Black Ops Auto Works. Updated 2026. Nineteen years of Mopar suspension experience, thousands of WK2 and WDS builds shipped worldwide.
Black Ops Auto Works has been dialing in Mopar suspensions since 2007, and lowering the WK2 Jeep Grand Cherokee and the WDS Dodge Durango is the phone call we take most often. This is the current, honest version of that conversation. You will get real drop numbers, updated OEM alignment specs, spring picks by driving style, when you actually need rear adjustable arms, and the shop mistakes that cost enthusiasts a set of tires.
Which platforms this covers
- 2011 to 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee WK2, including Laredo, Limited, Overland, Summit, Altitude, and 5.7 V8
- 2012 to 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT and SRT8 with the 6.4L 392 HEMI
- 2018 to 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk with the supercharged 6.2L HEMI
- 2011 to 2024 Dodge Durango R/T, Citadel, GT, and V6 trims
- 2018 to 2023 Dodge Durango SRT 392
- 2021 to 2024 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat
The WK2 Grand Cherokee and the WDS Durango share the same platform, the same front control arm geometry, and the same rear five link setup. One guide covers both trucks.
What actually happens when you lower one of these
Lowering these platforms changes four things at once, ride height, camber, toe, and caster. Ride height is the easy part. The other three are where most owners and most alignment shops get lost.
When the truck sits lower, the upper control arms pull the top of the wheel inward, which loads the tire on the inside edge, that is negative camber. Rear camber shifts the same way through the upper links. Toe follows because the lower control arm arc changes. Caster barely moves on a WK2 because the lower arm has three slotted bolts, not eccentric cams, which is worth knowing before you argue with a shop about it.
The OEM finally caught up on alignment specs
For years, the WK2 factory alignment spec called for negative 1.1 and negative 2.1 on the front. The OEM updated the range to negative 1.4 to negative 2.5 on the passenger front and negative 1.1 to negative 2.2 on the driver front. That change matters because every mainstream lowering spring in the WK2 world, Mopar, Eibach, and our Swift Springs, now lands the front camber back inside the OEM range without any arms, brackets, or cam bolts.
Camber ranges at a glance
| Position | Old OEM Range | Current OEM Range | Where Aftermarket Springs Land |
|---|---|---|---|
| Front Driver | Negative 1.1 to Negative 2.1 | Negative 1.1 to Negative 2.2 | Roughly Negative 1.8 to Negative 2.0 |
| Front Passenger | Negative 1.1 to Negative 2.1 | Negative 1.4 to Negative 2.5 | Roughly Negative 1.9 to Negative 2.2 |
| Rear, both sides | Negative 0.5 to Negative 1.5 | Negative 0.5 to Negative 1.7 | Negative 1.2 to Negative 2.2 depending on drop |
If your shop cannot get a Mopar or Eibach set into spec on a WK2, the springs are not the problem. For the full breakdown of the numbers your alignment shop should hit, see our deep dive on WK2 alignment specs after lowering.
Lowering spring options, drop heights, and honest ride quality
These are the drops and ride ratings we actually see in the field, not marketing sheets. Ride quality is one to ten where ten is stiffest.
| Spring | Front Drop | Rear Drop | Type | Ride Quality | Rear Arms Needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OEM stock | Reference | Reference | Progressive | 5, or 6 to 7 in Sport | No |
| Mopar Performance | Roughly 1.0 inch | Roughly 1.6 inch | Linear | 9 to 10, very firm | No |
| Eibach Pro-Kit | Roughly 1.1 inch | Roughly 2.1 inch | Linear | 9 to 10, very firm | Borderline at 2.1 |
| Swift Springs Low | Rear only, subtle | Roughly 1.2 inch | Linear | 6 to 7 | No |
| Swift Springs Mid | Roughly 1.2 inch | Roughly 2.0 inch | Progressive | 7 | No |
| Swift Springs Extreme | Roughly 1.5 inch | Roughly 2.8 inch | Progressive | 7 to 8 | Yes, rear adjustable arms required |
Which spring is right for you
- Subtle drop, factory ride, easy dealer conversation, choose Mopar Performance
- Deepest fixed drop with a linear feel and no arms, and you accept a firm ride, choose Eibach Pro-Kit or Eibach Special Edition on Trackhawk
- Best blend of stance, handling, and daily comfort with the OEM bounce recovery preserved, choose Swift Springs
- Most aggressive stance a WK2 or Durango can wear on street tires, choose Swift Springs and add rear adjustable arms
- Just level a nose high rear, choose Swift Springs Low, rear only
Trackhawk owners deciding between Eibach and Swift will want to read our Eibach Special Edition vs Swift Springs Trackhawk comparison.
