Lift questions

johnny_posc · **Joined:** Sun May 30, 2010 8:43 pm **Posts:** 69

Just wondering some of the concerns/issues/problems, or positive notes from the budget lift systems. I'm looking to add some sort of lift but don't really have a lot to spend. Its my daily driver and honestly don't get as much time to go offroad as I would like so I'm not looking for the best of the best.

Considering the smaller spacer lifts and such. Basically anything under $300.

Are there any known issues that these systems can cause. ie. excessive wear on certain parts, handling issues, etc.

If anyone has a lift like this and would like to post their experience please do. I know there is a "official lift thread" already but just thought I'd try and get a couple responses.

Thanks y'all. :jester:

tommudd · **Posted:** Fri Oct 08, 2010 8:17 am

Budget lifts= junk in the long run!
Daystars will work and the only one I would use but only if your Jeep has under 30,000 miles!!!!!
Sagging springs, etc will have you wondering why you ever wasted the money.
Lifting and doing a proper lift is NOT just for off road, you like a good ride on road as well don't you?
There are a TON of threads on here of people who went cheap and then finally say the light and now have a much happier life.
Cheap spacer lifts cause you to loose weight, headaches, problems with your wife and kids, all sorts of problems!
Plus when its all said and done there is no 300 dollar lift, you need to replace all 4 shocks anyways so there is 320 at least to start with plus the price of your cheap spacer lift 280 more and you have 4 springs

LibertyCRD · **Posted:** Fri Oct 08, 2010 1:36 pm

Actually..

I have $125 total invested in my lift. $50 for a used set of Daystar spacers from a member here, $10 for conduit washers, and $65 for rear shocks.

I'm now setting just as high as anybody here with a $1,200 Frankenlift...and I'll promise you that I can follow any of them on the trail.

On my previous KJ, I bought the Daystar kit brand new and still only had $170 invested.

I want for somebody here to use scientific fact and show me how a Daystar spacer lift causes a coil spring to sag and collapse faster. I've run spacer lifts on vehicles for years and I've never seen one cause a single problem whatsoever.

When money allows, yes I'll upgrade my coil springs. But if you don't have the money to throw a grand into a lift, the spacers will work just fine and there isn't any problem with them. If anything, it'll keep you the closest to factory ride quality because you aren't altering your springs themselves. P.S. You do NOT have to buy any new shocks with a spacer lift. That is optional. I ran 2.5" spacers with OEM shocks on my other KJ and it was fine. I only changed my shocks because I wanted another 2" of length for more flex.

JeepinJarhead03 · **Posted:** Fri Oct 08, 2010 3:50 pm

it's already been proven several times by our resident career mechanical engineers in terms of the front coils

you can't shove 10lbs of junk in a 5lb bag when it wasn't designed to be operated consistently at that range

rear coils when adding bumpstop for amount of spacer has no negative effect on the coil as the stock coil is under the same constraints as it was in it's stock range of motion

however, with the front coils being captive, adding a spacer to the stock front coil is roughly the same as adding about 1000 lbs to the front of a stock vehicle and driving it around

would that have a negative effect?

in terms of our front coils, spacer + stock coil and assuming there's no negative effect, defies mechanical logic entirely

however, with that being said, the cheapest way to lift would be to ask yourself a few questions
-how much do you want to lift
-maximum tire size you plan to fit
-how much of the lift investment do you want to be useful later should you decide to replace all coils with lift coils

in terms of reuseability, top plate + clevis and a rear spacer or extra rear iso's may be what the OP is looking for

long_tall_texan · **Posted:** Fri Oct 08, 2010 10:20 pm

I guess I will chime in here. I am one of the many that Tom mentioned that tried the "cheap" route, and eventually went with full spring replacements for the Daystar lift. So here is my experience...

I bought my 07 2WD KJ new. I added the Daystar lift at about 20k miles. My springs had not sagged much at this time. Stock, the KJ measures about 19" from center of hub to bottom of fender. My rear was still 19" at 20k, front was about 18.5". I added the Daystar lift. I did not replace the shocks when I added the Daystar. Ride was similar to stock, but a little stiffer. Then about 10k miles later, I replaced the shocks. I put Rancho up front, and KYB in the rear. Ride was improved quite a bit. Then at 40k miles, I replaced the Daystar front setup with OME springs. I also found at that time that my Ranchos were blown. Not sure if the Daystar had anything to do with that. I replaced the Ranchos with Bilstein. MUCH improved ride overall with the OME 948 springs and Bilstein shocks. Then I replaced the rear daystar spacer with Rusty's springs. Again, improved ride.

