it's FINALLY time! Time for that OME lift!

Wearyman · **Joined:** Mon Aug 22, 2011 2:01 pm **Posts:** 161

So my KK was in the shop for it's very last dealer visit since the extended warranty just ran out. While in there they discovered that I have actually managed to crack my front driver's side spring! Obviously it's not going to pass inspection like that, and I'm not about to pay the dealer costs for two new front springs, so I no longer have any excuses, it's time to buy that lift kit!

Now, I still am not rolling in cash, but I have enough for a proper coil-over lift. I'd love a JBA, but they are still out of my reach, so I'm going with an OME from JBA. Probably going to just get HD everything, even though I don't have a steel front bumper, if only for that bit of lift boost that HD springs get you. (I hope that won't make my ride too harsh and bouncy)

Is there anything other than the lift kit itself that I should be picking up? (bump stops, levelling plates, etc.?) I can't do the install myself (not enough of the right tools or knowhow) so I want to make sure that I provide the mechanics with everything they need to complete it.

Bmxer524 · **Posted:** Mon Mar 16, 2015 1:24 pm

Buy OME 927 front springs and 731 rear springs. That's the heavy duty springs. At first it will be stiff. After a few hundred-1000 miles it'll break in and ride much better. It'll be firm, and not bouncy(softer springs "bounce" more).

Shocks, I recommend quality. So OME, Ironman, or Bilstein. It's up to you with how much you want to pay.

You'll need front bumpstops. You can get that from JBA with your springs. In the rear you can stack hockey pucks, but you should be alright with out anything unless you do a lot of hard wheeling or get extended shocks(IE Ironman long travels with only 2" of lift).

Then it comes down to how high you want to go/how much you want to spend. If you plan on going over 3" you'll need a-arms. If you don't have money for that now, buy the 1/4" top plates and install them when you put in the springs. That'll give you 3" of lift, then you can do the 3/8" clevis lift and a-arms at a later time. I say this, because it's easier to do a clevis lift then drop the whole spring assembly to install the plate.

In the rear, if you go 3" install 1 extra upper isolator per side. If you go to 3.5" install 2 extra per side.

If you have any questions just ask us. We'll gladly help. You can always email JBA when purchasing everything and he'll help too.

Wearyman · **Joined:** Mon Aug 22, 2011 2:01 pm **Posts:** 161

Thanks BMXer. I've been planning to do the OME lift since about 2010, It was just never the right time, financially. Ironically, when I started out, the OME was about $700. Now it's over $800. That's a long wait.

I'm not planning on going any higher than 3", and I think the OME will normally get you around 2.5" if I am remembering correctly, so I think Al's A-Arms aren't necessary for me. I just don't wheel often enough or hard enough to warrant that kind of lift.

You recommend the 927's over the 790's? I was under the impression that the 790's were the really heavy duty ones? I'm asking because although I don't have a steel front bumper I might get one in the future and I don't want to have to change out my springs again.

Erikg84 · **Posted:** Mon Mar 16, 2015 2:44 pm

I have the 927 Front / 731 Rear springs, those should be the HD springs. I also have the 1/4" top plate and and 1 extra isolator per side in the rear and I sit right at 3" of lift total. While I was at it, I installed the A-Arms even though they aren't completely needed for just 3" of lift, but I have the stuff to give me another 1/2" total which I plan on doing when it gets warmer.

As Bmxer said, the ride is a little rough at the beginning, but it does get much better. I'm now a little over 8,000 miles with the lift kit, and I couldn't ask for a better ride.

edit: Grammar

Bmxer524 · **Posted:** Mon Mar 16, 2015 2:56 pm

The 790s are HD CRD springs. 927s are heavy duty gasser/light CRD springs. The 927s will hold a metal bumper, it's just a matter of what ride you'd like with/without the bumper. Honestly, ask Tom. He ran both springs with metal bumpers so he can give more info.

And yes, the OME springs alone will give 2.5". If you decide to go to 3" just buy the 1/4" top plate and 2 extra rear upper isolators. Throw 1 extra in per side and you'll sit at a level 3" of lift.

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon Mar 16, 2015 4:21 pm

As mentioned use the 927s, 790s are for aftermarket bumpers with winches etc, too heavy for normal daily driving with stock accessories
Stock is 310 lb
927s are 400 lb
790s are 500 lb ratings

Wearyman · **Joined:** Mon Aug 22, 2011 2:01 pm **Posts:** 161

Ahh. That clarifies it for me. Thanks BMXer and Tom. You guys are the best!

SO looking forward to this lift. I am currently running 245x70r16 tires and I have about 1 inch of clearance between the front edge of the wheel well and the tire. :shock:

My Libby is so saggy right now, it's like an old woman's boobs. :lol:

tommudd · **Posted:** Tue Mar 17, 2015 7:45 pm

Wearyman wrote:

Ahh. That clarifies it for me. Thanks BMXer and Tom. You guys are the best!

