Coil Over System,... Can Anyone Explain the Benefits?

[mmcan]

I was just seeing the add for Off Road Evo's Coil Over system, and was wondering why I would want to add this to my lift? Does it improve performance on/off road, ride quality, clearance?....:thinking::thinking::thinking:

Do you have this and can you do some 'splainin to me about it?

Thanks

[bodybrdng]

Hope this will help
http://www.jk-forum.com/showthread.php?t=32362

[Evolution]

I was just seeing the add for Off Road Evo's Coil Over system, and was wondering why I would want to add this to my lift? Does it improve performance on/off road, ride quality, clearance?....:thinking::thinking::thinking:

Do you have this and can you do some 'splainin to me about it?

Thanks



This is what Andrew our new Product Engineer had to say...

Coilover shocks have various advantages.
Factory shock locations upper and lower on the JK are in a fixed position, which was determined by the factory as an ideal location for a factory vehicle. Due to this there is a limited number of compressed and extended lengths (Travel) of the shock that can be made in the factory envelope. With the addition of a coilover shock/bracketry, the factory envelope is increased allowing for more wheel travel vertically and articulated.

These photos are of our JK with an off the shelf long arm system (FT) with our off the shelf coilover systems front and rear.

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn254/aperle/DSC03075.jpg?t=1213738373

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn254/aperle/DSC03079.jpg?t=1213738498

Another major advantage of a coilover system is that coilover shocks are rebuildable and re-valve able. This means that one can re-valve the shock to dial in the ride that one is looking for; if one is looking for a softer ride then the shock can be valved and sprung for a softer ride and vice versa. This also means that if you have a shock failure for any reason they can be taken apart and the failed part can be fixed rather than having to replace the entire shock.

Lastly the other major advantage of a coilover system is that the ride height is adjustable through preload/replacement of the coil spring that goes around the shock absorber. Essentially under certain circumstance including long arm kit, aftermarket driveshaft’s… one could have a 0” lift all the way up to a 10” lift with little noticeable changes in the ride.

Clearance under the vehicle is increased only in the rear with our EVO-Lever system. Due to the fact that the shocks in this system mount up under the body and the linkage on the system does not extend past the tube of the axle, there is no need for the factory lower shock location on the axle any longer. This means that you can cut the bracket off just past your lower link mount gaining almost 3” in the rear on both sides.

Most of all, they look sick!!!!

Andrew Perle
Product Engineer
Off Road Evolution MFG

[mmcan]

So I already have the FT 4"LA kit.

Your website quotes a price way lower than what the threads have discussed ($3500 for the rear alone?) What is the additional charge to install this on my JK?

I don't know if I need this, but it does look very sick.

And how is the road performance changed by your system? I love the ride as it is and am hesitant to change it at this point.

[Evolution]

So I already have the FT 4"LA kit.

Your website quotes a price way lower than what the threads have discussed ($3500 for the rear alone?) What is the additional charge to install this on my JK?

I don't know if I need this, but it does look very sick.

And how is the road performance changed by your system? I love the ride as it is and am hesitant to change it at this point.



The price that is not included on our website, is the price of the coil overs and install labor. We will be updating the site to show the shock manufactures we have worked with to get the proper valving for our system. The coil overs run approximately $500 a shock including spring/springs and coilover hardware.
Labor to install the kit should be around 5 hours from any shop or you could do it yourself.

This system is great for the person that really wants to improve performance with big wheel travel and to customize the ride to their liking and driving styles. You will not get this kind of wheel travel/articulation travel with anyones off the shelf kit, period.

If your asking if the ride is improved with our system over an aftermarket kit, Yes. We have worked extensively with various shock manufactures to dial in the ride we feel appropriate, we offer 3 different ride setups for both the front and rear coilovers, rockcrawler, trail/street and baja (soon to be on the site).

Thanks for the interest,
Mel Wade...

[LoPo]

Excellent info, I've been wondering the same myself.

So that's $2,000 in coilovers + ~5 hours of install labor? That's it?:eek2: Would that be the same coilovers that are pictured?

It would make sense to do this during your lift kit installation.

How does your design compare to Rock Krawler's coilover kit LA kit?

[Evolution]

Excellent info, I've been wondering the same myself.

So that's $2,000 in coilovers + ~5 hours of install labor? That's it?:eek2: Would that be the same coilovers that are pictured?

It would make sense to do this during your lift kit installation.

How does your design compare to Rock Krawler's coilover kit LA kit?

Yes it makes a lot of sence to order your lift kits with out springs and shocks
and install evo lever systems at the same time, but can be added at any time.

