New 2" Teraflex Budget boost lift for KJ! OTT lift ques

Universeman · **Posted:** Fri Jul 07, 2006 10:20 am

Ok well I'm probably one of the first buyers of the new Teraflex OTT lift (its on the way) and I understand why this type of lift destroys struts (strut bottoming out before upper a-arm contacts bump stop) however there is a big advantage to this type of lift and that is the stock ride is retained. What I need to know is exactly how much up travel is left unused in the stock strut? I called Teraflex and asked them this question specifically and the person I spoke to asked the guy who designed the lift (his name is Rand) and he assured me with out giving me specifics that this was taken into account in the design of the lift and was not a concern. However, I have read so many threads about OTT lift problems I wanted to resolve this issue once and for all. Unless someone already knows the answer to this. So here’s what I'm gonna do, I’m going to remove the spring from the shock then install the shock with the teraflex spacer and compress it to the bump stop and see if there is enough up travel for the bump stop to compress fully with out bottoming out the shock, if it does bottom out I'm gonna let Teraflex have an earful about designing a lift and see if I can get a free set of bump stop extensions, which btw would be the solution to the issues with this type of lift. I will take lots of pictures and report my findings. More to come...

waddy whiteguts · **Posted:** Fri Jul 07, 2006 11:59 am

That would be very helpful to everyone and I agree these spacer lifts should be sold with new bumpstops.

nolakj · **Posted:** Fri Jul 07, 2006 12:45 pm

Whay would you want to retain the stock ride? :roll:

The Rusty's coil ride is soooo much better. Worth the extra $$

Se7enLC · **Posted:** Fri Jul 07, 2006 12:58 pm

nolakj wrote:

Whay would you want to retain the stock ride? :roll:

The Rusty's coil ride is soooo much better. Worth the extra $$

Yeah, I don't know if any spacer lift really "retains the stock ride". It retains the stock parts, but the geometry is still changed, and I would think it would feel stiffer using the same coils and struts with more height.

fish eye · **Posted:** Fri Jul 07, 2006 4:05 pm

my parents are in town, with their 2004 KJ Renegade. I have been doing alot of the of their vehicle, and then hopping into my frankenlifted 05 KJ Renegade. The difference is night and day. The stock ride is just not worth retaining.

Universeman · **Posted:** Fri Jul 07, 2006 4:32 pm

how would the ride of a frankenlifted CRD be different then stock(or an OTT lifted KJ) when the stock springs are retained for the frankenlift. Ergo isent it the OME shocks that make the difference? Not to bust on All-Js lift or rustys lifts I'm just trying to understand the physics behind all this "feal good" stuff. Plus the Rusty's kit is only through 05 and I'd be willing to bet they don't have a full suspension kit for the 05 CRD. At any rate what I'm really hot for would be a set of race quality coil-overs from (check out the Donahoe Racing set up Tacoma in the Sept 06 Petersen's 4wheel)

Universeman · **Posted:** Fri Jul 07, 2006 4:59 pm

One other thing that’s been bugging me is why don't the HD OME springs work on the CRDs with the Bull bar and winch, I know that’s a lot of heavy crap but aren’t Diesels common as dirt down under? So why does everyone say their springs can't handle what must be a common set up in Australia when ARB is the undisputed kings of springs.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Fri Jul 07, 2006 5:17 pm

Universeman wrote:

One other thing that’s been bugging me is why don't the HD OME springs work on the CRDs with the Bull bar and winch, I know that’s a lot of heavy crap but aren’t Diesels common as dirt down under? So why does everyone say their springs can't handle what must be a common set up in Australia when ARB is the undisputed kings of springs.

Not to sure about that. For some reason, I think they used a different crd down under. Something like a 2.5l instead of the 2.8l? I know they suck and are very slow though.

JFortier777 · **Posted:** Fri Jul 07, 2006 7:37 pm

I feel like this thread really needed a link in it.

:wink:

Click Me

Fouros · **Posted:** Fri Jul 07, 2006 7:39 pm

Jeepjeepster wrote:

Universeman wrote:

One other thing that’s been bugging me is why don't the HD OME springs work on the CRDs with the Bull bar and winch, I know that’s a lot of heavy crap but aren’t Diesels common as dirt down under? So why does everyone say their springs can't handle what must be a common set up in Australia when ARB is the undisputed kings of springs.

