I've never driven any lifted vehicle, so I'm clueless. I'm thinking about investing in a KJ lift kit, but I don't want to alter the road manners too much that my wife's uncomfortable driving it. My wife drives the KJ about a third of the time, and my biggest concern is raising the center of gravity and increasing the likelihood of a rollover accident. Without giving me too much of a physics lesso, is a KJ lifted 3 inches a lot more prone to roll than one lifted 2 inches? I'm just interested in real-life Interstate highway driving under average conditions, as any SUV (stock KJ, for example) can be rolled by cornering too fast. I'd really like a lifted ride, but I don't want my wife (or me) to feel every curve we take could be our last.

What are your thoughts? Any recommendations. I don't get off road very much, and I don't plan on doing anything too hardcore. I'm leaning toward the Rough Country 3" kit #1692, which comes with aluminum strut extensions, rear coil springs, and rear Heckethorn Nitro 9000 series shocks. For our uses, I can't imagine needing anything more than one of the $350-400 kits.

T.J.

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2003 Liberty Sport
Bright Silver Metallic
Daystar lift
General Tire Grabber AT2 245/70R16

It's not much different than stock especially when you add wider tires. If you opt for new OME HD springs, then I would say it handles better than stock.

Personally, I would stay away from the Rough Country lift due to the aluminum strut extension. It will create the same problem an OTT kit will. Might be okay if you don't wheel it hard and stay on the street most of the time, but I'd look more towards something else. Rusty's coil lift gives you a good bang for the buck.

Of course if a vehicle is lifted at all from it's stock suspension level, it will have a higher roll-over risk. Jeep put slightly sorter springs in their 03-present KJs because a auto review magazine criticized Jeep for how easy it was to roll over, since they actually did so (which isn't hard in any SUV...). But honestly, I don't think highway handling is any worse from my lift. The M/Ts make the difference in steering and traction, but the Frankenlift comes with Ranchos struts and shocks which handle great. My ride feels taller after my lift, but tighter. Obviously a spacer lift would only decrease handling to much worse than stock and, combining with a higher center of gravity, create one crappy ride.

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2003 Limited, Silver - L.O.S.T. # 068957 Rockies
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2127390/14
2006 Kawasaki KLR650

When I put my lift on I still had the stock rims. The ride was 100 times better than stock, but in the turns i could very much tell the difference! It was a lot more top heavey than it already is! So to compensate this and give the lib a lil more sex apeal, I added some soft 8s with 1.5" less backspacing than the stock rims. I figured i raised the rig a lil more than 3" and now I have a 3" wider track so now "roll over factor" is back to stock specs.

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LIBERTY or DEATH

2005 Sport with "STUFF"

No handling difference at all....just a little slower on the move with the MTR's.....gotta push the skinny a little harder on the freeway to get it going.

Cornering at high speed should be avoided to.....if you have ESP then its not a big deal....but otherwise just take it steady.

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"Earth first, we'll Jeep the other planets later"

-2007 Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon.

Overland Expeditions

It feels higher (of course) with the lift but also handles better I think There are curves that I took at 65 before the lift and still take them at 65, of course I know that you can also reach that point of no return when any vehicle will flip. But go for the lift because the end result is a much better ride and the looks are better also

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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

you can see the mods i've done in my sig

That setup gives me a nice ride even at highway speeds. Even going 70mph on narrow bumpy roads with curves is fine. (fun even) It feels like I have less body roll now than when it was stock.

And a good lift is nothing without GOOD TIRES!

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Ray's Renegade
L.O.S.T # RP052495
Light Khaki 2005 Renegade 4x4
28D package (full skids)
Trailer tow group
Auto tranny
Trac-Loc
Jeep seat covers
K&N air filter
Moog K3199 LBJs
Frankenlift
Al's upper A arms
Goodyear wrangler silent armor
255/70-16

Jeep handles good with the lift and tires. I have noticed that it will push alot more in the rain though. Ive almost wrecked many times b/c of that. I thought it was the tires, but after going to the general grabbers, I think its actually alittle worse.

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LOST KJ'S
Where are you going???
Current Jeep: 2004 Jeep Liberty
-Atlantic Blue
-Air Ride Rear Suspension ; OME/Rustys Lift ; Powertrax Locker ; Moog Lower Ball-Joints ; 245/70/16 Yokohama Geolander A/T-S's on MOABS ; Flowmaster 50 SUV
Lost #007082
http://www.cardomain.com/id/jeepjeepster

It's cause of your locker man!

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LIBERTY or DEATH

2005 Sport with "STUFF"

Thanks for the feedback, everybody.

At one time, I thought the Rusy's coil lift would be what I needed. I'm not ruling out anything at this point. What about this 4WD Hardware 2" kit

http://www.4wd.com/newsite/shop/product ... pid=493301

Do I really need new front struts (like with the Rusty's kit) if I'm only lifting the front 2 inches?

T.J.

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2003 Liberty Sport
Bright Silver Metallic
Daystar lift
General Tire Grabber AT2 245/70R16

You don't need new front struts when lifted. The wheel travel of the front doesnt really changes like the rear so you don't need new struts. However, they would be a nice addition for a better ride. The 4wd kit is 429 and Rustys coil lift is 465. 36 dollars is more than worth it for two new top of the line OME struts that are included in Rusty's kit. OME struts retain for about 125 dollars a piece. You are getting 2 for only an exta 36 dollars.

Plus if you want to change the struts anytime after you install the lift you have to take the whole front strut assembly apart again, which is a PITA. Might as well swap them out while you have it apart.

Exactly! Except... I do believe the OME struts extend further than the stock struts. Correct if wrong.

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LIBERTY or DEATH

2005 Sport with "STUFF"

i have a rustys 2.5 spacer lift with 265's (without spacers on stock rims, can any1 say 3 point turns? ) it handles almost the same but then i took the rear swaybar off and now its my daily driver. on the highway doing fast lane changes it gave me some serious butt pucker feelings untill i got used to no rear sway bar.

Actually, I think they might be but not by much though.

I had the rustys coil lift and IT DID drive better than stock. A lot better. Even on highway speeds of 80mph

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L.O.S.T. #31000

'03 KJ Freedom Edition - 4" JBA Coilover Lift w/ 32" Cooper STT PROs
'98 XJ Sport - 6" Full-Traction 4-Link Long Arm - Jeepspeed #2731 (Race Jeep)

DobermanRacing.com - Team Driver
Sponsored by UltRanger & CellTech

Do not buy the Rough Country 3" - Trust Me

As far as handling - All I can say is the new tires I got make a Huge Differance - Soooo much better - Drive straight, doesnt wiggle, Im hitting the corners much faster with all the squeel.

Note - I have my wheels spaced out farther so its a wider track as well as better tires

Stock - 5.5 BS - 7" Rims - 9.5 Tire
Now - 4.5 BS - 8" Rim - 10.5 Tire

KjHawaii

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04 Sport Stick Offroad Tow Power Privacy K&N FlowM50SS Frankenlift Disco Collar
1/2"CradleDrop 15x8-4.5 Steel BFGATKO31-10.5-15
DualBatt 1kInvertor StealthWhistler AlpineMP340gig DiamHex KickerSolo Cap&Amps
Want&Need Als Arms Seats BTsony Lockers