remote res, but would like to find 3")
JBA Custom 2.5" springs
Add in some 1.5" SpyderTrax wheel spacers, and will run 265/70R17's unless anyone thinks I can squeeze 265/75s lol
I'm in a very similar boat as you, might check out a few of the threads I've been posting in.
I have yet to lift a WK, so I'm just going off the reading I've been doing recently. It seems that the majority of the Jeep community would argue that in that application the OME shocks/struts are a much higher quality than the Bilstein's you are considering. If you REALLY want to use something other than the OME shock/struts it seems that MLL's are the next most popular choice.
Rear:
OME HD spring
Bilstein 5100
1.5" poly spacer
With 285/70R17 Dynapro MT's, 1.75" Spidertrax and JK Moabs.
This should give me 4" in the rear and 3.5" up front. The Bilstein 5100 strut adds 3/4" of lift even fully collapsed. This is what I think you will be happier with...more basic. Why not use the OME HD springs all around? Anyways I have all my parts just awaiting install, I'll post my impressions of the lift.
Also adding to what Jared said above, the Bilsteins provide a very comfortable ride, and are no lesser quality than the OME.
Well everyone I apologize for not following up on this. I ended up going with the OME lift with HD springs and a .25" strut plate on the front. Also, some 1.5" spacers to gived the tires some clearance and widen it out.
Now I'm thinking of going up to 4"..... I've looked at JBA and Superlift, but was wondering if maybe I could frankenstein a lift. Maybe add 2" Daystar on top of the OME? Just kind of looking at options, nothing is set in stone yet.
If nothing else, it will give you an idea just how much lift is achievable with the right parts without doing a Superlift. I will tell you straight up that you can go a little over 5 inches if you wish, but your down travel is nearly gone at that point. I have pictures of this in that thread.
Mosier, would you suggest adding in the Monroe 58646's and taking out my OME rears? I've been reading around and it seems I should have done some better research as far as my rear lift goes. I will be adding two rear coil isolators to even out the driver's side lean in the back. Since I'm pulling it apart I figured the Monroes might be a good addition.
Can't tell you the unit, OPSEC Bro (Public forums and such) You would actually need the Monroe 58643 rear overload shocks as they are longer and thus would give you the rear travel that would match the lift from the rear springs. That part number is actually for an F-150, so they are a little stiffer than the 58646 stock replacement LL's on the WK. I have ran both sets and found the shock valveing and the nature of the progressive overload spring on the units match the WK factory springs well. I have not ran them with any other spring so maybe someone who has can chime in. As for the OME shocks, their shock valveing is supposed to be matched to their respective springs (front, rear, etc.), and they are supposed to have the matched travel for the springs also. Back to the 58643's, you will need to get some Zinc plated washers in 1/4" and 1/2" sizes for the upper eyelet shock mount on them, as it is a little narrower than the factory or the 58646. I also showed that in the thread.
First order of business is to fix the side to side lean you have going on. The factory springs have different "rates" at all four corners. This is especially important on the drivers side, as the front and rear spring have more "rate" than their respective passenger side springs. Reason? So they can compensate for the battery in the front, and the fuel tank/fuel in back. OME should have listed in the instructions which spring goes where and the springs themselves should have been marked. If not, then we should do a "head shed" and figure out which ones go where, otherwise you will always have the lean and/or you will be doing some odd shimming here and there to try to even it out. The best place for coils I have seen is here:
The guy that makes the springs is Stu, I think(?). But anyways they make the springs to order. Meaning you tell them your use, and what gear you are packing and they make the springs for a two inch lift or so, but with the right spring rates so the WK does not have any side to side lean. They are in Australia though, so I do not know who imports them. At least it may be worth a look and a phone call to inquire.
If you do decide to just shim for now, put the extra isolators on the top of the rear spring, not the bottom. People in the past have had bottom mounted spacers (poly/rubber) and such eventually split.
Just ask if any more questions, I'll try to help as best I can:thumbsup:
Also, just so you don't think I pulling your chain, as I know those of us "In" detest and despise those that use the military service for false identity and such, here is a cropped and "safe" pick from one of my "adventures"
Tracking on the whole military thing. Unfortunately some people use it for the wrong reason.
I definitely appreciate all the info. You seem to have put in some good research on this. This is my first time messing with a WK and it helps having someone push me in the right direction.
No problem:thumbsup: So, have you had a chance to review the OME instructions and whether or not the springs were labeled for said instructions to indicate what position they go in?
The rear springs(OME-2993) come as a set and from what I've seen and remember, they're identical. No markings or packaging to indicate that one is different than the other.
This is an old thread from another site that got me "on the trail" of knowing that there are different spring rates for the WK. It is talking about the XK (Commander), but that vehicle is the basically the same chassis wise as the WK. It just has a bigger body and a lot more weight to carry around.
And here is a thread that I first read a while back as I was thinking of getting factory XK coils or WK Diesel Coils for a possible "factory lift", since mine has a lighter drivetrain than those models. It also talks about the spring rate differences.
See if you can open my 2013 OME book. Check out page 4. It talks about there being an "A" Spring and a "B" spring. Page 15 lists only the front and rear medium or heavy duty part numbers, but no "A" or "B", nor any coil rate. But.......page 129 does list the rates for the part numbers and in fact shows the rear springs are an "A" and "B" spring. Looks like OME only has 10lbs per inch rate difference, but still, maybe that's enough to keep from having the lean.
Thanks Mosier, you're all over this. Definitely will be getting some reading in this weekend. Going to look my springs over and see if i can't identify them as well. Might have to do a flip-flop. If what you say about the spring rate is accurate, I asssume it is, 10 lbs is a big difference. If you have +10 on the passenger and -10 on the driver because the springs are switched.
Putting it that way, yeah, that would make a noticeable difference. Now I rechecked the book, here is a condensed version:
Page 4:
LEAF SPRINGS:
A & B springs can be used to compensate for uneven vehicle weight distribution. Springs marked "A" have a greater camber height than springs marked 'B'. 'A' type springs are generally fitted to the driver's side and 'B' springs to the passenger side.
COIL SPRINGS:
A & B springs are used to compensate for uneven vehicle weight distribution. 'A' type springs are generally higher in free height than the 'B' spring. Individual coil specifications are listed in the back of this publication.
Then we have the WK Part numbers from page 15:
Front (to 40KGS): 2990
Front (41 to 100KGS): 2991
Rear Medium Load: 2992
Rear Heavy Duty: 2993
What struck me about this is that:
1) Straight out of the book OME lists these part numbers for both 2005-2010 WK and 2006-2010 XK.
2) They are also listed for both models in Petrol (gas) or Diesel.
3) OME states front lift at 50mm, and rear at 55mm.
4) The "A" and "B" Spring notation is absent here.
5) There is no "Medium" or "Heavy Duty" reference for the front, only specific weight carrying capacity rates. Only the rear springs are referred to as such, but without the rates.
6) I find it a bit strange that only two choices in spring rate can cover two different vehicles (as far as vehicle weight), with two different powertrains (Gas or Diesel), across at least four years production time. Given that the WK and XK are the same chassis, I got it. But the differences in curb weight and various options plus possible minor design changes and the different possible variations in drivetrain selection and therefore weight, to me, seems like there should be a few more spring rate choices, But, I dunno. I don't design and build this stuff for a living. I'm just stating what pops out to me.
Then we get to page 129 (See attached):
On the chart it lists for these part numbers the same static height (free) for the front springs, but different ("A" and "B") static heights (not load ratings as I had previously mentioned. Doh! I had to look at it closer!) for the rear springs. Another neat thing here is it also lists what the factory spring rates are. I find it interesting that OME only lists one factory rate for the front, and one for the rear. There are a great many MOPAR part numbers for each location for factory springs on these vehicles.
After looking at this again, my guess is the higher (both standing fresh out of the box on level ground right next to each other) rear spring goes on the driver side.
That's a very good observation on the OME springs. You would think there would be more options to choose from. With the various powertrains and engine types, some more options would be ideal. Then again, not many companies have put up a competitive lift with OME for the WK/XK.
I agree. But, in their defense, the WK market is pretty small. So their return on investment probably does not make a good business case. The most recent "damn the market data, we are doing this anyway" product I have seen for the WK is RCV's replacement CV axles. These look pretty mean, and have a price to match.
Wow. Yea those axles would be nice haha.
The WK market is small unfortunately. I have only seen one lifted XK in my area and that was on the highway. Maybe one day I'll see a fellow lifted WK wheeler.
Sorry. I've been busy with work and moving. Hoping to get some time this coming weekend to jack it up and switch the springs. I will definitely let you know how it goes. Need to get underneath and get rid of some surface rust as well before I drive up to MI this winter. Salty roads
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