What have you done to your KK lately

Gageraid · **Posted:** Wed Oct 21, 2015 9:29 am

Bmxer524 wrote:

So just installed the adjust-a-struts. Sitting at 21.5" like before with the OME. I'll be able to give a review later when I drive it more. Still need to set the height to exactly how I want it. And no pics yet, sorry. Not like it looks any different anyways lol

Happy for ya you're finally getting around to it.
Does this mean you're removing all or some of the "extras" you had to the OME lift in the front?

Bmxer524 · **Posted:** Wed Oct 21, 2015 11:47 am

Everything my bilstein/OME combo is out now. That includes the springs, shocks, clevis, top plate, and stock clevis.

I gotta play with the rear when I get time. The idea is to have 22" in the rear so I can be level when/if I go to 22" in front. Right now idk what the best way of doing that would be.

Bmxer524 · **Posted:** Thu Oct 22, 2015 6:02 pm

Today I got my alignment and I had my rear passenger patches since I had a bolt in it (this happened before I put the lift in...). My alignment is pretty spot on now and was close before I brought it in.

And the moment you were waiting on, my 100 mile review of the JBA adjust-a-struts. So as you all knew I picked up the 2.5" kit with about 10k miles on it a while ago. So my current setup is the older style Bilstein adjust-a-struts (With I believe the gas springs), JBA a-arms, OME 731 rear springs, Bilstein 5100 shocks and 2 extra rear isolators per side. So overall I sit at 3.5" of lift (21.5" on all 4 corners).

Now onto what I think...I should have spent the money the first time for this lift! The JBA lift rides similarly to my OME 927/Bilstein setup. The difference now is that instead of the body/chassis taking the hit from the bump, I actually feel the springs soak it up. Ride is great, nice and smooth. The biggest bonus is that I don't have any more uca/spring contact. The ride is nice and quiet no matter what I do. I get a bit more travel and no don't have any more bump steer on big high speed bumps.

So some comments about install etc. I don't know if the kit new comes with a new clevis bolt (Tom, Ricky, or maybe even Lauren can comment on this), but mine didn't. The stock bolt is too short so I have to go find 1 that was 1/2"-1" longer. I couldn't manage to find another 12x2.0, so now I have a 1/2" bolt there. Fits perfectly and is now the perfect length. Other that that it was just a pain to get under the UCAs...and no I wasn't about to remove the control arms lol. Oh and I forgot to put more anti-sieze on the shocks...I guess I'll deal with that next time...

Tomorrow I'll recheck and re-torque all the bolts. After that I'm off to Salem, MA for the weekend. It's about a 4 hour ride to my friend's house that we're staying at and then that house is another 30 min from Salem. So overall I'll be putting a lot of mileage on the Jeep this weekend. I'll keep you guys update with any changes and how it holds up as time goes on.

lfhoward · **Posted:** Thu Oct 22, 2015 6:27 pm

Bmxer, you'll really enjoy that lift kit! It is super quiet and it's like night and day compared to the stock suspension (I never had OME). I have a similar kit to you and sit at about the same height (21.5, or 3.5 inches of lift) at all 4 corners. My JBA kit is also an older version with the Bilsteins in the adjust a struts. I have the JBA clevis that has the letters "KK" drilled out of it, not the first generation kit that reused the stock clevis. I don't know if it came this way originally, but when I got Brian's kit, it did have clevis bolts. I wouldn't expect Marlin would leave that out. If up you picked up your kit used too, maybe the previous owner stripped a bolt getting it off.

I have done two modifications to my JBA setup using JBA parts that weren't available when they made my lift. First, longer rear sway bar links improve the ride by eliminating the "hop" when the rear goes over big bumps on the highway. It improves rear flex and articulation. (You may need extended brake lines in the rear if you add longer rear links and aggressively off-road, but not with the stock links.) See how you like it and if you're satisfied with how it rides, don't worry about the longer rear links. Second, if you are running a JBA track bar, I would suggest getting the bushing ends to replace the heim joints. It doesn't affect the ride or functionality at all, but quiets it down a lot in the rear.

Enjoy your lift kit and safe travels to New England! Maybe you can recoop some of the cost of installation by putting your OME kit up for sale? That's still a good kit for someone starting out, and I bet it would sell.

Bmxer524 · **Posted:** Thu Oct 22, 2015 7:48 pm

I installed it all my self, so there's that. I can definitely recoup some money. I plan on doing that when I figure out what I want to do with my rear. I might try the JBA springs. Then I'll just sell the OME springs, Bilstein shocks and whatever rear springs as a kit.

My kit has solid clevis arms. Nothing cut out, and not the old original kit. The arms are a pretty nice size actually. Not too much to worry about thankfully.

PALiftedKK · **Posted:** Thu Oct 22, 2015 10:09 pm

Spacers are for sale. They even come signed :BINGO:

JeepMorrison · **Joined:** Thu Jul 16, 2009 11:34 am **Posts:** 1236

lfhoward wrote:

I have the JBA clevis that has the letters "KK" drilled out of it, not the first generation kit that reused the stock clevis. I don't know if it came this way originally, but when I got Brian's kit, it did have clevis bolts.

Call up marlin, he has a updated clevis and better style bolt for the coilovers. The one with the KJ/KK engraved out will rub on the CV boot when you lift it to 4"

Sent from my SM-N900P using Tapatalk

Bmxer524 · **Posted:** Fri Oct 23, 2015 12:00 am

Does that clevis unscrew? Mine didn't seem it, but mine was also a little rusty and could have just been seized to the shock.

