2005 Liberty Limited Rear Suspension (OEM)

[Whelan]

I've done all the maintenance on this car up through it's 150k miles. This includes the rotations, oil changes, batteries, brakes, AC Condenser and recharge, radiator/thermostat, and water pump. All very easy jobs on a super simple car to work on if you ask me.

I'm doing my research now on rear suspension. I'm not looking to lift, go crazy on an upgrade or anything else but trying to see my options. The car currently sags a bit on the rear drivers side so I am going to replace both sides of the rear and am new to suspensions. I have the tools to do the job but am looking at options for replacement parts.

Can anyone give insight into the OEM setup, popular parts, etc. Thanks in advance!

 

[tommudd]

I've done all the maintenance on this car up through it's 150k miles. This includes the rotations, oil changes, batteries, brakes, AC Condenser and recharge, radiator/thermostat, and water pump. All very easy jobs on a super simple car to work on if you ask me.

I'm doing my research now on rear suspension. I'm not looking to lift, go crazy on an upgrade or anything else but trying to see my options. The car currently sags a bit on the rear drivers side so I am going to replace both sides of the rear and am new to suspensions. I have the tools to do the job but am looking at options for replacement parts.

Can anyone give insight into the OEM setup, popular parts, etc. Thanks in advance!

Not much with OEM springs, etc BUT either from Mopar or Moog is about it, Replace both springs and shocks . Now saying that why only do the rear? Front is toast as well, and likely more of the issue with settling to one side than the rear.
NOW if I was wanting to keep pretty much stock height but better ride and handling than when it was new I would go full OME kit, use the 925 or 926 front springs and 947 rear along with the OME shocks . It will give better results than stock ever was .
rear is super easy and quick, 20 minutes and done really 4 bolts for shocks, and drop and replace the springs then shocks and drive away
But I wouldn't do the rear with out doing the front. If stock you are sitting way below stock height anyways

 

[renegade 04]

I have 926 front springs and 947 rear springs and my jeep sits about at 21 inches all around. It gave me a little lift, but it improved the ride of the jeep 100%!

 

[J33Pfan]

does raising the jeep 2- 4+ inches present any safety issues or handling issues?
i dont know what height my 2002 is and I dont know where it should be, but with 150k miles im sure springs are due.
I dont what to have to worry that it would flit easier after raising it up.

 

[tommudd]

does raising the jeep 2- 4+ inches present any safety issues or handling issues?
i dont know what height my 2002 is and I dont know where it should be, but with 150k miles im sure springs are due.
I dont what to have to worry that it would flit easier after raising it up.

Actually makes it ride and handle WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY better than brand new stock
I bought an 04 brand new, trashed ( removed and OME ) my stock suspension at 20,000 miles due to the crappy ride, bottoming out on the slightest bumps etc
If built before April 12, 2002 then it would of been 19.75 in front
after that date 19 inches
thats middle of the wheel to bottom of the flare in front

On the 04 sitting above 4 inches of lift I could take turns just as fast lifted as stock
higher rated springs, shocks valved for the springs etc

 

[Whelan]

Thanks for the replies everyone. Found a video to and it looks WAY easier than I originally though. Won't have to borrow my neighbors lift either, seems the jack will hold the rear axle perfectly.

I ended up getting a set of MOOG springs and KYB shocks. Picked all the parts up for the rear on Amazon for $120 which sounds like a steal to me. I plan on doing the front over the winter as we make adjustments with cars in the family. My current '12 GLI is being sold/traded because she doesn't drive stick and it doesn't suit the needs with 2 kids anymore. So she gets a new Jeep and I take this for my commuter.

 

[Jo6pak]

I went with Moog and KYB last time I did my suspension. It worked fine and lasted about 25k; which is what I needed at the time due to funds, etc..

The rear is still decent but I just replaced the front with OME/Bilstein... too bad I had to wait so long. Jeep drives better than it ever has in the 8 years and 100k I've had it.

 

[Whelan]

I went with Moog and KYB last time I did my suspension. It worked fine and lasted about 25k; which is what I needed at the time due to funds, etc..

Did you only get 25k miles out of them or was that because you finally decided and had the funds to change them to what you really wanted?

I changed the rear last night and it was actually VERY easy, the hardest part was loosening the lower shock bolt which took some PB Blaster and a few hits with a mallet. I didn't even have to remove the axle bolt to get the springs out/in. Took about 1.5 hours total and the car is already driving immensely better. Now onto the front.

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[jeeplib05]

Did you only get 25k miles out of them or was that because you finally decided and had the funds to change them to what you really wanted?