And, by the way, you can build a full spring lift on your own for little $$$ if you are just patience. Watch this forum's for sale section, and JKJ too. Members frequently sell off their old lift parts, and you can get some good deals. Just do it once, do it "right", and be done. Unless you like removing your front suspension, compressing spring assemblies, and rebuilding it all over and over like I did until I got to the final point they all suggested before I started. But hey, I learned a lot along the way, and I personally have fun working on my Jeep. It is my relaxation time.

stumpjumper_09 · **Posted:** Fri Oct 08, 2010 11:10 pm

I had a spacer lift for about 12k and I switched out for the origional skyjacker front springs and skyjacker shocks even being increadibly stiff the ride is 100 times better than spacer lift.

tommudd · **Posted:** Sat Oct 09, 2010 6:09 pm

I like how one person always comes in saying a spring lift cost 1000 bucks, :roll:

trying to scare everyone,
I have under 500 in my last setup withbasically new frankenlift parts,new Rancho shocks/ OME springs etc, shop wisely grasshopper and it can be done!

LoveLauren · **Posted:** Wed Oct 13, 2010 10:26 pm

BUDGET LIFTS ARE BAD!!! do not do it! just spend your money on the better thing which is a lift with shocks and springs, etc... you will be happy you did. SPACERS are the worst thing you could do to your jeep. TRUST ME. I have a Skyjacker 2.5"" Platinum Series, Linear coil Suspension System with shocks and its been great to me. If you do anything less youll regret it. Mine was 800... and well worth the money.. if you want to throw your money out the window then buy a budget lift...if you buy a budget lift, dont be surprised when you have to replace it in a year and buy something else. IT is a waste of money and your better off with something with springs and shocks etc. If you dont have the money to do it right, then dont do it at all. Wait til you have money to do it right. and no lift for a KJ is 1200 by the way. Spacers last a year then theyre done, you have to replace everything again so might as well do it all right the first time.

You need a complete suspensions system. Heres my lift... http://www.4wheelparts.com/Lift-Kits-Su ... YLIB250K-H

Best decision Ive ever made. Never had a problem with it... no sagging, great offroad...

call any jeep dealer around you and they will tell you if you lift your jeep whatever you do DONT BUY SPACERS OR BUDGET LIFTS!

LibertyCRD · **Posted:** Thu Oct 14, 2010 9:43 am

I love how one person always tries to steer people toward the $1,000 premium spring lifts, when not everyone is rich and not everyone needs it and not one person has yet to post scientific proof that a coil lift is better than a factory coil/spacer lift that's done properly.

For the record... I talked to the guy who bought my first KJ this morning... and he reports that it now has 103,000 miles on the clock with the Daystar spacers and stock springs still intact. I saw pics of it with my own eyes...and it sits just like it did when it was brand new in my driveway. Still looks great. And he says the ride is still great. And that's with 90,000 documented miles on a spacer lift now. :wink:

Oh, BTW... I've never seen shocks and springs, USED, for less than $250 or so on here. New, I added it up yesterday and I'd be looking at $375 just for parts to do the front on mine with OME springs/Bilsteins and that's not including shipping. Once I did the rear I'd be way past $500 easily.

Boiler · **Posted:** Thu Oct 14, 2010 10:55 am

The ride in stock KJ's sucks IMO. I had to slow way down for orange 45mph signs because 60 was just too fast, tons of lean & you felt like you were on the edge all the time. OME HD later and I have some handling now.

For twice as much money you can get about 5x better quality lift. Or you can spend 300 and then do another 700 later. For 700 you can do a lot of quality lifting & improving body roll with stiffer springs. Yeah you can probably get them way cheaper than that if you are patient and watch the used items here an ebay maybe, put personally I'm impatient and not overly thrilled with used parts.

long_tall_texan · **Posted:** Thu Oct 14, 2010 11:22 am

LibertyCRD wrote:

Oh, BTW... I've never seen shocks and springs, USED, for less than $250 or so on here. New, I added it up yesterday and I'd be looking at $375 just for parts to do the front on mine with OME springs/Bilsteins and that's not including shipping. Once I did the rear I'd be way past $500 easily.

