LOST JEEPS :: View topic - To lift or just replace the rims..both?

Hello,

I am a relatively new member to the forum I just purchased my 2006 KJ in July. its a limited with only 60k and was immaculate. only thing I had to do to it was brake pads. I was a toad prior to me acquiring it. I have been happily reading and learning about lifts here and I know which way I would like to go but I want a bit of a sanity check. The jeep is going to be about 60% road the rest will be dirt road and some odd forest roads around my property near mt Shasta. Right now she does fine and is a lot more nimble than my DD which is a Dodge Power Wagon (2006 also). The needs I have will be that some of the dirt roads will have snow and mud on them and I wanted better tires. When I started this investigation I was dead set on Duratrac's. DURATRACS ARE GREAT TIRES, RAN THEM ON MY 04 FOR OVER 90,0000 MILES
Problem 1. I have the lovely 17 in rims. so the 245/70/17 will need a lift. ok I get that. What I also found out after having 4Wheel parts IDIOTS review the suspension is that the lower ball joints are torn ( 10 years old not surprised) and the bushings on the upper A-arms are cracking ( again age not surprised). so I have been looking into the OME lift was almost set to call the Franken lift Folks and burn a couple of vacation days but the 6 hour drive is a bit of a steep one way investment. Ok so I sorted out the parts I was going to get including the JBA UCA's when I hit a bit of a wall that is making me rethink things. The was 4Wheel parts not wanting to install parts they didn't provide but don't have alternatives for i.e. the UCA's. Also after having driven the jeep all over the place I am really not liking the tendency to sway or rear end feel like its going to roll on even on mild turns and wow the front end bounces on bumps. I'm used to my truck just hitting the bump and then done no oscillating bounces. WORN OUT SUSPENSION DOES THAT EVEN WITH 60,000 MILES ON IT SUSPENSION WAS JUNK FROM THE FACTORY

So now to the questions that relate to that meandering above.
1. will the OME Econo lift from JBA (927/948 springs) improve or make the noted sway or roll feeling more stable? I know a lift will technically move the CG up.
A GOOD LIFT LIKE OME WILL MAKE IT WAY MORE STABLE AND RIDE AND HANDLE BETTER THAN BRAND NEW STOCK EVER DID
2. If I just opt to replace the uca and ball joint would going with 16 in rims open up a better realm of tires? Will that be money better spent vs the shocks and springs.
THERE ARE MORE AVAILABLE SIZES IN 16 INCHERS , YOU NEED TO UPGRADE THE SUSPENSION, ITS WORN OUT , NEW TIRES WON'T FIX THAT
3. If I do lift should I consider 16 in rims any way to again open up the better tire options.
THATS UP TO YOU
4. Am I missing something here the goal is better traction in mud and snow.

if you have hung on this far thank you.
one final question any body have a good truck/offroad shop near(willing to drive some up to 2 hours) Stockton CA. that they could recommend to do the needed work. i'm having to ask these questions of local general mechanics I would prefer a shop that understands off road suspension.

Thank you all for your time.

Tony

Author:	Chromedragon [ Mon Sep 26, 2016 6:21 pm ]
Post subject:	To lift or just replace the rims..both?
Hello, I am a relatively new member to the forum I just purchased my 2006 KJ in July. its a limited with only 60k and was immaculate. only thing I had to do to it was brake pads. I was a toad prior to me acquiring it. I have been happily reading and learning about lifts here and I know which way I would like to go but I want a bit of a sanity check. The jeep is going to be about 60% road the rest will be dirt road and some odd forest roads around my property near mt Shasta. Right now she does fine and is a lot more nimble than my DD which is a Dodge Power Wagon (2006 also). The needs I have will be that some of the dirt roads will have snow and mud on them and I wanted better tires. When I started this investigation I was dead set on Duratrac's. Problem 1. I have the lovely 17 in rims. so the 245/70/17 will need a lift. ok I get that. What I also found out after having 4Wheel parts review the suspension is that the lower ball joints are torn ( 10 years old not surprised) and the bushings on the upper A-arms are cracking ( again age not surprised). so I have been looking into the OME lift was almost set to call the Franken lift Folks and burn a couple of vacation days but the 6 hour drive is a bit of a steep one way investment. Ok so I sorted out the parts I was going to get including the JBA UCA's when I hit a bit of a wall that is making me rethink things. The was 4Wheel parts not wanting to install parts they didn't provide but don't have alternatives for i.e. the UCA's. Also after having driven the jeep all over the place I am really not liking the tendency to sway or rear end feel like its going to roll on even on mild turns and wow the front end bounces on bumps. I'm used to my truck just hitting the bump and then done no oscillating bounces. So now to the questions that relate to that meandering above. 1. will the OME Econo lift from JBA (927/948 springs) improve or make the noted sway or roll feeling more stable? I know a lift will technically move the CG up. 2. If I just opt to replace the uca and ball joint would going with 16 in rims open up a better realm of tires? Will that be money better spent vs the shocks and springs. 3. If I do lift should I consider 16 in rims any way to again open up the better tire options. 4. Am I missing something here the goal is better traction in mud and snow. if you have hung on this far thank you. one final question any body have a good truck/offroad shop near(willing to drive some up to 2 hours) Stockton CA. that they could recommend to do the needed work. i'm having to ask these questions of local general mechanics I would prefer a shop that understands off road suspension. Thank you all for your time. Tony

