newbie needs a "lift", can anyone help

japracer4 · **Posted:** Sat Dec 31, 2005 4:37 pm

I'm sure this question has been asked/answered a million times already. However, I am new to the game. I have left the darkside of the import world and came to the darker side of four wheeling, however, I am not new to Jeeps. I am use to lowering not lifting. I think I would be more interested in the spacer lift than a full blown lift. I live in Pittsburgh so there is no real rock crawling here. I have never been, will go, or even know where MOAB is! I would like to fit bigger tires to increase the appearance and be able to fit bigger tires to go through the woods/mud. So whats the best? Daystar, Revtech, something from Rusty's, a clevis lift? By the way, the clevis lift looks like you loosen the fork the strut sits in, pop the strut up a little and the tighten it back down. Is that correct? If you can please keep me away from balljoint problems. I want something very good and reliable but dont want to spend $700 for the Frankenlift. I know there is more in the Franken but is it really worth $500 more than say a Daystar for my purposes? I dont think so but your expertise would be appreciated.

raceinfan · **Posted:** Sat Dec 31, 2005 4:43 pm

from what I've read for spacer lifts go with daystar or rusty's,daystar is more common around here,BUT for alittle more you can get Rusty's full coil lift kit which should give you the same hieght as his spacers & alot of us run that kit it's a good kit for cheaper money & little to no complaints good luck

ManicMechanicJoe · **Posted:** Sat Dec 31, 2005 4:45 pm

daystar is the best spacer lift. I run the rusty's-its ok but the daystar has recieved much better reviews and no compliants on premature strut failure like rusty's.

Calvin56 · **Joined:** Fri Jul 08, 2005 1:59 am **Posts:** 345

All the lifts available right now will get you around 2.5"

Spacer lifts ($200) A little stiffer ride.

Rusty's or Skyjacker for decent full suspension. ($465-600 ish)

Frankenlift (boulderbars.com) for the best/proven wheeling lift. ($7-800 ish) Better than stock ride quality, good flex.

or....

You can wait about 6 months for some rumored 4-6" lifts that will get 32, 33's on to your jeep. (price will be around 2-3x as much as F-lift)

skrracing · **Posted:** Sat Dec 31, 2005 5:30 pm

japracer4 wrote:

I have never been, will go, or even know where MOAB is!

Man that just ain't right...you sure you aint just riding around in some honda thing or something like that...hehehe. Later...Clint

ManicMechanicJoe · **Posted:** Sat Dec 31, 2005 7:16 pm

well at least he wants to lift it and not lower and bling it out...I hope

japracer4 · **Posted:** Sun Jan 01, 2006 1:13 am

no bling here manic, dont worry. i'm sure your suspensions out west(clint) serve their purpose, but here in PA you dont need 10 feet of suspension travel to get around the woods. since my son was born the money tree in the backyard has gone bare and doesn't look like it will be blooming anytime soon. I, like everyone else want the best bang for my buck. What's the since of spending $800 on a lift that I will never use to its full potential. I might get a chance once a month to wheel and that will be it. other than that its the 25 mile, highway commute to work everyday.

KJ04 · **Posted:** Sun Jan 01, 2006 10:00 am

japracer4 wrote:

no bling here manic, dont worry. i'm sure your suspensions out west(clint) serve their purpose, but here in PA you dont need 10 feet of suspension travel to get around the woods. since my son was born the money tree in the backyard has gone bare and doesn't look like it will be blooming anytime soon. I, like everyone else want the best bang for my buck. What's the since of spending $800 on a lift that I will never use to its full potential. I might get a chance once a month to wheel and that will be it. other than that its the 25 mile, highway commute to work everyday.

From what you are stating, the RRO 2.125" Combo ($219.00) with extended DT- 3000 rear shocks ($81.00) for a total of $310.00 + shipping is one of the most reliable spacer kits on the market for a V-6 gas Libby. http://www.rocky-road.com/kjsus.html

Avoid the cheaper Rusty's 2.5" spacer kit which is the same as the RRO 2.5" Budget lift . These two kits have been proven to give you upper balljoint and strut problems!!!