$2000 would be for complete coil overs at all 4 corners of your JK .

I have not personaly install any other coil over kits, I am sure thay make a great kit.

[mmcan]

Thank you for the very clear and concise info!

DO you have any more video of this in action? Maybe with some up close commentary on what the parts of the system actually do and how they do it?

Thank you again.

[AussieJK]

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn254/aperle/DSC03079.jpg?t=1213738498

WOW nice flex i want that much flex on mine
:thumbsup:

[jeeperjkj]

Yes it makes a lot of sence to order your lift kits with out springs and shocks
and install evo lever systems at the same time, but can be added at any time.

$2000 would be for complete coil overs at all 4 corners of your JK .

I have not personaly install any other coil over kits, I am sure thay make a great kit.


Ok, I'm gonna ask a stupid question.

If I'm ordering a lift kit w/o springs, then would it matter how many inches of lift the kit is advertised?

i.e. Brand X has kits for 3" or 4.5". Would it really matter which kit I bought if I'm not ordering springs/shocks?

and...

Would I just tell you (Evolution OR) how much lift I needed?

I've read somewhere that your coilovers are adjustable (I think) to fit between 35"-42" tires. Does this mean I'd only have to buy the coilovers once and then keep adjusting them all the way up to 42" or would I have to buy new coilovers when going from, say, 35" up to 37" and then up to 40", etc.?

[NE Wrangling]

I'm sure EVO will chime in on this but Coilover shocks I beleive have to be adjustable and they are selling the capability and all the bracketry. You need to buy the coilover sping/shock. I beleive they are using King Coilovers in this photo or Fox.

Also when you change from 3 to 4.5" you need to consider the geometry issues with driveline, Pinion angles and Trackbar adjustment. The Caster will also change to a minus degree at 4.5" lift on my 4 door. You will need to have adjustable arms in the kit you purchase. For example with a BB 2.5" my caster went from +4degrees to only +2.5degrees, steering feels occassionally flighty. If I went to 3.5" lift I would be around +1degree which will cause very flighty steering. I would need to dial the caster back to +4 degree to get the caster correct but then I'm getting close to border line on the pinion angle and would need to consider new drive shafts.

Hope this makes sense to you...

[jeeperjkj]

Ok, forgive me 'cause I'm just learning all this Jeep stuff and real suspension lingo. Last 4x4 was an '03 Ranger and it had IFS (first bad thing) and torsion bar front springs (to make matters worse). I just threw a body lift on it and slapped some 33x12.50 boggers and threw some mud!

With this Jeep, I'm learning there are ALOT of other things to consider.

That being said, I think I followed you with most of what you said. I wasn't implying that it didn't matter whether I bought a BB or full kit? I realize that I need adjustable track bars, new driveshafts, etc.

To make it a bit clearer, one of the kits I'm considering (mainly for the warranty aspect) is the Clayton. I believe they come in 3.5" and 4.5", but if I'm going to run coilovers, would it even matter to me? I'm not going to get the Clayton springs anyway and I'll use the coilovers in their place, right? In addition, if I go with the Clayton and coilover, then when I move up from 35's to 37's (just for numbers) can the coilovers be "adjusted" to give me more lift or would I need to buy new coilovers and sell the old ones to someone else?

Hope I'm not going off too much on a tangent and/or asking stupid questions.

[NE Wrangling]

Call Adam at 203-757-0339 from Clayton. He is extremely knowledgable and helpful and he'll figure it out for you. He is even very involved with the installations so he knew his stuff and what to look out for...

I beleive the answer you are looking for is Yes the coilover spring and shock combo replaces the springs. Let Adam now of the setup you are considering and even tell him you come from JK-forum...

[jeeperjkj]

I will do that when the time comes. Right now, I'm just browsing, trying to learn as much as I can, looking at different setups to see what I like, and trying to figure out my game plan. I likely won't even have my JK until October sometime.

Thanks for your help. Maybe someone else will chime in with more info. If not, I'll cross that bridge when I've got a JK to cross it in. :)

[jeeperjkj]

This is the kit I'm looking at. Seems it has the adj control arms and adj front track bar included. Is the adj rear track bar an absolute necessity or could it wait?

http://www.northridge4x4.com/proddetail.php?prod=CLAYTON-PD-JK35

[Evolution]

To make it a bit clearer, one of the kits I'm considering (mainly for the warranty aspect) is the Clayton. I believe they come in 3.5" and 4.5", but if I'm going to run coilovers, would it even matter to me? I'm not going to get the Clayton springs anyway and I'll use the coilovers in their place, right? In addition, if I go with the Clayton and coilover, then when I move up from 35's to 37's (just for numbers) can the coilovers be "adjusted" to give me more lift or would I need to buy new coilovers and sell the old ones to someone else?

