Spring & shock lift coming soon

[Bomber]

As you all know I have pondered for some time how to lift the underside of the Commander a bit further away from the ground and was originally going to go for a Rocky Road style spacer lift coz that's all there was.

I spent a fair bit of time on the various forums and the more I read the more I decided (a) 55-65mm lift was a bit too much for my needs and (b) I wanted more than just a budget boost if it could be done, for the long term sake of the car. Trouble was no-one did rear springs for the XH and no one did front shocks for the XH or WH. What I really wanted was 40+mm with new shocks that had a bit more travel than the stockos. Flaw in that plan was the much promised front shocks from Rancho and OME have never materialised.

I worked long and hard with a couple of recommended 4WD suspension places with nothing happening until one agreed to work with their suppliers to get stuff freighted in from OS or developed here as necessary, in all cases XH specific parts rather than just forcing parts from other cars into place.

My car will be the test mule for the final package and all will be installed in the next couple of weeks. We'll take lots of before and after measurements and lots of photos and hopefully by mid September all will be completed.

[Bomber]

Well, it's starts tonight.......

Darren at ATS in Geelong and I have worked though what's available and what isn't and who (in his opinion I guess) is good and who isn't and come up with the following. They are using my car as a test case and have promised lots of before, during and after photos.

Shocks - front and rear - are the newly released Bilsteins. Full stock should be in Oz late next month but mine were air freighted out specifically for ATS so that they could go on sooner for ATS to test out.

Springs are the Dobinson front springs which have been around for a while and the rear are Dobinson WH springs modified for the extra weight in the rear of the XH. At this stage 1 set of the rears have been made, full production will begin after ATS gives feedback to Dobinsons.

It is anticipated that the lift will be in the order of 35-40mm based on spring settle. Dobinsons are quoting it as 25-30 but Darren tell me that they find the Dobinsons lifts are usually at least 10mm more than stated.

While the shocks and springs technically can be ordered separtely by any distributor of either product it is also my understanding that this could become the "TJM 40mm lift" as well.

It seems from the US forums that staying under 50mm is important in the Grand and Commander as those with bigger lifts have trouble with the roll mitigation part of the ESP and have to turn off the ESP. (In the US the ESP is only standard on the higher end models). The Skyjacker lift seems to be the worst and in fact is unofficially now not recommended for vehicles with the ESP.

Car should be ready by Sat am....

[LiveToSki]

Where are you taking it Sat PM??

[Bomber]

Originally Posted by LiveToSki

Where are you taking it Sat PM??

Officially we have a weekend away booked at a resort in Lorne, R&R for us all before Year 12 exams begin for my daughter. It's not far from the Otways though , want to come?

[LiveToSki]

Going to watch the MIGHTY HAWKS, but I will be down that way the following weekend

[WHGCJeep]

Originally Posted by Bomber

Well, it's starts tonight.......

Darren at ATS in Geelong and I have worked though what's available and what isn't and who (in his opinion I guess) is good and who isn't and come up with the following. They are using my car as a test case and have promised lots of before, during and after photos.

Shocks - front and rear - are the newly released Bilsteins. Full stock should be in Oz late next month but mine were air freighted out specifically for ATS so that they could go on sooner for ATS to test out.

Springs are the Dobinson front springs which have been around for a while and the rear are Dobinson WH springs modified for the extra weight in the rear of the XH. At this stage 1 set of the rears have been made, full production will begin after ATS gives feedback to Dobinsons.

It is anticipated that the lift will be in the order of 35-40mm based on spring settle. Dobinsons are quoting it as 25-30 but Darren tell me that they find the Dobinsons lifts are usually at least 10mm more than stated.

While the shocks and springs technically can be ordered separtely by any distributor of either product it is also my understanding that this could become the "TJM 40mm lift" as well.

It seems from the US forums that staying under 50mm is important in the Grand and Commander as those with bigger lifts have trouble with the roll mitigation part of the ESP and have to turn off the ESP. (In the US the ESP is only standard on the higher end models). The Skyjacker lift seems to be the worst and in fact is unofficially now not recommended for vehicles with the ESP.

Car should be ready by Sat am....

Sounds like its been worth the wait! Quick question though - you didn't mention front struts? Is the Commander front shock attach different to the GC? On the WH GC I need a new front strut for the different sized/shaped shock..

[Bomber]

WHGC according to Jeep it is a different part number between WH and XH, according to Bilstein it is the same item they supply for both..... Hopefully ATS have got that minor issue sorted out

I used the term ""shock" because technically it's not a "strut" it's a "coilover" - but yes it's getting the front done as well.