JBA Adjust-a-Strut Lift

linewarbr · **Posted:** Fri May 21, 2010 12:39 pm

Anybody know anything about this? Anyone here running one?

http://jeepinbyal.com/cat-JBA_Adjust_A_ ... em-40.aspx

tonycrd · **Posted:** Fri May 21, 2010 2:18 pm

Diggerfreek has it on his KK.

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Fri May 21, 2010 2:49 pm

Things like that were all the rage during the 90's-era r1cer scene. Ground Control was the big winner back then.... it was a bad idea back then, can't see what's changed.

linewarbr · **Posted:** Fri May 21, 2010 3:58 pm

"This is Ground Control, to Major Tom. . . . "

tommudd · **Posted:** Fri May 21, 2010 5:11 pm

linewarbr wrote:

"This is Ground Control, to Major Tom. . . . "

And I can hear you humming along to that :shock:

LibertyCRD · **Posted:** Fri May 21, 2010 6:50 pm

It actually looks like a somewhat nice kit, but if your Jeep isn't paid for, you'd have to have a good job to afford it. $1,500 bucks just to get started on a 2.5" lift for a Liberty? Wow. :shock:

And that's with no options. Before I spend that kind of money, I'll drag home a junkyard Dana 44 and learn how to fabricate.

linewarbr · **Posted:** Wed May 26, 2010 8:36 pm

Does anybody else have any feedback on this kit? Digger says the on-road ride is wonderful, but hasn't really tested it off road. Could this really be worth the price premium over the Frankie?

Here is a link with a better explanation than the one in the OP: http://www.jeepinbyal.com/Jeep-Liberty-Lift-Kit-KJ.aspx

dgeist · **Posted:** Thu May 27, 2010 2:09 pm

Coilover assemblies generally perform well, but at a cost premium. They're the same basic principle as a good quality spring and strut but are often more tightly integrated size-wise giving you more clearance with large tires and lifts and are adjustable (as the JBA kit is and talks about).

JBA's uses Bilstein components, which are top notch and used by MANY high-end and racing platforms, so chances are you're going to be very happy with the ride (Bilstein is famous for their shock valving innovations giving progressive dampening over both fast/small bumps and large travel movement) So, if you have the dough to spend and want to not have to worry about adding or messing with a lift if/when you add other things to the front end of the jeep other than turning the adjustment collars a few turns, then go for it.

Personally, I'll probably go for an OME HD kit, but that's just me. If I ever get coilovers, they're going on the A4, not the KJ.

Dan

DirtyKK · **Posted:** Thu May 27, 2010 2:19 pm

There are a few of us with the lift. I cant tell you how they do off road cause ive had driveshaft issues. Hopefully that gets fixed for some wheeling this weekend. However they ride nice on the street and back roads. The rear springs i have a a little stiff but for the most part the ride is comfortable. My gf definitely likes it more now then she did with the budget boost. :lol:

I also want to comment that the lift I put together didnt cost me the $3,142.45 he charges. :goink:

I can get you more offroad feedback this weekend hopefully.

linewarbr · **Posted:** Thu Jun 03, 2010 10:55 pm

Installing the lift Saturday. Will post before/ after pics.

DirtyKK · **Posted:** Fri Jun 04, 2010 2:18 am

Good deal! Next time we have an Eglin ride you wont be to scared to take your stock Jeep :lol:

KJ 119 · **Posted:** Sun Jun 06, 2010 8:48 am

Lift is on,looks supersweet! :BANANA:

JL Rockies was right.

That's all I'm saying.
:POPCORN:

DirtyKK · **Posted:** Sun Jun 06, 2010 9:01 am

KJ 119 wrote:

Lift is on,looks supersweet! :BANANA:

JL Rockies was right.

That's all I'm saying.
:POPCORN:

whys that? did you guys have issues? mine was pretty easy til it came down to adjusting the fronts, measure readjust and readjust and readjust and... :roll:

linewarbr · **Posted:** Mon Jun 07, 2010 12:03 am

Ok, it's done. (Well, not completely - I still have to figure out a better mounting for the remote reservoirs [surprise!! wasn't expecting those]). I'll post more tomorrow with some iPhone pics, but let's just say. . . instructions? Who needs those? Feel free to drop an "I told you so. . ." now JL. :lol:

I have to say that the kit as a whole is very, very nice - quality components and workmanship. But figuring out how to cram a fully-assembled, top strut-plate to clevis component into that spot was. . . an exercise in ingenuity - particularly since the included instructions were for an ancient Skyjacker lift. Overall I'm satisfied with the materials theselves, but am working through some bitterness on that point. For the price premium over a Frankie and the promises of ease of install, I expected more detail and an EASY INSTALL.

Right now I'm beat, but will post more detail tomorrow, with pics.

BugginKJ · **Joined:** Mon Jul 06, 2009 7:35 pm **Posts:** 4576

Congrats and can't wait to see the pics :JEEPIN:

Diggerfreek · **Posted:** Mon Jun 07, 2010 2:10 am

you should have just unbolted the top plate from the coil over :goink:

linewarbr · **Posted:** Mon Jun 07, 2010 8:37 am

Diggerfreek wrote:

you should have just unbolted the top plate from the coil over :goink:

That's what we ended up doing. To get each side in we had to unbolt the new top plate from the strut, (since it came assembled) bolt the top plate into the subframe, then carefully place the strut assembly into position (so as to not rip the CV boot with the attached clevis) and bolt it into the plate. Then you have to raise the adjustment collars on the strut high enough to make the coil spring hand-loose, take a prybar, place it under the clevis with the bar braced on the joint of the lower a-arm, and compress the piston of the strut up till you can slide the lower clevis bolt in. (Make sure you mark the position of the collars on the strut before doing this, so you have a guide to get you back down to the ride height you purchased)

We discovered that we could raise the collars and compress the piston after, to no avail, renting a spring compressor FTW. . . . If we had known we could do that, we would have saved at least 2 hours.

Diggerfreek · **Posted:** Mon Jun 07, 2010 9:45 am

I knew KJ's were tight, but holy cow. I didn't have that much trouble on mine...

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Fri Jun 11, 2010 1:35 pm

I reserve the right to hold my "I told you so" until such a time when it can be more meaningful and impactful (with the exception of reports of your death). :shock:

linewarbr · **Posted:** Sat Jun 12, 2010 6:14 pm

Do you know anyone who has had a failure of the gen 4.5 A-Arms?

There's nothing else really life-threatening to cause an issue.

JBA Adjust-a-Strut Lift

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