Mine...

OME 927 pair - $75 shipped
Rancho RSX17505 pair - $30 Shipped
Rusty's 2.5" rear spring pair - $60 shipped
Rear KYB shocks locally thru CL for Durango - $30
Al's 4.5 UCA's and Moog LBJ's - $350 shipped (not required...)

It can be done. You just have to be Patient

DirtyKK · **Posted:** Thu Oct 14, 2010 11:58 am

I had a budget lift on my Jeep as soon as I got it and it had 45k miles on the stock suspension already. Boy was the ride terrible! Braking was even terrible because anytime you would apply anything more then a feather the thing would nose dive like theres a million pounds in the front. Im lucky enough to have some decent roads around here otherwise I would have had back problems with the stock suspension. :lol:

I changed it up to a real suspension replacement lift and all my worries were gone. Ride is so much better, not jarring on bumps or soft in the curves or on the brakes. ANYONE who ever tells anyone else that a spacer lift does not affect ride quality, especially on stock suspension with 100k miles on it, is full of BULL HONKY! If you say I'm wrong then you've probably never owned a REAL good suspension lift or probably ever replaced the stock stuff in the first place.

SweepnChoke · **Posted:** Thu Oct 14, 2010 12:13 pm

I am also one of the ones Tom mentioned that have done the cheap spacer lift, regreted it, and then did my lift properly. I had the Rocky Road 2.5" Budget Lift pictured below. It sucked, the ride was doo doo, my springs were shot with in 6 months of installing it, felt like driving a water bed.

I now have OME coils over Rancho shocks, the ride is better than stock, take it out on trails frequently, never been happier. IMHO you should save the $200 you'll waste, and wait until you can afford to do it correctly, expecially if your current suspension is stock because you will want to change out your coils in the near future anyway.

tommudd · **Posted:** Thu Oct 14, 2010 4:07 pm

If you have never driven a properly lifted ( anything) then you'll never know how much better one rides, handles and performs.
If I had to do it all over my stock suspension would of went on day one of ownership with 100 miles on it!
To drive one 90-100,000 miles on stock weak suspension is not know how well one can ride
By the way with my lift which include's
790s front new
with gasser Franky parts used with less than 1000 miles on them
, Rancho shocks, new
JBA 4.5 arms,new
rear 948s less than 1000 miles
and Rancho rear shocks new
I have less than 515 total,
granted it took some buying/selling and horse trading but it can be done.

blackwidowkj06 · **Posted:** Fri Oct 15, 2010 8:50 am

I agree with Liberty CRD. Most people cannot throw a $1,000 into a lift kit, and most of us daily drive our KJ. So we really do not off-road our jeeps "hardcore".

Personally, I like the so called "cheap and ready to break" spacer lift I bought. My mind went with the 2.5" Daystar spacer lift. 2.5" front and 2" in the rear along with Skyjacker Hyrdo 7000 rear shocks. I see no problem in it and my KJ still rides about the same as factory. I gained alot more ground clearance with the spacer lift I had installed. Plus, I'm the coolest looking Liberty around where I live! I get so many complements about my Jeep and lots of looks. Mainly because I think no one around where I live has seen a lifted Liberty! They're like "What? A Liberty like that?"

Cost involved in my lift goes as follows:
-$160 2.5" Front and Rear Daystar Spacer Lift
-$67 for 2 Skyjacker Hydro 7000 rear shocks
-$180 for Labor
-$110 for front end alignment and tire swap for my temp. 32's
-$593 for my new tires, valve stems, etc...THE WORKS

Total:$1,110

Yes, my Jeep does seem to "sag" abit and doesn't feel as tall with the 31's when it did with the 32's. In the spring I'm replacing every suspension part I can, to help give it that "extra lift". With any springs, old or new they're going to settle. My Jeep has 55,XXX miles right now, so yes my stock springs etc etc are getting a little bit wore out. But they will have to do til the Spring when I replace them. When I do that I'll have little over $4,000 into my Jeep. Right now I have close to $3,000 in repairs, mods, and labor.

Some people on here say they lost engine and braking power. Well, yeah! You're going to loose that stuff when you lift it. So to fix that, buy more stuff for it to make it run better. Haha! If you can't pay the price of owning a Modded KJ, then don't bother to own it! I know that my KJ can keep up with the $1,000 so called "proper lifted KJs". Granted if I had skids and upgraded suspension parts. That is all due in time (and when I get the money :!:

)

So you all can agrue all you want about how to properly lift a KJ, but when it comes down to it; most of us can't throw $1,000 into a lift that lifts as much a spacer lift does with new suspension parts.

