Fixing to spend $! NO BS! What is the best lift for the $$$?

Scorch1 · **Posted:** Thu Jun 28, 2007 10:23 pm

I have looked through all the posts and forums I can stand! I have read all the reviews and product info! One guy bashes Rocky Road Outfitters ( okay- lots of people) - and one guy bashes Rustys,OME and so on.... I am SO confused now I dont know what to get! I just want to lift up to 2.5 inches, which seems to be safe, and I dont want to destroy my drive train and steering components. Will someone PLEASE offer some sound advice here?
What do you have?
What works and lasts?
Problems?
I want a GOOD product, money is not a huge issue IF the quality and performance is worth it.
Thanks-

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Thu Jun 28, 2007 10:44 pm

Rustys is the best all around lift it seems. Its kinda hard to have any issues with it unless you add alot of extra weight to the Jeep, (bumpers front and rear, etc).

The Franken lift will hold bumpers alittle better and is also the tallest lift(one of) there is. Its kinda $$ compared to the rustys lift($400;$800), but it will give the best offroad performance. Some people have complained of torn cv boots due to to much lift, premature cv failure, and upper balljoint contact.. Other people say its the best lift there is..

I have OME HD rear springs, OME shocks front and rear, and Rustys front coils..

gone_jeepin · **Posted:** Thu Jun 28, 2007 10:49 pm

With any lift I would get Al's control arms, helps alot on alignment issues along w/ balljoint contact. If money wasn't an issue but still being realistic i would go with Frankenlift and Al's arms.

jason thompson · **Posted:** Thu Jun 28, 2007 10:56 pm

what I have and what I like and why for what its worth
I have OME med coils all around
OME shocks and rancho struts
245/75 16 MTR's

why
OME ,as far as I can tell, make the best springs because they make them in different rates ,light ,med and heavy
why would you want to have heavy springs on a rig that sees 99% road use and has nothing but stock equipment
you will give up ride quality for no reason
I do some off roading and plan on a bumper up grade so I bought med

The reason I bought Rancho struts is simple ,no one had the OME's on the shelf and I had bad struts on the KJ
the reason that I bought the MTR's was also simple they were cheep wich is not what you would expect to here about mtr's but $250 for 5
2 new ,2 <3K and 1~8K

Now why not go Frankinlift well easy
this lift while others say it is great I have a different view
I dont like the Idea of preloading springs that are already going to ride a little stiff with a spacer only for the sake of more lift
about 1/2-1" more lift than I got from the OME springs alone
and you will still only comfortably clear 245/75 16's

I dont like rustys for 2 reasons
1 VERY poor customer service
2 the product is generic the same springs for every rig no matter what you have hanging off the front?
this to me is just not top quality

Hope this helps
Jason

Alak · **Posted:** Thu Jun 28, 2007 11:46 pm

I plan on an OME 1.5" lift to start. Reason for this is simple. I want a better ride and heavier duty suspension. Also, my tires 225/75R16 are new, so I dont need an upgrade just yet. When I upgrade, Im only looking at 245/75R16. I dont feel I need 2.5". I wheel every weekend and even the stock ride height is acceptable for the things I do. I expect the 1.5" OME kit to supply more flex, carry my gear better and last on the trail.

I've heard nothin but good things about OME. And if I want 2.5", its only 1" spacer away!

kolesy · **Posted:** Fri Jun 29, 2007 12:32 am

Jeepjeepster wrote:

The Franken lift will hold bumpers alittle better and is also the tallest lift(one of) there is. Its kinda $$ compared to the rustys lift($400;$800), but it will give the best offroad performance. Some people have complained of torn cv boots due to to much lift, premature cv failure, and upper balljoint contact.. Other people say its the best lift there is..

Please do define best offroad performance!!!????? Come on!

A coil ift is a coil lift ( for the most part), you want a good ride on road and an even better ride off road rustys is great for ALOT less. Spend $50 more bucks for some strut plates and some rear spring pads and do a clevis lift up front and now you are as high as the franken lift! If money aint an issue go the frankenlift if you want but I ABSOLUTELY hate all these people sayin it is the end all lift when others on here run all types of lift and wheel the same terrain and have 0 issues with their lifts!

steepcreekfreak · **Posted:** Fri Jun 29, 2007 11:39 am

Happy with my rusty's. I like the ride. It is stiffer than stock but still soft enough that your comfortable on road. I think it handles much better than stock.

