CRD Frankenlift II explaination

mass-hole · **Posted:** Wed Jul 02, 2014 3:27 pm

So I have spend about an hour searching and have had no luck finding a good answer:

Can someone enlighten me too the difference between the CRD Frankenlift II and just going out and buying the OME 790/948 springs and sport shocks and using my stock hardware? I understand that the Frankenlift comes pre-assembled with new hardware but is there anything else unique to it? I read somewhere that they have custom polyurethane parts? Is this true for the CRD version as well as the gas version?

Any help is appreciated!

MicroBruin · **Posted:** Sat Jul 05, 2014 3:02 pm

OME alone will only lift your CRD about 1.5". Frankenlift, Tom Mudd/JBA, and Rocky Road get you to 2.5-3" by using some combination of longer springs, poly spacers (avoid this...they compress over the years), clevis spacer (Tom Mudd/JBA), front top strut plate with built in lift (RRO), etc. I just installed the RRO Rockfather Deluxe, and it seems like it will be a nice kit. Install instructions are not the clearest in the world (they don't discuss CRD engine bay prep, and there are extra components for other models that you have to sort through), but the kit seems pretty good. You can opt to use the standard combination of OME, KYB GR-2, and RRO stuff that's in the normal Rockfather Deluxe, or upgrade entirely to OME springs, struts, and shocks (i think) for the extra money. I have the basic kit. I would "definitely" purchase the front strut assembly pre-assembled. These kits are hard enough to install by yourself...you don't want to be screwing with front strut assembly (plus it's quite dangerous to use spring compressors on the front).

Contrary to popular belief, you don't need the 790s on front of the CRD, unless you are using an aftermarket bumper and winch. ARB USA literature confirms the medium-duty diesel front springs as rated for the truck, plus an additional 110 lbs. After installing mine the front is ever so slightly higher than the rear. Once it settles, it should be nice and level. The 790s will always make you look like your nose is in the sky, unless you put another 150-200 pounds on the front, or boost the rear another .5 inches or more.

I will admit that the Rockfather Deluxe (and I'm sure every other 2.5-3 inch lift) is quite a tight fit on these jeeps. You will need to completely loosen control arms, use a large diameter spring compressor on the rear springs (a lot safer than compressing front springs), use pry bars, and every other means of getting these kits in place. Once they are in place, you'll need a serious alignment...and, it may take a few months before the alignment will completely fall into spec.

If you've got money burning a hole in your pocket, I would go with a JBA coilover. Otherwise, I'm sure Frankenlift or Rockfather Deluxe would work great for you.

LS12FAST4U · **Posted:** Sat Jul 05, 2014 3:26 pm

Get the 790 front springs. See sig below

MicroBruin · **Posted:** Sat Jul 05, 2014 4:23 pm

LS12FAST4U wrote:

Get the 790 front springs. See sig below

The extra isolators in the rear will give you a budget boost, but I'd rather have the much longer springs that RRO provided for the rear. When I pulled my sagging rear springs and compared them to the new RRO deluxe springs, my new springs were prob 4" longer. I was able to keep just the original isolators, and not fill in with extra isolators. Of course, I did use a large diameter spring compressor to make the install easier. Now, I've got my springs working throughout the entire extended travel range.

BTW, although the rear springs are not OME, the Rockfather Deluxe springs made for RRO seem pretty decent, and are supposed to be made with the same spring-rate specs as OME. Whether or not this is true, I don't know. Time will tell how they hold up...right now, the rear rides very well. I will be testing soon with 200-400 extra pound in the rear. Can't wait to see how everything holds up on the trail.

CRD Frankenlift II explaination

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