A Look at Jeep TJ Suspension Parts
Samuel Crasnick
The first thing that many Jeep owners want to do is lift their vehicle. Lift kits are available that will raise the Jeep anywhere from an inch to over five inches depending on the intended use and, of course, amount of money available. These might be installed simply to allow clearance for over-sized tires, enhancing the Jeep’s appearance, or allow better offroading capabilities by providing more space between the bottom of the vehicle and whatever obstacles it may encounter on the track or off the road entirely.
As opposed to just lifting a Jeep, some owners may opt for adjustable spring spacers. These are great because they can be installed and adjusted without removing any suspension components from the vehicle, enabling the owner to increase ride height in minutes without sacrificing ride quality on longer trips. Good spacers will barely change the spring rate at all, even on stock springs. Spring spacers are often a cheaper alternative to installing a lift kit or taller suspension coils, though they may cost more in the long run as the stock coil springs and shocks may wear faster.
Control arms are another often swapped piece on the Jeep TJ. The aftermarket bushings on replacement control arms are often superior to those from the factory which means they will last longer and stay tighter. If a TJ owner has started noticing odd squeaking noises coming from the front end of their vehicle at every bump and dip, it’s fairly likely that their control arm bushings are worn out and need to be replaced. Adjustable control arms are also available, though some owners will choose to just have their control arms custom made to their own specifications.
After modifying the suspension of their TJs, all enthusiasts will eventually face the need to replace their shocks. From economy cars to pickup trucks, all vehicles eventually need a set of new shocks or struts, and Jeeps are certainly no exception. Although most aftermarket suspension parts will work with stock components, they will often cause them to wear faster. Shocks are especially prone to this as, when the Jeep is lifted, the shocks stay further extended than normal. Combine this with a Jeep owner’s tendency to drive in places where there is no pavement, and stock shocks can have a very short lifespan indeed. To address this, many aftermarket shops offer shocks of varying lengths that are designed specifically for lifted vehicles. This will improve the on-road ride of an already modified vehicle dramatically, as well as improve the Jeep’s characteristics off the road.
The first thing that many Jeep owners want to do is lift their vehicle. Lift kits are available that will raise the Jeep anywhere from an inch to over five inches depending on the intended use and, of course, amount of money available. These might be installed simply to allow clearance for over-sized tires, enhancing the Jeep’s appearance, or allow better offroading capabilities by providing more space between the bottom of the vehicle and whatever obstacles it may encounter on the track or off the road entirely.
As opposed to just lifting a Jeep, some owners may opt for adjustable spring spacers. These are great because they can be installed and adjusted without removing any suspension components from the vehicle, enabling the owner to increase ride height in minutes without sacrificing ride quality on longer trips. Good spacers will barely change the spring rate at all, even on stock springs. Spring spacers are often a cheaper alternative to installing a lift kit or taller suspension coils, though they may cost more in the long run as the stock coil springs and shocks may wear faster.
Control arms are another often swapped piece on the Jeep TJ. The aftermarket bushings on replacement control arms are often superior to those from the factory which means they will last longer and stay tighter. If a TJ owner has started noticing odd squeaking noises coming from the front end of their vehicle at every bump and dip, it’s fairly likely that their control arm bushings are worn out and need to be replaced. Adjustable control arms are also available, though some owners will choose to just have their control arms custom made to their own specifications.
After modifying the suspension of their TJs, all enthusiasts will eventually face the need to replace their shocks. From economy cars to pickup trucks, all vehicles eventually need a set of new shocks or struts, and Jeeps are certainly no exception. Although most aftermarket suspension parts will work with stock components, they will often cause them to wear faster. Shocks are especially prone to this as, when the Jeep is lifted, the shocks stay further extended than normal. Combine this with a Jeep owner’s tendency to drive in places where there is no pavement, and stock shocks can have a very short lifespan indeed. To address this, many aftermarket shops offer shocks of varying lengths that are designed specifically for lifted vehicles. This will improve the on-road ride of an already modified vehicle dramatically, as well as improve the Jeep’s characteristics off the road.
