2025 Suspension Recommendations (by Snacktime)

[userdude]

1" of lift is easier to compensate with spacers or shock collar adjustment(5100,6100,eibach), 1-2" is the grey area and 2-3" of sag you need some springs(coilovers).

Really the take away is understand how much suspension sag is fixable before you cross into changing springs. If you change springs then shocks need to be changed too. Poof you are at coilovers, I don't have enough time with different brands to say what is the best. I can say running around with other Broncos you can tell who has coilovers but not what brand is better. 5100s kept me side by side with SAS Broncos, 4WP coilovers kept me up around the dirt track at Prairie City.

So what we're compensating for with springs or suspension is squat/sag more than compression, which I think is more accurate the issue I'm having.

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[B22-2023]

This, the valving and setup on the HOSS 3.0 Fox setup rides really really well. I am also in the boat of trying to figure out how to stiffen the rear up on them now that I have the added weight.

That's what is killing me, this HOSS 3.0 suspension setup rides great in all conditions on 1.5" perch. Maybe I just add and inch or two (depends how I measure out) in rear and play the preload game one more round, see how it wheels, then decide on whether its time for a new set of coilovers.

 

[Snacktime]

That's what is killing me, this HOSS 3.0 suspension setup rides great in all conditions on 1.5" perch. Maybe I just add and inch or two (depends how I measure out) in rear and play the preload game one more round, see how it wheels, then decide on whether its time for a new set of coilovers.

For the rear I wouldn't shy away from sticking a 1"-2" puck on the top of you already have a collar/perch lift. It is equivalent to what several of us have done shortening the lower rear shocks mount to get ground clearance.

 

[SS Bronco]

Great write up! Thanks for spending the time to do an informative post.

 

[Built2Wild]

This is the current recommendation on how to choose your lift. I no longer recommend spacer lifts, this is due to possible cv axle damage and added wear to front differential seals. I am also not recommending lift springs since they don't always net the same lift and that you need more shock to control them. I have become much less concerned with suspension travel as we find the limits of stock parts. This is based on running stock parts like factory cv-axles which is the biggest limiting factor to lifts.

0-2" Lift on 35s from Malls to Mild Trails -Your not going to disrupt the driving characteristics or effect long term reliability

• Perch collars, stiffens the ride and okay if low mileage.
• 5100s Bilsteins are the cheapest recommendable shock replacement, they have better dampening with increased road feedback. Best option for NON-SAS Broncos.
• 6100s Bilsteins are an upgrade over 5100, they are better suited to bigger tires only work on SAS broncos. Best option for SAS Broncos.
• Eibach Stage 2.0 Pro Truck with normal springs, "subjective" but most likely the best ride, they are designed for less road feedback. Best option for a 35" and smaller tire and if you are fairly stock. Have easy adjustment to get that perfect lift.

0-2" Lift on 35s Mild Trails to you have added some weight-Your are going to disrupt the driving characteristics!

• Perch collars, stiffens the ride and okay if low mileage.
• 5100s Bilsteins provide known lift and can counter the weight of extra items. Best option for NON-SAS Broncos.
• 6100s Bilsteins provide known lift and can counter the weight of extra items. Best option for SAS Broncos.

2-4" of lift beacuse you need the ground clearance or lots of weight, going to have adverse driving characteristics and lots of wear and tear. You will want a differential drop if over 3" of lift. Upper control arms should be added after 3" of lift.

• Body lift 1.5" or 2" or 3" stacked with a lower lift.
• 2.5" Shocks
  • 6100s Bilsteins but they are really running out of lift.
  • 6112 Bilsteins for the NON-SAS broncos.
  • Icon EXP Shocks which go up to 3"
• Real 2.5" coilovers
  • Kings
  • Fox
  • Icon
  • Insert name here

Going to 37" Tires, you are now adding wear and tear to the vehicle and effecting long term reliability

• Clearance to prevent hitting the top of the fender
  • Shock specifically designed for 37s.
  • Body lift, you need to add at least 1/2" to 3/4". Less long term wear.
  • 1" leveling kit to space down the front coilover. More long term wear and not recommend for M190 differential Broncos. You will want a front differential drop.
  • Shock shaft spacer provided by the shock manufacturer.
• Some form of lift
  • Perch collars you have to much tire for the stock shocks.
  • Eibach Stage 2.0 Bilsteins are stiffer and handle the heavy tire better.
  • 5100s Bilsteins starting to be the limit of what a 2" shock can dampen.
  • 6100s Bilsteins best solution as they are big enough to control the tire.
  • 2.5" Shocks
  • 2.5" Coilovers

5+" Bracket lifts are not currently recommend for any reason. This is opening a can of worms that leads to stress.

I just want to clarify, is it necessary to get a lift to tackle some tough trails? There has been stock SAS Broncos that have completed the Rubican which is far from mild such Chase Gentry who has done every trail imaginable in a stock Wildtrak. I am currently running the Eibach Pro-Truck Coilover with 35s and done fine on all the trails I have tested which is mainly rock crawling and considering the Rubican over the summer. Please share your thoughts.

 

[B22-2023]

For the rear I wouldn't shy away from sticking a 1"-2" puck on the top of you already have a collar/perch lift. It is equivalent to what several of us have done shortening the lower rear shocks mount to get ground clearance.

Yeah, so get the rear of the truck up a bit, and gain some droop for the trail. Def gonna measure out what lift I lost first, but this sounds like a good hybrid for me esp. since it’s only rear.

