Daystar 1.5 inch Leveling kit for 2020 Jeep Gladiator and JL Wrangler with adversity!

[@impactdoc4237]

Many thanks for the tip on the shock extension bracket on the driver side. Saved me easily 30 min. I ended up drilling a hole straight away. I also ended up using one of the included washers for the original shock bolt space along with the collar to fill the gap. Otherwise it collapses it too much in my opinion for anyone that read this that is... just an FYI. Took me 2.5 hrs, and that was b/c i made a mistake and had to take the passenger coil off b/c I wanted to install a 1in bump stop from rock crawler and totally forgot to drill out the hole to 1/2". Oh wells was super fast none the less b/c of your video and help.

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

You are very welcome Doc. Can you tell me more about the bump stops you used?

[@impactdoc4237]

@@PNW_Car_Mods I used the rock krawler adjustable bump stops 1-4". They have a 1/2" coarse threaded bolt. I actually bought the kit for my JL, and there was plenty of pucks leftover to use on the gladiator. www.northridge4x4.com/part/bump-stops/rk06727-rock-krawler-adjustable-front-bump-stops?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2e2ks-uX6AIVS73ACh203QlPEAQYAiABEgLtA_D_BwE

[@itsYUNGjeffYO]

how tall is yours on each side? my passenger is shorter by 3/4 inch

[@dugjay]

Gotta love your patience! Not having a lift to work with, this is what I would be facing to level out my 2020 Rubicon. I don't think I would be able to do it with less than a 6 pack lol!

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

I hear ya Douglas. Someday I hope to have a lift in the shop. In a new place lol.

[@rjensen6368]

How hard was it to get the passenger side spring in with the spacer? As easy as the driver side? Or did you need to muscle it in ?

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

IIRC the right side is a little tougher because you are fighting the panhard rod more. It's been too long ago now to remember if I loosened any of the control arm bolts or the panhard rod bushing bolt to allow more flex but that is always an option. I think if you have a helper to push down on the axle you won't need any of that. In my case I was stuck working on it alone.

[@NedBeasley]

I am looking at this same leveling kit for my 2023 JL Wrangler Rubicon 4 door. Are you still satisfied with the Daystar leveling puck and the shock extension bracket? Any issues? Any popping or weird sounds? Did the Gladiator drive the same after the install (ie., too stiff, the same, rebound reaction from bumps, speedbumps, uneven pavement). Thanks in advance for your time.

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

The kit is currently still installed on our Gladiator. It has performed flawlessly. Even taken it on a few trail rides and flexed all the way to the bump stops. Ride and handling is unchanged. No funny noises ever. We did make the switch to the factory FOX shocks that are on the Rubicon Gladiator at the same time of installation as the leveling kit. I honestly hate those shocks but I've been to lazy and too much of a cheap ass to change them out. They are way too soft both compression and rebound. I think it if we make any changes in the future it will be to go to a full on 3-4 inch lift kit and better shocks. Probably 37s as well. Our last name is Beasley as well lol. Always fun to run into other Beasleys out there!

[@NedBeasley]

@@PNW_Car_Mods Thanks for the reply. I have done extensive genealogy on my Beasley ancestors. There’s only about 47,000 Bradleys in the USA. I live in NC. That’s awesome.

[@PanzerPlatform]

Why do I get the feeling you have already researched, and planned all future mods for this truck before you even bought it? "Success is when planning, and opportunity meet", is the quote that comes to mind while watching this. Good work. -Chuck

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

Thank you Chuck. Hell, I think we had parts for this thing sitting around boxed up before we even took possession lol.

[@firefighterpops]

Excellent video! What size drill bit did you need to bore the hole out?

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

Unfortunately that was too long ago for my fried brain cells Nicholas. If I had to guess I would say it was either 5/16s or 3/8s. I matched the bit obviously to the hole in the new shock bracket.

[@bill534]

The 1.5" Teraflex instructions and most KZbin videos say to remove the 21mm track bar bolt to lower the passenger side for spring removal. Did you find it necessary to unbolt the track bar, or did you just remove the sway bar link bolt?

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

Bill in my case I found it easiest to just take loose the swaybar end link that let the axle drop out far enough for plenty of room. Either way should work.

[@k1paddler]

Question: At about 6:10 you said the Daystar Spacer compensates for the OEM shock isolator. Is that to say that the Daystar spacer by itself is actually closer to 2" thick?

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

I think that is a fair analysis. You remove the stock piece and add the new daystar piece. Some of the other brands stack the two together if that makes sense.

[@dougharley748]

Pretty good video but skipping the beginning steps makes it hard for those of us that have never done this kind of job...Thanks..I'll keep watching video's until I find one that works for me.

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

I'm not quite sure what you mean. Like you want to know how to use a floor jack? What steps did I skip?

[@dougharley748]

@@PNW_Car_Mods Sorry, wasnt trying to be rude, I guess it came off that way. I watched again and think I got it now...I just got the teraflex kit and will install it when the weather and time permits...Thanks

[@Zinctwentyone]

I am doing the terra 1.5 spacer this weekend with bilstein 5100 0-1.5" Do you think I need sock extensions still or am I good without? Also the daystar .75 in the rear with bilstien 0-1"

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

I think you are completely on the right track. Should be ok without the extensions I would think.

[@mikestowe6136]

myself i cant belive the shock extenders dont bend the shocks must not have much pressure on the bracket

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

Yeah I hear ya. The whole shock extender thing is kinda goofy. If you look at it from a side profile though it's just truly and extension of the factory design which is also at an angle. We have beat the crap out of this thing a few times treating it like a raptor and there have been no complications with the shock extensions thankfully. I will say the Rubicon fox shocks while they are nice and cushy for the highway are way too soft for any real bumps with speed off road.

