The
Coolest Suspension (article) Ever!
The "Cross
Trainer" Tells You What You Really Want and Need to Know!
I'm
not going to tell you guys how I bolted my suspension on and drove
it up a rock to take a picture. You should expect more from me and
this project. If you want to know how to install the suspension,
the instructions that come with the kit should do you just fine.
The suspension actually came with a very handy step-by-step checklist
to make sure you do it right.. So, hang with me here as we test
and review the "Superlift 4 inch Rockrunner TJ Suspension System".
"Image
is Nothing..."
Admit
it! We are guys and gals with Jeeps, we buy stuff just cause it
looks or sounds cool. There are about a billion suspensions out
there for the Jeep TJ. Every story I have heard or read seems to
focus primarily on trail flex and a short "here is how we installed
it" section. I am going to assume a few things here. First,
that if you have a TJ, you are either a) like me and this is Jeep
#8 and you have the technical knowledge to do the install or b)
since you can afford a new TJ you may also be able to afford to
pay the shop to install the lift. These first assumptions mean that
I do not have to write a step-by-step on how to install it. Right?
Right!

Six boxes
of fun! |
The second assumption
is that most of us TJ owners use the vehicle as our daily drivers.
This means that the Jeep spends at least 5 out of 7 days a week
on the road. However, we do want the most capable Jeep we can get
for those other 2 days of the week. So, let us forget about the
image created by the marketing guys at "XYZ" suspension
systems and focus on what really matters in a Jeep suspension.
Why Superlift?
To
tell you the truth, I am not totally sure myself. I think it is
what one of the guys at Superlift said to me last year in Moab at
the Easter Jeep Safari. I asked him several questions about suspension
design and engineering. One of the things that he told me in that
conversation was that the first design priority was to make it handle
good on the street where most of the driving time is spent. Once
that's dialed in, then they tweak the design until it work wells
off road too. Because of the goal of Project Cross Trainer to be
the best all-around commuter/trail rig that it could be, this sounded
like the way to go.
What do you
get?
One
of the most important things to know when you order any product
is: "What do I get?"
There are two basic ways to order the Superlift four inch kit.
4"
Suspension Kit |
·
New front and rear springs
· New front and rear sway bar links
· New front and rear shocks with cool yellow boots
· Bump stop extensions
· Rear track bar relocation bracket
· Eccentric cam bolts for adjusting rear pinion angle
· Dropped Pitman arm
· Front limiting straps (mine did not come with these
since I went with the Rockrunner upgrade)
· Transfer case drop kit (look for the JB Conversions
slip yoke eliminator and Tom Wood driveshaft review coming
soon!)
· New bolts for most of the parts.
|
Rockrunner
Upgrade |
VIDEO
|
Control
Arms Twist
|
·
The Rockrunner upgrade consisted of new upper and lower control
arms front and rear. The new control arms pivot in the middle
to allow for more articulation and less binding of the suspension.
Download the video to see how and where the control arms pivot.
They are also fitted with grease zerks to keep them operating
smoothly.
· Front and rear sway bar disconnects. These are the
easiest disconnects I have ever used. They have a giant screw-together
design that makes them very simple to use. Much easier than
the pin design I had on my last lift. Being able to disconnect
both sway bars made for a bit more flex. They come with Nylon
straps that hold them up out of the way while disconnected.
· Front steering stabilizer.
· Adjustable track bars (not on the Jeep yet. Look
for a review of these in the future)
|
The Game
Plan!
I
am going to cover two main topics here. The first is how the suspension
handles on and off-road. We are actually going to put the Jeep through
a series of closed-course testing procedures that should give us
a feel for its on and off-road handling characteristics. In the
second part we will cover everything that needs to be done to lift
a Jeep right! Hopefully, by the time you are done with this I will
have covered everything you need and want to know.
The
Install --->>>
RESOURCES |
|
Superlift
Suspension Systems
211 Horne Lane
West Monroe, LA 71291
Phone: (800) 551-4955
www.superlift.com |
Dunlop
Tire Company
PO Box 1109
Buffalo, NY 14240
Phone: 800-548-4714
www.dunloptire.com |
Master
Drive
7880 E. Berry Place
Englewood, CO 80111
Phone: (303) 721-7444
www.masterdrive.com |
Ultra
Wheel
6300 Valley View Ave.
Buena Park, CA 90620
Phone: (714) 994-1111
www.ultrawheel.com |

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