I have off roaded it with the KJ full of camping and boating gear with two kayaks on top and two MTN bikes on the back. Heavy!! It has done really well on a pretty bad trails.

If you go rusty's make sure you upgrade to a OME rear shock. 50 bucks for a reliable rear shock is worth it. Do a three ring clevis, 3/8'', and add one extra ISO pad in the rear, 10 bucks from dealer.

Also some one else posted to get the a arm from als. I would reccomend this as well. It is more durable than the oem and will give you a better aliqnment and you will have no worries about coil contact or stress on the ubj. You shopuld also have the LBJ's repalced with moogs as well. They are both greasable. Get the rusty's and use the savings to get a arms and moogs.

Then you will peace of mind that your fornt end is not going to fall apart on you.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Fri Jun 29, 2007 11:57 am

kolesy wrote:

Jeepjeepster wrote:

The Franken lift will hold bumpers alittle better and is also the tallest lift(one of) there is. Its kinda $$ compared to the rustys lift($400;$800), but it will give the best offroad performance. Some people have complained of torn cv boots due to to much lift, premature cv failure, and upper balljoint contact.. Other people say its the best lift there is..

Please do define best offroad performance!!!????? Come on!

haha, thats easy, since it gives the most lift you have the most ground clearance! The Franken lift also comes with a set of the best rear shocks you can get the the liberty. The 132L OME shocks..

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Fri Jun 29, 2007 2:54 pm

Unless you do a direct comparison of each lift it is hard for someone (who has one particular lift) to make a definitive suggestion. You can ask what everyone likes and/or dislikes about thier current lift...and what they would change if they could...or what issues they have had...ie noise/contact/ect.

I think for the most part there are a few proven quantities out there to choose from...it depends what you are looking for. ALLJs and Rustys seem to have the best "proven" combinations when you factor in the fact that they can add Old Man Emu parts to your lift. On the inexpensive side, you can always go with a Daystar Puc or RevTek Spacer type.

Once you go 2+", you have to factor in UBJ contact possibilities, CVJoint Angles and trimming assuming that you are going to add the biggest tires possible.

I am going to go with OME CRD Springs/Struts/Shocks and be happy with 1.5"-1.75" of lift with some slightly taller tires. From there I can add a small spacer, cleveis lift, ect. to adjust the heigth a bit.

JJsTJ · **Posted:** Fri Jun 29, 2007 3:00 pm

I have used one of the original versions of the Frankenlift on two KJ's and never had anything fall off or break and it works fine. I upgraded from a Daystar (which is still on my Blue KJ) and the FL works Way better in every regard. I have upgraded my FL w/ the new, OME 132L rear shocks & OME rear springs and will soon upgrade it further w/ the OME front springs and struts and better front spacers so it will be the same as the current generation of Frankenlifts.

HIKJ · **Posted:** Fri Jun 29, 2007 5:37 pm

OME is the way to go if you hate surprises. It is a straightforward solution. OME springs are made by King Springs. I preferred to order the King Springs reference, they are a bit stiffer. Don't take the extra long OME rear shocks (132L) unless you want more than 2" lift and plan to do serious wheeling.

Scorch1 · **Posted:** Sat Jun 30, 2007 2:48 pm

Hey- thanks to everyone who replied. The concensus definately looks like Old Man Emu is big in everyones list of favorites. Rustys lift seems to be pretty popular for the money as well, with the Frankenlift being the fav if money is not a factor and you want 2.5 inches of lift or more.
SO- right now Im thinking of OME springs all around, OME shocks all around and then evaluating what my clearance is. Afterthat maybe the Rustys or some of the other suggestions I have read. Everyone agree?
How many of you have had CV or ball joint problems with a 2" or lower lift?

Fixing to spend $! NO BS! What is the best lift for the $$$?

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