KK Lift Question Someone Help

1993tylerc · **Joined:** Wed Apr 22, 2015 4:19 pm **Posts:** 17

Ok guys heres my situation.. I am looking to try and get anywheres between 2 and 3 inches of lift on my kk... I know not to go with the daystar spacer lift because it will beat up the stock suspension and eventually ill be bottoming out on every little bump.

However, what about the skyjack spacer lift? Is there any difference in a skayjacker spacer lift or a teraflex spacer lift than a daystar?

But what i guess im really trying to get at is that my budget is 500 dollars, i want 2-3 inches but i dont want to jeopardize my ride.

instead of buying a complete lift kit, has anyone bought pieces seperately and rigged together a good lift? Could i just buy one of the spacer lifts and just put new springs in? would this be cheaper?

Bottom line, please dont tell me to save a little more because this 500 is all i got and honestly there are a few other things it could or should go to but i want the kk lifted.

1993tylerc · **Joined:** Wed Apr 22, 2015 4:19 pm **Posts:** 17

I realize there is a lot of other threads going talking about lifts. But i was really hoping someone knowledgable would be able to price something together for me. maybe mix and match parts?

lfhoward · **Posted:** Sun May 17, 2015 1:21 pm

Honestly, any kind of spacer lift is going to have a harsh ride that degrades your springs and shocks over time, and will not be recommended by people on here. If you are set on getting a spacer lift, Daystar is probably the best (or least worst) of them. Make sure to get some Teraflex front bump stops so that your suspension lasts a bit longer before having to tear it down and redo it. There are some folks on LOST who started out with a spacer lift and within a year or so their springs sagged so much they had to upgrade to a full spring lift like OME or JBA. They are quite vocal that they have no love for the spacer lift, and wish they hadn't gotten it (you can search their posts). A spacer lift could possibly get you on the trail sooner, but the problem is you will need to tear the suspension apart again within a year or two to replace the springs and shocks and the ride (on-road and off) will not be good in the meantime. Really, for about $850 you could get OME springs & shocks and it would ride 100x better and be long-lasting too. That's only $350 more... How long would it take to save that up? A couple of months?

Be sure to read the KK Lift FAQ thread by Bmxer524 - http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=88&t=79401. He will probably chime in here with the correct OME part numbers to net you 2.5 inches, and some inexpensive tricks to get your KK up to 3 inches too.

tommudd · **Posted:** Sun May 17, 2015 4:21 pm

1993tylerc wrote:

Ok guys heres my situation.. I am looking to try and get anywheres between 2 and 3 inches of lift on my kk... I know not to go with the daystar spacer lift because it will beat up the stock suspension and eventually ill be bottoming out on every little bump.

However, what about the skyjack spacer lift? Is there any difference in a skayjacker spacer lift or a teraflex spacer lift than a daystar?

But what i guess im really trying to get at is that my budget is 500 dollars, i want 2-3 inches but i dont want to jeopardize my ride.

instead of buying a complete lift kit, has anyone bought pieces seperately and rigged together a good lift? Could i just buy one of the spacer lifts and just put new springs in? would this be cheaper?

Bottom line, please dont tell me to save a little more because this 500 is all i got and honestly there are a few other things it could or should go to but i want the kk lifted.

If thats all you have, and can't save anymore you will be way farther ahead to just forget about lifting
Spacer lifts are hard on front suspension parts , period.
No way around it so you'll pay more for worn parts etc
Plus you know you need not only the kit but at the very least new rear shocks, then if you have over 50-60,000 miles your front shocks should be replaced. But then with the weak springs KJ sand KKs have well ,.....just drive it stock

1993tylerc · **Joined:** Wed Apr 22, 2015 4:19 pm **Posts:** 17

i have read all the lift related threads ive come across. i was simply wondering if there were any aftermarket front springs that would be able to sustain the spacer lift and handle its thrash a little better. i just broke 50k on the dash so rear should be fine for a while, but does anyone make front springs the same size as stock that i could replace with? do you get what im saying? Tom I get where your coming from and I totally agree with everyone else, Personally im the say way I dont want to do something unless I can do it right. But this nice weather finally has me fiending out enough where i just want it lifted now. Hell even if it only lasts me 6 months thats long enough. My whole deal is I am temporarily laid off from work for another 2 weeks so I have to watch the money I spend but at the same time Im kinda lookin at itt like "hey I have two weeks to rig the jeep and wheel"

Dont underestimate the stock kk though! Im sure you all know.... I wheel it almost everyday, just drop that tire ppressure and she can hadle some goods.

