Front Guard HC
Why are the skid plates made of steel rather than aluminum?
Though aluminum is frequently used by other manufacturers, we have found it is too soft for extensive trail use (scratches or dents more easily), is more difficult to repair should damage occur (must be buffed out or refinished rather than just touched-up with paint), and steel is easier to care for (bugs/dirt come off readily and the finish deteriorates less with age). The downside is that like any metal product that is subjected to salt or other corrosive agents the product can develop rust over time. We try hard to prepare and paint our products to minimize the potential for such issues.
How much punishment can these guards take?
The guards are designed to protect the vehicle from an unexpected encounter with a rock, a tree stump, an embankment, etc., that may occur during recreational four-wheeling activities. Though not designed for professional rock crawling, these guards are part of the HC (Hardcore) series of products and therefore provide protection from more frequent or severe encounters with obstacles.
How does this product mount?
This product mounts with provided hardware and brackets; no drilling is required.
How long will the powder-coat finish last?
All our skid plates have been sand-blasted prior to powder-coating in order to achieve an unusually strong and durable finish. Also, only the highest quality exterior polyurethane powder coatings are used. Of course, the nature of the product is to be exposed to scratches and other kinds of damage, so there is no warranty on the life of the finish.
Does the finish require special care?
Routine car-washing will restore the unit to near-new condition, though severe mud and road-grime stains may require use of a medium-strength detergent and a soft rag or sponge. If exposed to road salt or other winter chemicals the product should be cleaned as soon as possible. Do not use hard-bristle brushes, scouring pads, or other abrasive devices, as they will permanently scratch the unit's finish.
Rear Guard HC
Why are the skid plates made of steel rather than aluminum?
Though aluminum is frequently used by other manufacturers, we have found it is too soft (scratches or dents more easily), is more difficult to repair should damage occur (must be buffed out or refinished rather than just touched-up with paint), and steel is easier to care for (bugs/dirt come off readily and the finish deteriorates less with age). We do not currently offer Back Guard in aluminum
How much punishment can these guards take?
The guards are designed to protect the vehicle from an unexpected encounter with a rock, a tree stump, an embankment, etc., that may occur during recreational four-wheeling activities. Though not designed for professional rock crawling, these guards are part of the HC (Hardcore) series of products and therefore provide protection from more frequent or severe encounters with obstacles.
How does this product mount?
This product mounts with provided hardware and brackets. The two mounting brackets attach to the frame using two existing holes that are predrilled only partly through the frame--thus each of these holes needs to be drilled completely through. The skid plate attaches to the mounting bracket with four bolts of the same size as the OEM lug nuts in order to allow easy removal for access to the spare tire.
How long will the powder-coat finish last?
All our skid plates have been sand-blasted prior to powder-coating in order to achieve an unusually strong and durable finish. Also, only the highest quality exterior polyurethane powder coatings are used. Of course, the nature of the product is to be exposed to scratches and other kinds of damage, so there is no warranty on the life of the finish.
Does the finish require special care?
Routine car-washing will restore the unit to near-new condition, though severe mud and road-grime stains may require use of a medium-strength detergent and a soft rag or sponge. If exposed to road salt or other winter chemicals the product should be cleaned as soon as possible. Do not use hard-bristle brushes, scouring pads, or other abrasive devices, as they will permanently scratch the unit's finish.
Will access to my spare tire be difficult?
There are four bolts that secure the skid plate to the mounting brackets, and these bolts can easily be removed with the standard OEM lug wrench that comes with the vehicle. In fact the best approach is to remove three and loosen the fourth (one of the front bolts), then swivel the plate for easy access to the spare tire and easier re-installation of the skid plate.
The Matrix
What are the selling points of the Matrix brush guard?
In our view this product offers essentially all the features one could hope for, such as:
- Bolt on, using OEM tow-hook locations
- Emergency lift points for "hi-lift-type" jack
- Mounting points for OEM or after-market tow hooks, or D-rings
- 2-in receiver which can be used for a portable winch mount rated 9,000 lbs
- 8 mounting locations for off-road lights
- Light weight relative to features for minimal front-end wear/tear
- Less than 2-inch reduction in approach angle
- Protection of front fascia/lights
- Designed to minimize reduction in air flow to the vehicle's radiator
In addition we feel the product adds a rugged yet attractive appearance to the WK, whether with the standard black/silver paint scheme, or repainted wholly or partly to match the vehicle.
Are these units designed for “hardcore” off-road use?
