JK Wrangler 60 Springs Vs 56: What Are The Differences?
You are tired of your stock springs and shocks. Now you want to swap your rear springs. You are comparing JK Wrangler 60 springs VS 56. But what should you choose? Do you go for 60 springs, or do you go for 56? It depends on your off-roading intentions and how much lift you need. If you need to lift a little bit, enjoy a soft ride, and don’t do much off-roading, you can get 56 springs on your JK Wrangler. Otherwise, you need 60 springs on your JK Wrangler. Because 60 springs will lift your JK Wrangler considerably and offer a much stiffer ride. They are perfect for your off-roading adventures. You can have massive loads, yet they will not sag.
More about that later on!
Table of Contents
What Are Springs?
Before deciding between JK Wrangler 60 Springs VS 56, you must know about springs and their functions. High-performance suspension systems are developed to strict strength, performance, and durability specifications. Springs are part of the suspension. They have spring rate, free height, and installed height specifications. Four types of springs are common. They are:
- Leaf Springs
- Linear-Rate Coil Springs
- Dual-Rate Coil Springs
- Coil-Overs
Leaf Spring:
The oldest type of suspension is the Leaf spring. They are basic technology primarily used in the earliest model of Jeeps. Although they can go off-road with some work, they are less comfortable and efficient than the other types.
Linear-Rate Coil Springs:
The first coil springs came next. They are so effective and have become so popular that they are used to this day.
Linear-Rate Coil Springs can’t be tuned. These springs are excellent since you can choose the right one based on the weight of your Jeep or the extras added. Higher spring rates are often correlated with a rougher ride and less vehicle body movement, whereas lower spring rates enable a softer and more pleasant ride but seem less solid on the road at higher speeds.
Dual-Rate Coil Springs:
If you want something other than a Coil-Over Spring, Dual-Rate Springs are the best solution. You can recognize a Dual-Rate Coil Spring when you see the difference in spacing between the tightly wound part and the even bottom section. The dual rate allows for a softer ride quality while maintaining extra flexibility and off-road capability. Dual-Rate Coil Springs are tuned and modified for each car individually.
Coil-Overs:
Coil-Overs are coil springs placed on top of a shock. The shock’s threaded body holds the spring retainers at the top and bottom. The threaded body has “preload” adjustments, allowing you to add or remove ride height as necessary. Coil-Overs will enable you to alter springs, add multi-rates, and adjust valving, so you can do practically anything to improve your Jeep’s suspension.
How Should You Choose between JK Wrangler 60 Springs VS 56?
Advantages and Disadvantages of JK Wrangler 60 Springs:
Lift
The 60 spring is four steps up from the 56. Each step adds roughly 1/4″ – 5/16″ lift. Springs are designed to provide the specified lift when aftermarket front bumpers and winches are used. The difference in length between a 56 and 60 spring is minimal. But the 60 is stiffer and will not droop as much under the weight of the Jeep, therefore the lift.
Going from a 14 or 15 spring to a 19 spring in the front and a 56 spring to a 60 spring in the rear will lift a 2-door by around 1.5″ – 2″ max. So if you want much lift on your JK Wrangler, a 60 spring is a good idea. On the other hand, if you plan on going off-roading and your JK Wrangler does not have much lift, then switching to a 60 spring is a must.
Drive Experience
The difference in ride quality will be noticeable. With 60 springs, the ride is firmer in the rear. Unless you plan to tow a lot, the rear is stiffer and does not absorb bumps as effectively as the 56 springs.
It may settle down gradually in the next few days. The ride quality is still excellent. It’s a little firmer, but nothing like most harsh-riding raised Jeeps. It handles bumps and rough roads better at high speeds. If you have some weight in the rear, like passengers or stuff in the trunk, you will get a much smoother ride.
The 60 will give you the maximum factory height. So you can use 33″ – 35″ tires off-road without rubbing. The 60 springs provide exceptional off-road performance while maintaining ride quality.
Advantages and Disadvantages of JK Wrangler 56 Springs:
Lift
The 56 spring is three steps up from the 53 and two steps up from the 54. Each step adds roughly 1/4″ – 5/16″ lift. If you have new springs, then 56 will give you enough lift. If you have no aftermarket front bumpers and winches, then 56 springs are enough. Again, the difference in length between a 56 and 60 spring is minimal. But the 56 is softer and will drop under the weight of the Jeep and any added weight.
Therefore, you will not get much lift. So if you do little off-roading and use smaller tires, much lift on your JK Wrangler is necessary. If you have enough lift, you can stay on your 56 spring. On the other hand, if you plan on going off-roading and your JK Wrangler does not have much lift, you must switch to a 60 spring.