[@ricardolopez2940]

IF I HAVE THE GALDIATOR RUBICON WITH THE STOCK FOX SHOCKS AND PUT THAT LEVELING KIT, WOUD IT AFFECT THE RIDE QUALITY ? I JUST WANT THE CAR TO HAVE THE SAME HEIGHT IN FRONT AND IN THE BACK WITHOUT BIGGER MODS.

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

It will not affect the ride at all ricardo. You will like it a lot.

[@MrNumber1984]

What size are you wheels, not tires I remember you saying 33s 295 for tires, I'm looking at the backspacing and with of the rim. I'm thinking of 35s but I don't want the tire sticking out too far. 👍

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

MrNumber they are 17x9s +18 offset. They had originally ordered me like -20 and I told them to re order the +18s as I didn't want 3 inches of tire sticking out. Right now we have about 1 inch of tire sticking out. I'm ok with that. The taller you go the less backspace you want though or the tire will start rubbing on chassis suspension. I think 35s would be fine on the +18 offset but I'm not positive.

[@MrNumber1984]

@@PNW_Car_Mods Cool! Thank you!

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

@@MrNumber1984 Anytime

[@JackofAllTrades1]

What do you think after a week? How does it compare to the ridgeline?

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

The wife absolutely loves it which is totally unexpected. A lot of people don't know this but the Honda while it was my daily that the wife put nearly half the miles on it as well. I always joked that it was technically hers I just got to drive it. She has a full time job and a small business and the small business consumed a lot of the Hondas detail. The Honda was and always will be one of our favorites. We've owned probably 25 cars in the last as many years and the Honda will be in the top 5. The lease was coming due on it later in the year anyways so that did help make the decision. On to the Jeep. It was down to the Gladiator or the Ranger. Chevys were out of the question. We needed something that had a higher tow rating so we could put a lot of the crap we used to take camping back in the trailer. I have a Disease that is degenerating my spine so I need something that rides plush. And we need the space to put her business stuff in when needed. She test drove the Jeep without me one day when I was sick and fell in love with them. The gladiator that is. We are pretty die hard Ford people but we honestly never made it to the Ranger. The Jeep while a little tighter in the cabin Vs the Honda is actually way nicer to drive than I would have ever expected. It in many aspects rides better than the Honda did but not as precise. The jeeps steering is much stiffer and obviously not rack and pinion. Overall I think it is going to meet our needs for the next 3.5 years and we'll have fun with it. The Jeep is cheaper for us per month as well so that is a win win for everybody. Sorry for the long winded reply lol. Let me know if you have any other questions.

[@JackofAllTrades1]

MRBLACK947 it’s good to hear it’s working out. As far as the Ranger goes... I briefly looked at them and they were just too close in price to the F150 to justify... I’d rather just have the full size. I’ve only actually seen one Gladiator in person and it was a quick pass.... not many up here. It looks mean with that kit too... good job.

[@arielrodilla874]

The shop that installed this very same leveling kit on my gladiator said the shock extension bracket was not necessary. What’s your take on this?

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

Rod, if you're never going to go off road it's probably fine. The worst thing that can happen is you will have less down travel. Worse case scenario you could break a shock but that's pretty unlikely.

[@arielrodilla874]

@@PNW_Car_Mods thanks for the heads up! I’ll go back and make them install it. They took the liberty to leave it out as it was “not needed”

[@tumbleweedking5668]

Most fox shocks compensate for the added ride height. starting at 0 to 1.5 inches. i don't think you need extensions with them.

[@ryanwhitehead974]

Was there any need for an alignment after you did this install?

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

There is nothing really pending for alignment after this as far as the tires are concerned. The steering wheel will be off center though. I have a video for how to fix that yourself as well.

[@ryanwhitehead974]

@@PNW_Car_Mods hey thanks for your reply. Much appreciated! I’ll have to check out your video for steering wheel fix

[@ryanwhitehead974]

Do you happen to know the name of that video that fixes the steering wheel?

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

@@ryanwhitehead974 your wish is my command lol kzbin.info/www/bejne/sHyui6yfpJ2mrrs

[@ryanwhitehead974]

I just finally got around to doing exactly what you did in this video on my JLU. Worked out great! I’m wondering where you got torque specs? I’m finding mixed results when i search for the shocks and sway bar link torque specs. Any links you know of?

[@jryanez8523]

How does it ride? Same process for my jeep overland?

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

No change in ride quality over stock. Now if you change the shocks or go to different tires like we did that can and will change the ride a bit. Not bad though. The Fox Rubicon shocks we went with are a little soft and kind of floaty feeling but I like it.

[@jryanez8523]

Does it sit perfectly leveled? No rake?

[@MrVPNG]

How sure are you the daystar spacers go beneath the spring? Aren’t they suppose to go on top?

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

I'm not sure I'm tracking what you are saying. They do go on the top in the front.

[@MrVPNG]

MRBLACK947 and rear? Swore your video has you putting on the bottom.

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

@@MrVPNG Front is top, rear is bottom. Each video should show accordingly.

[@MrVPNG]

MRBLACK947 I appreciate your video, good angles to see and good narrative. I just called daystar and they said on the top for front and rears. Idk just FYI for you.

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

@@MrVPNG You talked to someone that doesn't know their products for jack shit. If you watch the OTHER video, NOT this one, the one about the rear, you can clearly see in the instructions both in picture and in type that the rears go on the BOTTOM. The rears physically CAN NOT go on top. No way no how not ever. I think JLs are all on the top so I could see them being confused. Don't know what to tell you otherwise.

[@popcornjoe3752]

Whats wrong with crawling a mall in a jeep. Where ever you go , go in a jeep

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

Great way to look at it Terry!