Author:	PANHEAD [ Tue Sep 27, 2016 12:35 am ]
Post subject:	Re: To lift or just replace the rims..both?
I recently swapped my OME Suspension and such from an 06 Sport to a 06 Limited, the rear control arm bar bushings were shot, new one made big difference. But OME Lift, Springs and Shock kit does ride super soft (highway) and has good progressive springs but some think its too squishy. I have gone back to the factory 16s with 265/70/16 Terra Grapplers and 1in. Wheel spacers. No Rub. hardly feel speed bumps at 30MPH

Author:	tommudd [ Tue Sep 27, 2016 12:18 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: To lift or just replace the rims..both?
Chromedragon wrote: Hello, I am a relatively new member to the forum I just purchased my 2006 KJ in July. its a limited with only 60k and was immaculate. only thing I had to do to it was brake pads. I was a toad prior to me acquiring it. I have been happily reading and learning about lifts here and I know which way I would like to go but I want a bit of a sanity check. The jeep is going to be about 60% road the rest will be dirt road and some odd forest roads around my property near mt Shasta. Right now she does fine and is a lot more nimble than my DD which is a Dodge Power Wagon (2006 also). The needs I have will be that some of the dirt roads will have snow and mud on them and I wanted better tires. When I started this investigation I was dead set on Duratrac's. DURATRACS ARE GREAT TIRES, RAN THEM ON MY 04 FOR OVER 90,0000 MILES Problem 1. I have the lovely 17 in rims. so the 245/70/17 will need a lift. ok I get that. What I also found out after having 4Wheel parts IDIOTS review the suspension is that the lower ball joints are torn ( 10 years old not surprised) and the bushings on the upper A-arms are cracking ( again age not surprised). so I have been looking into the OME lift was almost set to call the Franken lift Folks and burn a couple of vacation days but the 6 hour drive is a bit of a steep one way investment. Ok so I sorted out the parts I was going to get including the JBA UCA's when I hit a bit of a wall that is making me rethink things. The was 4Wheel parts not wanting to install parts they didn't provide but don't have alternatives for i.e. the UCA's. Also after having driven the jeep all over the place I am really not liking the tendency to sway or rear end feel like its going to roll on even on mild turns and wow the front end bounces on bumps. I'm used to my truck just hitting the bump and then done no oscillating bounces. WORN OUT SUSPENSION DOES THAT EVEN WITH 60,000 MILES ON IT SUSPENSION WAS JUNK FROM THE FACTORY So now to the questions that relate to that meandering above. 1. will the OME Econo lift from JBA (927/948 springs) improve or make the noted sway or roll feeling more stable? I know a lift will technically move the CG up. A GOOD LIFT LIKE OME WILL MAKE IT WAY MORE STABLE AND RIDE AND HANDLE BETTER THAN BRAND NEW STOCK EVER DID 2. If I just opt to replace the uca and ball joint would going with 16 in rims open up a better realm of tires? Will that be money better spent vs the shocks and springs. THERE ARE MORE AVAILABLE SIZES IN 16 INCHERS , YOU NEED TO UPGRADE THE SUSPENSION, ITS WORN OUT , NEW TIRES WON'T FIX THAT 3. If I do lift should I consider 16 in rims any way to again open up the better tire options. THATS UP TO YOU 4. Am I missing something here the goal is better traction in mud and snow. if you have hung on this far thank you. one final question any body have a good truck/offroad shop near(willing to drive some up to 2 hours) Stockton CA. that they could recommend to do the needed work. i'm having to ask these questions of local general mechanics I would prefer a shop that understands off road suspension. Thank you all for your time. Tony NOW 927 front springs/ 948 rear springs with OME front shocks and the 4 inch rear Bilsteins ( for 4 inch lift from www.jeepinbyal.com ) add a clevis of 3/8 inch, a 1/4 inch top plate in front and you have 3.75 inch lift for the rear add two extra upper iso's per side to make it level Add Teraflex bumpstops to the front, then 2 hockey pucks per side bolted down to the spring pad On the 06 you will need to lower the brake line in the back dropping it 3 inches add JBA UCAs since you will be over the 3.25 inch range and you need them NOW if you only want to go 2.5 inches thats what the 927/948 combo gives you the above is what we do on 95 % of the lifts we install here

Author:	mass-hole [ Wed Sep 28, 2016 1:00 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: To lift or just replace the rims..both?
I did the OME 790's(JBA 2.5" springs in the rear) in the front with OME Shocks in all four corners on my CRD and did a clevis/top plate as well. Even with that decent amount of lift and some 265/70R16 duratracs, the ride and handling is vastly better than the stock suspension ever was. Its a little stiffer, but much more controlled.

Author:	Chromedragon [ Wed Oct 05, 2016 5:22 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: To lift or just replace the rims..both?
Thank you for the commentary. The tough part now is where to get the work done. I'm up in Stockton, CA (nor cal) I don't mind driving a bit. any place with in 2-3 hours that would be recommended or should I start planning a trip to All J Products?

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Author:	mass-hole [ Wed Oct 05, 2016 6:26 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: To lift or just replace the rims..both?
If you can get a shop to compress the springs and assemble the struts, it really isn't too tough of a job. The rear is extremely easy, just 4 bolts for the shocks and slipping the old springs out and the new ones in. I used the scissor jack from the emergency kit in the Jeep to help lower each side of the axle down enough to slip the taller lift springs back in.

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