JBA Adjust a Strut not living up to expectations

AZJeeper · **Joined:** Thu Nov 01, 2012 10:40 pm **Posts:** 9

Well, it's been a few months with the JBA Adjust a Strut installation and I have to say I'm disappointed. :cry:

I really like the ride quality and the added height makes off-road trips much more enjoyable, but there's something clearly wrong with the drivers-side strut. It's adjusted almost an inch more than the other to level the ride (on the side that was high to begin with). The new A-Arm hits the spring at full droop - makes for an exciting "POP!" when it slides by. But it's the confounded noise from the strut that driving me nuts. Sounds like the whole front end is lose. I resorted to using a mechanic's stethoscope to isolate the noise to the junction between the fork and the spring. It's made to be lose, but this thing is ridiculous.

I've been communicating with Merlin on a regular basis. He had me send dozens of pictures. I've had a promise of a new strut for several months. I've been waiting to post a review until I can swap out the new strut, but frankly I'm getting more than a bit PO'ed at the Jeep. I've even looked at putting the original struts back on with a budget lift spacer so I can enjoy the Jeep without all of the noise.

I'll keep this forum posted if anything changes with JBA - or if I decide to reinstall the factory struts and use the budget lift. The new wheels and tires means I can't go back to stock height, but at this point a quiet ride is probably more important than a quality one.

BTW - this is on a 2012 KK.

At The Helm · **Posted:** Sat Mar 12, 2016 9:20 pm

The driver side would need more preload to level it because there is a bit more weight on that side...
What are your hub to fender measurements? (Center of wheel to bottom edge of the fender flares). If your arms are hitting the springs with those smaller coils you might have it cranked down too much.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Sat Mar 12, 2016 11:31 pm

AZJeeper wrote:

Well, it's been a few months with the JBA Adjust a Strut installation and I have to say I'm disappointed. :cry:

I really like the ride quality and the added height makes off-road trips much more enjoyable, but there's something clearly wrong with the drivers-side strut. It's adjusted almost an inch more than the other to level the ride (on the side that was high to begin with). The new A-Arm hits the spring at full droop - makes for an exciting "POP!" when it slides by. But it's the confounded noise from the strut that driving me nuts. Sounds like the whole front end is lose. I resorted to using a mechanic's stethoscope to isolate the noise to the junction between the fork and the spring. It's made to be lose, but this thing is ridiculous.

I've been communicating with Merlin on a regular basis. He had me send dozens of pictures. I've had a promise of a new strut for several months. I've been waiting to post a review until I can swap out the new strut, but frankly I'm getting more than a bit PO'ed at the Jeep. I've even looked at putting the original struts back on with a budget lift spacer so I can enjoy the Jeep without all of the noise.

I'll keep this forum posted if anything changes with JBA - or if I decide to reinstall the factory struts and use the budget lift. The new wheels and tires means I can't go back to stock height, but at this point a quiet ride is probably more important than a quality one.

BTW - this is on a 2012 KK.

This is not a lift issue it's just simple mass production(of the vehicle) and will vary from vehicle to vehicle.

When I did my SFA on my KJ I used JKS's ACOS Pro's adjustable bumpstops on the front,good thing since when both were adjusted at the exact amount my L/F was like 2" lower then the R/F.Swapped coils from side to side and the same issue.Then proceeded to measure,about 10 different points from side to side and everything was the same between left and right.Simple fix was to adjust the left side.Same thing occurred on USAFCOP's KJ when we SFA'd it and has been widely known to occure,but not at extreme differences, on KJ's and KK's.

G.O.A.T. · **Joined:** Wed Jan 27, 2016 1:11 am **Posts:** 149

I love the JBA coilovers ride but mine sqeaks, hard to describe. I have swapped "different brand" coilovers and it stopped. So its either the plastic bushings that are supplied or the spring seat. I know for sure the plastic bushing has a little play on the passenger side.

My passenger side is adjusted about 3/8" more than the driver side. Every KJ/KK leans to one side or the other that I have found.

But that being said, mine also sounds like something is loose and that also goes away once I install the different brand of coilovers. I have learned to live with it because its hard to prove and the people on the fourms just think were crazy when we talk bad about "their brands".

