Lifts that are CRD Specific

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Tue Oct 31, 2006 8:52 am

Remember that lifts can void some warranty coverage of suspension components if they (DC) can attribute your lift as the cause of a failure. This includes but is not limited to CVJoints/Axles, Ball Joints/Upper and Lower,Shocks/Struts and Bushings/Sway Bar. Your Steering Rack will also come under additional stress turning heavier Tire/Wheel combinations. There could also be issue with clearance caused by larger tires contacting suspension and body parts. Lifts will also affect fuel mileage especially when adding larger tires (taller and wider). Also remember that your COG (Coefficient of Gravity) will be higher and might affect (probably will) handling-It is a Jeep, not a Viper!. The lifts noted below are some of the lifts availabe for the CRDs but L.O.S.T. is not reccomending any based on performance...this is just an information post meant to get you going. Some of the lifts below use springs to attain lift, some use spacers such as DAYSTAR and others use a combo of both springs and spacers. As for spacers there are basically three way to attain lift 1)OTT type spacers which go on top of your strut ouside the strut itself 2)INTERNAL, such as Daystar Pucs that go inside your front strut and under or over your rear springs to attain lift and 3)CLEVIS type that are on the bottom of your strut and change the position the strut rides on the stock clevis fork.

Frankenlift I and II
http://www.boulderbars.com/frankenlift_crd.htm

RevTek Spacer lift would probably work too
http://www.revtek.com/product_sel.asp?m ... &modelid=4

Rocky-Road Combo and Rockfather
http://www.rocky-road.com/kjsus.html

Rusty's Offroad...not CRD specific but they do sell OME springs/shocks/struts and a spacer kit
http://www.rustysoffroad.com/

RockKrwaler.com...not CRD specific but will most likely work...only problem might be the 3" height they advertise

Jeepin Al - makes some killer Upper Control Arms that are longer and have replaceable Ball Joints
http://www.jeepinbyal.com/files/

***We have come to suspect that the CRD front diff actually sits a little lower than the 3.7L front diff. This means that you CVJoint angles will most likely be less severe than on a gasser...This is good news!!!***Another thing is that the diff is offset a bit more to the left so the front axles are different than the gassers.

POST ANY OTHERS YOU KNOW THAT ARE CRD SPECIFIC...also...POST ANY EXPERIENCE WITH LIFTING YOUR CRD

railguy · **Posted:** Thu Nov 02, 2006 1:47 pm

I have read some complaints about some of Rocky Road's earlier lift kits for the Liberty. Does anyone have experience with the CRD Rockfather kit (I or II), positive or negative?

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Thu Nov 02, 2006 1:55 pm

The ones listed above are a different type and do not have the original OTT problems of the "old days".

The kits that caused most of the "horror stories" were the OTT style. This was a big...tall...spacer that went on top of the front struts outside the strut itself. Yes, they did cause problems.

The one you mentioned is a different type all together.

paolino · **Posted:** Mon Nov 06, 2006 8:40 am

I've a 2,5" skyjacker lift. But the engine is too heavy even for this lift. You loose at least 1/2"

W3CSX · **Posted:** Fri Nov 10, 2006 10:44 pm

I think the new rockkrawler 3.5" x factor lift will work for the CRD's. It provides lift by extending the strut fork (or clevis if you prefer). Leaving the stock strut assembly in place as is.

http://www.rockkrawler.com/pages/catalog/index.php?r_itemID=89

Jason

CRuD Bucket · **Posted:** Sun Nov 19, 2006 10:31 am

How about a 2" lift for a budget? Let's say I want another 2" of height but don't want to buck up for other accessories (yet). I'm afraid I'll be stuck with these OEM tires for a while. :cry:

Emos Way · **Posted:** Sun Nov 19, 2006 4:06 pm

I put a 2.5 inch budget lift from Rocky Rock, so far it's ok.. I had to do a little trimming though, thank god my cousin works at a body shop... as for installing it, a buddy and myself did it in about 4 hours..

KJ79 · **Posted:** Fri Nov 24, 2006 3:42 am

I tried first the Daystar kit with the large pucks in the front, complete with the new top plates. I was not happy with it. I had too much lift, certainly enough to get instant rejection of warranty claims, obvious angles on the CV's as well. Also the front was riding higher than the rear. In the rear I used the 2.5 inch pucks including the factory spring cushion. I talked to Daystar and they advised me that the big front pucks are not for the CRD. The CRD springs are much stiffer than the gas ones, this is why the lift was in the region of 3.25" instead of the planned 2.5". I changed the big pucks out for the smaller ones and I am very happy. It rides at least as good if not better than stock ! I got 2.5" of lift, it looks right. The rear is slightly taller than the front as I think it should be.
I changed the rear shocks to Pro-Comps, similar to the ones I had on my 3.7l, however the valving seems to be shot. I might try a warranty call on these. Even on small imperfections on the pavement it feeld like I am driving with 12 ply tires. I actually have 4 ply and even at 30 psi the rear suspension seems to be locked up. On the highway it is fine, but that is likely a result of smooth pavement. Are the Ranchos providing a smoother experience, like stock or harsher?. Is anyone using the adjustable shocks?

NEW EDIT: I managed to take the Pro-Comps back to the supplier and got BDS shocks - a world of difference, these shocks work better than stock but are a little longer, in fact they come normally with the BDS lift kit.

