First off I would like to say I now have 2 jeeps. Mine is a 98 TJ with a 4 inch lift 33s etc. I know the ins and outs of the CJs, YJs, XJs, MJS, and TJs. They are so similar with lifts and other aspects.

My wife isn't a bare bones jeep gal she wanted a KJ "so much more nicer riding, quieter, 4doors, etc) I agreed to this if I was allowed to lift it. She agreed. We have an 04 KJ sport 3.7 red she wanted red. I am somewhat ignorant on KJs and lifts out there. It seems many of you use the 2.5 rusty's lift.

Heres my question, is there anyone out there or do you know anyone out there that is running the rough country 3 inch lift? It uses front strut extensions and new rear springs etc. I am not worried about ease of installation as i put my lift on my TJ. I am curious to ride quality afterwards, will I have any shaking due to driveshaft angles? Also i want to get TJ Rubicon wheels on it. Do i need spacers with those Rubi wheels etc??

If y'all think this is a good kit i am going to get it and rubi wheels and 31 BFG ATs so please let me know what y'all think, and what things i need to look out for as well.

Thanks,
Joe

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There are some new lifts on the horizon around 4". I've got a "Frankenlift" from ALL J's- Boulderbars.com and I'd highly reccomend it. Rustys, Skyjacker, Frankenlift all seem to be about the same ride height more or less depending on your liberty: 2-3". All J's put the Frankenlift together with the KJ West guys. It rides better than stock suspension, and gives you a good lift.

I couldn't tell you about the Skyjacker, Rough Country, or Rusties, but I'm sure others around here could.

Frankenlift ride quality: superb, much better than stock
NO shaking due to CV angles. We are limited to 2.5-3" lifts right now because any larger would cause probs.
Rubi rims are a popular set of wheels to put on KJ's- lots have them on no spacers needed.

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Frankenlift
Boulderbars
All J Tranny skid
31x9.5 SS TSLs!
Detroit Truetrac/Powertrax
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2062875

The extension lifts like you are talking about have had problems. Ths biggest problem is that the spring rate is not correct for the add3ed extension with this kind of lift and it beats the strut to death along with the springs in no time at all. I would recommend to take a different direction. Hope this helps. Later...Clint

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http://lostkjwest.com
http://www.azlostkj.com
http://lostzj.com
KE7JLP

What exactly is a frankenlift? What does it come with, do you have a picture of it? What lifts and how high do you and anyone else that wants to chime in have?

Also, what problems have you encountered with your lifts?

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Can't quite explain the details of a Franken Lift. I do have the Skyjacker lift
on my 05' Libby. Nothing bad to speak of, but, at full droop the front coil
springs kiss the inner edge of the upper control arms. Otherwise, the lift
works well and rides the same if not better than stock. Libby looks pretty
good in the air and sits level.

evilgenius #722

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/960850

Frankenlift:

Front: Daystar 1.5" spacer and top strut plate with Old Man Emu 1.5" spring and a rancho strut
Back: Skyjacker coils with rancho shocks

I have the Frankenlift and couldn't be happier. Netted about 3" of lift as would be expected. The ride is great and it is the best flexing lift available (I guess the Rock Crawler 7" lift flexes better, but it has a LOT of problems to be worked out...not recommended).

If you have questions about it call Quinn from www.boulderbars.com (# is on their site).

it might be of interest to you to know that much of the direction/advice on this forum comes from some guys on the west coast who have been point for the liberty modifications for a few years....there's plenty of know-how across the country but just so you know, the stuff you read hear about the good products from out west is pretty well verified....the frankenlift was probably a inside joke name for a lift comprised from the best of several different vendors....it wasn't readily available to you and me last year.....