Also the first time I installed the "JBA total adjustable coilovers" the entire threaded section turned separately from the black adjustable section. So that could also make mine squeek.

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Bmxer524 · **Posted:** Sat Mar 12, 2016 11:50 pm

JBA claims that if you have the JBA a-arms and coilovers you should never have contact. Something is more than likely wrong. Have you been back in touch with him recently to see what he can do?

G.O.A.T. · **Joined:** Wed Jan 27, 2016 1:11 am **Posts:** 149

Bmxer524 wrote:

JBA claims that if you have the JBA a-arms and coilovers you should never have contact. Something is more than likely wrong. Have you been back in touch with him recently to see what he can do?

Hahaha thats funny. I even had contact at 4" lift. My spring is scarred up from the contact, especially at full droop.

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tommudd · **Posted:** Sun Mar 13, 2016 12:40 am

Never had an issue at all with contact on the 04 sit at more than 4 inches, 3 weeks in on the 03 and no noises at all quieter than stock ever was
No rattles, squeaks etc on either one of them
The OP has a issue other than what most people have found

G.O.A.T. · **Joined:** Wed Jan 27, 2016 1:11 am **Posts:** 149

The people that have rode in mine agree that it rides good but over bumps it feels like it wants to fall apart. Didnt do it with the JBA bilsteins, or "different brand" just the JBA total control. But I have always had contact at 4" even with the JBA bilsteins. Its annoying.

I have given up trying to try and get it fixed. Marlin has already went out of his way to fix the bilsteins and had to upgrade me to the new coilovers.

Overall, I still recommend the JBA coilovers, I relize I have pushed the limits of my Jeep and its suspension than most people on here. So I live with it.

Now OP, I cant tell you wants wrong with yours. But if you or marlin do find a solution definitely let us know. Just like Tom and Troy has said, every Jeep is different. Just like how my wifes Ironman lift sagged like mad. But she went back to OME. But thats a different topic.

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lfhoward · **Posted:** Sun Mar 13, 2016 1:14 am

OP, the fact that you are getting spring-UCA contact makes me wonder if the UCA's are installed on the correct sides. The KK version of JBA UCA's are not symmetrical (although they look it at first glance). If the UCA's are reversed, they could be off just enough to contact the springs.

Can you post some pics of your JBA setup? Those of us with JBA 4 inch lift kits can have a look at our own Jeeps and see what might be different. I have an older 4 inch kit from JBA, and have never experienced spring-UCA contact with mine.

It would also be helpful to know the distance from the center of your wheel to the fender flare, to determine the lift height you are actually sitting at.

Glad Marlin is helping you troubleshoot. Definitely keep us in the loop.

G.O.A.T. · **Joined:** Wed Jan 27, 2016 1:11 am **Posts:** 149

lfhoward wrote:

OP, the fact that you are getting spring-UCA contact makes me wonder if the UCA's are installed on the correct sides. The KK version of JBA UCA's are not symmetrical (although they look it at first glance). If the UCA's are reversed, they could be off just enough to contact the springs.

Good point there

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AZJeeper · **Joined:** Thu Nov 01, 2012 10:40 pm **Posts:** 9

lfhoward wrote:

OP, the fact that you are getting spring-UCA contact makes me wonder if the UCA's are installed on the correct sides. The KK version of JBA UCA's are not symmetrical (although they look it at first glance). If the UCA's are reversed, they could be off just enough to contact the springs.

Marlin confirmed the install is correct through the pictures I have sent him.

At The Helm wrote:

The driver side would need more preload to level it because there is a bit more weight on that side...
What are your hub to fender measurements? (Center of wheel to bottom edge of the fender flares). If your arms are hitting the springs with those smaller coils you might have it cranked down too much.

Marlin noticed right off from the pictures that one side was adjust WAY more than the other - enough to surprise him. The total difference before the install was less than 1/4" between the sides. Now it's level, but as I said one side is adjusted almost an inch deeper into the spring to get it that way. Also, I should have clarified - I'm only running the 2.5" version. I have the front adjusted with a slight nose-down rake and only have about 2 1/8 inches of lift.

