[et_pb_section bb_built="1" admin_label="section"][et_pb_row admin_label="row" background_position="top_left" background_repeat="repeat" background_size="initial"][et_pb_column type="4_4"][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" _builder_version="3.0.51" background_layout="light" text_orientation="left" border_style="solid"] Grand Cherokee UpCountry Suspension Upgrade By: Scott Mueller Jeep offers two basic suspension options on the Grand Cherokee ZJ models, a standard base suspension and an optional UpCountry suspension designed to improve performance in off-road driving. Because it is mainly touted for off-road use, I think that many who never drive their Grand Cherokee off-road have overlooked this suspension upgrade. After having a '96 Orvis model (which came with UpCountry suspension as standard equipment), and comparing the ride and handling to other ZJs with the base suspension, I knew how much the UpCountry option improved the handling of the vehicle ON the road as well as off. For anybody ordering a Grand Cherokee new, I highly recommend you get the UpCountry suspension option, even if you NEVER intend on taking the vehicle off-road. After realizing how much of an improvement the UpCountry suspension offered for ride and handling, I was disappointed to learn that I could not get the UpCountry package on the '98 5.9 Limited I had ordered. Fortunately I figured out this problem can be easily rectified by purchasing the parts that make up the package over the counter, and installing them myself. Even though I have no intentions of taking my GC off-road I installed the UpCountry suspension on my 5.9 Limited as in my testing it dramatically improves on-the-road as well as off-road handling. It also raises the truck about one inch overall as compared to the standard suspension, which helps in the deep winter snow we get here in Chicago plus it gives a slightly more commanding view of the road. The stiffer springs and firmly damped shocks which are part of the UpCountry suspension group really improve both the ride and handling of the GC. My 5.9 Limited already had the factory skid plate and tow-hook package which is included as a part of the UpCountry Suspension group, but those parts do nothing for handling. The factory UpCountry Suspension option includes slightly taller (and stiffer) springs, special Sachs-Boge German made gas shocks, thicker jounce bumpers (the bumpers and cups are the same, the only differences are small aluminum spacers are added between the cups and frame both front and rear), and special rear spring upper isolators. From '93 to '95 the UpCountry (code AWE) suspension was available on both Limited and Laredo model Grand Cherokees. In '96 it was available on the Laredo only, and not on the Limited. In '97 and '98 UpCountry was again available on the Limited. Exceptions to this are the Orvis models from '95-'97 which included the UpCountry suspension as standard equipment, and the '98 5.9 Limited, for which UpCountry was not available from the factory. Springs: Chrysler makes a variety of springs for the GC. There are two main types, base and HD, and in each type category there are 5-10 different springs with different GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) capabilities. The springs are denoted by a two digit code as well as a part number. Higher GVWR springs from either the base or HD spring tables in the factory parts catalog are stiffer and also raise the vehicle slightly. The UpCountry (off-road) suspension option for the GC includes higher GVWR springs from the HD spring table. In addition to whether the ZJ is equipped with standard or UpCountry(option code AWE) suspension as well as what other weight affectingoptions you got from the factory different springs are selected. For example if you have the trailer hitch or skid plate/tow hook package, for example, you also get stiffer springs in the rear to compensate for the weight of these items. These different springs insure that the vehicle remains at the proper slightly raked attitude. Note that the rear skid plate and trailer hitch together weigh nearly 100 lbs, and the weight is hung about as far rearward as possible, so the rear springs should be different for vehicles with or without them. When I removed these items from my GC for coating, the rear end rose nearly 3/4 of an inch! In a similar fashion, the front springs installed by the factory are different whether the vehicle has the I6 or V8 engines again due to the great differences in weight on the front end. To end up with the proper vehicle attitude, both front and rear springs must be selected with the engine, towing, skid plate, and suspension (std. vs. UpCountry) package in mind. In order to install the UpCountry package on my '98 I needed to find a Limited with UpCountry to read the spring tags to know which springs the factory was installing. I failed to write them down from the '96 Orvis I had, and the parts catalog lists several springs which could be used with UpCountry. I found a dealer with several UpCountry equipped GCs on the lot, (which is actually quite rare here in the Chicago area), and quickly found that all of the '98 V8s with UpCountry that I saw (both Limited and Laredo V8s) used p/n 52088363 (code GN) springs in front and p/n 52089145 (code JJ) springs in the rear. The GN/JJ front/rear springs are the firmest