PEER-CHECK PLEASE HELP ME !! - 2008 Liberty Lift Project

hs10 · **Joined:** Mon Jan 31, 2011 9:24 pm **Posts:** 28

Hi Folks

I would like to get a "peer-check" from folks that have lifted a 2008 Liberty.

Goal - 2.3 - 3 inch suspension lift & larger rims and tires.

I identified 3 local mechanics that can do the kit install. They want me to email them links to the kit I am considering.

I need help selecting the kit. Read a lot on forums, but this has not yielded a selection (just narrowed the search).

I have identified several lift methods:

(1) Spacer lift (cheap & many choices)
(2) Coil lift (expensive & limited choices)
(3) Body lift (not interested)

I am starting to give strong thought to the coil lift method... Here are my top consideration so far:

This is the one that catches my eye the most... (adjustable front shocks)

http://jeepinbyal.com/prod-2_5__Lift_Spring_Kit_Jeep_Liberty_KK-609.aspx

Here are runner-ups...

http://www.rocky-road.com/kkrockfather.html

http://www.rockkrawler.com/?r_intro=1

http://www.boulderbars.com/frankenlift.htm

I need feedback from folks that have done this...

What do you think about my choices, plus/minus?

Are there others I should consider and why?

THANKS

At The Helm · **Posted:** Sat Feb 12, 2011 5:07 pm

Everyone says the jba 2.5" is the way to go. Better ride, even better customer service. I would stay away from rocky road. I am running the daystar 2" and so far so good. It does yield a stiffer ride and will probably tire out the springs sooner. If you do go the spacer lift route, the rock crawler is probably the best one. Installation on that one looks pretty easy.

hs10 · **Joined:** Mon Jan 31, 2011 9:24 pm **Posts:** 28

Hi Atthehelm

Thanks for the feedback... I am also thinking about using the "A-Arms"...

http://jeepinbyal.com/cat-A-arms_KK-103.aspx

Would this be over-kill? Since I am having everything installed by a local mechanic it does not add much more time.

With a 2.5 inch lift will I need to extend the rear sway-bar?

At The Helm · **Posted:** Sat Feb 12, 2011 6:33 pm

Not overkill. Al's a arms should eliminate any contact between the arm and the spring at full decrompression. The ball joints will also last way longer than if you left it stock. If i had the money this is the setup i would have bought.

At The Helm · **Posted:** Sat Feb 12, 2011 6:38 pm

I've never heard of anyone extending the sway bars, just a longer trac bar with the 4" lift.

hs10 · **Joined:** Mon Jan 31, 2011 9:24 pm **Posts:** 28

Thanks again

Can you tell me about trac bar... Not sure what it is?

At The Helm · **Posted:** Sat Feb 12, 2011 9:00 pm

Its a bar just behind the rear axle that connects from the body to the axle. It restrains the axle from side to side movement. (left/right).

Diggerfreek · **Posted:** Sun Feb 13, 2011 10:40 pm

I currently run the prototype JBA 4.0 lift in my KK

As far as the JBA 2.5 goes, it is by far the best kit if you are looking to have your jeep a long time.

Stay away from RRO.

The RK kit is a cheap way to lift your KK, but it still retains the stock suspension components. You will probably be replacing the front shocks and springs by 30K

I don't know if ALL J's has a kit for the KK's yet

In the rear, you won't have to worry about the track bar or the sway bar end links.

Up front, I would suggest the JBA a arms since it will make it easier to align. In the end it is cheaper now to pay to have the a arms done now vs down the road.

hs10 · **Joined:** Mon Jan 31, 2011 9:24 pm **Posts:** 28

Based on feedback, I am starting to settle into the the JBA spring lift with the A-Arms and shocks.

http://jeepinbyal.com/prod-2_5__Lift_Spring_Kit_Jeep_Liberty_KK-609.aspx

http://jeepinbyal.com/prod-2_5__Lift_Spring_Kit_Jeep_Liberty_KK-697.aspx

I am giving thought to the adjustable struts, but need more feedback on these. I don't plan to add a lot of weight to the front (bumper, winch, skid plate, etc). I am thinking about joining a local jeep clubs and do some mild to moderate off-road stuff, nothing rough...

I have been exploring a snow plow for light use... Primary my own driveway and some of the street... I currently pay $300 - $400 a year for someone else to do it... Not sure if the Liberty can handle a plow???

Over the weekend I found two mechanic shops that can do the lift... They said get the kit yourself and leave it for two days.