G.O.A.T. wrote:

I love the JBA coilovers ride but mine sqeaks, hard to describe. I have swapped "different brand" coilovers and it stopped. So its either the plastic bushings that are supplied or the spring seat. I know for sure the plastic bushing has a little play on the passenger side.

I also have a squeak (more of a "chirp"), especially when it's very dry outside. Hosing down the strut with a spray bottle of water stops that noise. That problem is only an occasional annoyance since it doesn't do it all of the time.

NAMoulton1 · **Joined:** Tue Aug 12, 2014 7:01 pm **Posts:** 1054

I wonder if you have one of each of the different spring rates available...one being the normal spring and one being the CRD spring...

2010jeepkk · **Joined:** Thu May 08, 2014 10:00 am **Posts:** 34

I had a problem with my first set of jba coilovers as well.. we'll not as much of a problem, just the coilovers had no nitrogen in them. Paid for put together already just no nitrogen added ( at all). This made for a a few different very loud sounds that made me rethink the whole kit itself. After a few months back and forth with Marlin, sending pics and speaking on the phone I was going to drive out there to have his team look at it. He had asked me to get an air guage that,reads up to 200+psi and found no nitrogen was present.
Marlin than sent out a new set of coilovers and i have had smooth noiseless driving ever since.. hope this helps..

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G.O.A.T. · **Joined:** Wed Jan 27, 2016 1:11 am **Posts:** 149

2010jeepkk wrote:

I had a problem with my first set of jba coilovers as well.. we'll not as much of a problem, just the coilovers had no nitrogen in them. Paid for put together already just no nitrogen added ( at all). This made for a a few different very loud sounds that made me rethink the whole kit itself. After a few months back and forth with Marlin, sending pics and speaking on the phone I was going to drive out there to have his team look at it. He had asked me to get an air guage that,reads up to 200+psi and found no nitrogen was present.
Marlin than sent out a new set of coilovers and i have had smooth noiseless driving ever since.. hope this helps..

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How does one check the nitrogen level. Your talking about the JBA/QA1 shocks?

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MGRead · **Joined:** Mon Feb 18, 2013 1:17 pm **Posts:** 12

AZJeeper have you ever been hit in the front end or a wheel before. Any framework done?

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AZJeeper · **Joined:** Thu Nov 01, 2012 10:40 pm **Posts:** 9

MGRead wrote:

AZJeeper have you ever been hit in the front end or a wheel before. Any framework done?

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Nope - and it aligned nicely after the install.

Scar0 · **Posted:** Mon Mar 14, 2016 6:04 pm

Sorry to hear this is happening to you.
My 2.5" Adjust-A-Strut lift is still doing great. It did settle a little, but that is to be expected. Both front sides are still level with no A-arm contact at all.
Hopefully you will get this sorted out soon. It would drive me nuts if it was me.
Can you post Pics of the issue for us to have a look at?

CHIF8008 · **Joined:** Mon Dec 15, 2014 3:34 pm **Posts:** 15

Everyone is a visual learner.

We need more pics in all these threads for reference

AZJeeper · **Joined:** Thu Nov 01, 2012 10:40 pm **Posts:** 9

OK, an update. Marlin sent a new strut. It was just the strut but without the spring. Enclosed were instructions on how to break the red loctite between the shock shaft and the fork using a torch. Long story short - didn't need the torch. It was finger tight at best.

The original kit came pre-assembled and doesn't say anything about checking the shock shaft tightness. The before-and-after bench test of clamping the assembly in a vice and moving around by hand was night and day.

I wish I would have known to check that before I installed them. The problem I have now is I still have the "clunk". Not on the new driver's side that I assembled, but on the passenger side that was pre-assembled by JBA. At least it's not nearly as bad as before. It's such a hassle to remove and reassemble I'll just live with it for now. I suspect it's a bad decision as I'm sure the looseness will only get worse over time.

Quality control issue for sure.

Scar0 · **Posted:** Sun Apr 10, 2016 12:44 am

Got a Pic? Mine are some of the originals and I think the newer ones connect differently.
Here is mine.

JBA Adjust a Strut not living up to expectations

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