I installed the rustys set-up and have had no problems....maybe 16000 miles now.... tellico n. carolina jamboree....cohutta/n. georgia messing around....moab, utah slickrock crawl....local jeep club forest rides....

you sound like you have some wrench experience....if you can compress the front coils, it's not too difficult to install the rustys set-up....some guys have had the frankenlift shipped with the front coil/strut pre-assembled but you probably pay for that....still I would have been interested simply because it's been developed and tested by KJ guys....but like I said, it wasn't available at the time....(the armor they sell for the KJ is top-shelf also)....

many of us are waiting for the next generation of suspension lift kits....I'm hoping to be able to squeeze a 32" or 33" tire in without cutting up my essentially new vehicle....right now I run 245/75/16 bfg t/a ko's with no rubbing issues....some guys have made additional modifications like bump-stops or cutting plastic to get a little more tire in there....I have stuffed the rear a few times and popped a few plastic rivets but you can buy more in a 20 pack at napa stores....

this forum just moved from a unstable server and much of the lift discussion history was lost....check the tech section to read about the good and bad regarding the different products....




lift is installed....tires make the difference.....


the parts provided in the rusty's kit....







local forest sand pit calender shot....




(I would say "go dawgs" but spurrier is in columbia now so it's "cock and fire" for me this year... )

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steve

'98 TJ sport gunmetal blue
33's with modifications to make them fit....still need a few more things....

first jeep....
'04 liberty sport 4x4 khaki
modified as recommended by L.O.S.T.....major fun on vacation....

L.O.S.T. (in fla.) #000496

THANKS FOR THE PICS.

Is it my understanding that the best driveability/offroadability would be to buy a kit that replaces rear coils, front struts, springs etc? From what i am hearing the spacer kit doesn't drive nicely, which makes sense considering you're have a load on the front shocks constantly, which sounds like a lot of "jack rabbit" road manners?

If so is there a kit y'all would recommend and their part #. I really appreciate all of this help. Myself being a Wranlger nut, I did not realize how ignorant I was as to the Liberty. I guess that's what makes ignorant ignorant.

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From what I've read, the spacer kit drives nicely, you just don't get great articulation.

Get the Rusty's coil lift (www.rustysoffroad.com) or the Frankenlift from All J Products (www.boulderbars.com - you have to call them as the lift is not listed).

The Rusty's lift is a safe choice with no UBJ contact. The Frankenlift gets you a bit more height and articulation, but with some UBJ contact at full droop. Both are great and it just depends what you need out of your lift.

Thanks skyjump136.

Hey camper you have the rusty coil lift. Can you describe how it affected your jeep onroad? I know offroad it will obviously help, but since my wife will be the primary driver I also want it to have good road manners. I hear many say after they lift their rigs their KJ drove better. Can you or someone lifted elaborate?

Also just so I don't received KJ Jeeper's scorn, I do plan on wheeling this KJ. I will admit I am somewhat skeptical, but I have only had wranglers so I am somewhat spoiled in that regard (aftermarket heaven). I must confess i hate the front bumper I plan on getting something different but OMG the prices are a bit um nuts. I am very tempted to break out the welder and do my own fabbing, I just can't let the wife see me rip off her bumper. I get the giggles thinking about that.LOL Thanks for any help- joe

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I have the Rusty's full coil lift (they sell a spacer lift to but I think it's had some bad reviews) and I love it.. Basically the general consensus on this forum is to go with the Rusty's coil lift (www.rustysoffroad.com) of the Frankenlift from ALLJ products (www.boulderbars.com). Either of these lifts will give you about the same height (3" give or take), the rusty's is nearly half the price but the Frankenlift gives better articulation. Now supposedly Superlift is coming out with a 4" lift this fall that will drop the front pumpkin a but there's no guarantee's and of course it hasn't been trail tested yet like these other two lifts have.

