Opinions on Old Man Emu Ultimate TJ / LJ Wrangler Kit?

[rdu-jeep]

Could be just me, but I can't find these Currie adjustable track bars. I believe I saw on one site that they're discontinued now?
If so, what would be the next best thing?

(posting with the assumption that this isn't a NEED for a 2.5 inch lift but still want to learn, and who knows maybe upgrade my track bars)

 

[Steel City 06]

Could be just me, but I can't find these Currie adjustable track bars. I believe I saw on one site that they're discontinued now?
If so, what would be the next best thing?

(posting with the assumption that this isn't a NEED for a 2.5 inch lift but still want to learn, and who knows maybe upgrade my track bars)

Currie Enterprises recently spun off their suspension products as RockJock. If you find any RockJock trackbars, they are the old Currie products, just with a different sticker.

For example:
https://www.rockjock4x4.com/CE-9120RS
Note the part numbers still start with “CE” which stands for “Currie Enterprises”.

 

[KimsJeep]

Great thread. I too am doing a 2.5" lift. I have a thread too, but love reading about others and get as much info as possible. This is a great thread. Love all the info on it.

I am currently waiting on my hubby to get our garage lift emptied so I can start the process. This is what I have for mine.

I got a gently used set of OME 2.5" springs, front and rear JKS adjustable track bars, YJ front brake lines. I also have a used set of 1" bump stops. Not sure if I will need those or not. I plan to try to cycle my suspension while installing everything.

I already installed the Rancho 0-2" shocks, 1.25 Savvy BL and the Brown Dog 1" MML.

Can't wait to get everything else on. I'm going to try to push for this weekend. Mothers Day.

 

[rdu-jeep]

So you went with the shorter Rancho shocks even though a 2.5 inch springs? I have read this is because the Rancho shocks "run long"? What series did you go with?

 

[rdu-jeep]

Hey OP what part # did you order for the Rancho RS5000X?

I'm looking at these for the 2.5 inch lift:

Front:
Rancho RS5000X Shock Absorbers RS55239
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/ran-rs55239
Rear:
Rancho RS5000X Shock Absorbers RS55241
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/ran-rs55241

 

[Keg]

Hey OP what part # did you order for the Rancho RS5000X?

Yes

 

[Keg]

So you went with the shorter Rancho shocks even though a 2.5 inch springs? I have read this is because the Rancho shocks "run long"? What series did you go with?

I was told to go with the 2.5 because that is based on spring height and not to count the body lift

 

[KimsJeep]

So you went with the shorter Rancho shocks even though a 2.5 inch springs? I have read this is because the Rancho shocks "run long"? What series did you go with?

That is what I was reading too. I went with this set RS55128 and RS55240.

 

[Keg]

That is what I was reading too. I went with this set RS55128 and RS55240.

Yes I think that’s the front and rear code

 

[rdu-jeep]

At least from what I am seeing on summitracing:
RS55239 and RS55241 are 2.5 inch lift
RS55128 and RS55240 are 0 inch lift (I guess stock replacement)

 

[KimsJeep]

At least from what I am seeing on summitracing:
RS55239 and RS55241 are 2.5 inch lift
RS55128 and RS55240 are 0 inch lift (I guess stock replacement)

I guess I can't really say for sure if they are 2.5" springs for sure or not. When I bought the shocks I was planning on a 2 inch lift. Then I was tagged in a classified ad here about a set of OME springs and he thought they were 2"-2.5". With them being such a great deal I bought them. . But I am hoping I will be ok since the shocks run long.

My springs are 19" long for the front and 15" in the rear. Is that 2 or 2.5? I was told they are the heavy duty springs.

I will order the longer shocks if I find these don't work well with the springs.

 

[Keg]

I guess I can't really say for sure if they are 2.5" springs for sure or not. When I bought the shocks I was planning on a 2 inch lift. Then I was tagged in a classified ad here about a set of OME springs and he thought they were 2"-2.5". With them being such a great deal I bought them. . But I am hoping I will be ok since the shocks run long.

My springs are 19" long for the front and 15" in the rear. Is that 2 or 2.5? I was told they are the heavy duty springs.

I will order the longer shocks if I find these don't work well with the springs.

This is what I got from amazon

• Part Numbers RS55239 and RS55241
• Set of 4 Shocks for vehicles w/2-3" front lift and w/2-3" rear lift; w/Rancho RS6503 System; Incl. Sport Suspension

 

[rdu-jeep]

RANCHO® SPRING CONSUMER MAIL-IN PROMOTION
Offer Valid: March 1 - May 31, 2019. Not Redeemable at Retail Locations.

The rebate forms are being provided for your rebate submission.
Requests must be postmarked by June 30th, 2019.

https://www.gorancho.com/downloads/promotions/rancho_spring19_us.pdf

 

[bobthetj03]

I guess I can't really say for sure if they are 2.5" springs for sure or not. When I bought the shocks I was planning on a 2 inch lift. Then I was tagged in a classified ad here about a set of OME springs and he thought they were 2"-2.5". With them being such a great deal I bought them. . But I am hoping I will be ok since the shocks run long.

My springs are 19" long for the front and 15" in the rear. Is that 2 or 2.5? I was told they are the heavy duty springs.

I will order the longer shocks if I find these don't work well with the springs.

