Shocks and struts a MUST with Daystar lift?

LibertyCRD · **Posted:** Wed Oct 05, 2005 9:39 am

The Daystar spacer lift for my CRD is $249.95. But that's the lift ONLY. So if I need new shocks and struts to handle the extra length, I'm looking at another $280.00, right?

Anybody here lifted with the Daystar lift? Were aftermarket shocks and struts a MUST have item with your experience??

tymewarp · **Posted:** Wed Oct 05, 2005 10:52 am

LibertyCRD,

I have the 2.5" Daystar on an 05 CRD. I replaced the rear shocks with the Ranco rsx 17004 cost around 110 with shipping from Caolina Classic Truck (make sure to ask them to open the box and check the schoks. One of my shocks was missing it's bushings and apparently this has happened a lot lately). It seems to ride better than stock now and until someone comes up with springs to hold up the front, it seems like the only option for the CRD at this time unless you wanted to get the Daystar just for the front and springs for the rear, but you will need to replace the rear shocks either way.

-Phil

Skyjump136 · **Joined:** Tue Jul 05, 2005 6:50 pm **Posts:** 1633

The only thing you'd have to get is shocks. The struts don't need to be replaced, but it would probably help the ride up front.

LibertyCRD · **Posted:** Wed Oct 05, 2005 11:24 am

OH ok. So the factory struts up front won't bottom out or anything with the spacer lift installed? Cool. That saves $160 right there.

I will need new shocks out back though..gotcha. Thanks guys.

KW AV8R · **Posted:** Wed Oct 05, 2005 11:52 am

I've put 16,000 miles or so in my KJ with the lift and the stock shocks and struts. It is possible to do so if the $ just isn't there but I wouldn't recommend it. My shocks top out as soon as I get on the trails and the ride is like being in a go-cart. possible but not preferable

LibertyCRD · **Posted:** Wed Oct 05, 2005 1:19 pm

OK, so what about the sway bar bushings? I notice that 4wheelparts sells a kit with the sway bar bushings, and a kit without them (which is the one that All J sells I think). Do I need the sway bar bushings too? Are the stock ones not up to the task?

KW AV8R · **Posted:** Wed Oct 05, 2005 2:12 pm

Sorry, since my kit was installed by the dealership at the time of purchase, I don't know if they replaced the sway bar bushings. From what they would tell me, they purchased it directly from Daystar so who knows.

LibertyCRD · **Posted:** Mon Oct 10, 2005 8:40 am

OK, one more question...

There are two Daystar kits out there. One has just the spacers and a strut plate. It's about $250. The other has the spacers, strut plate, sway bushings, bump stops, boots, etc. and it's close to $300. Which kit is the one that everybody is using?

tymewarp · **Posted:** Mon Oct 10, 2005 10:39 am

I installed the one with the sway bar bushiings and bump stops. I figured for the difference in price, it wasn't worth questioning whether or not it was really necessary and then finding out down the road that I should have spent the money and didn't.

-Phil

BlackOps · **Posted:** Wed Oct 12, 2005 5:38 pm

I replaced my struts because I was around when everyone was getting
a different lift that was destroying their struts and I played it safe. Would I still replace the struts. yea, because it's another thing I can tell people I replace and watch them raise their eyebrows....... :lol:

--BlackOps

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Thu Oct 13, 2005 11:14 pm

ok, sorry to take over the thread, ive heard that the spacer lifts make the ride stiffer, is this true? Im really looking into getting the Daystar 1.5in lift, and 2in rear with new rancho rear shocks. Do u all think the ride would be the same as stock. I really dont want the ride to be any worse than it already is.

spoonplugger1 · **Posted:** Fri Oct 14, 2005 12:30 am

My Daystar lift didn't change my CRD's spring rates in anyway I've noticed. Since you are not compressing the springs an additional amount I don't see how the rates could change much.

KW AV8R · **Posted:** Fri Oct 14, 2005 12:48 am

My ride is stiffer than most but that might be because I sitll have the stock struts and shocks.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Fri Oct 14, 2005 10:35 am

Thats where i keep getting confused, people keep telling me when u get a spacer lift it compresses ur springs more? I dont get this, i wouldnt think it would do that.