and tallest available from the factory. There is also a code GP front spring which according to the letter code some might believe are even stiffer/taller, but these are used only on 6cyl ZJs and are constructed of thinner gauge wire. In my case I upgraded the springs in my '98 to the highest GVWR rear spring (coded JJ) and the highest GVWR front spring (coded GN), since this is exactly what I observed factory installed on ZJs ordered with on the factory "UpCountry" package, V8 engine, as well as trailer tow. UpCountry also automatically includes tow hooks/skid plates as well, which were already factory installed on my vehicle. I observed that vehicles otherwise identically equipped EXCEPT for the trailer hitch, had a spring which was one code less (and therefore less GVWR) in the rear. These are the stock non-UpCountry GC V8 springs WITH trailer tow: Spring Code Dia. ------------------- Front FN .560 Rear JH .540 I measured the spring wire diameter with a micrometer. Note that a shorter (and possibly smaller diameter wire) JG spring is used in V8 rear w/o trailer tow. Here are the springs used on a stock UpCountry suspension GC V8 with trailer tow: Rate Spring Code Dia. Increase ----------------------------- Front GN .600 32% Rear JJ .560 16% The thicker diameter wire indicates an increase in rate. The rate of a spring is proportional to the 4th power of the diameter, so even small differences in diameter make a substantial difference in rate. The UpCountry V8 "GN" code front springs are 32% stiffer than the stock "FN" code V8 springs that came on my vehicle originally, and interestingly enough the free length was actually slightly less although the overall installed compressed height is about 1" more. The rear spring code "JJ" UpCountry springs are 16% stiffer and also slightly taller in free as well as well as compressed length. These springs lifted my GC by about 1" front and rear (exactly as specified in the factory brochure for the UpCountry suspension), plus made the ride significantly tighter and more controlled. Bottom line: If you want to install the UpCountry spring package on a '93-'98 ZJ, then these are the parts I recommend you get from your Jeep dealer: Part # Description Net ea. Total ----------------------------------------------------- 52088363 Code GN front springs $31.69 $63.38 52089145 Code JJ rear springs 36.37 72.74 52037555 Rear spring isolators 6.90 13.80 52005645 Front jounce bumper spacers 7.01 14.02 52087675 Rear jounce bumper spacers 5.59 11.18 ===================================================== $175.12 Shocks: Also included with UpCountry are special Sachs-Boge (made in Schweinfurt Germany) gas shocks, which are a high quality monotube high pressure gas shock with the unique feature of upside-down mounting. These are a tremendous improvement over the standard shocks included with the base suspension. Unlike conventional shocks, they are mounted with the body up and the rod end down, which helps improve handling by reducing unsprung weight. With this design most of the weight is attached to the vehicle chassis rather than the suspension. To protect the chrome steel hardaned rod from rock damage, it is covered by a high quality silicone rubber boot featuring drain holes to allow moisture to escape. Another outstanding feature of the Sachs shock is the paint quality. Starting in '97, Sachs adopted a 5-stage paint process resulting in a black colored shock (from '93-'96 they were blue) that will withstand over 1,000 hours of salt spray without corroding. Jeep engineers felt that this was an important feature since the shocks are so visible in the ZJ design. The UpCountry shocks are available under the following part numbers: Part # Description Net ea. Total ----------------------------------------------------- 04741675 UpCountry front shocks $98.25 $196.50 52088202AC UpCountry rear shocks 72.00 144.00 ===================================================== $340.50 Note that these prices are net discounted prices available from most dealers, the list price on the shocks alone is $454! If your dealer won't give you discounted pricing, I recommend you contact Springdale Dodge (800-252-9686 or Show [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]
What is Grand Cherokee up country suspension?The Up Country package debuted as a 1-in suspension lift on the 1993 Grand Cherokee, known by its ZJ development code name, and it could initially be ordered as a stand-alone option on base and Laredo trim levels.
Do Jeep Grand Cherokees have independent suspension?The Grand Cherokee uses an all-new architecture, with front and rear independent suspensions.
What kind of suspension does a Jeep Cherokee have?In short, the Jeep Quadra-Lift Air Suspension works like this. Rather than using traditional coil springs located at each wheel, like most vehicles do, the Quadra-Lift Air Suspension employs air springs. The air springs allow for the vehicle to be raised or lowered across a span of 4.1 inches (104 mm).
Can you add air suspension to Jeep Grand Cherokee?Starting at $1,199, you can replace your entire Jeep Grand Cherokee suspension and end those problems for less than you'd pay for just two replacement air springs. Once you install the kit, we back it with a one-year warranty and the coil springs with a Limited Lifetime Guarantee.
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