Those likely are 2" lift springs (OME 933 fronts/942 rears). It's what I'm running on my TJ.
The issue with using the 55239 front shocks is the compressed length. With the front axle at full bump, with 1.75" of added bump stop extension, you get really close to the shock's full compression.

Full bump:

Shock at full bump with 1.75" bumps:

As you can see there is maybe 0.5" of travel left till the shock hits full compression. So, if you are going to run these shocks, and your tires aren't the interference, then you better add at minimum, 1.75" of bump stop extension.

What you are trying to shoot for is a shock that will provide a 50/50 bias, meaning as much up travel as it has in down travel, ie... a 10" travel shock giving you 5" up and 5" down at ride height.
With my 2" springs and 1" spring spacers, at ride height my shocks sit here,

 

[KimsJeep]

Those likely are 2" lift springs (OME 933 fronts/942 rears). It's what I'm running on my TJ.
The issue with using the 55239 front shocks is the compressed length. With the front axle at full bump, with 1.75" of added bump stop extension, you get really close to the shock's full compression.

Full bump:
View attachment 158928
Shock at full bump with 1.75" bumps:
View attachment 158930
As you can see there is maybe 0.5" of travel left till the shock hits full compression. So, if you are going to run these shocks, and your tires aren't the interference, then you better add at minimum, 1.75" of bump stop extension.

What you are trying to shoot for is a shock that will provide a 50/50 bias, meaning as much up travel as it has in down travel, ie... a 10" travel shock giving you 5" up and 5" down at ride height.
With my 2" springs and 1" spring spacers, at ride height my shocks sit here,
View attachment 158933

Yes, those are the numbers on the tags that are on the springs. I was going to start a thread on cycling the suspension once I get to that point, but I think I am slowly starting to figure out what I am supposed to be looking for.

 

[bobthetj03]

Pictures sometimes help send it home.

 

[rdu-jeep]

Pictures sometimes help send it home.

Thanks a lot for posting those! I think I am starting to understand bump stops now, at least the basics. You don't want the shock to bottom out (hit full compression and then some, probably blowing your shock) so you put this spacer in there which hits the frame as the axle rises just in time to prevent this.

How do you get that 50/50 bias, just trial and error? Or can you somehow calculate it based on the springs/shocks? For example the Rancho RS5000X front has 23.840 inches at extended length and 14.430 inches at collapsed length. Assuming that means full extension/compression. That is 9.41 inches of "travel" right?

Do I go for 2 inches bump stops to be safe? I am going with the same kit as OP, OME springs with Rancho RS5000X shocks, except mine is 2001 TJ Sport if that makes any difference.

 

[bobthetj03]

Thanks a lot for posting those! I think I am starting to understand bump stops now, at least the basics. You don't want the shock to bottom out (hit full compression and then some, probably blowing your shock) so you put this spacer in there which hits the frame as the axle rises just in time to prevent this.

How do you get that 50/50 bias, just trial and error? Or can you somehow calculate it based on the springs/shocks? For example the Rancho RS5000X front has 23.840 inches at extended length and 14.430 inches at collapsed length. Assuming that means full extension/compression. That is 9.41 inches of "travel" right?

Do I go for 2 inches bump stops to be safe? I am going with the same kit as OP, OME springs with Rancho RS5000X shocks, except mine is 2001 TJ Sport if that makes any difference.

Correct. So, with that shock, the best you can hope for is 5" up and 4ish" down. I prefer a little more up, but you can adjust with bump stops as you prefer. Figure out your tire size. Find out when the tire limits your up, then pick a shock that won't bottom out. Run the numbers on the 0" lift Ranchos and see if they might work for you.

 

[rdu-jeep]

Correct. So, with that shock, the best you can hope for is 5" up and 4ish" down. I prefer a little more up, but you can adjust with bump stops as you prefer. Figure out your tire size. Find out when the tire limits your up, then pick a shock that won't bottom out. Run the numbers on the 0" lift Ranchos and see if they might work for you.

Building off this, you can decrease the bump stop length to get more travel up, but in the scenario you showed in photos this would cause bottoming out.

Would you at that point need shocks with more travel?

I don't see how you can adjust the travel down. Isn't that determined by the spring? Or are there bump stops in that direction also so you don't bottom out the other way? How I am seeing it is the Jeep is sitting on the springs and the springs determine your ride height AKA what height your shock rides at (and hopefully it's close to that 50/50).

Maybe I'm getting too deep on this and these manufacturers have already figured it out, which is why they list the different parts for the different lift heights. But when I do something I like to know all the why and how

 

[bobthetj03]

Building off this, you can decrease the bump stop length to get more travel up, but in the scenario you showed in photos this would cause bottoming out.

Would you at that point need shocks with more travel?

I don't see how you can adjust the travel down. Isn't that determined by the spring? Or are there bump stops in that direction also so you don't bottom out the other way? How I am seeing it is the Jeep is sitting on the springs and the springs determine your ride height AKA what height your shock rides at (and hopefully it's close to that 50/50).

Maybe I'm getting too deep on this and these manufacturers have already figured it out, which is why they list the different parts for the different lift heights. But when I do something I like to know all the why and how

These "lift kits" basically put you at a starting point. It's up to you to do some research and cycle the suspension to fine tune the lift height and shock selection. To gain more up travel, you would need a shorter shock. A shorter shock will decrease your amount of down travel, so it's a compromise. Your limiter on droop will be the shocks. Yes, it's probably not good on the shock to be the limiting strap, but far less violent to it than bottoming it out on up travel.