Not to sure about that. For some reason, I think they used a different crd down under. Something like a 2.5l instead of the 2.8l? I know they suck and are very slow though.

nope mate we have been using the 2.8 CRD since 04

Skyjump136 · **Joined:** Tue Jul 05, 2005 6:50 pm **Posts:** 1633

Oh no...nothing new about this lift. I hate to say it, but I ran this in a pinch and it SUCKS. I can't think of any other words to describe it. Its just a straight spacer lift. It will blow your struts and it rides much worse than stock. :roll:

Universeman · **Posted:** Fri Jul 07, 2006 8:01 pm

The lift was waiting for me when I got home from work and I've started the install, can someone tell me how to remove the spring from the strut, I'm heading out to auto zone right now to get a spring compression tool and some deep well sockets so I'll brb. Meanwhile here's some photos of my progress
Suspension at stock hight on the ground, note the upward angle of the half shaft

power stering resivoir and water seperator (I think) which were in the way, you'll need some long extensions and a 10mm deep well socket

the strut bolts exposed

Universeman · **Posted:** Fri Jul 07, 2006 8:12 pm

Just to clarify my primary aim here is to find out exactly where the shock will bottom out which is the reason I'm going into such detail, hopefully this will put this issue to rest for all of us because it isent really a "budget lift" if it destroys your shocks is it. also heres picts of the lift I got, thanks for the post fortier :-)

but thats a different lift aparently then what there selling now.

tarkus · **Posted:** Fri Jul 07, 2006 8:33 pm

JFortier777 wrote:

I feel like this thread really needed a link in it.

:wink:

Click Me

That link is the Rough Country lift not the tearaflex kit.

http://www.teraflx.com/pages/jeepbuilder.php?jeepID=35&prodID=92&subID=2

It is obviously the same as the Rocky Road OTT lift

Skyjump136 · **Joined:** Tue Jul 05, 2005 6:50 pm **Posts:** 1633

Yeah, not the Teraflex Budget Boost that I ran...definitely the infamous OTT lift.

tarkus · **Posted:** Fri Jul 07, 2006 9:03 pm

Universeman wrote:

However, I have read so many threads about OTT lift problems I wanted to resolve this issue once and for all.

But why?/ It's a piece of junk. Or do you work for Teraflex.

Universeman · **Posted:** Fri Jul 07, 2006 10:12 pm

Bad news folks, or at least the news everyone who has experence with the dreaded OTT lift already knows, except I have the pictures to show exactly how much this type of lift can damage your shocks and how it would happen on your first run out! It still really chaps my butt that so many companys sell these lifts to an unsuspecting public and even when I asked the Teraflex tech support I was assured that there was no such issue with this lift, what a crock!

I measured aprox 1 1/4" to 1 1/2" distance between the bottom of the bump stop and top of the upper A arm at full shock compression, that'll destroy a strut,(you do realize I just tore apart my brand new jeep just to check out exactly what the deal was with OTT lifts folks, thats gotta be a first lol)

Well back to the drawing board, so I guess the next question is would extended bump stops fix this issue, well you'll have to find out for your self cuz I'm done. Monday I'll call Teraflex and hey if anybody else out there wants to call as well maby they'll get the message, at any rate after I put my jeep back together I'll start a new thread about the frankenlift cuz I have questions about spacer style lifts as well but better to start a new thread me thinks. I know alot of people are sitting there going I told you so but I really wanted to know what the real deal was with this type of lift and it really does fall under the too good to be true catagory, stay away from OTT lifts, you've been warned!(geez and mine was only a 2" lift imagine adding another 1/2" to that gap :-P

)

Universeman · **Posted:** Fri Jul 07, 2006 10:18 pm

If you do call Teraflex please post your experience, and no I don't work for teraflex they just have one of the shortest OTT lifts out there and I thought maybe that would make a difference, obviously not. Well time to go reassemble my jeep.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Fri Jul 07, 2006 10:22 pm

Just a thought but I think the SkyJacker bumpstops are bigger than the factory ones,might want to try them to fix this problem.Just a thought though :idea:

.

Jeger · **Posted:** Fri Jul 07, 2006 10:24 pm

So you honest to goodness just did this as a test?

Maybe some folks with this type of lift will now be prompted to buy some extended bumpstops.

New 2" Teraflex Budget boost lift for KJ! OTT lift ques

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