Howdy...been a reader here for awhile. I have an '03 KJ Limited w/49000 on it. Tires are just about worn, time to replace, so I decided to upgrade the springs and shocks as well. I've been trying to digest all the lift information I can. I purchased OME MD springs and Rancho shocks all the way around and will be adding 1 or 2 upper isolator pads for the rear. I was wondering if folks replace their shock mounts up front or just use the old parts for the installation. Dealership wants 95.00 each side for the mounts and that does not include bolts/nuts, etc. I haven't read where allot of people do this.

Also, 99% percent of my driving is highway (I know, pretty sad), but wanted to know if anyone is running the Firestone Destination LE's. Tire Rack reviews were not that favorable for mileage, but seemed to be ok for all weather traction. Duelers, although excellent, are just too loud.

Appreciate your help....

Dave

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2003 Limited Flame Red
2005 Rubicon Unlimited Sahara Edition

Semper Fi

I added OME kit at 28,000 miles and reused the strut mounts...you should be fine.

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Founder of L.O.S.T.
2006 CRD Sport
Mods: GDE Hot Tune w/ 364#@2000rpm/Air Box /3" Str8 Exhaust/ASFIR Alum Skids/245-75R-16 Cooper STT PRO/OME LIFT w/Clevis & 4 Spring Isos/AirTabs/Rigid 10" S2 LED/4xGuard Ctr Matrix Bumper
Drag Strip:Reac=.1078_60ft=2.224_1/8=10.39@64.8mph_1/4+16.46@80.8mph

I reused mine with no problems so you should be good to go!

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MUDD'S MOTORSPORT'S We do IFS lift installs ,
03 OVERLAND EDITION /Kilby-Skidrow-Mopar-4XGuard skids/ 2.5 inch TOTAL CONTROL JBA coilovers -JBA Arms/MOABS-31 FALKEN WILDPEAK AT3W / 4.10's etc, 04 Kilimanjaro Edition loaded, plus 05 KJ limited

I checked with the folks where I bought my OME lift (OK 4wd) and they said replacement was not necessary. Spend that $$$ on other mods

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STEVE
L.O.S.T. #075255
Patriot Blue 2002 Sport, OME Lift, 245/75/16 BFG AT's on Cragar Soft 8's, Black Widow Basket, Magnaflow Exhaust, Sirius Radio, Alpine Blackbird GPS, Silverstar Headlight Bulbs, Homemade Cross Rails, Debadged, Amsoil Bumper-to-Bumper, More Mods to Come...

OE mounts are fine
adding rear isolators will give you a bunch of rake to the front ,front lower then the rear
if you think that Bridgestone Duelers are loud then just get a good highway tread tire
I have Duelers on my work truck and I can not even hear them compaired to my jeeps
MTR's on the KJ ,wifes DD
Superswamper LTB's on the TJ ,my weekend toy

Thanks guys...wrenching is not my specialty, I would prefer to do it myself so I learn it, but wanted to get a better understanding of this before taking to a local shop for the install.

So when replacing the fronts, it's a matter of using the old plate and the old upper and lower isolators when installing the new springs and struts, unless I choose to replace the isolators also?

jason thompson: "adding rear isolators will give you a bunch of rake to the front ,front lower then the rear" I'm not exactly sure what your saying here. Is it the rear will be sitting higher than the front? From what I see others have been doing, front clevis (2 or 3 conduit nuts) and 1 or 2 rear isolators, it seems that that is necessary to level things out. It also seems sometimes it's a matter of trial and error and/or owner preference on the number of uppers for the rear. That's why it gets a little confusing for the new guy.

On the Revos, everyone who rode in the jeep would comment on how loud they were. I also had to rotate every 2500 to keep the front outer edge of both tires from excessive scalloping. I'm thinking about the Firestone A/T's too, a little more aggressive than the LE's.

thanks again...

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2003 Limited Flame Red
2005 Rubicon Unlimited Sahara Edition

Semper Fi

Sounds like you need an alignment if the outer edges are getting feathered at 2500 miles..it wouldn't be the fault of the Bstones. Are they Dueler AT 693s or Revos? Even if you get Michelin Cross Terrains, you'll have noisy tires after a short time if you HAVE to rotate every 2500 miles

Firestone ATs are a good all around tire except for a lot of mud

yes adding 2 or 3 isolaters will give you a lot of rake unless you do a bunch of conduit nuts in the front, I have 2 or 3 in mine with Rancho struts and nothing in the rear except what came stock, and it sits level, I like a 69 Stang jacked up in the back but not a Liberty I would start out with just the stock ones and then see how you like it, only takes 20 minutes to throw more in there!

Tom

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MUDD'S MOTORSPORT'S We do IFS lift installs ,
03 OVERLAND EDITION /Kilby-Skidrow-Mopar-4XGuard skids/ 2.5 inch TOTAL CONTROL JBA coilovers -JBA Arms/MOABS-31 FALKEN WILDPEAK AT3W / 4.10's etc, 04 Kilimanjaro Edition loaded, plus 05 KJ limited

The reason that guys put more isolators in the rear is for more lift
they do the clevis lift in the front for the same reason ,more lift
I have nothig else but the OME springs rancho struts and OME shocks
our KJ looks factory but 3" higher ,2" on springs and 1" on tires

When I take it over as my DD I will do a clevis lift when I add my custom winch mount to it
to keep it level