Look at my Cardomain page of my KJ http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3812929. It looks nice as much as those $1,000. Maybe even better. Haha!

OH, I forgot to add this. I STILL OWE $6,000 or less on my KJ, cause I just bought it Summer 2009. And I STILL take it off-road and add stuff to it when I should be saving $$$ to pay it off. I even had it out in the woods when it was stock, which lead to my $1,000 repairs :banghead:

DirtyKK · **Posted:** Fri Oct 15, 2010 10:05 am

Quote:

my KJ still rides about the same as factory

To anyone that has ever said or has thought this... ever thought that it only gets progressively worse so you never really seem to feel the ride change? your suspension does break down and there is absolutely no way the stock ride will remain the same for the life of the vehicle. maybe you should ride/drive a vehicle with new suspension and one that has a lot of miles back to back under the same conditions and roads.

blackwidowkj06 · **Posted:** Fri Oct 15, 2010 10:53 am

DirtyKK wrote:

Quote:

my KJ still rides about the same as factory

To anyone that has ever said or has thought this... ever thought that it only gets progressively worse so you never really seem to feel the ride change? your suspension does break down and there is absolutely no way the stock ride will remain the same for the life of the vehicle. maybe you should ride/drive a vehicle with new suspension and one that has a lot of miles back to back under the same conditions and roads.

yeah, it does get progressively worse.

stumpjumper_09 · **Posted:** Fri Oct 15, 2010 11:11 am

My turn to jump in the least expensive spring lift conversation

Used origional skyjacker springs and shocks - $60 shipped from LOST Member
Rough Country Rear springs - $30 from local jeep forum
Used Rear Shocks - $20 from LOST Member
Conduit Nuts - $10 ACE hardware
1/4 top spacer - $10 Paid $20 for 2 rustys top spacers
cut them apart Did 2 jeeps
Labor - Alot of beer and good times

TOTAL - $130 and Alot of BEER!!!

If you talk to local LOST members you can always find someone that wants to help you lift your ride. I have done my own several times with the help of LOST members and a couple times by myself. If you want to take a road trip I'll have the beer, tools and sets of hands. The point is that you don't have to spend a ton of money on your lift to have fun but, do it right the first time. Better ride and better off road. I really think mine climbs over logs and obsticals better with the springs vs. spacer

Just cause I LOVE my ride

tommudd · **Posted:** Fri Oct 15, 2010 12:23 pm

DirtyKK wrote:

Quote:

my KJ still rides about the same as factory

To anyone that has ever said or has thought this... ever thought that it only gets progressively worse so you never really seem to feel the ride change? your suspension does break down and there is absolutely no way the stock ride will remain the same for the life of the vehicle. maybe you should ride/drive a vehicle with new suspension and one that has a lot of miles back to back under the same conditions and roads.

I've been preaching the same thing for 6 years on here, 98% listen but a few never will know what one rides like with new springs. :wink:

I also wonder why that 1000 price tag always comes up? :shock:

Then I always laugh when I hear " But mines a Daily driver so I don't want to do a full spring lift" Well don't you want a good riding DD? :roll:

Of course I don't daily drive mine, :wink:

thats the reason why I only have 147,000 on it since I bought it back in 04! Also why its been lifted for over 110,000 miles. Try that stock springs and all with out riding like a road wagon!
Sermon over for now
Rev. Mudd out.....................

johnny_posc · **Joined:** Sun May 30, 2010 8:43 pm **Posts:** 69

Wow I started a firestorm! :dizzy:

Well, I've read through everyone's comments. I really appreciate the outpouring of information and opinions here.

I'm going to try and rig up the cheapest spring system I can. I took a look at my oem springs and they are sagging pretty badly after 86,000 miles.

I know that some have been posted above, but what exactly would I need. I'm planning on just buying in pieces until I've got everything together. I don't really have the money to drop $600 all at once. But its going to kill me to see all the front suspension parts sitting there and not have the rear yet.

Obviously springs, shocks, but what other parts are needed. Planning on just a 2.5" maybe a little more if I can do it cheaply.

And once again thanks for the input everyone.

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