The Recon coilover shock and...
The Recon coilover shock and hydraulic bumpstop conversion from Rebel Offroad is a bolt-on system designed for two- and four-door Jeep Wrangler JKs. Paired with Teraflex long control arms the Recon kit clears way for a set of 40x15.50R20 Nitto Mud Grapplers mounted on a set of 20x10 Trail Ready HD20 beadlock wheels.
We like versatility, and the Recon JK coilover mounting system from Rebel Offroad offers just that. The Recon kit is compatible with stock control arms, aftermarket short adjustable control arms, mid arm systems, and long arm systems. It doesn’t matter what suspension system you already have installed on your JK, you can still add coilover shocks to the equation using the Rebel Offroad Recon coilover conversion.
Though the Recon kit can be used with any aftermarket suspension system sans coil springs, Rebel Offroad has found that the Teraflex long arm system works particularly well for this purpose. The Recon coilover conversion includes front and rear upper and lower coilover mounts (powdercoated black is standard), Grade 8 hardware, full color installation instructions, and 12-inch 2.0 coilover shocks for the front and rear, which feature Rebel Offroad’s exclusive valving and spring rate.
The front kit includes upper...
The front kit includes upper and lower coilover shock mounts that bolt to mostly factory holes in the stock upper coil spring bucket, shock tower, and lower shock mount. Minimal drilling is required to further secure the mounts using the provided Grade 8 hardware.
The front coilovers also include 90-degree fittings for accurate reservoir mounting, as well as 2.0 hydraulic bumpstops and bumpstop mounting brackets. Rebel Off-Road typically offers King Shocks with the Recon coilover kit, however other brands can be used with the system, as well. For this installation Fox coilover shocks were used front and rear.
The Recon system clears everything from factory size tires to 44-inch mudders. It utilizes well thought out mounting locations and even retains the factory spring buckets for hydraulic bumpstop mounting. No welding or permanent modification to the Jeep’s frame and suspension system is required for installation of the Rebel Offroad conversion. The conversion can be installed by most anyone using tools found in nearly every garage.
Rebel Offroad’s rear coilover...
Rebel Offroad’s rear coilover shock system uses a bolt-on sub frame for the upper shock mounts and bolt-on lower mounts with built-in skid plates that attach to the stock lower shock mounts. Also shown mounted to the upper sub frame mount is a bevy of Viair compressors – this particular JK is Viair’s new show pony. You can expect a complete feature on this rig in an upcoming issue.
Because the system requires no permanent modifications to the vehicle, it can be reinstalled on any other Jeep JK. This allows for the sale of a Jeep without losing your coilover shocks, conversion brackets, and hardware. You can upgrade your suspension around the coilover conversion with no fear of outgrowing the kit, or you can install the front or rear kits separately if you simply want to upgrade one end of the vehicle at a time as your budget permits. Did we mention that the Recon kit is versatile? It is.
The Recon coilover conversion from Rebel Offroad is available for 2007-to-present Jeep Wrangler JKs — both two- and four-door models. It is a great means of gaining improved ride quality on both the street and trail.
The Teraflex long control...
The Teraflex long control arms use new frame mounting points and require removal of the factory arm mounting points. The Rebel Offroad coilover system can also be installed using stock control arms or standard length aftermarket adjustable arms.
The crew at Rebel Offroad...
The crew at Rebel Offroad removed the factory rear control arm brackets and sanded the frame to prepare to weld on the Teraflex brackets.
The sanded frame area to the...
The sanded frame area to the right is where a rear hydraulic bumpstop can will be frenched in to the frame. The kit can also retain the factory bumpstops depending on the vehicle’s needs.
Use of Teraflex long control...
Use of Teraflex long control arms also require a Teraflex track bar drop bracket.
After using a Sawzall to cut...
After using a Sawzall to cut off the factory bumpstop at the top of the coil bucket and a grinder to smooth it out the Rebel coilover hoop was installed in place. The hoop attaches to existing holes in the stock shock tower, as well as other locations that require drilling: one at the side of the shock tower and three more at the top of the coil bucket.
A hole is drilled in the frame...
A hole is drilled in the frame to secure the coilover shock hoop. Rebel Offroad offers the coilover kit mounting brackets in black powder coat. Primo Powder Coating in Huntington Beach, California, applied the red powder coat for this build.
The Rebel Offroad hydraulic...
The Rebel Offroad hydraulic bumpstop kit mounts the bumpstop in the coil bucket using the same three bolts used to secure the coilover hoop in the coil bucket.
With the hoop fully secured...
With the hoop fully secured the 12-inch-travel Fox coilover reservoir shocks were installed in the upper and lower mounts.
In addition to the Rebel Offroad...
In addition to the Rebel Offroad and Teraflex kits the Rebel team also hung new Currie RockJock Dana 60s at the front and rear and added Currie Antirock anti-sway bars.
The muffler and muffler shield...
The muffler and muffler shield were removed to make way for the rear coilover upper sub frame mount. The exhaust and muffler will be relocated. With the sub frame in place the Fox coilover shocks were hung from the mounts.
Bumpstop cans are frenched...
Bumpstop cans are frenched in to the frame to hold the rear hydraulic bumpstops. The factory bumpstops can be retained if desired. The addition of hydraulic bumpstops enables the vehicle to absorb impacts in a controlled manner without the jarring effect of the stock rubber bumpstop. Hydraulic bumpstops also control unwanted body roll and dipping when you traverse a side hill.
The 40x15.50R20 Nitto Mud...
The 40x15.50R20 Nitto Mud Grapplers were mounted on a set of 20x10 Trail Ready HD20 beadlock wheels and the beadlock rings secured.