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| Lifting the JK wrangler http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=69&t=15482 |
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| Author: | JacksJeep [ Mon Dec 11, 2006 12:20 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Lifting the JK wrangler |
I imagine that I am not the only LOST guy who is contemplating JK to go with my KJ.  So I've been doing some reading and question asking to find out about the new JK. Here is a brief review of the suspension of the JK and what is involved in lifting it.
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| Author: | JacksJeep [ Mon Dec 11, 2006 12:21 pm ] |
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The JK begins with 32 inch tires (aren’t we KJ guys jealous!) Two inch lifts allow for 33s. Three inch lifts allow for 35s. Four inch lifts allow for 37s. The Rubicon comes with a driver controlled front sway bar disconnect (which will be an option on the other models, X and Sahara). The JK has solid front and rear axles with four link suspension front and rear. The axles are held in place by left and right lower and upper control arms attached to the frame. (The liberty’s rear is three link.) There are front and rear sway bars that limit body sway. There are front and rear track bars that locate axle and keep it centered during suspension travel. Lifting the JK involves different issues than the Liberty. First, with a four link suspension, when the JK is lifted the axles move toward the center of the vehicle hence ceasing to be centered in the wheel well. This is minimal on smaller lifts 2-2.5 inches. It begins to come into play at 3 inches but needs to be addressed as the lift height increases above 3 inches. Second, lifting the front and rear affects the geometry of the front and rear track bars. The track bar is attached to the axle and to the frame. As lift height increases, the track bar “pulls” the axle to the side and the axle ceases to be centered on the left to right axis. For the front, an adjustable track bar is helpful at 3 inches but not included in all kits. It becomes necessary at 4 inches. For the rear, lifts of 4 inches or above need a replacement adjustable rear track bar and or relocation bracket. Third, lifting the front changes the caster of the front axle. This can lead to poor steering and needs to be addressed from about 3 inches and up. The solutions are 1) replacement longer lower front control arms (3 inches) or 2) adjustable lower and upper control arms (3 inches and up) that can be adjusted to both center the axle in the wheel well and keep the caster in the correct range. The JK can be lifted either with spacers (up to about 2.5 inches) or with replacement springs front and rear. All lifts benefit from new longer shocks but the smaller lifts provide the option of just using the OEM shocks or shock extension brackets with the OEM shocks. Also needed for lifting the JK are extended bump stops and brake line relocation brackets so as to not stretch the brake lines too far during suspension articulation. Lifts of 3 inches and up also need replacement front and rear sway bar links. Once the JK has been lifted, it will be necessary to re-center the steering wheel. This is a simple adjustment. It is necessary because some of the electronic sensors will not function properly without the adjustment. |
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| Author: | jason thompson [ Mon Dec 11, 2006 7:08 pm ] |
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Good job I have been down that same road with every problem you listed +20 more on my TJ the fixes were plentiful I found that Nth degree had the best and after I installed it found that a TJ with 3.5-4" of lift rides better than a KJ I would wait for them to come out with a full kit befor I lift a JK and see what they do |
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| Author: | SnowgodCCR [ Sun Dec 31, 2006 8:37 pm ] |
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A good source of information is over at www.jkboard.com It's like jeepkj.com, but all about JKs. I'm here because my girlfriend drives a KJ, and in short order I will be getting a JK Rubicon. But we both like to go out and get muddy, so we have accounts for all the vehicles. My 'rents have a WJ that we wheel in too, so we're like a giant jeep family! |
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