This product is designed to handle the winching, lifting and pulling needs that can occur in off-road situations. The product is designed only to handle winching and pulling as it relates to a vehicle "rolling" on a slope of 45 degrees or less. For example, the product is not designed to handle the stress of winching up a "waterfall-type" section of trail that causes the vehicle to be at an angle greater than 45 degrees. .
Can a "Hi lift"-type jack be used in conjunction with these guards to lift the vehicle in emergency situations?
Yes. The product has integrated lifting points that provide a safe and secure platform during use of a Hi lift-type jack. Nonetheless such a process is always a risky proposition and great care should be taken during lifting in order to reduce the potential for the jack to slip, possibly causing bodily injury and/or vehicle damage. It is not designed to handle, nor should it be used when, situations where the lifting point is the downhill corner of the vehicle.
How much clearance will I loose?
The product is designed to minimize the loss of clearance at the front fascia to less than 2 inches.
How does this product mount?
This product mounts with provided hardware and brackets; no drilling or welding is required. Without the optional receiver mount, the product is secured at two of the three OEM tow-hook mounting locations on each side of the vehicle's unibody/frame. The receiver mount is secured to the third OEM tow-hook mounting location, as well as a fourth mounting location on the vehicle's frame. Thus in a typical setup that includes the receiver there are a total of 8 mounting locations. It is noteworthy that the product is also designed to "cradle" the vehicle's cross member in order to provide additional mounting strength.
What effect does the product have of the vehicle's air-bag system?
The product has NOT been tested relative to it's effect--if any--on the air-bag system, and therefore the user is cautioned that air-bag deployment could be effected. Like all our products it is intended for only off-road use.
Does the finish require special care?
Routine car-washing will restore the unit to near-new condition, though severe mud and road-grime stains may require use of a medium-strength detergent and a soft rag or sponge. Do not use hard-bristle brushes, scouring pads, or other abrasive devices, as they will permanently scratch the unit's finish.
Side Guard HC
What are the selling points of these particular rock rails?
This product offers the following primary features:
- Designed (including welded reinforcements and gussets) as true "slider"
- No decrease in ground clearance, which is especially important on non-lifted rigs
- Custom styling, contoured to match the WK body profile
- Provide side impact protection as well as under vehicle, rocker panel protection
- Relatively low cost
How difficult is the kit to install?
The installation is intended to be bolt-on and DIY, but it does require drilling holes in the vehicle's body and installing nut inserts (a tool in included to facilitate this part of the installation). In some cases minor reaming of existing holes in the frame and trimming of the plastic fender-well material is required. The instructions are HERE.
Can I paint these to match my vehicle?
We are frequently asked whether it is necessary to have these units painted professionally, which is expensive, or whether one can do it themselves. If I was going to custom paint my Side Guard HCs I would begin with the black powder-coated option to assure the units is entirely sealed from rust. I would then rub the outer areas to be painted with a heavy gauge steel wool, thoroughly clean the unit, prime the surface with a product such as BullDog and/or a high-quality primer, and then spray it with OEM touch-up paint, which is available from the Jeep dealer.
Can a "Hi lift"-type jack be used in conjunction with these guards to lift the vehicle in emergency situations?
Yes. Each Side Guard HC has two slots, one front and one rear, that are designed for this purpose.
Superlift WK/XK suspension kit
How difficult is the kit to install?
Having reviewed the instructions in detail, I personally would feel comfortable with a DIY approach if I were better equipped with welding and cutting expertise/equipment. Most of the installation is bolt-on spacers and extensions, but a cross member does need to be modified with minor cutting and welding, and the exhaust crossover needs to be “dimpled” with a torch and pry bar. Installation by a qualified professional mechanic is recommended by Superlift.
How much will it cost to have someone install the kit for me?
I had the kit installed by one of our local 4x4 shops at a cost of $600, which I felt was very reasonable. I have heard of installation costs ranging from $500 to about $800. Be aware that a wheel re-alignment is required.
Will the installation of the kit void my new car warranty?
This is a difficult issue, and I recommend checking on such matters with your local dealer's service technician. It is my understanding that at least here in Colorado, where many dealers install lifts in order to sell Jeeps, the unwritten policy is 3 inches of lift or less will not cause a warranty issue. Other locations in the country may not have such a policy. For greater lifts, such as the Superlift’s 4 inches, it is my understanding that only components which could be logically effected by the lift are questionable—all others are fully covered by warranty. As for the lift itself, including all of its components, they are covered by Superlift (lifetime limited warranty) and/or the installer.
How will the vehicle ride and handle?