If you have a lot of mileage on your KJ you would probably be further ahead to go with the Rusty's 2.5" spring lift kit which includes 4 springs, 2 struts, and 2 extended rear shocks for $465.00 + shipping.
https://rustysoffroad.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=rustys&Category_Code=sus_kj_kit

MattyMac1 · **Posted:** Sun Jan 01, 2006 2:08 pm

Hi, This is a good post, with solid info for the newbie section can someone move it please?

ManicMechanicJoe · **Posted:** Sun Jan 01, 2006 5:12 pm

I run rusty's spacer (only 500 miles on it) and the kit quality is not very professional looking. The holes were drilled wrong (off by 1/16" so i had to redrill), the powdercoat flaked off way too easy, the welds look
terrible (i'm a farmboy, FFA Ag Mech State Champion)-quality is of the utmost importance, if this kit wasn't a present, it wouldn't be on the Jeep, since I got it and I have 4 months before I can get the Frankenlift or SkyJacker-its on untill my struts die.

japracer4 · **Posted:** Sun Jan 01, 2006 11:48 pm

kj04, big help, thanks. question though. I have seen alot of people mentiom about spring sag on the front of the KJ. Is this a known problem. My XJ had a125,000 on it and was 15 years old and wasn't sagging. I have Hunter off-road grille/brush gaurd so I''m sure the front dipped a little from the weight. The biggest issue I have right now is tire rubbing. I have 235/70/16 Wrangler's with 16x8 american racing baja's. On extreme turns they will rub. I have already trimmed the inner fenders too. I have a prelowered KJ so I was thinking the daystar would give me what I was looking for.

KJ04 · **Posted:** Mon Jan 02, 2006 10:01 am

japracer4 wrote:

kj04, big help, thanks. question though. I have seen alot of people mentiom about spring sag on the front of the KJ. Is this a known problem. My XJ had a125,000 on it and was 15 years old and wasn't sagging. I have Hunter off-road grille/brush gaurd so I''m sure the front dipped a little from the weight. The biggest issue I have right now is tire rubbing. I have 235/70/16 Wrangler's with 16x8 american racing baja's. On extreme turns they will rub. I have already trimmed the inner fenders too. I have a prelowered KJ so I was thinking the daystar would give me what I was looking for.

As for the sagging with stock springs, generally only with an ARB bumper added, in which case add front H.D. springs. Brushguard should be no problem.

Tire rubbing in hard turns is generally normal with larger tires, sounds like your problem is the back spacing on the 16X8's. If you go to 245/75/16's or 265/75/16's after the lift you'll really have a problem.

As for the Daystar 2.5" spacer kit the only flaw I can remember is, that it tightens the front springs up to much. The only people that seem to be using that kit now are the CRD's because there are no other options for them at this time. I'm sure someone will chime in if I'm wrong on this.

Remember also, your prelowered springs are 3/4" taller than the newer lowered springs which will add more lift with the puck spacers, and should allow the use of 265/75/16's.

Here's a link in the Troy's Toys section for more info http://www.youngs.org/kjparts

grumppee · **Posted:** Mon Jan 02, 2006 3:05 pm

I have the Revtek 2" spacer lift on my 2002.

I've been running the lift for 3 years now, with an ARB bumper, 4" backspaced wheels and 31" MT/Rs with no issues whatsoever.

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Mon Jan 02, 2006 3:34 pm

1. Never say never (love that song from Romeo Void) with regards to not ever going to Moab

2. Moab is in Utah and is the most amazing place for off-roading, period.

3. We have had people from as far as Florida come to the Moab event (pointing at Steve) which is amazing (I think the farthest overall distance)

4. Rusty's 2.5" Coil lift (IMO) is your best choice for the price, but a spacer lift might be all you need if you plan to only be a Grocery Runner.

5. Living in Pittsburgh - lots of dirt/mud/lumber trails in Southeastern Ohio and West Virginia, which you will find a spacer lift to be inadequate.

KJ04 · **Posted:** Mon Jan 02, 2006 5:30 pm

Tokyojoe wrote:

4. Rusty's 2.5" Coil lift (IMO) is your best choice for the price, but a spacer lift might be all you need if you plan to only be a Grocery Runner.

