Coilovers - worth the hype?
JK Freak
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 658
Likes: 19
From: sparks,nevada
I also disagree, I do have a little different kind of a Jeep but it handles like a dream on road with coil overs in front, I have leaf springs in the rear which allows me to not have to run a sway bar. How do you think these guys do 100 MPH through the desert with long travel coil overs ? They use sway bars front and rear to limit the "sway".
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 213
Likes: 1
From: SFV
I'm new to the forum, looking at buying or building a JKU. I've owned desert prerunners, vehicles with sway-away, fox and king coilovers, so I'm familiar with them to an extent.
My question is, is the cost worth the hype? It seems like going with a nicely sorted traditional coil spring long arm lift is roughly half the $$. The other thing I've noticed after looking at thousands of photos, very few JKU's are actually running these kits, and most of them that are running coilovers are very serious builds. The issue I can see with coilovers cost wise is at at first glance it doesn't seem bad, roughly $4500 for most kits... BUT doesnt' include any arms, bump stops, steering, track arms - nada! That really drives the cost up to have a similar setup as a traditional coil spring kit.
I'm sure some of it depends on your plans. Mine are selling our newer RZR XP1k-4 door and having the jeep replace it, but also be a DD. I'm wanting to do a couple 5-12 days trips this year, mainly Continental Divide area, and also some of the off-road parks in Texas, but not looking to beat the hell out of a $50k jeep (if that makes sense).
The the on-road, and off-road really that much better with a coilover setup?
My question is, is the cost worth the hype? It seems like going with a nicely sorted traditional coil spring long arm lift is roughly half the $$. The other thing I've noticed after looking at thousands of photos, very few JKU's are actually running these kits, and most of them that are running coilovers are very serious builds. The issue I can see with coilovers cost wise is at at first glance it doesn't seem bad, roughly $4500 for most kits... BUT doesnt' include any arms, bump stops, steering, track arms - nada! That really drives the cost up to have a similar setup as a traditional coil spring kit.
I'm sure some of it depends on your plans. Mine are selling our newer RZR XP1k-4 door and having the jeep replace it, but also be a DD. I'm wanting to do a couple 5-12 days trips this year, mainly Continental Divide area, and also some of the off-road parks in Texas, but not looking to beat the hell out of a $50k jeep (if that makes sense).
The the on-road, and off-road really that much better with a coilover setup?
I agree with everyone else, sway bars help with control. Just like it would on any other vehicle on the road.
Thread Starter
JK Newbie
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
From: Oklahoma City
I disagree with this, too. My JK on coilovers is solid on the freeway and handles the corners superbly with minimum sway, yet soaks up the bumps well and articulates great off-road. The system is a little firm below 30mph, but at higher speeds, it rides and drives fantastic.
My only complaints are related to the EVO bolt-on kits themselves. If I get a redo, I'll likely go weld-on, or try the kits from Rebel or Icon. Otherwise, I love the way my JK drives and I'd say coilovers are well worth it.
My only complaints are related to the EVO bolt-on kits themselves. If I get a redo, I'll likely go weld-on, or try the kits from Rebel or Icon. Otherwise, I love the way my JK drives and I'd say coilovers are well worth it.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 292
Likes: 0
From: Santa Clara, CA
Backspacing requirements limit wheel choices. I knew it going in, but still annoying.
EVO's bolt-on system uses the same spring rates top and bottom. Ideally, different spring rates should be installed, so I'm not reaping the full benefit of coilovers.
The cost difference between bolt-on and weld-on isn't significant, maybe $500-$1000 depending on the final solution. Overcoming the fear of cutting off your coil buckets and welding your frame is really the gating factor.
Don't misunderstand, I'm more than pleased with the EVO bolt-on kits. These are all minor issues to me that I'm not going spend the money to address.
Likely Synergy or EVO DTD. The DTD has an internal bumpstop, so it works out to not much more than a front coilover kit plus King bumpstops, but you don't realize it until you do the math.
JK Newbie
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Florida, but hardly ever tthere
NewBe Weighing In - Everyone's situation is different
I perceive the adjustablity and tuning of coilovers to be just as important as the amount of travel provided. This is especially true for tire size and weight additions from upgrades done in stages. My JKUR is my DD and also have to tow it 4-down thousands of miles behind my motorhome. Not sure that I want to be towing and tooling it around with 37's, so I do not feel that I need 14" or more of travel nor do I plan on doing the Rubicon Trail. We have spent many weeks at Anzo Borrego's 500 miles of offroad trails and heck a Stock JKUR, and good skills can handle 99% of it. Coral Canyon is a different story.