I changed the rear last night and it was actually VERY easy, the hardest part was loosening the lower shock bolt which took some PB Blaster and a few hits with a mallet. I didn't even have to remove the axle bolt to get the springs out/in. Took about 1.5 hours total and the car is already driving immensely better. Now onto the front.

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He stated it was due to funds
For the price you pay for OEM suspension you could have an OME setup and have it last MUCH longer than MOOG and ride 1000x better all for only a little bit more money
It has been said you can get 100k miles almost and still have life left in them
25k is probably all you get out of MOOG suspension because it's basically stock parts and will sag again rather quickly
IMO if I was wanting to work on my suspension again, I'd go OME every time
I sure am glad I did it the first time and I'll do it the last
So, either you pay what you will/have for MOOG and buy the same parts over and over again or you go with OME and be done

 

[Whelan]

He stated it was due to funds
For the price you pay for OEM suspension you could have an OME setup and have it last MUCH longer than MOOG and ride 1000x better all for only a little bit more money
It has been said you can get 100k miles almost and still have life left in them
25k is probably all you get out of MOOG suspension because it's basically stock parts and will sag again rather quickly
IMO if I was wanting to work on my suspension again, I'd go OME every time
I sure am glad I did it the first time and I'll do it the last
So, either you pay what you will/have for MOOG and buy the same parts over and over again or you go with OME and be done

-I was just making sure I read his post correctly about the mileage.
-Everything I looked up on OME site and when going through the product catalog was not even able to select a Jeep Liberty, options were Wrangler/Cherokee. I'm sure there is cross reference but I am truly looking to just get something that is OEM or slightly better. The car is doing commuting duty for the most part.
-I'm not sure I buy 25k out of a replacement component, that seems very short but time will tell.
-I don't plan on keeping the car forever, a few more years while we payoff a new GC is the plan.

Thanks for the insight though, will possibly look at OME for future purchases.

 

[jeeplib05]

-I was just making sure I read his post correctly about the mileage.
-Everything I looked up on OME site and when going through the product catalog was not even able to select a Jeep Liberty, options were Wrangler/Cherokee. I'm sure there is cross reference but I am truly looking to just get something that is OEM or slightly better. The car is doing commuting duty for the most part.
-I'm not sure I buy 25k out of a replacement component, that seems very short but time will tell.
-I don't plan on keeping the car forever, a few more years while we payoff a new GC is the plan.

Thanks for the insight though, will possibly look at OME for future purchases.

You can get all OME parts from JBA (with shipping charges) or Amazon (I got my front springs and F/R shocks from them) and Quadratec (my rear springs)
But, it's your KJ and if you aren't going to have it for a while then you can go with whatever suspension you'd like!
I plan to keep mine until it blows up or starts having major issues that I don't want to fix and then probably move onto another build
I love my KJ so far though, despite having a lot of miles it runs like a champ and the suspension is incredible
I can't wait to get my tires/wheels and sit wider

 

[Whelan]

Yeah it's been the wife's since new, her ex years before did not treat it very well so it has a scuff or two but I've given it plenty of TLC. Done all maintenance/repairs myself since we have been together and it still runs strong as an ox. When I say a few more years I'm looking like 5-6 down the road. It is going to be doing commuting duties soon for me when I ditch my GLI and she gets a new GC Overland. Another Jeep I plan to keep for awhile.

 

[bwflorida]

Hey Tom... I see we live in the same area.
I want to do the kind of suspension update on my 2003 KJ that you suggested to jeeplib05, i.e., no lift, stock height, better ride, etc... but am wondering what's the diff between the 925 or 926 front springs?
I'm not able to do the work so will have to pay for it.

 

[dude1116]

Hey Tom... I see we live in the same area.
I want to do the kind of suspension update on my 2003 KJ that you suggested to jeeplib05, i.e., no lift, stock height, better ride, etc... but am wondering what's the diff between the 925 or 926 front springs?
I'm not able to do the work so will have to pay for it.

One is light duty the other medium (925 and 926, respectively).

I have rear shocks for sale cheap that would be perfect for you. Would save you a buck. They're the OME 60069 shocks which are stock length. Not much use for someone going for lift.

 

[tommudd]

Hey Tom... I see we live in the same area.
I want to do the kind of suspension update on my 2003 KJ that you suggested to jeeplib05, i.e., no lift, stock height, better ride, etc... but am wondering what's the diff between the 925 or 926 front springs?
I'm not able to do the work so will have to pay for it.

Stock front springs are rated at 300 lb.
The 925s are rated at 350, 926 at 375

Thanks for answering dude1116