Full-Traction Suspension, the first to bring you a 3-link long arm suspension for the Jeep Wrangler TJ and later the LJ (Unlimited), now offers suspension systems for the new '07 JK. Full-Traction now brings a suspension system for the new JK, a 2-inch economy kit that provides a quick and cost effective way to make room for 33-inch tires. Their latest suspension offering is a true 3-inch spring lift that allows the use of tires up to 35-inches. The 3-inch JK suspension is available in three versions, Economy, Premium, and Ultimate. The Economy kit comes with new front and rear springs as well as other components, uses the stock suspension arms. The Premium kit includes several upgrades that include replacement fixed length lower control arms equipped with poly flex joints at one end and bushings in the other and retains the stock upper control arms. The top of the line kit, covered here is their Ultimate 3-inch suspension for the Wrangler, PN 7133 for the 2-door or PN7143 for the 4-door.
The Full Traction 3-inch Ultimate kit is just that, the ultimate 3-inch lift option for your Wrangler JK. The kit contains all the components of the premium kit and much more. The main components of the upgrade to and Ultimate kit are adjustable upper and lower control arms front and rear, and adjustable front and rear track bars with relocation brackets. Although we will look at the installation of the 3-inch Ultimate kit in this article, we point out the two lower tier kit options because with the Full-Traction system, one can begin with an entry level Economy kit and upgrade later. All one needs to do is add the missing components and you can take your Jeep to the next level without a complete and costly suspension replacement. The same will be true for their JK 4-inch suspensions systems that are to be released later this year.
Installation of the 3-inch JK suspension is quite simple, although the manufacturer does recommend you have it done by a professional installer. Two things to be sure of if you elect to install the suspension on your own, always have the front end aligned after a lift installation and be sure to center the steering wheel before driving your lifted JK. The electronic stability control, ESP, program will send all types of funny signals to the computer if you don't. Follow along as we show you a few of the steps to installing a Full-Traction 3-inch Ultimate suspension.
CAPTIONS
The Full-Traction 3-Inch Ultimate kit for the JK includes new adjustable upper and lower control arms for the front and rear. The track bars are also adjustable. The kit comes with all the components needed except shocks. Two shock options are offered, dual-tube Hydro or their M-Force mono-tube gas pressure.
1. The stock springs will slip out of the front end once the track bar and shocks and brake calipers are off. The springs are replaced with new units, 2-door and 4-door use different springs.
2. The front bump stop extensions are made from billet aluminum. It is necessary to drill an 11/32-diameter hole in the center of the front spring coil pad to mount them.
3. With the new bump stop extensions installed, the new front springs can be slipped up and over them. A 3/8 self tapping screw is used to keep the new bump stop extension in place. You are now ready to install your new control arms.
4. The stock front upper and lower control arms are removed and set aside. Then the new Full- Traction front lower control arms are installed in a Right and Left configuration. The bend must face the inside for tire clearance, the miss alignment spacers are installed and the grease zerks are to face upward. Be sure the Heim joint is at the axle end. The upper control arms can be installed on either side.
5. If your JK is a Rubicon model, the stock rear sway bar end-link is removed and reused at the front. On non-Rubicon models, the new end-link from the kit is used.
6. At the rear the bump stop extension are box tubes that are mounted beside the rear springs on the axle tube pad.
7. A large wrench is needed to adjust the lower control arms. This is over 1-inch and not standard for most Craftsman or other home tool kits.
8. At the rear, the upper control arms are bent for tire clearance while the lowers are straight. As with the front, the Heim joint of the lower control arm is positioned at the axle.
9. At the rear, brake line extension brackets are used.
10. Here you can see the front adjustable track bar, track bar relocation bracket and track bar brace. Note that the track bar and drag link are on the same plane to provide proper handling and steering characteristics.