 

[JediMcMuffin]

I just want to clarify, is it necessary to get a lift to tackle some tough trails? There has been stock SAS Broncos that have completed the Rubican which is far from mild such Chase Gentry who has done every trail imaginable in a stock Wildtrak. I am currently running the Eibach Pro-Truck Coilover with 35s and done fine on all the trails I have tested which is mainly rock crawling and considering the Rubican over the summer. Please share your thoughts.

Is it "necessary" ? Of course not. There is quite a lot of capability there already, but its not a bad thing to add a bit more clearance.

 

[TheI3lindMan]

0-2" Lift on 35s Mild Trails to you have added some weight-Your are going to disrupt the driving characteristics!

• Perch collars, stiffens the ride and okay if low mileage.
• 5100s Bilsteins provide known lift and can counter the weight of extra items. Best option for NON-SAS Broncos.
• 6100s Bilsteins provide known lift and can counter the weight of extra items. Best option for SAS Broncos.

Excuse the possibly dumb question. In your post you say "best option for NON-SAS Broncos/SAS Broncos." Are you saying there is an issue for people who do not have a SAS Bronco upgrading to 6112? I ask because I currently have a Outer Banks Non-SAS and about to pull the trigger on a set of 6112.

Again sorry if this is a dumb question.

 

[Beach_Bum]

DOH!

2DR + 4WP/ProComp coilovers = NO GOOD

And this is because 2DR is too light for the 4WP/ProComp coilovers which provide too much lift for 2DR and will push CV / DIFF geometry out of spec? and can not be successfully lowered? <- Is this true?

Currently have SAS takeoffs from 2021 FE 2DR on my 2022 2DR 2.7 Black Diamond with 17" Method wheels +35 offset and 315/70-17 GoodYear MTs.

Was planning on upgrading to the 4WP/ProComp setup this month until I saw this thread. Now I may have a set for sale for some 4DR owner. If anyone has any input for me I could surely use it.

The link was more specific to Jared not wanting more than 1.5" lift. That discussion should go with the other thread that I linked. Snack's thread here will spiral off into tangents otherwise.

Short answer is that the 4WP/ProComp shocks were designed for the 4-dr (Black Diamond specifically) Bronco. The VSRT stands for Vehicle Specific Ride Tuned.

So with that understanding, the shocks were designed for a heavy config. The 4-dr chassis weight, steel front/rear bumper, steel bash/skid plates, (I'm not sure what engine they had in their Race Red BD). So when trying to do the calculus of what your Bronco weighs, the biggest difference is the weight between the 2 vs 4 dr. chassis. You have the 2.7L. Throw a winch on and the weight difference shrinks.

With that said, @Oldhippie and @KABQ have them on their 2-dr. Perhaps, they can chime in on their Bronco spec regarding weight and how much lift they realized along with street and offroad performance.

 

[crenca]

Lots of people get confused between “spacer” lifts and “perch collar” lifts. Perhaps a better way to think of this is either shock length extension (spacer) or spring adjustment (perch).

Consequences of each.

- shock length increase will allow your lower control arm (LCA) to rotate to a larger angle. Shock is longer and now wheel can travel downward farther. This will also then affect max CV angles. The spring forces are NOT altered so ride quality remains similar.

- spring adjustment does NOT increase shock length only adds preload to spring (increased spring force). So max CV angles remain stock since LCA can’t rotate more than stock shock length. The increased spring force can however change ride quality.

everyone contemplating shock changes from oem should crawl under vehicle and convince themselves they understand these differences. This makes everything else easier to understand.

Thanks for posting this - the difference (and how it effects geometry/CV angles) just 'clicked' for me when you put it this way.

Just to clarify, the 'snap ring groove' body shocks (such as the Bilstiens 5100/6200/8200 for Bronco) provide a way to adjust shock length extension - in other words a built in "spacer" lift depending on setting right?

Also, the above should provide the direction to those who are adding significant (unsprung) weight and thus getting sag - you need increased spring rate to handle the weight and shocks only if your existing ones can not properly dampen ("properly" being a strongly subjective quality) the stronger springs...

 

[SoCal Bronco]

I read somewhere that the spicer heavy duty half shafts have more range/angle on the cv joints? not cheap but maybe the correct way to get more range

 

[CoolContractor]

What are your thoughts on Dobinsons MMR coilovers set up for 2 1/2" lift in front, leveled in the rear? 2024, 4 door Badlands with tow package. No high-speed off-road driving, just moderate trails with articulation and about 500 to 600 lbs. of gear in the back and heavy rock sliders. Stock bumpers and no winch and 35" tires.

Anyone with experience with Dobinsons?

 

[87-Z28]

Just to clarify, the 'snap ring groove' body shocks (such as the Bilstiens 5100/6200/8200 for Bronco) provide a way to adjust shock length extension - in other words a built in "spacer" lift depending on setting right?

no that is not correct. It is difficult to get your brain around but worthwhile once you do.

the “shock length” is the maximum distance a shock can extend. So more accurately known as full extended length from LCA mounting point to frame mounting point. This has NOTHING to do with the spring. When you add a spacer it is placed at either end (or both ends) of the shock mounting points. This effectively increases the “shock length”.

moving the circlip location acts on the spring by changing its length (or preload) so effectively the spring force. That is then a “spring adjustment” lift.

Not trying to be an ass here just trying to help explain these nuances that are so often misunderstood.

 

[SilverSurfer]

What is the Ford Performance Parts suspension package? The 5100's or 6100's? I think its 6100's and its for NON-SAS?

 

[userdude]

What is the Ford Performance Parts suspension package? The 5100's or 6100's? I think its 6100's and its for NON-SAS?

6112's, which is a complete coilover 6100 w/spring. Bilstein's that end in 12 I believe include the spring.

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