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| Lifts and highway handling http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=12372 |
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| Author: | Video Guy [ Tue Sep 12, 2006 6:16 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Lifts and highway handling |
I've never driven any lifted vehicle, so I'm clueless. I'm thinking about investing in a KJ lift kit, but I don't want to alter the road manners too much that my wife's uncomfortable driving it. My wife drives the KJ about a third of the time, and my biggest concern is raising the center of gravity and increasing the likelihood of a rollover accident. Without giving me too much of a physics lesso, is a KJ lifted 3 inches a lot more prone to roll than one lifted 2 inches? I'm just interested in real-life Interstate highway driving under average conditions, as any SUV (stock KJ, for example) can be rolled by cornering too fast. I'd really like a lifted ride, but I don't want my wife (or me) to feel every curve we take could be our last. What are your thoughts? Any recommendations. I don't get off road very much, and I don't plan on doing anything too hardcore. I'm leaning toward the Rough Country 3" kit #1692, which comes with aluminum strut extensions, rear coil springs, and rear Heckethorn Nitro 9000 series shocks. For our uses, I can't imagine needing anything more than one of the $350-400 kits. T.J. |
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| Author: | Eddo [ Tue Sep 12, 2006 6:31 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
It's not much different than stock especially when you add wider tires. If you opt for new OME HD springs, then I would say it handles better than stock. Personally, I would stay away from the Rough Country lift due to the aluminum strut extension. It will create the same problem an OTT kit will. Might be okay if you don't wheel it hard and stay on the street most of the time, but I'd look more towards something else. Rusty's coil lift gives you a good bang for the buck. |
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| Author: | RespectMyLibertay [ Tue Sep 12, 2006 6:35 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
Of course if a vehicle is lifted at all from it's stock suspension level, it will have a higher roll-over risk. Jeep put slightly sorter springs in their 03-present KJs because a auto review magazine criticized Jeep for how easy it was to roll over, since they actually did so (which isn't hard in any SUV...). But honestly, I don't think highway handling is any worse from my lift. The M/Ts make the difference in steering and traction, but the Frankenlift comes with Ranchos struts and shocks which handle great. My ride feels taller after my lift, but tighter. Obviously a spacer lift would only decrease handling to much worse than stock and, combining with a higher center of gravity, create one crappy ride. |
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| Author: | kolesy [ Tue Sep 12, 2006 6:42 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
When I put my lift on I still had the stock rims. The ride was 100 times better than stock, but in the turns i could very much tell the difference! It was a lot more top heavey than it already is! So to compensate this and give the lib a lil more sex apeal, I added some soft 8s with 1.5" less backspacing than the stock rims. I figured i raised the rig a lil more than 3" and now I have a 3" wider track so now "roll over factor" is back to stock specs. |
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| Author: | zeero [ Tue Sep 12, 2006 8:00 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
No handling difference at all....just a little slower on the move with the MTR's.....gotta push the skinny a little harder on the freeway to get it going. Cornering at high speed should be avoided to.....if you have ESP then its not a big deal....but otherwise just take it steady. 
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| Author: | tommudd [ Tue Sep 12, 2006 9:09 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
It feels higher (of course) with the lift but also handles better I think There are curves that I took at 65 before the lift and still take them at 65, of course I know that you can also reach that point of no return when any vehicle will flip. But go for the lift because the end result is a much better ride and the looks are better also |
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| Author: | PitViper [ Tue Sep 12, 2006 9:52 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
you can see the mods i've done in my sig That setup gives me a nice ride even at highway speeds. Even going 70mph on narrow bumpy roads with curves is fine. (fun even) It feels like I have less body roll now than when it was stock. And a good lift is nothing without GOOD TIRES! |
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| Author: | Jeepjeepster [ Tue Sep 12, 2006 10:12 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
Jeep handles good with the lift and tires. I have noticed that it will push alot more in the rain though. Ive almost wrecked many times b/c of that. I thought it was the tires, but after going to the general grabbers, I think its actually alittle worse. 
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| Author: | kolesy [ Tue Sep 12, 2006 10:44 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
Jeepjeepster wrote: Jeep handles good with the lift and tires. I have noticed that it will push alot more in the rain though. Ive almost wrecked many times b/c of that. I thought it was the tires, but after going to the general grabbers, I think its actually alittle worse.
It's cause of your locker man! 
