2009 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited JK - JK Explorer - Tech

Kent Kroeker, owner of KORE, is as meticulous as we are. He's never released a suspension system before it's perfect for him, which usually means it will be perfect for us. Kent worked very hard on coil rates and shock valving before releasing his JK suspension. The JK 4-inch KORE Technical Series suspension includes variable rate coils, KORE/Fox 2.0 Piggyback Reservoir shocks, Race Series track bar, Race Series swaybar end links, braided stainless/Kevlar brake lines, and Race Series bump stops. The KORE coils and shocks provide a controlled yet supple ride that needs to be experienced to be believed. KORE offers regular and heavy-duty coils and sent us both. We installed the regular rate coils first, then the HD ones. We found that the regular rate coils work well, even for modified JK's like ours. The HD coils would work well if doing long distance overlanding with a fully loaded/overloaded JK. Mount Logan talked us out of the KORE track bar for one of their projects we'll be covering, but we used everything else. Another example of KORE quality is the hollow aluminum front track bar end links. KORE has raised the JK quality and performance bar for the entire industry.

The completed frontend is a beautiful thing. The Dynatrac cover is strong and protects the 5.38 Yukon gears and factory E-locker. Currie Enterprises hardened front JK Rubicon axles use the big OE JK joints. Mount Logan built the aluminum drag link and tie rod, then flipped the drag link using a Teraflex tapered sleeve in the knuckle. A Poly Performance track bar bracket gets the track bar up where it needs to be for correct geometry when the drag link is flipped. It also makes a great attachment point for the Teraflex steering stabilizer. We drilled another hole in the Poly bracket so the stabilizer would be level with the tie rod. Expedition One builds the skid plate that protects the Rubicon swaybar disconnect as well as covers the front frame crossmember. The KORE aluminum swaybar links are race-level quality.

We like quiet, so retained the factory exhaust system. The big OE muffler changes color because the JK runs so lean. The Kilby muffler skidplate not only keeps the muffler from being smashed flat on a rock, it also covers the unsightly discoloration that soon happens. The heavy-duty Dynatrac cover protects the 5.38 Yukon gears, OE E-Locker, and has a higher oil fill plug, needed with JKs (especially 2-doors) that have rotated the rear end for correct driveline angles.

It's no secret that the JK Rubicon's Achilles' heel is the woefully weak front 44 housing. Mount Logan Off-Road beefs these up by sleeving the insides of the tubes with .250-wall tubing, gusseting the inner knuckle forgings, plug welds, then completely welds the tubes at the center section, and adding control arm skid plates.

Randy's Ring & Pinion supplied 5.38 Yukon gears and installation kits for the front and rear Rubicon 44s. They set up perfectly and make no noise.

Kilby Enterprises' Evap canister relocator moves it up and out of the way, above a protective skid plate. We've said before that if you have a rock jammed into that skid plate, your problems are bigger than worries about your Evap canister.

We retained the 4.0:1 low range Rubicon transfer case. Tom Wood's Custom Driveshafts built the front and rear 1350 CV driveshafts.

The OE axle coil bracket sits in the wrong position for a lifted JK. See how the coil is tweaked? JB Conversions makes this nifty coil mount/retainer that easily welds to the axle housing, correcting geometry and keeping rear coils in place.