LibertyCRD · **Posted:** Fri Oct 14, 2005 1:30 pm

Jeepjeepster... I think that I'm going to go with the same lift as you. The 1.5" front/2" rear lift from Daystar with new shocks in the rear. Reason being is the 2.5" kit is $75 more, and the only difference is an extra 1" up front. Otherwise they are identical kits. So since I HATE the "higher in the front than the rear" look on many lifted rigs...I'm going to go with the Daystar kit you mentioned and use the extra $75 to buy some rear shocks.

I was thinking about the "science of lifting a KJ" the other day. You know, if you think about it...since the KJ has a solid rear axle, NO lift kit is going to get you more clearance under the rear diff. The only extra clearance back there will come from taller tires (which you can only do because of the lift kit). But the kit itself doesn't lift the rear axle any.

In the front, since there is IFS, the lift kit WILL physically pick up the front end of the Jeep. So basically, what you are going to have is about 1.5" more clearance under the front end. And about 0.75" more clearance under the skid plate for the transmission.

A lot of guys on here measured after installing their 2.5" lifts and wondered why they didn't pick up 2.5" of ground clearance all around. That's because of how the lift works. So really the best "looking" lift for keeping the Jeep more level would be the 1.5" front/2" rear lift. And it would also be just as functional overall once you get new tires. And it's $75 less.

I'm glad I looked around before I bought because www.boulderbars.com doesn't have the other Daystar kits shown on their webpage.

OH, and also, the rear springs won't be compressed. They will just be sitting on solid spacers for added height. There is no extra compression there at all. So the rear should ride just like factory. The front end is a different story. It will feel tighter because the spring is being spaced with the spacer, but the attach points for the A-arms are stationary. So that "stretches", or compresses the spring rate more and will make it ride stiffer up front. Another reason I'm going to stick with 1.5" up front...

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Fri Oct 14, 2005 5:16 pm

GOOD. Ill let u get it first and see how it goes! lol, but that would be great to hear from some others with this lift. But its for sure what im going to get. And also, if i ever have any troubles with cv's, ill pop those out and then take it t the dealer! When do u plan to get the lift? Are u getting it from 4wheelparts? Are u going to get new stuts or shocks? Im going to get new rear shocks but idk about struts. And ive came to the conclusion that im not getting bigger tires. Ive already go 235/65/17's and i think they look perfect on my jeep even with a lift, plus i shouldnt loose any gas mileage, hopefully.

longarm · **Posted:** Sun Oct 16, 2005 2:48 pm

..........

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Sun Oct 16, 2005 8:20 pm

lol, so whats the ride like, and we were talking about the 1.5in lift from daystar, not the 2.5. Can u show me some pics of ur cv's?

LibertyCRD · **Posted:** Mon Oct 17, 2005 8:49 am

That jeep looks awesome.

My concern personally is that with the 2.5" lift you are getting more lift in the front than in the back to start with. So then if I hook up my trailer and throw some cargo in the back, I'll be looking at the sky instead of the road. I wish someone here had pics of the 1.5"/2.0" kit. I've seen plenty of pics of the 2.5"/2.0" kit. They do look sweet though.

Guest · **Posted:** Thu Jan 05, 2006 10:06 am

longarm wrote:

Arrrgggggggg, all one has to do is surf around the site to find the info on this. I know I have posted on this several times. I have a 2005 CRD Limited with a 2.5 inch Daystar Spacer lift all the way around. I replaced my rear shocks with BDS Shocks. I did this because the Rancho bushing are made of rubber from my understanding. This would cause a problem in states that use salt on the roads in the winter. Eventually the salt will eat it's way through the rubber bushings. The BDS bushings are made of Polypropylene. This will withstand the salt and harsh weather. If you get this lift YOU MUST get an allignment! I didn't get one for about 3800 miles and their is some wear on my tires to show it. I went and got a front end allignment and now am good. As far as tires, with a little trimming from a Dremmel Tool and some sand paper on the grey undercladding under the front bumper, then you will be able to comfortably fit 255/70/16's. My CRD handles great and has given me no real problems. Not from the lift anyway. It looks nice and really hasn't killed my gas milage much. Here is a picture to show what I'm talking about.

Did a search and found you! Are you still happy with the lift? My main question is what model number of BDS shocks did you use for the rears?

My secondary question is do you still think the factory struts are just fine up front on our CRDs with your 2.5" lift kit?

I've already got my 255/70/16's since 588 miles on the ODO and I love the ride but now I'm ready to go higher. Please respond.

Shocks and struts a MUST with Daystar lift?

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