When you actually need rear adjustable upper arms
A 2.8 inch rear drop is the point where rear camber leaves any factory range on a WK2 or WDS. That is why the Swift Springs is the one spring in the group that ships better with rear adjustable upper arms. Mopar, Eibach Pro-Kit, and the Swift Mid rarely need them if the alignment tech knows the platform.
We cover the full arms decision, plus our billet arms actually work rear adjustable upper control arms, when you actually need them.
You do not need front adjustable arms for a lowering spring alone on a WK2. Front camber is corrected at the lower arm slots. Front adjustable arms belong in a stage two or stage three build where you are also chasing caster or you have added wider offset wheels.
Where we like the alignment set
We are fine with roughly two degrees of negative camber on a top heavy performance SUV like a WK2 or a Durango SRT. Zero to negative 1.8 on a Trackhawk feels darty and squared up on the highway, especially with wide tires, so we do not recommend it. Around negative 2.0 is the sweet spot for grip, tire wear, and steering feel on these trucks.
Trackhawk and Durango SRT Hellcat notes
Trackhawk and Durango Hellcat owners have a special edition Eibach Pro-Kit tuned for the extra curb weight of the supercharged models. If you daily drive it, understand the Eibach is a linear spring, very stiff, with less rebound control than a progressive spring, and no factory bounce feel. Owners chasing a lower stance with better daily manners tend to prefer the Swift Springs on both Trackhawk and Durango Hellcat. Full walk through in the Durango SRT and Hellcat lowering guide.
Durango R/T, 5.7, and V6 owners, read this first
The WDS Durango uses rear load leveling shocks on many R/T and tow package trucks. If you install a lowering spring and the rear will not drop, or it drops the first day and rises back up, the load leveling shocks are fighting the new spring. Swap the rear load leveling shocks for standard Mopar rear shocks, or a Bilstein B6, and the truck will settle correctly. Front struts do not have load leveling on these platforms, so the front is unaffected.
Full story with part numbers and how to tell if you have them, Durango R/T lowering springs and the load leveling shock problem.
Should you delete the air suspension on a Quadra-Lift WK2
Yes, a full air suspension delete on a Quadra-Lift equipped Grand Cherokee is a proven path. Use Eibach Pro-Kit or Swift springs in place of the air struts, add Bilstein 4600 shocks front and rear, retain the OEM bump stops and upper isolators, and deactivate the air suspension control module. Complete walk through with the module deactivation steps and console switch swap, how to delete Quadra-Lift air suspension on a Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Signs your shop is not doing the job
- They tell you Mopar springs are out of spec on a WK2 or Durango. Mopar springs are literally sold through the Chrysler finance system, they cannot legally put you out of spec.
- They refuse to loosen the three front lower control arm bolts to adjust camber and caster and tell you you need adjustable arms.
- They quote you cam bolts for the front on a WK2, the WK2 uses slotted lower arms, not eccentric cams.
- They blame the spring for uneven tire wear before checking toe.
- They will not print the before and after alignment sheet.
Take the printout to a second shop. Ninety nine times out of one hundred the second shop hits spec with the same springs on the truck.
Shocks, struts, and what to replace at the same time
Abnormal bouncing after a lowering spring install is almost always a worn shock or strut, not the spring. We have sold over four thousand sets of Swift springs in seven years and have seen roughly twenty to twenty five shock or strut failures worldwide, and only two Eibach coil failures. If your Grand Cherokee or Durango has over sixty thousand miles, replace the front struts and rear shocks the same day the springs go in. Bilstein B6 up front, Bilstein B6 or Mopar Performance in the rear, and you are done.
Wheel and tire fitment after lowering
A 1.5 inch front and 2.5 inch rear drop clears a 22 by 10 wheel with a plus 30 to plus 40 offset and a 295 wide tire on a WK2 or WDS with no rubbing on street driving. Trackhawk 20 by 10 factory wheels tuck cleanly. Extreme drops with wider than 305 tires need a fender roll or a small pull on the rear quarter.