Drive Experience
With 56 springs, the ride is less firm than with 60 springs. The rear is softer and absorbs bumps much more effectively than the 60 springs. It may drop too much when they get older, but until then, you will feel fine. The ride quality is still excellent. It’s a little softer than 60 springs, but not too soft. It doesn’t handle itself too well in off-roading conditions. If you have some weight in the rear, like passengers or some stuff in the trunk, you might not have any lift.
With 56 springs, you might be unable to use 33″ – 35″ off-roading tires without rubbing. The 56 springs will provide minimal off-road capability while maintaining ride quality.
With no extra weight on your JK Wrangler, 56 springs will be fine if they are new. The 56 spring will give you a more level look in such a case. On country roads, it is more comfortable. The factory rake should be removed if you use a 56 in the rear instead of a 60.
Consider a leveling kit if you only need a small lift.
Your decision between JK Wrangler 60 Springs VS 56 should totally depend on your needs, your current lift, and the current condition of your springs. Another critical factor is the age of your springs and the ones you want to get. If you get older springs, they will not give you much lift. On the other hand, if you get your hands on a set of new springs, you will benefit greatly.
So, if your springs are new and you have enough space between your tire and bumper, you should stick with them or upgrade to 56 springs. But if the springs you are getting are older, your current lift is too small, or you want to off-road, get 60 springs.
Things You Should Know Before You Decide on JK Wrangler 60 Springs VS 56:
Rake:
It is the difference in height between the front and back. It’s there for aerodynamics and to house a payload in the storage section. The rear springs might have an excessively high load rate, while the front springs’ load rate might be too low. Whatever the cause, it is the coils/springs.
Some JK Wranglers come off the lot with obvious rakes, while others do not. Aftermarket bumpers and a winch have a significant impact on the majority of rakes. Reverse rake occurs when the rear is lower than the front. Remember your rake when you decide on JK Wrangler 60 Springs VS 56.
Lift:
You find someone with a stock Jeep Wrangler, the same model as yours. Measure from the top of the wheel (not the tire – this removes tire size from the calculation) to the fender lip. Then you take your own measurements. The difference is your lift. You must be on flat terrain and use the same wheels (tire size is irrelevant). You will decide between JK Wrangler 60 Springs VS 56 based on your current and desired lift.
How Will You Know about the Kind of Springs You Have, Stock or Otherwise?
Durable coil springs contribute to a smooth ride. There are two pairs of springs in your Jeep. One pair is front springs. They can be identified with numbers from 13 to 19 usually. Another pair is rear springs. They can be identified with numbers ranging from 55 to 60. Front springs can both be similar or different.
For example, they can be both 14, or they can be 14 and 15. The two different spring sizes on the front are there to compensate for the weight of the gas in the fuel tank. You can find these numbers on the front and rear spring stickers. The last two digits on the tag correspond to your front and rear numbers.
Front Springs #52347314AC
Rear Springs #68226556AA
The “AA” refers to the revision number, with AA being the original.
You need to know your current springs to decide how much lift you need and choose between JK Wrangler 60 Springs VS 56.
What’s Next After You Decide on JK Wrangler 60 Springs VS 56?
Add a pair of spacers to the rear if you want to raise it 1/2″ or more. Remember that the space between the front tire and the fender will be wider than the gap between the rear tire and the fender when leveling. The front and back fenders are not identical.
Make absolutely sure your headlights are correctly set. The aiming of the headlights will change if the Jeep is leveled or spacers are added to the back.
After you replace the springs, swap out the black Sport shocks for a pair of red Rubicon shocks, and you’ll notice a significant improvement in ride quality. Highly recommended over stock, much firmer.
Where Can You Get Those Springs?
Finding cheap springs takes work. You can get them at your dealership, but they will cost more. They can cost between 200-400$. If you want them cheaply, look for springs on craigslist and eBay. You may find some for just 80-100$. You can also find spring for a decent amount on some online auto stores.
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Conclusion
The choice between JK Wrangler 60 Springs VS 56 depends significantly on what you want and your vehicle’s condition. If you don’t have a tow package, don’t want any rake, have a proper lift, don’t need to raise the vehicle too much, and only do a little off-roading, then the 56 springs can be a good choice.
But, if you prefer to have a little rake or carry a heavy load on the trunk, plan off-roading regularly, and need a good lift because your springs are sagging and your JK Wrangler is a little low to your liking, then you need those 60 springs.
Keep vrooooming!