JeepMorrison · **Joined:** Thu Jul 16, 2009 11:34 am **Posts:** 1236

Bmxer524 wrote:

Does that clevis unscrew? Mine didn't seem it, but mine was also a little rusty and could have just been seized to the shock.

If your talking about the JBA clevis, yes.
Put the shock shaft in a soft vice, even then wrap a rag around the shaft. You must apply a little heat (not alot) to help melt the locktite, then turn the clevis and it will come off.

The factory clevis slides on and off.

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

Make sure to loosen the spring by using the spanner wrenches.

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

She did really well at Rausch Creek. Managed to drive her home so Stephen was able to tow his GRIMM home haha.

Very impressed with how well built she is, few things that need to be changed out is the rear driveshaft. Also not sure how well these Pro Comps will hold up considering they're pretty well chunked now...VERY impressed with the amount of traction she was able to keep though. Shout out to AK and the guys at Chaos for the amazing work they did on the front and rear axle for me! My rock rails were very well used on Yellow Jacket and between the KK with it's stupid amount of traction that was having a tire fold under itself (yay lockers!) and the rock rail PUSHING a rock out of my way I made it through Yellow Jacket with only some minor gouges in the tubing of the rail!

Picture doesn't do her much justice but I lifted the rock up about a foot(ish) as I climbed through it where it then settled back to where it used to be!

Gageraid · **Posted:** Fri Oct 23, 2015 1:41 pm

That's an awesome picture!

lfhoward · **Posted:** Fri Oct 23, 2015 8:07 pm

Gageraid wrote:

:shock: That's an awesome picture!

X2! Wow!

lfhoward · **Posted:** Fri Oct 23, 2015 8:22 pm

Did a little experiment on a trip to southern Virginia this week. Guess which tanks were with cruise control set at the speed limit (or a little over) and which were with manually keeping the KK 2-3 seconds behind fast-moving trucks?

# Date Miles Gallons MPG Price
362 10/23/15 334.20 16.415 20.36 2.139
361 10/21/15 287.80 15.372 18.72 2.039
360 10/19/15 275.40 13.520 20.37 2.059
359 10/19/15 239.30 13.204 18.12 1.959

From best to worst performing semi trucks (based on my immediate Scangauge MPG stats):
Tandem FedEx trucks with side skirts and low solid aluminum bumper below the rear door
Truck with side skirts and no boat tail
Truck with side skirts and boat tail deployed
Truck with no side skirts
Tanker truck
Flatbed truck with load
Flatbed truck empty

I only followed trucks that were usually within 2-3 mph of the speed limit when cruising. Of course, the heavier ones slowed way down going up hills and I avoided those. The route was the PA turnpike west to interstate 81, and back again.

Gageraid · **Posted:** Fri Oct 23, 2015 11:28 pm

Nice numbers, Lauren!
I'm sure you get the same evil grin as I do when you find the perfect semi with side skirts and the whole 9 on a highway traveling a good speed for you to catch up to. :grim:

lfhoward · **Posted:** Sun Oct 25, 2015 7:00 pm

Gageraid wrote:

Nice numbers, Lauren!
I'm sure you get the same evil grin as I do when you find the perfect semi with side skirts and the whole 9 on a highway traveling a good speed for you to catch up to. :grim:

It is great to find those aerodynamic FedEx trucks. They are usually trying to make a tight schedule, so you can count on them to drive the speed limit or maybe a little over. Several nationwide trucking companies have aerodynamic trucks but must have a governor set at 62 mph to save gas. I can get good mileage following them but don't like to travel that slow. I got the 20 mpg above at 70 mph because I found a good long haul truck!

lfhoward · **Posted:** Sun Oct 25, 2015 7:07 pm

I have an idea for a new mod... :twisted:

It is going to reduce my gas mileage a bit if I do it, but it is going to look awesome and be practical too.
Stay tuned. It all depends on whether some things come together in the next few days or not.

Gageraid · **Posted:** Mon Oct 26, 2015 1:02 am

lfhoward wrote:

I have an idea for a new mod... :twisted:

It is going to reduce my gas mileage a bit if I do it, but it is going to look awesome and be practical too.
Stay tuned. It all depends on whether some things come together in the next few days or not.

Bmxer524 · **Posted:** Mon Oct 26, 2015 1:16 am

The lift was great. Great crawling in traffic through 90% of Connecticut, and great at high speeds on the open highway. I never even noticed the cobblestone in Salem.

I averaged about 16mpg (haven't checked this last tank from coming home). Going there took 5 hours, I crawled through 75% of Connecticut in traffic, and still got 15.8mpg. Running from our friend's grandma's house to salem for the weekend got about 16mpg. Took 3 hours to get home. I flew doing anywhere from 75-95mph and hit no traffic. I'm kind of excited to see what this tank turns out to be.

That said, I have a vibration that starts at about 75mph, gets worse at 80, then sort of goes away at about 85. It's not too bad, but I want to take care of it. Hoping it's something stupid like my front tires being out of balance.

lfhoward · **Posted:** Mon Oct 26, 2015 12:20 pm

Gageraid wrote:

lfhoward wrote:

I have an idea for a new mod... :twisted:

It is going to reduce my gas mileage a bit if I do it, but it is going to look awesome and be practical too.
Stay tuned. It all depends on whether some things come together in the next few days or not.

Sorry, not going to happen.
I found an ATH roof rack/basket on Craigslist for only... $125!!!! (And only 15 miles away from where I live.)
But it has already been sold to a guy who wants to modify it and attach it to his Ford Bronco. Dang! Too slow.

What have you done to your KK lately

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