Spring Rates & Weight (Stop the Sag)

Select springs for vehicle weight, not lift height alone.

• Light build: standard-rate springs
• Barwork/winch/drawers: heavy-rate springs

Wrong rate = harsh ride, coil bind, or sag.

Trackhawk Pulley/Tune Q&A (Heat Management First)

• Stage 1: Intake + 180° t-stat
• Stage 2: Pulley + belt + tune
• Stage 3: Heat exchanger + reservoir
• Brakes/tyres: upgrade early for safety

We supply belts, pulleys, exchangers, pads/rotors.

Gladiator Touring & Towing Setup (Quick Guide)

• Rear spring rate upgrade or airbags
• 2.5–3.0" lift with matched shocks
• 4.56/4.88 gears for 35s
• Tray/canopy weight distribution
• Skids, diff breathers, snorkel

Goal: stable highway manners + reliable off-road performance.

Steering Diagnosis Flowchart (Wobble vs Bump Steer vs Vibe)

1. Violent side-to-side shake at speed? → Check track bar first.
2. Darts sideways over bumps? → Check drag link/track bar angles (parallel).
3. Seat vibration only? → Tyre balance / bent rim.
4. Still unsure? Upload photos and specs for help.

Hemi Swap FAQ (JK/JL/Gladiator)

Do I need to re-gear? Yes – 35s/37s demand 4.56/4.88 for best results.

Keep AC, cruise, dash? Yes, with the correct integration parts.

Axles? 5.7/6.4 fine on stock Rubicon gear; Hellcat needs upgrades.

JEEPLAB supplies: mount kits, radiators, hoses, headers, wiring, and used engines on request.

Show Us Your Jeep – Photo Thread (One Pic Per Post)

Post your favourite shot: beach, bush, rocks, garage. One photo per post keeps the thread clean and fast to scroll. Build links welcome.

Trip Report Template (Share Tracks & GPX)

• Track name & location
• Difficulty (1–5)
• Vehicle & tyre size
• Tyre PSI used
• Weather/season
• Obstacles & highlights
• Photos & GPX file
• Tips for others

Marketplace Rules (Read Before Posting)

• Private sales only (for now)
• Include price, location, photos, condition
• No auctions or bidding
• Use PM for contact; mark SOLD when done
• JEEPLAB accepts no liability for private sales

Workshops & Installers (By State) – Recommend Your Shop

Post your recommendations in this format:

• Shop name & location
• Work done (gears, lift, wiring, etc.)
• Ballpark price (optional)
• Your experience (good/bad)
• Photos welcome

One shop per reply to keep it clean.

Build Journal Template (Copy & Start Your Thread)

Title: [Year/Model] – [Nickname] – [Build Goal]

• Spec: Engine/Trans/Trim
• Current Mods
• Tyres/Wheels
• Suspension/Lift
• Driveline (gears/lockers)
• Armour/Recovery
• Electrical/Accessories
• Photos
• Next Upgrades
• Lessons Learned

Dual Battery & Wiring Basics (Safe Power)

• Use fused bus bars and correct cable gauge
• Isolate winch & high-draw accessories
• Weatherproof connectors, heat-shrink, proper crimps
• Label circuits for trailside repair

Wheel Offset & Backspacing 101

Backspacing controls inner clearance to knuckles/links; offset is the centreline shift.

• Target for 35s: ~4.5–4.75" BS on 17x8.5/9
• Bigger tyres: less BS + bump stops to suit

Gear Ratios for 33/35/37 on JK/JL/Gladiator (Highway & Crawl)

Why re-gear? Bigger tyres make factory ratios too tall. Re-gearing restores RPM, torque, transmission temps, and crawl control.

• Autos like one step lower (numerically higher).
• If top gear is useless on highway, your gearing is too tall.
• Re-gear protects driveline and improves fuel economy under load.

Post your engine, trans, tyre size, current ratio and use case for tailored advice.

Trackhawk/SRT Cooling & Power Stages (Street/Drag)

• Both: 180° thermostat, correct bleed, fresh plugs
• SRT: Intake + tune + headers for strong midrange gains
• Trackhawk: Pulley + belt + heat exchanger + tune; add IC tank for repeat pulls
• Both: Better pads/rotors; diff bushings; tyres that grip

JEEPLAB supplies belts, pulleys, exchangers, rotors/pads, bushings.

Maintenance Intervals (Realistic, Not Dealership Fantasy)

Post-trip: torque-check suspension bolts, grease shafts, inspect ball joints/bushes.

Underbody Protection Priorities (Skids that Save)

1. Engine/oil pan
2. Transmission
3. Transfer case
4. Fuel tank
5. Diff covers (crawling)

$400 on a skid can save $4,000 in repairs.

Recovery Gear That Actually Matters

• Rated recovery points (front & rear)
• Kinetic rope or quality snatch strap
• Soft shackles + rated hitch receiver shackle
• Tree trunk protector + winch damper
• Gloves, shovel, tyre deflators, compressor

Never use a towball for recovery. Ever.

Off-Road Tyre PSI Guide (Sand, Rock, Gravel)

Lower PSI = bigger footprint = more grip. Carry a gauge and compressor.

Steering Upgrade Path (35s, 37s, 40s)

1. Stage 1: HD adjustable track bar
2. Stage 2: HD tie rod + drag link
3. Stage 3: Sector shaft/frame brace
4. Stage 4: Hydro assist (40s+/heavy crawl)

Stabilizer is last, not first.

Alignment Specs That Actually Work (JK/JL/JT)

• Caster: 4.5–6.5° (37s often prefer higher end for stability)
• Toe: +0.10 to +0.20° total toe-in
• Camber: Non-adjustable – check bent knuckles if out
• Centre the wheel after any drag link adjustment

Print this and take it to your alignment shop. Many shops set caster too low on lifted Jeeps.

Hemi Swap Parts List (5.7 / 6.4 / Hellcat) – What You Actually Need

• Engine mount kit (model-specific)
• Alloy radiator + high-flow fans
• Hoses, heater tees, overflow routing
• Headers/downpipes to suit chassis
• Wiring integration / ECU strategy
• Intake & MAF solution
• Fuel system capacity/EVAP integration
• Accessory drive + PS/AC brackets
• Re-gear to suit tyres (4.56/4.88 for 35s/37s)

JEEPLAB supplies: mount kits, radiators, hoses, headers, wiring adapters, and used 5.7/6.4 engines (on request).

2.5” vs 3.5” Lift – Geometry, Comfort, Legal

A quality 2.5" kit with geometry parts often out-handles a cheap 4" kit.

Tyre Fitment Cheat Sheet (Backspacing, Offset, Rubbing)

Backspacing vs Offset: Less backspacing (or more negative offset) pushes wheels outward to clear arms/sway bar.

• JK/JL sweet spot for 35s: 4.5–4.75" backspacing on 17x8.5/9.
• 37s: 4.25–4.5" + bump stops + correct caster.
• Beadlocks: check ADR/road rules in your state.

Common rubbing: pinch seam (JL), inner liners, sway bar at full lock, rear flare at full flex.

The Definitive Death Wobble Checklist (Fix in This Order)

1. Track bar bolts & bushings (axle & chassis ends) – no movement allowed.
2. Drag link & tie-rod ends – play = wobble.
3. Ball joints – big tyres + lift eat them.
4. Caster angle – target 4.5–6.5°.
5. Wheel bearings & hub play.
6. Tyre balance & radial runout.
7. Steering stabilizer – last. It hides problems; doesn’t fix them.

Upload photos/video of the track bar mounts and we’ll help diagnose.