SO looking forward to this lift. I am currently running 245x70r16 tires and I have about 1 inch of clearance between the front edge of the wheel well and the tire. :shock:

My Libby is so saggy right now, it's like an old woman's boobs. :lol:

Have to measure before you lift it !

Wearyman · **Joined:** Mon Aug 22, 2011 2:01 pm **Posts:** 161

Bmxer524 wrote:

The 790s are HD CRD springs. 927s are heavy duty gasser/light CRD springs. The 927s will hold a metal bumper, it's just a matter of what ride you'd like with/without the bumper. Honestly, ask Tom. He ran both springs with metal bumpers so he can give more info.

And yes, the OME springs alone will give 2.5". If you decide to go to 3" just buy the 1/4" top plate and 2 extra rear upper isolators. Throw 1 extra in per side and you'll sit at a level 3" of lift.

Just so I'm clear on this; if I get one pair of the jba strut spacer plates and one pair of rear isolaters plus the ome kit that will get me to about 3" of lift?

Sent from Tapatalk 2 because Tapatalk 4 sucks.

Bmxer524 · **Posted:** Sun Mar 22, 2015 10:27 pm

Wearyman wrote:

Bmxer524 wrote:

The 790s are HD CRD springs. 927s are heavy duty gasser/light CRD springs. The 927s will hold a metal bumper, it's just a matter of what ride you'd like with/without the bumper. Honestly, ask Tom. He ran both springs with metal bumpers so he can give more info.

And yes, the OME springs alone will give 2.5". If you decide to go to 3" just buy the 1/4" top plate and 2 extra rear upper isolators. Throw 1 extra in per side and you'll sit at a level 3" of lift.

Just so I'm clear on this; if I get one pair of the jba strut spacer plates and one pair of rear isolaters plus the ome kit that will get me to about 3" of lift?

Sent from Tapatalk 2 because Tapatalk 4 sucks.

Yes. In the box you'll get the 2 plates(1 for each side), and then 2 upper rear isolators(1 per side). Install them when you install your OME 927 and 731 springs and you'll sit at 3" with no rake.

Wearyman · **Joined:** Mon Aug 22, 2011 2:01 pm **Posts:** 161

Wait... The kit comes with the plates and spacers? Because I went ahead and bought the jba top plates and the rear spacers along with the teraflex bump stops for the front. That plus the OME kit. Not that its too bad if I have a couple extras. They weren't expensive.

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Bmxer524 · **Posted:** Mon Mar 23, 2015 1:05 am

Noooo. I meant the brown box that JBA sends you lol. The only kit that includes everything is the Tommudd Econo lift(but that's more money).

You bought all the right stuff.

Wearyman · **Joined:** Mon Aug 22, 2011 2:01 pm **Posts:** 161

Well, I'm finally having it all installed tomorrow!

Decided not to DIY it, I just don't have the knowhow or tools. But a guy from my 4x4 club (WNY 4x4 on Facebook) who comes highly recommended by other club members is handling it. He is also going to replace the leaky oil pan. Once its all done I'll post the before and after pics!

I've also pointed him over here in case he has any questions, so hopefully some of the knowledgeable members will be around tomorrow. He's done IFS lifts before though, so he should be fine.

I am so pumped! 8-)

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Wearyman · **Joined:** Mon Aug 22, 2011 2:01 pm **Posts:** 161

Just out of curiosity, is there a guide anywhere that points out what parts from the stock setup need to be re-used and a general order of install that is recommended? My guy hasn't done a KK before and he was wondering if there was a document to follow. He's pretty sure he's got it, but doesn't want to miss anything.

NAMoulton1 · **Joined:** Tue Aug 12, 2014 7:01 pm **Posts:** 1054

Here's a write-up: viewtopic.php?f=88&t=75706

Wearyman · **Joined:** Mon Aug 22, 2011 2:01 pm **Posts:** 161

Aaaand DONE! Got the lift and oil pan all done up by a guy from my 4x4 club, Steve LaTona. Runs a small shop out of the Blackrock area in Buffalo NY. The oil pan gave him a real fight, but he got it done. Here are some before and after pics:

BEFORE:

My son standing by the Liberty, with it's droopy, saggy springs.

The TINY gap between the 245/70-r16 tire and the wheel well

Side view. It is slightly off-camber here due to uneven ground it was sitting on, so the rear spring is more compressed than normal:

AFTER:

Sitting partway out of my driveway in the morning sun. (Note the new JBA sticker in the window!)

And from the front:

Also, the front spring I actually BROKE and that finally spurred me to get the lift:

lfhoward · **Posted:** Wed Apr 29, 2015 11:21 am

The lift is looking great! Always nice to see another lifted '08.

Be sure to get an alignment ASAP if the shop didn't do that already.

Wearyman · **Joined:** Mon Aug 22, 2011 2:01 pm **Posts:** 161

They didn't, but I am taking it in for one this weekend.

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it's FINALLY time! Time for that OME lift!

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