Bmxer524 · **Posted:** Sun May 17, 2015 8:53 pm

lfhoward said it pretty well. There is no quality lift for around $500(unless you find one used). It will all be spacers or springs that are rated the same as stock which means they will sag quick.

If you chose to save up more, you can pick up Old Man Emu (OME) 927 front springs and 731 rear springs for 2.5" of lift. Then your choice of shocks. Bilstein will probably be the cheapest while still being good quality. You can add to it for 3" or 3.5" if you want to get aftermarket upper a-arms.

BUT, if you need to lift and don't want to save and chose to go spacer, Daystar will probably be the best. Or I've heard Rock Krawler(if you can find a used kit). RK is a 3.5" kit with a longer clevis in the front and spacers in the rear. If you chose Rock Krawler, make sure you buy grade 8 hardware. There have been more than a few shipped with lower quality hardware that isn't safe.

Another alternative is you can buy 1/4" spacer plate, and do a 3/8" clevis lift in the front, then stack 2 extra upper rear spring isolators per side in the rear. The front will then come up about 1.5" and the rear will be up 1" from where you currently sit. That can all be done for less than $100. On a side note, if I remember correctly (normally do :jester:

) new-stock height is 18" front and 19" rear both give or take a tad for factory spec allowances, so you can either have the rake (with 2 extra rear isos), or put 1 extra rear iso per side to sit level.

Bmxer524 · **Posted:** Sun May 17, 2015 8:56 pm

1993tylerc wrote:

i have read all the lift related threads ive come across. i was simply wondering if there were any aftermarket front springs that would be able to sustain the spacer lift and handle its thrash a little better. i just broke 50k on the dash so rear should be fine for a while, but does anyone make front springs the same size as stock that i could replace with? do you get what im saying? Tom I get where your coming from and I totally agree with everyone else, Personally im the say way I dont want to do something unless I can do it right. But this nice weather finally has me fiending out enough where i just want it lifted now. Hell even if it only lasts me 6 months thats long enough. My whole deal is I am temporarily laid off from work for another 2 weeks so I have to watch the money I spend but at the same time Im kinda lookin at itt like "hey I have two weeks to rig the jeep and wheel"

Dont underestimate the stock kk though! Im sure you all know.... I wheel it almost everyday, just drop that tire ppressure and she can hadle some goods.

Can't really combine spacer lifts and lift springs. You end up sitting too high for the CV axles and tie rods. Most if not all aftermarket springs are lift springs. OME and Ironman are a tad taller and have a higher spring rate to give more than the advertised 1.5"(they claim that for Australian regulations). The others are same or close to stock rates, just taller.

tommudd · **Posted:** Sun May 17, 2015 10:04 pm

Please don't buy Rock Krawler , Daystar is bad enough
again save your money

JeepMorrison · **Joined:** Thu Jul 16, 2009 11:34 am **Posts:** 1236

I agree with Tom, save your money. I wasted my money before, ran daystar for a week, until it jarred my teeth out, then ordered OME, that was a long time ago when the daystar kit included more and was cheaper.

tommudd · **Posted:** Sun May 17, 2015 11:16 pm

1993tylerc wrote:

i have read all the lift related threads ive come across. i was simply wondering if there were any aftermarket front springs that would be able to sustain the spacer lift and handle its thrash a little better. i just broke 50k on the dash so rear should be fine for a while, but does anyone make front springs the same size as stock that i could replace with? do you get what im saying? Tom I get where your coming from and I totally agree with everyone else, Personally im the say way I dont want to do something unless I can do it right. But this nice weather finally has me fiending out enough where i just want it lifted now. Heck even if it only lasts me 6 months thats long enough. My whole deal is I am temporarily laid off from work for another 2 weeks so I have to watch the money I spend but at the same time Im kinda lookin at itt like "hey I have two weeks to rig the jeep and wheel"

Dont underestimate the stock kk though! Im sure you all know.... I wheel it almost everyday, just drop that tire ppressure and she can hadle some goods.

Ok think this way , you buy the kit wheel it for 6 months, then replace UCAs since now the ball joints are shot, not you not only have to buy a lift but also new UCAs
plus the bad ride, etc
Buy skids, and have fun for now. Learn how to wheel with limited amount of ground clearance, then when you get a real lift it will be even more fun

KK Lift Question Someone Help

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