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Tue Nov 28, 2006 11:51 am

W3CSX wrote:

I think the new rockkrawler 3.5" x factor lift will work for the CRD's. It provides lift by extending the strut fork (or clevis if you prefer). Leaving the stock strut assembly in place as is.

http://www.rockkrawler.com/pages/catalog/index.php?r_itemID=89

Jason

I wish they would send us one to test...nobody has tried this one or posted about it yet :idea:

alljeep · **Posted:** Wed Nov 29, 2006 11:27 am

It should be noted that the CRD has about a 1/2" front cradle drop from the factory that the gas KJ does not have. This is why the Daystar front pucks work so well, without the upper strut plate.

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Wed Nov 29, 2006 3:23 pm

Actually it was here on this forum that we figured out the cradle drop theory...Jeger and I were both in a post and kinda figured it out. It started with the Differential Collar buy. A female CRD owner said heres was making all sorts of noise. Then I installed mine and it was obvious that the noise was caused by the collar bouncing on the engine crossmember. At first I thought it was just because the crossmember was different. Then I noticed a pic of someones CRD front driveshaft and noticed how it had a tilt down angle to the front diff...the rest is history :lol:

W3CSX · **Posted:** Wed Nov 29, 2006 11:19 pm

Here is the thread DarbyWalters was talking about.

http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=14354&highlight=

Jason

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Thu Nov 30, 2006 11:05 am

Yep, that's the one...and really it doesn't matter who came up with the discovery...just that we found out at all. Thanx Jason for finding that one.

GregScuba · **Posted:** Mon Dec 04, 2006 4:58 pm

So let me get this right, the older Rocky Road OTT kits had problems, but their newer ones do not? I just ordered a 2.5" budget kit from Rocky Road (OTT spacers in front, pucks in rear), and I am now getting nervous that I will have rubbing issues. What is the concensus on this kit?

They told me there is a 1% chance I will have rubbing. I hope they didn't leave two zeros out after the one on that percentage.

EDIT: I just called and canceled my order after reading about how problematic OTT lifts are with KJ's, especially for CRD KJ's. I am going to take my business to All J and get the tried and true Daystar 2.5" spacer lift.

dog_party · **Posted:** Mon Dec 04, 2006 5:40 pm

GregScuba wrote:

So let me get this right, the older Rocky Road OTT kits had problems, but their newer ones do not? I just ordered a 2.5" budget kit from Rocky Road (OTT spacers in front, pucks in rear), and I am now getting nervous that I will have rubbing issues. What is the concensus on this kit?

They told me there is a 1% chance I will have rubbing. I hope they didn't leave two zeros out after the one on that percentage.

EDIT: I just called and canceled my order after reading about how problematic OTT lifts are with KJ's, especially for CRD KJ's. I am going to take my business to All J and get the tried and true Daystar 2.5" spacer lift.

Good call.

CRuD Bucket · **Posted:** Mon Dec 04, 2006 8:52 pm

I just emailed Boulder Bars for info/pricing on the Daystar. I just want to get this thing up above Wuss Wagon height. Weren't the earlier KJ's higher? I don't recall seeing much info on rollover problems.

CRuD Bucket · **Posted:** Wed Dec 06, 2006 9:32 am

Anyone got a pic of a KJ with a Daystar (or other) 2.5" lift and STOCK tires? Just trying to figure out what Little Mack might look like.

dog_party · **Posted:** Wed Dec 06, 2006 10:57 am

Quote:

Wuss Wagon height.

HA!

Yep, the early 02s were higher than the latter KJs by about 2". I have the Daystar 2" and stock tires, but I don't have any picts. My camera has gone missing, sorry. It looks fine to me though. Looks better that stock height and stock tires. :-)

It'll definitely make you rebudget some aftermarket tires though.

I like your truck's nickname. :wink:

alljeep · **Posted:** Wed Dec 06, 2006 11:01 am

dog_party wrote:

Quote:

Wuss Wagon height.

HA!

Yep, the early 02s were higher than the latter KJs by about 2". I have the Daystar 2" and stock tires, but I don't have any picts. My camera has gone missing, sorry. It looks fine to me though. Looks better that stock height and stock tires. :-)

It'll definitely make you rebudget some aftermarket tires though.

I like your truck's nickname. :wink:

Just remember that the CRD is the only KJ to come with a factory 1/2" front suspension cradle drop, which is why the Daystar pucks, without the top metal strut spacer/relocation bracket, works so well...

If you install the Full Daystar kit, with the metal front top bracket, your will be sitting high in the front, but, you can then raise the rear more to compensate and end up with a big-a lift!

For me, just the pucks front and rear work great with no need to replace front struts or rear shocks.

Can't help you with the tire pictures as I had crammed my replacements on at only 588 miles on the ODO.

CRuD Bucket · **Posted:** Wed Dec 06, 2006 3:02 pm

Quote:

For me, just the pucks front and rear work great with no need to replace front struts or rear shocks.

That's what I wanted to check on---the guy at Boulderbars suggested replacing the struts. With only 8k on the clock, I'd like to wear out the OEM crap first. You guys have any reservations about the struts with "just" the Daystar kit? I don't off-road much other than driving a state forest road to go hunting a few times a year.

Lifts that are CRD Specific

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