5. Living in Pittsburgh - lots of dirt/mud/lumber trails in Southeastern Ohio and West Virginia, which you will find a spacer lift to be inadequate.

I guess I'll just have to quit doing things like this with my inadequate spacer lift until I can get a Rusty's coil lift then.

japracer4 · **Posted:** Mon Jan 02, 2006 10:12 pm

Ithink kj04 is being a littlemodest when he says his kj is slightly modified. i have read his specs and seen his pics on cardomain and he does some amazing things. it seems most people like the rusty lift. What about the one from superlift? juding from some of the posts it seems that the suspension is one part of the equation and actually being able to drive is the other part. And to tokyojoe. why would i only be a grocery runner? I apologize for having to work 60-70 hours a week and then spending the rest of time with my 10 month old son. maybe people need big lifts because they are feeling inadequate!!

grumppee · **Posted:** Mon Jan 02, 2006 10:22 pm

I believe tokyojoe (excuse me if I'm wrong) is saying you get more travel in the suspension or flex with a coil lift over a spacer kit, which is better for wheeling.

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Mon Jan 02, 2006 11:39 pm

japracer4 wrote:

And to tokyojoe. why would i only be a grocery runner? I apologize for having to work 60-70 hours a week and then spending the rest of time with my 10 month old son. maybe people need big lifts because they are feeling inadequate!!

Your need to make the word "inadequate" bold, tells me you have problems with my previous post.

First, I take offense to your nickname. The word "Jap" is derogatory.

Second, Where do you get an insult to your work and taking care of a child, in my comment? I never tried to imply anything in a personal manner. Saying "grocery or mall getter/runner" is a common and running joke used on here. I would never personally attack someone's work or family life decisions/situation.

Third, for the Rusty's comment, I refer to "bang for the buck." The price you pay for a spacer lift and the price you pay for the Rusty's coil lift, I feel that the Rusty's coil is going to give you more (for the money and performance) when you hit those trails.

ManicMechanicJoe · **Posted:** Tue Jan 03, 2006 2:11 am

I think this is the first time we have lowered ourselves to the same level as some other 4x4 forums. This forum and www.jeepkj.com is the only place where we as Jeep Liberty owners are accepted. We are all different and share only one bond (we appreciate the KJ). JapRacer4 is a newbie and as such he won't understand the grocery getting jokes. Who is it that owns that ZJ? We always rip on him for having a grocery getter or a show queen. Yet his rig is more capable then most of ours (Jedi's solid axle excluded). We always flame the XJ's, ZJ's, and WJ's, I believe it is Clint who is always saying "stupid (insert DCX designation here) later...Clint". I could be wrong but I take that as a joke. JapRacer4-you need to have a sense of humor to be on this forum. Period. Believe it or not we happen to joke a lot about a lot of things. TokyoJoe (i don't know what race or color you are and frankly I don't care)-if you have a problem with his screen name, ask him to change it. Let's go back to the light hearted and HELPFULL LOST we have all come to know and love. Sorry for the rant but somebody had to step in.

KJ04 · **Posted:** Tue Jan 03, 2006 7:39 am

grumppee wrote:

I have the Revtek 2" spacer lift on my 2002.

I've been running the lift for 3 years now, with an ARB bumper, 4" backspaced wheels and 31" MT/Rs with no issues whatsoever.

Grumppee, is Revtek still producing that lift? If so, that's another that Racer can look into. I remember that Jacksjeep ran that lift also with no problems.
I installed my RRO Combo back in Dec. of 03, so I guess we're just a couple of throwbacks from the earlier days of L.O.S.T. when the coil lifts were first coming out on the market. :lol:

Sorry for ragging on you Joe about inadequate spacer lifts, but I couldn't resist... That was my sense of humor coming out!
I did end the post with lots of Smilies though. :lol:

So let's be nice, nice and get back on topic here and help Racer out with a decent lift kit that will fit in his budget. :idea:

I checked a few sites selling the Revtek 2" kit $244.00 - $249.95 + shipping.

So far the RRO Combo 2.125" at $219.00 + shipping is looking to be the better buy on a time tested, balljoint problem free, spacer lift.

I'm finished on this post, so the decission is yours Racer, on which one to choose that fits your needs and budget.

newbie needs a "lift", can anyone help

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