Hope I'm not going off too much on a tangent and/or asking stupid questions.

I'm not sure what the differences between the clayton 3.5" and 4.5" kit, but I would assume that the only difference component wise of these kits are the springs and possibly the shocks. If this is the case, then no it would not matter which you were to purchase.

As for adjusting the amount of lift. Once installing coilover shocks you would not have to replace anything on the EVO systems including the coilovers and springs to adjust ride height for 35's to 40's. On the coilover itself there is a spring tensioning screw that you adjust on the coilover itself, this will rise or lower you jeep by simply screwing it tighter (lifting your jeep) or screwing it looser (lowering your jeep). The only thing that is recommended after adjusting you ride (more than 2" up or down) is an alignment.

[jeeperjkj]

PM sent, EVO.

[ColinW]

Mel is correct in his assumption...the 3.5 and 4.5 Clayton's kits are exactly the same except the spring size. Shocks don't come included with the kit and you would need to purchase them separate. The adjustable rear track bar is required on the 2 door.

[jeeperjkj]

Mel is correct in his assumption...the 3.5 and 4.5 Clayton's kits are exactly the same except the spring size. Shocks don't come included with the kit and you would need to purchase them separate. The adjustable rear track bar is required on the 2 door.

Not disputing you, but wondering... are you with Clayton or do you have other first hand knowledge of this from an install on either yours or someone elses JK?

If you are with Clayton, can you tell me how much the kit would cost w/o springs since I'm contemplating the coilover system?

[ColinW]

Not disputing you, but wondering... are you with Clayton or do you have other first hand knowledge of this from an install on either yours or someone elses JK?

If you are with Clayton, can you tell me how much the kit would cost w/o springs since I'm contemplating the coilover system?

Sorry for the delayed response...didn't see your question until tonight...

I know this little tidbit of info because I have a Clayton's suspension lift and was looking at both before I bought.

Don't know about the price w/o the springs, but the base price of it now is about $2050 (w/o the rear adj. trackbar or shocks)

www.claytonoffroad.com They have updated prices and everything. I would also give them a call up...both Clayton and Adam are great guys and great people to talk with.

[jeeperjkj]

Sorry for the delayed response...didn't see your question until tonight...

I know this little tidbit of info because I have a Clayton's suspension lift and was looking at both before I bought.

Don't know about the price w/o the springs, but the base price of it now is about $2050 (w/o the rear adj. trackbar or shocks)

www.claytonoffroad.com They have updated prices and everything. I would also give them a call up...both Clayton and Adam are great guys and great people to talk with.

Thanks for the info. I sent 'em an email and I'll be lookin' at it more and more as soon as I have a definite date when I'll be back in the States.

[brent_f70]

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn254/aperle/DSC03075.jpg?t=1213738373

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn254/aperle/DSC03079.jpg?t=1213738498


:eek2::eek2::drool::drool::drool::jawdrop::jawdrop :
Speachless!!!

[Bodo]

Yes it makes a lot of sence to order your lift kits with out springs and shocks
and install evo lever systems at the same time, but can be added at any time.

$2000 would be for complete coil overs at all 4 corners of your JK .

I have not personaly install any other coil over kits, I am sure thay make a great kit.

OK, I'm confused here. I have a Rough Country 4" lift that came with springs, shocks, track bar relocation brackets, dropped pittman arm, longer rear swaybar links and brake line relocation brackets. A lot of people don't use the trackbar relocation brackets in lieu of adj. trackbars. Sooooo......if this kit was ordered without the springs and shocks, a dropped pittman arm and longer sway bar links would be the only items? :thinking: If the lift is coming from the evo lever system?? Help me out here. I know I'm not thinking straight since I've got a cold from hell!

[Bodo]

Sooooo......if this kit was ordered without the springs and shocks, a dropped pittman arm and longer sway bar links would be the only items?
Still Waiting for some help on this. :what?:

[Robar]

What you would need is the complete control arms from a kit. Like the TeraFlex FlexArm system http://www.teraflex.biz/products/teraflex/wrangler-jk-unlimited/jk-wrangler-complete-flexarm-system.html
or a long arm system w/o the springs and shocks. The EVO coil over and would take the place of the springs and shocks in conjunction with the control arms.

[Bodo]

What you would need is the complete control arms from a kit. Like the TeraFlex FlexArm system http://www.teraflex.biz/products/teraflex/wrangler-jk-unlimited/jk-wrangler-complete-flexarm-system.html
or a long arm system w/o the springs and shocks. The EVO coil over and would take the place of the springs and shocks in conjunction with the control arms.

