SUSPENSION SWAP FOR A 2011 PROJECT JEEP
A Rubicon take-off part and some DIY know-how made this JK a little smoother and dependable.
I t’s widely known that Jeep manufactured approximately 2.1 million Wrangler JKs from 2006 to 2018, making it one of the most popular Jeep models of all time. The vast aftermarket of parts and accessories for the JK is only exceeded by the availability of used parts. This large-vehicle inventory almost guarantees an infinite supply of parts for many years to come and in almost every price range.
With that in mind, I purchased a winter project Jeep in October 2020, just in time to get it power-washed, degreased underneath, and up on jack stands before the first snowfall. This 2-door, 2011 Wrangler Sport was all OEM; had only one owner; the odometer read 75,000 km (46,602 mi); and it sported a soft top. With no options, this winter project was about as basic as a 4X4 platform can get.
My Jeep still had the original 16” steel wheels, 225/75/16 tires, and a stock suspension, with the latter seeming like a good place to start for the mods. After perusing Kijiji for a few days, I found my new-to-me suspension, a Rubicon take-off part from a JKU that had a hardtop, 4:10 gearing, and a trailer package. The seller conveniently included the springs, shocks, and rear track bar, which was perfect.
Jeep suspensions are interchangeable and the spring specifications are generally determined by the vehicle options and not the model, but some special edition Jeeps are the exception. The part numbers are commonly referenced by the final two numbers and two letters as shown on the OEM tag, which is attached to each spring. Basic 2-door JK’s like mine have the lower range of the part number series, and the numbers increase for fully-equipped, 4-door, hardtop JKUs.
I compared the stock springs from my Jeep
with the springs that I purchased. After a precise measurement, the JKU spring set was 2.54 cm (1 in) longer in the front, and 2 cm (.75 in) longer in the rear. It would be a lot easier to compare these spring sets if the spring rates/ specs were known, so I just used a simple tape measure to get the specs.
Combined with the larger 17,” stock Jeep wheels and 255/75/17 tires, this fairly simple swap could potentially provide a lift of approximately 5 to 6 cm (2 to 2.5 in), resulting in better clearance, space for 33” tires (if I decide to upgrade), and a more appealing profile.
But springs were only part of the equation. I also purchased a set of four Rubicon shocks. Stock Jeep shocks are determined by the model, and the JK’s black shocks have a softer, hydraulic design while the red Rubicon shocks feature high-performance gas shocks.
Nonetheless, Rubicon owners looking for a little more performance often replace the OEM shocks for higher-end aftermarket options. But Rubicon shocks are an ideal option if you’re seeking to upgrade a basic 2-door Sport JK like mine. With 75,000 km (46,602 mi) already on the clock, the soft, stock hydraulic shocks on my project build needed replacing. Let’s take a closer look at the process and the end result.