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2015 Jeep JK | Currie RockJock 60 Axles and Synergy Stage 3 Build

It’s not uncommon for a customer to bring us a Jeep that has already been modified with a basic lift, bigger wheels and tires, and the usual appearance ‘bolt-ons’. Truthfully, so many dealers modify JK Wranglers for increased curb appeal, it’s sometimes harder to find a stock one, especially in the used market. That’s exactly what we started with here. Our customer traded in his Corvette and jean shorts, for something a little more family friendly and Having spent some of his younger years working in a 4wd shop, our customer knew a few of the big upgrades to plan for, but he also knew that down the line he’d be needing some beefier components than what his Jeep came with stock. While his Jeep was purchased with the typical ‘budget boost’ kit and a set of ‘street locks’ and 35’s, he knew his desire to hit more aggressive trails would get the better of him in the long run and he started planning accordingly. With the mantra of ‘build it once, build it right, my wife will kill me if we get broken on the trail’, we set out to get his Jeep upgraded and ready to rock.

First up, was replacement of the plastic bumpers with real armor from Poison Spyder. Poison Spyder has long been a staple name in the Jeep scene, and with the JK platform the brand really came into its own. They have led the way on stylish but strong armor to keep the vulnerable sheet metal on a Jeep safe from the occasional close encounter of the granite kind. To aid with entry, and keep the door’s in working condition, a pair of frame mounted Rocker Knockers were chosen. Their Brawler Lite front bumper was picked for it’s low profile and clean style, with the RockBrawler II rear bumper being chosen for its heavy duty tire carrier that swings open with the factory tailgate, a very welcome convenience on a daily driver dual purpose rig. To round out the package, and make sure the bumper doesn’t look naked, it was fitted with a pair of Baja Designs Squadron R Pro LED lights, a Warn Zeon 10-S and a Factor 55 ProLink.

With the armor out of the way, the next order of business was to improve upon the generic lift that came on the Jeep. There are a plethora of options out there, but one of the most tried and true suspension systems is Synergy’s Stage 3 kit. Available in 3” or 4.5” lift heights for the 4dr JK. This kit includes all the necessary components to do a 3” lift the right way, including upper and lower control arms, front and rear track bar relocation brackets, front and rear springs, bump stop spacers, sway bar links, brake lines, and a front track bar.

 

There are a few additional items needed to properly complete the install of the system of course, including the Synergy 8002 tie rod, new 1310 CV driveshafts front and rear to replace the notoriously inadequate factory CV units, sway bar disconnects, and Fox 2.0 Performance series remote reservoir shocks. This is a really proven package which we have a lot of experience with; it’s critical for optimal performance to match springs and shocks, and hard parts that have all been designed to work together. We often hear horror stories of parts rubbing, poor handling, harsh ride, or having to constantly replace parts from customers who mix-n-match, buy used, or try to engineer their own kit. There is no reason a lifted JK should drive worse; in fact, many of the proper upgrades allow them to drive BETTER after a lift.

The big upgrade for this build was the Currie RockJock 60 axles. Currie has always been a leader in the performance crate axle realm, and they certainly know how to make a good Jeep axle. Their latest releases offer a ‘single click’ approach; once you’ve made the decision on which platform to start with (RockJock 44, RockJock 60, or 60VXR), you simply select the desired gear ratio and locker (ARB, Detroit, Grizzly or Eaton E-Locker). The RockJock 60 front represents a quantum leap in strength from the Dana 30 that came factory equipped on this Jeep; everything from the massive 3” x .375” wall DOM tubing, to the 1-ton unit bearings and full 4340 35 spline axle shafts scream ‘beef’. The rear axle, not to be outdone by the front, also features the signature RockJock housing with the diff cover rotated up for better ground clearance. RockJock’s are all high-pinion designs by nature, which when used in a rear axle, tucks the driveshaft up higher into the chassis where it enjoys protection from rock strikes. 40 spline rear shafts round out the package nicely and ensure that this Jeep has all the necessary beef to bring the wife and kids along to the trail, and back home again with smiles on their faces.

(805) 783-2060

870 Industrial Way
San Luis Obispo, California 93401