I have the Currie adj. arms. Is that all I need? I can't see someone buying a "lift" kit when all is used is the track bars, pittman arm, extended brake lines, driveline, etc. Am I missing something here?

[Bodo]

Sorry, the "cold from hell" along with the meds is still hammering me.

[Evolution]

I have the Currie adj. arms. Is that all I need? I can't see someone buying a "lift" kit when all is used is the track bars, pittman arm, extended brake lines, driveline, etc. Am I missing something here?

Not really sure what you are asking.

The only parts not needed from your lift kit would be the springs and shocks.

[Robar]

Not really sure what you are asking.

The only parts not needed from your lift kit would be the springs and shocks.
I believe he is talking about lifts that don't include control arms, like an economy lift of some sort.

[07JKRUBI]

Can this kit be installed pre lift . If I just want 2 or 3 inches of lift or is a full lift required in conjunction with this kit? It would be nice to install this first and when funds allow add the required components to go taller.

[wayoflife]

Can this kit be installed pre lift . If I just want 2 or 3 inches of lift or is a full lift required in conjunction with this kit? It would be nice to install this first and when funds allow add the required components to go taller.

so far as i know, off road evolution is working on developing a kit where you can use all stock control arms but no official test has been done as of yet. however, with this setup, i think the minimum height you will want out of it is 4".

[Robar]

so far as i know, off road evolution is working on developing a kit where you can use all stock control arms but no official test has been done as of yet. however, with this setup, i think the minimum height you will want out of it is 4".

Now, how is that a problem?

[Bodo]

I believe he is talking about lifts that don't include control arms, like an economy lift of some sort.

Exactally. If I did away with my springs and shocks the only thing left is the track bar brackets and longer sway bar links. I purchased the control arms separately' Can I get the lift from the coil overs? I mean, the lift I got came from the springs. Sorry if I'm still not understanding.

[Robar]

Yes. The coil overs replace the springs and shocks that you currently have. They call it a coil over because the coil spring is over/around the shock. Your current shock and spring mounts will be cut off and replaced with the mounts needed for the coil overs. Here is a thread with some install pics.

Project-JK Gets Off Road Evolution EVO-flex - Part 1: Front Coil (http://www.jk-forum.com/showthread.php?t=52448&highlight=evo%2A)

[wayoflife]

Now, how is that a problem?

it's not - at least, not really, but if you have stock tires or something smallish, your jeep will look like a roller skate. also, in order to make this work with stock arms, you will need to use cam bolts and i am not a fan of them.

[Robar]

it's not - at least, not really, but if you have stock tires or something smallish, your jeep will look like a roller skate. also, in order to make this work with stock arms, you will need to use cam bolts and i am not a fan of them.

Oh, I see. (no pun intended) Control arms it is then. :yup:

[Ctimrun]

if you have stock tires or something smallish, your jeep will look like a roller skate.

The visual picture that popped into my mind when I read this made me laugh out loud..... :rotflmao2: My wife looked at me with that look, then laughed herself when she read it. :thumbsup:

[07JKRUBI]

4 inches would be all I need right now. I have 35's at the moment and am thinking about going to 37's when these wear out. :D I was wanting to get this kit then get the control arms from Clayton. I guess I just have to save a little bit longer so it can be done all at once. Maybe I will win them in the 12 days of Christmas give away.:yup:

[jerseyjk08]

OK.. after reading this through.. Whats the best set up to run the Evo. I was thinking the Terraflex long arm upgrade and then get brakelines, trac bars... etc...

I have the 4.5" clayton lift but if I was going with the Evo Kit wouldn't I want to upgrade to long arms to take full advantage of the kit?

[wayoflife]

OK.. after reading this through.. Whats the best set up to run the Evo. I was thinking the Terraflex long arm upgrade and then get brakelines, trac bars... etc...

I have the 4.5" clayton lift but if I was going with the Evo Kit wouldn't I want to upgrade to long arms to take full advantage of the kit?

well, to take full advantage of the EVO flex kit, long arms would be the way to go. however, i can tell you that you really don't need em. i am running the EVO flex setup on my JK with short arms and it performs amazingly well. on road ride quality and handling is better than stock, on desert washes, you can jam across them like and feel smooth as silk and on the rocks, it will still give you stupid crazy flex. honestly, i would save your money and just run the EVO flex with your clayton setup first. and, if you then decide that you want more (like run 40's), go long arm at that time :yup: