Softer ride in a JK?

[JohnB]

First off I'll state that I don't know enough about Jeeps to hurt myself...

GF picked up a 2 door, JK Rubi a while back.  I think it has stock suspension, 35s and flares to clear and cover them.  We took it out first seriously for a week of good trails in the Okanagan area  last month along with my truck and a few others.  The JK did great, but we both agreed that the ride in a fair bit too rough...

We got back and I figured ten seconds on the internet would reveal lots of discussion, but I'm seeing nothing.  Must be that everyone puts up with it, I don't know.  If my reading on spring rates is correct, it does not sound like that is the problem.  Is it just stiff shocks?

[FiEND]

stiff tires.  drop em down to 15 or so and it's like driving a caddy.  next thing would be long arms

[jkrubi]

A jk won't clear  35 on stock springs, unless it has flat fenders and different rims. So now a couple of questions for you, what are you running for tire pressure?  What load range of tire is it?

[JohnB]

It has flat fenders (Xenon) and aftermarket rims with the correct backspacing.  It just clears and you can trust me that we have had the wheels hanging well in the air many times to verify.....

It does have stiff tires....Toyos MTs, load range E.  Normally running 12 psi off the pavement.  I kind of prefer the suspension to be set to absorb bumps though...  It is 2012.

It is night and day driving her Jeep and my truck (Defender 90) at speed on dirt and off road.  I'm trying to understand why as size, weight, spring rates, wheel travel are pretty similar between both.

[JackstandJohnny]

put softer shocks on it.

bilsteins or something.

 

[JohnB]

So the stock shocks are known to be stiff?  Funny you suggest Bilsteins, as on a Defender, that would be the choice if you wanted a stiff shock.

[JackstandJohnny]

bilsteins just seem to be a consensus for running a good quality one.

you could also grab a set of procrap MX6s, or RS9000 adjustables, then you can set them as soft as you'd like

[jeepgrl]

I'm running the bilsteins on my JKU with mickey thompson mtz's (35's) and mine rides like a cadillac on and off the pavement.  could be the stock springs?  i did the aev kit with the upgraded springs... maybe has something to do with it.

[raf2379]

coil over shocks, tune to your comfort. its expensive, but tune ability is virtually limitless.

http://pr.synergysuspension.com/2010/08/poly-performance-jeep-jk-front-coilover-conversion-kit/

[w squared]

And most importantly (since you're running E rated Toyos) drop the tire pressure. On my 4 door (with a winch and 2 steel bumpers), I run the Toyos at 24 psi on the road, and they are wearing perfectly evenly after 40,000 km. On a  2 door you can probably drop a couple psi. If you run them at the 37 psi that Chrysler says the stock tires should be at, your kidneys are going to going into revolt.