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| Author: | Video Guy [ Wed Sep 13, 2006 9:00 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
Thanks for the feedback, everybody. At one time, I thought the Rusy's coil lift would be what I needed. I'm not ruling out anything at this point. What about this 4WD Hardware 2" kit http://www.4wd.com/newsite/shop/product ... pid=493301 Do I really need new front struts (like with the Rusty's kit) if I'm only lifting the front 2 inches? T.J. |
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| Author: | Eddo [ Wed Sep 13, 2006 9:09 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
Video Guy wrote: Thanks for the feedback, everybody.
At one time, I thought the Rusy's coil lift would be what I needed. I'm not ruling out anything at this point. What about this 4WD Hardware 2" kit http://www.4wd.com/newsite/shop/product ... pid=493301 Do I really need new front struts (like with the Rusty's kit) if I'm only lifting the front 2 inches? T.J. You don't need new front struts when lifted. The wheel travel of the front doesnt really changes like the rear so you don't need new struts. However, they would be a nice addition for a better ride. The 4wd kit is 429 and Rustys coil lift is 465. 36 dollars is more than worth it for two new top of the line OME struts that are included in Rusty's kit. OME struts retain for about 125 dollars a piece. You are getting 2 for only an exta 36 dollars. Plus if you want to change the struts anytime after you install the lift you have to take the whole front strut assembly apart again, which is a PITA. Might as well swap them out while you have it apart. |
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| Author: | kolesy [ Wed Sep 13, 2006 4:51 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
Eddo wrote: Video Guy wrote: Thanks for the feedback, everybody. At one time, I thought the Rusy's coil lift would be what I needed. I'm not ruling out anything at this point. What about this 4WD Hardware 2" kit http://www.4wd.com/newsite/shop/product ... pid=493301 Do I really need new front struts (like with the Rusty's kit) if I'm only lifting the front 2 inches? T.J. You don't need new front struts when lifted. The wheel travel of the front doesnt really changes like the rear so you don't need new struts. However, they would be a nice addition for a better ride. The 4wd kit is 429 and Rustys coil lift is 465. 36 dollars is more than worth it for two new top of the line OME struts that are included in Rusty's kit. OME struts retain for about 125 dollars a piece. You are getting 2 for only an exta 36 dollars. Plus if you want to change the struts anytime after you install the lift you have to take the whole front strut assembly apart again, which is a PITA. Might as well swap them out while you have it apart. Exactly! Except... I do believe the OME struts extend further than the stock struts. Correct if wrong. |
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| Author: | MusicMan [ Wed Sep 13, 2006 7:34 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
i have a rustys 2.5 spacer lift with 265's (without spacers on stock rims, can any1 say 3 point turns?  ) it handles almost the same but then i took the rear swaybar off and now its my daily driver. on the highway doing fast lane changes it gave me some serious butt pucker feelings untill i got used to no rear sway bar.
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| Author: | Eddo [ Wed Sep 13, 2006 8:47 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
kolesy wrote: Eddo wrote: Video Guy wrote: Thanks for the feedback, everybody. At one time, I thought the Rusy's coil lift would be what I needed. I'm not ruling out anything at this point. What about this 4WD Hardware 2" kit http://www.4wd.com/newsite/shop/product ... pid=493301 Do I really need new front struts (like with the Rusty's kit) if I'm only lifting the front 2 inches? T.J. You don't need new front struts when lifted. The wheel travel of the front doesnt really changes like the rear so you don't need new struts. However, they would be a nice addition for a better ride. The 4wd kit is 429 and Rustys coil lift is 465. 36 dollars is more than worth it for two new top of the line OME struts that are included in Rusty's kit. OME struts retain for about 125 dollars a piece. You are getting 2 for only an exta 36 dollars. Plus if you want to change the struts anytime after you install the lift you have to take the whole front strut assembly apart again, which is a PITA. Might as well swap them out while you have it apart. Exactly! Except... I do believe the OME struts extend further than the stock struts. Correct if wrong. Actually, I think they might be but not by much though. 
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| Author: | Myke [ Wed Sep 13, 2006 11:42 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
I had the rustys coil lift and IT DID drive better than stock. A lot better. Even on highway speeds of 80mph |
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| Author: | kjhawaii [ Thu Sep 14, 2006 7:52 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
Do not buy the Rough Country 3" - Trust Me As far as handling - All I can say is the new tires I got make a Huge Differance - Soooo much better - Drive straight, doesnt wiggle, Im hitting the corners much faster with all the squeel. Note - I have my wheels spaced out farther so its a wider track as well as better tires Stock - 5.5 BS - 7" Rims - 9.5 Tire Now - 4.5 BS - 8" Rim - 10.5 Tire KjHawaii |
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