Need help determining my type of lift kit

haulin5 · **Joined:** Tue Sep 29, 2009 2:53 pm **Posts:** 116

Rennie in the shop today having the pinion seal replaced. The guy working on it said that it's in superb condition; the lot we bought it from did not lie when they said they had done about $3K work on it prior to selling it. New ball joints, new lift, new tires, new control arms.

From what I can tell, it's a 2.5" lift. I wouldn't know my backside from a hole in the ground under the Rennie, and my husband refuses to poke around the suspension. While it was in the shop, I gave him a list of questions for the mechanic. Basically, he said it's a spacer lift, not a coil lift. Still has OEM shocks & struts. I forgot to ask if there were bumpstops, so that answer is unknown right now. The parts are black, not red. My best guess is that it's a Daystar.....and.....rofl....my husband & the mechanic said that they couldn't tell because the name wasn't stamped on the parts.

Another thing I DO know----we're running 245 R16's, Firestone Destination MT's, and there isn't much rubbing unless I'm doing a tight turn. Pinch weld has been hammered down & the plastic put back in place.

Am I on the right track, and is there any way to tell for sure what I'm running? Also, is it normal for it to ride a bit more bouncy and "trucky" than the 2006 stock Libby? If so, what should I switch to (shocks & struts) to smooth it out, or should it be left alone?

Please keep in mind that any answers will be read by a 40 year old blonde accountant who doesn't own a torque wrench, and really relates to terms like "thingamajiggy" and "doohickey". [By the way, both Jeeps are a Barbie-free zone, regardless of my hair color.]
Thanks!

FreedomKJ · **Posted:** Thu Jan 21, 2010 1:32 pm

Odds are that yes, it is the Daystar kit.

The ride probably seems rough for two main reasons.

#1. They put a lift on and kept the stock shocks (it's not a strut in front, it's a coilover shock). When you lift a KJ, whether with spacers or springs, you need to put longer shocks on. With spaces in the front and stock length shocks they've stretched the shock to it's limit and are also putting compression on the spring. The shocks are probably worn out because of this.

#2. The stock springs start to lose their "springyness" and sag after about 30-50k miles.

The best fix is to put swap the shocks and springs out for a well developed lift kit. Most people here will recommend the "Frankenlift" by All J Products. http://www.boulderbars.com/frankenlift.htm

It's not really cheap, but well worth it. I've had mine on for over 70,000 miles and it still feels great, and rides much better than it ever did stock.

haulin5 · **Joined:** Tue Sep 29, 2009 2:53 pm **Posts:** 116

Forgot to mention -
We'll probably never tow anything,
We have never gone wheeling,
We don't carry much excess weight except softball, bowling, and golf equipment.

These are our everyday drivers, and invaluable in Illinois' schizoid weather. Today = thunderstorms. Yesterday = ice. Last week = 8 inches of snow. Every day = stupid wind.

tommudd · **Posted:** Thu Jan 21, 2010 3:32 pm

Doesn't really matter if you only drive it to church every Sunday morning , "upgrading" the suspension to better shocks and springs will make it handle better, ride better and have a better overall feel than even it did when brand new. So again its not so much replacing one part with a similar part , it is upgrading to better parts for a more enjoyable ride overall and with that you are also lifted to look way cool. :wink:

haulin5 · **Joined:** Tue Sep 29, 2009 2:53 pm **Posts:** 116

It certainly looks way cool, and I love being able to step into a vehicle without my knees giving out. Both of us are 6 feet tall.

Recommendations on a shocks upgrade? The ones I have are not shot---the lift hasn't been on that long, and I just had everything inspected Monday. However, if it keeps me from having to strong-arm the Rennie on the Interstate, all the better.

Btw, haven't been to church in years. Have been through mud on the ball diamond, gravel, 2 foot snow mounds, etc. Measly girly-man cars just won't work for us anymore.

tommudd · **Posted:** Thu Jan 21, 2010 6:34 pm

With a spacer lift shocks can blow within a few hundred miles if you hit a bump the right way. So they may already be bad, replace them and the same thing may happen again.
Best way is to replace with OME springs,new shocks , you could get by with the rear for a while with the spacer lift as long as they installed longer shocks when they did it

JeepinJarhead03 · **Posted:** Thu Jan 21, 2010 11:07 pm

hook up with coyote and the other IL folk and take a ride in one of their lifted kj's

normal every day driving with maybe a light trail ride (IE: Going down one of the interstates/freeways in IL) you'll thank yourself for a good set of coils and shocks such as OME-MD coils, the JBA2.5's are a bit squishy/springy feeling to me, jba2.5's would probably have a tendancy to do that rise and fall loping on IL roads

jhblackwell · **Posted:** Fri Jan 22, 2010 10:50 am

haulin5 wrote:

From what I can tell, it's a 2.5" lift. it's a spacer lift, not a coil lift. Still has OEM shocks & struts. The parts are black, not red. My best guess is that it's a Daystar

I put a Daystar 2.5" spacer lift in my '06 Sport last Sept. and the parts were black. I suspect yours is Daystar also.

FreedomKJ wrote:

The best fix is to put swap the shocks and springs out for a well developed lift kit.

I must unashamedly hi-jack this thread and ask...and I'm sure this has been discussed elsewhere in detail...what springs can I replace my OEM's with that won't sag under the added weight of, like, an ARB bumper and winch. I like my Daystar and have installed longer shocks, as suggested. Can I just replace the springs? Thanks for letting me butt in.

tommudd · **Posted:** Fri Jan 22, 2010 1:41 pm

jhblackwell wrote:

I must unashamedly hi-jack this thread and ask...and I'm sure this has been discussed elsewhere in detail...what springs can I replace my OEM's with that won't sag under the added weight of, like, an ARB bumper and winch. I like my Daystar and have installed longer shocks, as suggested. Can I just replace the springs? Thanks for letting me butt in.

To run a ARB and or a winch you need at least OME 927s (heavydutys) ( Several of us are running OME790s now with ARBs etc ) So you will get the lift you need, also the strength to hold everything. I am positive that once you swap the Daystar for a real full spring lift you will be amazed at how much better the ride is. Plus any spring you are going to buy is about the same price, you still have to tear it apart the same way, so no real reason to keep the Daystar. Time to "UPGRADE" by the way stock springs are 300-320 lb rating, OME 927s are 400 lb and OME 790s are 500 lb.

Need help determining my type of lift kit

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