Warranty, Magnuson-Moss, and the dealer
The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act protects you. A dealer cannot void your entire vehicle warranty for installing a lowering spring, they can only decline a warranty claim on a component the aftermarket part directly caused to fail. That means an aftermarket spring cannot void a transmission claim, an infotainment claim, or an engine claim. Mopar Performance springs are the only choice if you want to keep every dealer conversation frictionless, since they are a Mopar part number.
Install order that saves you money
- Order springs, matching shocks or struts, and rear adjustable arms if you chose Swift
- Book an alignment for the same week as the install, not two weeks later
- Install the front struts and springs first, torque the strut top nuts and the lower knuckle bolts to spec
- Install the rear shocks, then the rear springs. On Durango R/T, replace load leveling shocks with standard shocks at this step
- Install rear adjustable upper arms only if running a 2.8 inch rear drop or greater
- Drive the truck for forty to sixty miles to let the springs settle before the alignment
- Alignment shop sets front camber and caster at the lower control arm, sets rear camber at the upper arms, sets total toe last
- Ask for the printout, aim for roughly negative 2.0 camber front, negative 1.2 to negative 1.5 rear
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to lower a Jeep Grand Cherokee or Dodge Durango
Budget for the springs, matching shocks or struts, a spring compressor rental, and an alignment. A DIY install with mid range parts lands in the low to mid four figures. Adding rear adjustable arms and shop labor pushes it higher.
How long does it take to install lowering springs on a Durango or Grand Cherokee
Plan on four to six hours in a home garage with jack stands and a spring compressor. A shop with a lift finishes in three to four.
Do I need rear control arms with Eibach Pro-Kit on a WK2
Usually no, the Eibach Pro-Kit lands inside the current OEM camber range on a WK2 or Trackhawk without arms. If a shop cannot align it, get a second opinion before you buy arms.
Do I need adjustable arms with the Mopar Performance kit
No, Mopar Performance is a shallow drop and stays in spec on all WK2 and Durango trims without arms.
What is the biggest drop I can run on a WK2 or Durango without arms
Around a two inch rear drop is the practical ceiling without rear adjustable upper arms. Beyond that the rear camber falls outside factory range on most trucks.
Will lowering springs void my Jeep or Dodge warranty
No, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act protects you. Only components directly damaged by the spring can be denied, not the whole vehicle warranty.
Which lowering spring rides the best on a Trackhawk
The Swift Springs Mid rides the most like factory Sport mode with better body control. Eibach Special Edition rides firmer and more linear.
Will my Durango R/T actually drop with lowering springs
Only if you replace the rear load leveling shocks with standard shocks at the same time. Otherwise the load leveling shocks will fight the spring and the rear will not settle all the time.
What alignment specs should I ask for after lowering a Grand Cherokee
Aim for roughly negative 2.0 camber up front on both sides, caster at 5.0 degrees or 5.5 degrees on Quadra-Lift, and total toe at factory zero to positive 0.1.
Can I lower a Jeep Grand Cherokee with Quadra-Lift air suspension
Yes, either delete the air suspension entirely with coils and shocks, or set ride height to Sport mode and align it there. A full delete is the more common long term fix.
Will lowering springs affect my tow rating or gas tank clearance on a Durango
A one to two inch drop does not affect tow rating in any meaningful way and does not reduce gas tank clearance on the WDS platform.
How do I know if my shocks are worn out after lowering
Abnormal bouncing over expansion joints, a floaty rear over freeway seams, or visible oil weeping from the strut body all point to a worn damper, not a bad spring.
Get on the phone if you want it dialed in the first time
Every truck is a little different. Call Black Ops Auto Works at 855-221-9728 or email sales@blackopsautoworks.com and we will walk you through spring choice, shock pairing, arm requirements, and the alignment target for your exact year, trim, and wheel setup. Nineteen years on this platform, thousands of sets shipped worldwide, and we still answer the phone.
Related reading
- Jeep Trackhawk lowering springs, Eibach Special Edition vs Swift Springs
- Dodge Durango R/T lowering springs and the load leveling shock problem
- Rear adjustable upper control arms, when you actually need them
- WK2 Jeep Grand Cherokee alignment specs after lowering
- How to delete Quadra-Lift air suspension on a Jeep Grand Cherokee
- Dodge Durango SRT and Hellcat lowering guide