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Adam,
2005 Liberty Renegade
Locked & Lifted! Rusty's Coil & Powertrax NoSlip, 245/75/16 Bridgestone Dueler MTs,
CB w/ 4' Firestick mounted on Tire Carrier,
Full MOPAR Skids, RRO Diff guard, 'AllJ Boulder Bars, Rhino-lining applied to sides.
On-board Air (Superflow MV-50)

As of right now I think I will go with Rusty's susp. kit. I really want it to ride nicely. If I want a harsh ride I'll drive my TJ. LOL.

I've looked on Ebay and will probably get the rubi wheels with the MTR tires on them 245X65 I believe. shipping is gonna kill though OMG $300+.

Anything else ya'll would get at this point of the buildup of a Liberty? Any weak points to adress?

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you asked how the ride is affected....well, you've owned jeeps, I haven't....I guess it would be fair to say the liberty rode "more like a car" before the lift and tires than after.....for me, the change was significant and much better....it rides more like a truck but it's solid and tracks straight....some guys here know a lot more about shocks than I do and have opted for a upgrade with the rusty's kit....so I suppose it can be improved but there is nothing that makes it difficult to drive....rack and pinion steering, automatic transmission, tightly sealed cabin, climate control and dare I say it....independent front suspension....it's all good....

my wife drives a 2000 accord....that thing scoots like a scalded dog and I'm one of those who'll praise a honda for dependability and a "smart" decision on our part....she really likes the liberty and went through the whole purchase with me....since then I've learned a lot about the jeep culture and it has grabbed a hold on me....so I've been hoping she would adopt the liberty eventually and I'd go back for a unlimited TJ....she's not aggreeable to that....I think the difference between the honda and the jeep is too great....she really likes her honda....

but I drove 2000 miles solo, basically non-stop, to utah a few months ago....loaded with two weeks worth of camping gear, luggage, and beer....70 to 80 miles and hour and very comfortable considering....my wife flew out but coming back she drove most of the way....she was very comfortable....the automatic helped there....

the lifted KJ isn't a complete modification without proper tires....those bfg's are E-rated sidewalls.....I wondered if it would be too harsh but I love 'em.....the only thing I would do over is go for the m/t tread pattern since I can only afford to own one set of tires at a time and I've now had some offroad experiences....I've never been shut down by any trail yet but most everyone else is running the more aggressive treads and I want to fit in.....I'm rotating five tires so these will last a few years....

as for off-road capabilities.....well, it's good you come from the traditional school....you'll be a qualified critic when you start wheeling your KJ....I'm just getting my feet wet....if this thread continues, I'm sure someone will tell you about the places you'll be able to go....

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steve

'98 TJ sport gunmetal blue
33's with modifications to make them fit....still need a few more things....

first jeep....
'04 liberty sport 4x4 khaki
modified as recommended by L.O.S.T.....major fun on vacation....

L.O.S.T. (in fla.) #000496

I would offer this piece of advice regarding the MTR's and Rubicon wheels. Check your local Rubicon club....those guys dump the stock MTR's like we dump the stock SRA's. Almost all of them will go up to 33's and some will be going bigger and for beadlocks and will sell their wheel/tire combo's for a good price.

I bough a set of Rubicon wheels / tires with around 4K on them for 550.00 and had to drive from LA - San Fran to get them so total was about 675.00 to 700 bucks...but I stopped and saw family on the way. I just recently bought 5 MTR's with 3K on them for 80bucks each. 400 total. If you look you can find them for a good price....anything over 700 is way to much in my opinion.


Good luck and hope this helps


ps...I've got the Frankenlift/Skyjacker combo with Rancho struts and shocks .....they're great ! ...Much better ride than the stock suspension...I had the Daystar lift originally and it was fine on road as well. ...( I think the best thing you can do is ditch the stock struts for the ranchos...It made a world of difference, even with the Daystar)

This is what our KJ looks like with the wheel /tire combo

NICE!
Thats how I want mine to look like. What lift do you have? I'll have to check to see if you already told me.

By the way, wouldn't it be cool if they offered a rubicon KJ and or WJ. I think that would be interesting.

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