Lift Kits and Fabrication needs

Jeepnut · **Posted:** Wed Oct 25, 2006 3:30 am

I am looking for all the info I can get on spring rates for the liberty and different ideas of what the majority of us KJ owners are looking for in a lift kit and other body armor. A friend and I are going to start designing these on auto cad and hopefully start production of some of the items. We are working on a lift kit that doesnt involve spacers and offers good flexibility offroad. I have a built a sprung over cj7 with dana 60 axles and great articulation all in my own garage but that is easy stuff with a solid axle. But we are also exploring how to have a total bolt on solid axle system for the front of the liberty also

spoonplugger1 · **Posted:** Wed Oct 25, 2006 8:16 am

Are you staying with the IFS or going to a SFA like the CJ7? Spring rates for the IFS won't help you if you're changing. The IFS is pretty flexy if you disco the front and back. I think the stuff we have right now has been measured in the 600 range if I remember right. All the info is in the archives and can be pulled through search. I think it's all been rehashed in the last 2 weeks if you want to scroll back.

Jeepnut · **Posted:** Wed Oct 25, 2006 9:51 am

we are planning to stay with IFS for the moment our goal is a total bolt on kit that we can put in prodution with the possibility of an adjustable ride height. with what we have drawn up so far is a skid plate that would help brace the IFS and protect back to the tranny and then the Lower Long arms for the rear would connect to it also We already plan on new upper and lower control arms,

Jeger · **Posted:** Wed Oct 25, 2006 10:03 am

Jeepnut wrote:

we are planning to stay with IFS for the moment our goal is a total bolt on kit that we can put in prodution with the possibility of an adjustable ride height. with what we have drawn up so far is a skid plate that would help brace the IFS and protect back to the tranny and then the Lower Long arms for the rear would connect to it also We already plan on new upper and lower control arms,

Sounds interesting, kind of like a full underbelly reinforcement/protection/place to bolt stuff to kind of thing? If you could make a bolt on kit that really makes the IFS work, it might be a hit. Have any thoughts on ways too beef up the front diff?

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Wed Oct 25, 2006 10:46 am

There is not much you can do to the IFS at its current state to help it any more. The franken lift is the best thing out there even though it beats the Upper ball jont..

It really needs either a cradle drop like Jeep Al did and the rock krawler tried to do, and some new spindles would really help.

Jeger · **Posted:** Wed Oct 25, 2006 10:50 am

I was thinking custom upper and lower control arms, maybe a bit longer than stock, and long with that would come new cv shafts, swaybar links, struts/coilovers, etc etc. Thats what I mean by making the ifs work. Not work with what we have now but work with what could be done with it. It would be nice if we could avoid the expense of custom spindles but it may not be possible to make a really good ifs lift without them.

Jeepnut · **Posted:** Wed Oct 25, 2006 1:35 pm

We are planning a cradle drop and also exploring using a jaguar 9 inch center section for strength and would get rid of the cv joints and go to a driveshaft style U joint but a cradle drop is a must for the cv joints but those are after thoughts for the kit. we are trying to make it so that it is a bolt on kit and not modify too many componets like swaping the axle. Our goal is a bolt up kit using the stock axle in front with a crossmember skid plate dropped cradle and adjustable coilovers. but we are also keeping in mind that the stock dana 30 when fully locked up with 33" tires or larger is going to grenade at some point.

Jeepnut · **Posted:** Wed Oct 25, 2006 8:13 pm

In exploring our options we are looking at double shock hoop setups, and different types of coil set ups, for the back we want a adjustable long arm with upper 3 link. We are looking at a Johnny joint style ends that are rebuildable. The skid plate we are designing will have removable panels to access drain plugs and what not and will also be an extra backbone for the unibody hopefully making roll cages and other items easier install and possibly mount back into the main skid plate for strength. and also looking at an extension for the muffler. we want this to be a functional off road kit that works not a street wheeler that curbs will break parts or bend items. We are also exploring the option of manual hubs up front like the conversions for the wranglers. we also would like to upgrade the steering rod ends with heavy duty units, and sway bar disconects are a must.

KW AV8R · **Posted:** Wed Oct 25, 2006 11:54 pm

This definately sounds very interesting and I'm glad to see you on here asking for our input. Please keep us updated on your progress. BTW, how many inches of lift are you talking about?

kjhawaii · **Posted:** Thu Oct 26, 2006 12:18 am

Aloha - Im also interested in lower arms and CV joints. Must still deal with the steering issue. Ive took a good look at it and there is no easy way that I can see. My 1/2 cradle drop has helped a lot though. Anyways Im interested and am willing to help in anyway. KjHawaii

Jeepnut · **Posted:** Thu Oct 26, 2006 3:15 am

we havent got to the steering design yet still trying to settle on type of front suspension. Our plan is to make the lift adjustable from around 4 1/2" up to near 7 possibly. At the moment we are just taking down all the dimensions off the frame and planning where all the new bracketry will be. This weekened I hope we are getting a computer set up at the shop with auto CAD for my cad guy so we will have exact 3D models of how everything will look. Then we have to figure out what type of coils to run and if possibly more than one option and type of shocks also. I am interested in what input people have and opinions because we are hoping to put this kit into production even though it may be some months away after testing.

nolakj · **Posted:** Thu Oct 26, 2006 2:46 pm

WOW! I can't wait to see this. Please keep us updated on your progress. This sounds most intriguing.

04kjsport · **Posted:** Thu Oct 26, 2006 3:55 pm

Its great to see that you guys are trying to fab something up for the kjs. but my only question is why is it so difficult to make a lift for the kj when most of the other ifs trucks and suv's have lifts for them. i know that the commander and grand cherokee have a different front end than we do but what is so hard about it???

2006KJSPORT4x4 · **Posted:** Thu Oct 26, 2006 3:57 pm

04kjsport wrote:

Its great to see that you guys are trying to fab something up for the kjs. but my only question is why is it so difficult to make a lift for the kj when most of the other ifs trucks and suv's have lifts for them. i know that the commander and grand cherokee have a different front end than we do but what is so hard about it???

I wonder if it has something to do with our unibody construction whilst some of the trucks that run IFS just have the bodies dropped onto the frame...

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Thu Oct 26, 2006 4:24 pm

04kjsport wrote:

Its great to see that you guys are trying to fab something up for the kjs. but my only question is why is it so difficult to make a lift for the kj when most of the other ifs trucks and suv's have lifts for them. i know that the commander and grand cherokee have a different front end than we do but what is so hard about it???

The front ends are not to different.. Only thing I can think of is the balljoints are pointed in the correct direction.. :wink:

Jeepnut · **Posted:** Fri Oct 27, 2006 1:16 am

Well form what my CAD guy is telling me we can make sure before we fab the parts that the steering geometry is correct . I know when I built the CJ that I added 3 degrees to the stock steering to make sure that it would come back to center and when you turned the tires all the way to lock on each side the tires leaned a little bit. But I had no wandering issues with the setup. I also remeber him telling me that we can do strength tests to see where the weakest spots and stress areas are before we fab them up.

keep the peace · **Posted:** Fri Oct 27, 2006 1:58 pm

big thumbs up to you guys, i hope everything is workin out and progress runs speedily! Good luck with everything!!!

Lift Kits and Fabrication needs

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