It is my understanding the kit was designed with a goal to not reduce OEM performance, and it is my strong opinion that this goal was fully achieved. There may be those more sensitive to ride quality than we are, but my wife and I are totally happy with the ride (at least with the 285 series BFGs we run at about 35 pounds of pressure). Specific to handling, our pre-lift WK tended to lean a bit more than I would like while cornering, an aspect of handling that for some reason seemed to disappear after installation of the Superlift kit. Be that as it may, there are no adverse handling issues that I have experienced (or have heard about) relative to the lift, including vibrations or the notorious "death wobble"..
Do I need different wheels and/or tires?
No and yes. Superlift recommends wheel backspacing of 5 to 5.5 inches, compared to OEM wheel backspacing of 6.25 inches. As a result one needs either to use a wheel spacer of at least 0.75 inches (but a minimum of 1.0 inches is necessary with OEM wheels to adequately allow for the length of the stud and most folks go with either a 1.25 or 1.5 inch spacer), or to get a new wheel. I used the Rocker, a wheel sold at a reasonable cost by Discount Tire—it has 5.5 inches of backspacing and works very well with the lift. There are other wheels on the market with the proper lug pattern/size (5 on 5) and backspacing, including the well-known Mickey Thompson Classic series of wheels and the new AEV wheels. A 1-1.25 inch wheel spacer can also be used but be aware of safety and maintenance issues (Discount Tire, for example, will not work on vehicles with wheel spacers.)
Will the kit affect my ESP?
Due to the new geometry of the front suspension and the use of oversized tires, which typically accompany the lifted vehicle, the vehicle's Electronic Stability Control (ESP) will prematurely activate. It really is not that big a deal but it is a nuisance. Depending on the model year of the vehicle that portion of the ESP system affected by the lift kit can be temporarily deactivated using the switch on the dash (see your Owner's Manual for specific instructions). An accessory, the EGR Module, corrects this problem as well as allows correction of the speedometer for larger tire sizes.
Can the kit be removed and the vehicle restored to its pre-lift condition?
For many of us the investment in a kit of this nature brings up thoughts about transferability to a future vehicle or to the notion of selling the kit if it doesn't work out (or if a dealer would rather have the vehicle in trade without the lift). Thankfully the answer to this question is yes. Though minor cutting and welding is a part of kit installation, the fact is most of it is bolt-on and thus can be removed with relative ease. The cutting/welding modifications would not affect the vehicle if the kit were removed, and the few components left permanently on the vehicle can be obtained as separate items from Superlift for reinstallation of the kit on another vehicle.
Is the kit covered by a warranty?
All components of the Superlift kit are covered by a limited lifetime warranty. If the kit is installed by a reputable automotive shop or 4x4 retailer, then the workmanship is generally covered for a specific period of time, usually 60 days.
Will the vehicle’s increased center of gravity be a safety problem?
All lift kits increase the vehicle's center of gravity, making it inherently more prone to body lean and to braking and handling characteristics different than the OEM vehicle. These considerations are at the heart of an engineering-sound suspension-lift system, such as Superlift's 4-inch system for the WK/XK. There is a lengthy list of design criteria that are intended to mitigate these considerations, including spring rate and shock valuing. One should keep in mind that a company such as Superlift does all it can within the constraints of engineering principles to achieve the same performance and safety characteristics of an un-lifted, OEM vehicle.
Will the kit cause abnormal wear/tear on the vehicle's drive train or other major components?
One should keep in mind, as I did, that this particular kit was the result of collaboration between Superlift, American Expedition Vehicles, and in cooperation with engineers representing Daimler/Chrysler. This aspect of the kit's lengthy development process personally gives me a high level of comfort relative to effects on the vehicle's drive train and related components. As of 11/08 I have not heard of any issues related directly to the Superlift, however there have been a limited number of complaints about ball-joint and rack/pinon degradation that are most likely due to the larger tires that typically accompany installation of the lift of this type.
Belly Guard HC
Why is this skid plate necessary?
Despite the cost to replace damaged catalytic converters on the WK, which is over $1,000, there is currently no OEM/Mopar protection for these important and vulnerable exhaust-system components. If one looks under either the WK and XK it is obvious just how close to the ground these components are--in fact they are the low point in the middle part (ramp break over) of the chassis. Whether lifted or not, this skid plate is perhaps the most critical piece of "armor" to add to ones vehicle.
How does this product mount?
This product mounts at five locations with provided or OEM hardware. There are no holes to drill.
Does the finish require special care?
Routine car-washing will restore the unit to near-new condition, though severe mud and road-grime stains may require use of a medium-strength detergent and a soft rag or sponge. If exposed to road salt or other winter chemicals the product should be cleaned as soon as possible. Do not use hard-bristle brushes, scouring pads, or other abrasive devices, as they will permanently scratch the unit's finish.
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