Hello, People...

This is new territory for me, and I wish to have some feedback from all of you who have more experience than I. I need to have some discussions on improvements to the KJ Liberty 4x4 driveline. I want to eventually get a modest lift kit for the 2 Libbys I own, but I am worried that I will suffer a loss of durability, reliability, and handling by having even something as mild as a 2.5" kit installed. If I decide to take the plunge, I will be willing to invest top dollar for a high quality lift kit; I definitely don't want junk. Here are some of my thoughts on the subject...

1) I figure that a mild lift kit is better for me because I will only be going offroad occasionally, and that the mild kit will reduce strain on the steering, suspension and driveline components.

2) I am willing to purchase and install extra equipment meant for larger lift kits, (4", 6", or greater), if it means an extra measure of protection, reliability, and durability for the suspension, steering components and driveline being subjected to the changes a 2.5" kit will impose. In other words I will - within reason - spend extra money on components above and beyond what is required for a 2.5" lift for the sake of reliability and durability.

On a related matter, I have become rather interested in the steel housing for the Dana 30 IFS axle available through Jeepin by Al. One of the irritating things I have discovered about the Dana 30 IFS is that it tends to eat its seals with frustrating regularity, and then leak like a sieve. Could the leaks in this unit be caused by the aluminum diff housing on this unit??

Your thoughts on these matters will be greatly appreciated.

Best regards,

Jeff Bauer

Have never heard much of anything about the front diff eating seals
I know of several with over 150-200,000 miles with no issues at all
As far as lifts same way several have been lifted 3.5 inches plus for a lot of miles, mines been lifted over 160,000 with no major issues only wear and tear items
Goes back to how you use one, if you keep maintenance up all along etc
As far as lift depends on how high you want to go personally
For me 4 inches plus a little bit works great, not interested in running anything over 32s so it works OK

as far as reliability etc , if i had to do it over mine would of been lifted when it had ten miles on it, instead of 20,000.

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MUDD'S MOTORSPORT'S We do IFS lift installs ,
03 OVERLAND EDITION /Kilby-Skidrow-Mopar-4XGuard skids/ 2.5 inch TOTAL CONTROL JBA coilovers -JBA Arms/MOABS-31 FALKEN WILDPEAK AT3W / 4.10's etc, 04 Kilimanjaro Edition loaded, plus 05 KJ limited

I have 80,000 miles on my 06 CRD and no trouble with any of the drive train parts you are talking about yet. I Like you only off road occasionally and did it stock too. I lifted not much more than a month ago and I love it. The jeep looks so much better and tougher. The comments I get sometimes will make me grin.

I used the old man emu springs shocks and struts, with JBA A-Arms. I think I got about 2.5 inches maybe more due to stock suspension sag. It rides nice with just a little bit of firmness and handles better than before too. I wasn't too sure about it at first being I drove for 2 days with out any alignment but I tell you after that alignment when I drove away it was perfect, just like the Jeep always was only better. Like Tom said I too regret not doing it sooner.

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2006 Liberty CRD Limited Deep Beryl Green Metallic Clear coat, Fumoto valve, MH ProVent (removed), GDE Eco tune,
OME 790/948 springs, OME struts, OME N132L shocks, Jeepin by Al A-arms, Hercules Terra Trac AT2 245/75R16
Weeks Stage 1 EGR delete, 5 volt steel glow plugs