Even after spending hours and days, studying everything out there, I am still going with the EVO bolt on Coil Overs because; first it meets my needs (travel & ride), second it can be adjusted and tuned, third I get to keep my stock exhaust / not cut into the body and last I can install it myself and then later while I am traveling have the guy I trust weld the brackets while he is installing my front weld on gussets. Re torquing the bolts every few thousand miles is ridiculous. With this I can easily run 35's with stock fenders or if things change I can add the Poison Spider flat fenders that I lkie with 37's, the adjustment is there and not locked to one setup.
Also, being a Newbe that loved every minute of offroading, who know where my project will end up.
Summary of my WIP JKUR
a) cut pinch seam
b) install Rock Slide Step Sliders (on their way)
c) EVO Coilover - front and rear - still undecided on front and rear drive shafts and control arms.
d) New wheels and 35's - still shopping on this one.
e) TerraFlex or Rugged Ridge Hinged Tire Carrier
f) Rock Hard or River Raider complete skid system.
Headed to SEMA this year for business and would love to wait to look there, but I am tooooo impatient and want it finished by then.
Even after spending hours and days, studying everything out there, I am still going with the EVO bolt on Coil Overs because; first it meets my needs (travel & ride), second it can be adjusted and tuned, third I get to keep my stock exhaust / not cut into the body and last I can install it myself and then later while I am traveling have the guy I trust weld the brackets while he is installing my front weld on gussets. Re torquing the bolts every few thousand miles is ridiculous. With this I can easily run 35's with stock fenders or if things change I can add the Poison Spider flat fenders that I lkie with 37's, the adjustment is there and not locked to one setup.
Also, being a Newbe that loved every minute of offroading, who know where my project will end up.
Summary of my WIP JKUR
a) cut pinch seam
b) install Rock Slide Step Sliders (on their way)
c) EVO Coilover - front and rear - still undecided on front and rear drive shafts and control arms.
d) New wheels and 35's - still shopping on this one.
e) TerraFlex or Rugged Ridge Hinged Tire Carrier
f) Rock Hard or River Raider complete skid system.
Headed to SEMA this year for business and would love to wait to look there, but I am tooooo impatient and want it finished by then.
JK Jedi
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 4,482
Likes: 2
From: Neenah, Wisconsin
I get these loud thunks over hard bumps, which weren't there with the coil/shock setup.
Backspacing requirements limit wheel choices. I knew it going in, but still annoying.
EVO's bolt-on system uses the same spring rates top and bottom. Ideally, different spring rates should be installed, so I'm not reaping the full benefit of coilovers.
The cost difference between bolt-on and weld-on isn't significant, maybe $500-$1000 depending on the final solution. Overcoming the fear of cutting off your coil buckets and welding your frame is really the gating factor.
Don't misunderstand, I'm more than pleased with the EVO bolt-on kits. These are all minor issues to me that I'm not going spend the money to address.
Likely Synergy or EVO DTD. The DTD has an internal bumpstop, so it works out to not much more than a front coilover kit plus King bumpstops, but you don't realize it until you do the math.
Backspacing requirements limit wheel choices. I knew it going in, but still annoying.
EVO's bolt-on system uses the same spring rates top and bottom. Ideally, different spring rates should be installed, so I'm not reaping the full benefit of coilovers.
The cost difference between bolt-on and weld-on isn't significant, maybe $500-$1000 depending on the final solution. Overcoming the fear of cutting off your coil buckets and welding your frame is really the gating factor.
Don't misunderstand, I'm more than pleased with the EVO bolt-on kits. These are all minor issues to me that I'm not going spend the money to address.
Likely Synergy or EVO DTD. The DTD has an internal bumpstop, so it works out to not much more than a front coilover kit plus King bumpstops, but you don't realize it until you do the math.
Last edited by Maertz; Feb 3, 2016 at 04:01 PM.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 213
Likes: 1
From: SFV
Your front coilover setup looks good. I particularly like the strut bar that connects the two towers together. Who makes that kit or did you fab it yourself?
JK Jedi
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 4,482
Likes: 2
From: Neenah, Wisconsin
JK Junkie
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 3,697
Likes: 2
From: Grosse Pointe, MI
As Maertz stated. Strut tower bar was simple. Just bent 1.5" OD DOM and used some cheap tube flanges from ruff stuff. The towers I got from TMR Customs. I needed really tall towers and didn't want to deal with hoops, so I bought those.
Last edited by Invest2m4; Feb 4, 2016 at 02:31 PM.