Decided to add my 5 (€uro)cents in lifts, as mine is done and documented. All the measurements are metric, if not otherwise mentioned.
My 2004 2.8 CRD had 198k behind it and it was time for a 200k service. Front end was hanging, the whole contraption was leaning lightly to board (left) and front end was banging to stoppers in bit bigger bumps. Also cornering at higher speeds had lost its firm, so time to do something. Well, springs were original ones and shocks had also 95k behind them, so no wonder.
My Jeep is DR and I drive perhaps 40/50/10 city/highway/offroad (lousy paths at mountains) and some extra ground clearance was preferable. I was browsing several option but wanted to stay in budget and in Ebay popped up H&R +40mm springs for €207.58+21.90 postage. I went to
H&R Homepage, did the search and read the
TÜV certificate of 29203-1. Impressive, test season had been over six (6!) years and max. axle loads were matching for CRD. I wanted to be sure, so I wrote them an email asking the specs. Reply came in few hours and told the test vehicle was 2004 2.8 CRD and the specs for front springs were for it without winch or HD-bumber.
I read a lot of forums and nobody who had H&Rs in KJ CRD had said anything negative about them, neither in Germany, nor in USA or Finland and when one Finnish guy told he had driven five years with them and OE shocks, I decided to go for it. As some said one needs longer rear shocks and some not. Also H&R and another German (Jeep specialist) told 40mm is OK with stock lenght rear ones. So, next to choose the shocks.
In the past I had GYB gas shocks in several contraptions, like Dodge Aspen, Plymouth Valiant and Dodge Ram 150 stepside and experiences were systematically positive, so why not? Found nothing in any forum but decided to be Guinean pig and try. So I ended up with KYB Excel-G gas ones, €206.40+28.00 postage, total €463.88. My garagist took €100 for the job.
Before/After
Front:
Rear:
First impression was bit surprising; in low speed I can feel even the shadows of light poles, but it's not uncomfortable, just more, should I say, "sensitive". Also cornering felt in the beginning bit "buoyant" but actually it is much better and firm now. At high speeds it is like on rails and takes every bump and uneven in road surface really nice and smoothly, like real american fullsizer from 70s. Tires are 255/60-17 Pirelli Scorpions with 8 x 17 Dotz Rafting alloys, so far no rubbing. Did some speedy testing in small, curvy, hilly and less smooth asphalt road and felt like Juha Kankkunen...
Haven't done any offroad yet and most probably won't do before August because of a coming trip to Finland by plane, but will update experiences when done, like did I pop the rear shocks or something else interesting.