Thanks

Diggerfreek · **Posted:** Mon Feb 14, 2011 11:42 pm

hs10 wrote:

Based on feedback, I am starting to settle into the the JBA spring lift with the A-Arms and shocks.

http://jeepinbyal.com/prod-2_5__Lift_Spring_Kit_Jeep_Liberty_KK-609.aspx

http://jeepinbyal.com/prod-2_5__Lift_Spring_Kit_Jeep_Liberty_KK-697.aspx

I am giving thought to the adjustable struts, but need more feedback on these. I don't plan to add a lot of weight to the front (bumper, winch, skid plate, etc). I am thinking about joining a local jeep clubs and do some mild to moderate off-road stuff, nothing rough...

I have been exploring a snow plow for light use... Primary my own driveway and some of the street... I currently pay $300 - $400 a year for someone else to do it... Not sure if the Liberty can handle a plow???

Over the weekend I found two mechanic shops that can do the lift... They said get the kit yourself and leave it for two days.

Thanks

If your not going to load up the front, stay with the regular lift. However, if you plan to keep your KK till it dies, get the adjustable kit. Reason being, you are looking at a normal service life of 30K to 50K on shocks. If you figure in the labor involved to R&I the OEM coil over set up, you are looking at $300 to $500 every time due to the amount to labor time. With the adjustable kit, the whole coil over assemble can be removed and installed on both sides in less then an hour due to its design.

As far as the plow goes, you could add a front hitch and run a plow, however the KK wasn't designed for a plow to be run up front due to the unibody design.

tommudd · **Posted:** Tue Feb 15, 2011 5:11 pm

Two days??? Hope they are not charging you that much time :wink:

I would go JBA and be done,
spacer lift you'll be back in 6 months to a year swapping it out for something better

hs10 · **Joined:** Mon Jan 31, 2011 9:24 pm **Posts:** 28

Hi Folks

I think I will go with the adjustable shocks also, the mechanic shop wants it two days because they will need to fit other service work while doing my install...

Has anyone in the forum used these (feedback)...

Thanks

Diggerfreek · **Posted:** Thu Feb 17, 2011 12:17 am

hs10 wrote:

Hi Folks

I think I will go with the adjustable shocks also, the mechanic shop wants it two days because they will need to fit other service work while doing my install...

Has anyone in the forum used these (feedback)...

Thanks

Yes, I run the 4 inch kit, and it is awesome! Just make sure you run bilsteins in the rear as well.

SkinInc69 · **Posted:** Thu Feb 17, 2011 1:06 am

You can't put a body lift on a KK! It's a uni body! Look under your jeep!

remdawg · **Joined:** Fri Nov 12, 2010 2:05 pm **Posts:** 204

I know everyone usually says JBA is the way to go, but when I was actually comparing the pricing of the two, Rocky Road looks like the better deal. I've heard a lot of good things about OME, and it looks like the entire kit pretty much consists of that:

New Old Man Emu front custom springs.
Under-the-Top® strut cap and spacers for 3" leveling lift in front.
Old Man Emu front strut shocks.
Full High Density rear poly coil spacer.
Rocky Road engineered rear shocks
Optional pre-assembly of the front struts.
INSANE ARMS upper A-arm control arms included.

You can also replace the Rocky Road engineered rear shocks with OME Long Travel shocks, so why the hate on this kit? It sounds like it would be a decent suspension lift overall. Do the spacers take away that much?

hs10 · **Joined:** Mon Jan 31, 2011 9:24 pm **Posts:** 28

Hi remdawg

Rocky Road was on my top three list... The one thing that make me lean towards the JBA system is the adjustable front shocks... My understanding is that all springs will have some sagging over time and the adjustable struts allow compensation over time... It also looks like an advantage if other heavy accessories are added...

Does this seem like a reasonable conclusion?

Diggerfreek · **Posted:** Mon Feb 21, 2011 10:49 pm

RRO has gotten a bad rap due to:

1. Customer service
2. Poor Design
3. Almost no tech support

While I don't have any personal experience with them, I can tell you that in the 3 years I have been here, they haven't tried to better themselves.

If you do a search, you will see the nightmare one member went through with his new a arms. Also, their rock rails are well...

I don't think I would jack my jeep up like this if I had RRO rails.

Note: I frequently jack my jeep up in the middle of the rail NASCAR style to do tire rotations

PEER-CHECK PLEASE HELP ME !! - 2008 Liberty Lift Project

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