Skyjacker WJ20 "budget boost"

Video Guy · **Posted:** Fri Sep 29, 2006 10:45 am

Any experience with this lift? I know it's not the greatest in the world, but how does it hold up under mild offroad use? Here's a link to an installation guide for Grand Cherokees, but some web sites show the WJ20 kit also as a product for the 2002-2003 Liberty.

http://www.jeepspeak.com/bb_wj.asp

Just exploring my options. Thanks in advance for your feedback.

T.J.

nolakj · **Posted:** Fri Sep 29, 2006 11:16 am

Hard to say without seeing the actual KJ spacers and their install points.... Lots of folks use the Daystar spacers and like them alot. Haven't heard much about this one.....

fdezone · **Posted:** Fri Sep 29, 2006 11:58 am

The WJ's front end doesn't have any similarities with the KJ. It doesn't utilize struts like the KJ or even the WK and XK. Do some comparison shopping, some of the so called Budget Boosts can get pretty pricey and don't include shocks.

pixeldzn · **Posted:** Fri Sep 29, 2006 12:18 pm

If you are gonna do a spacer lift, go for the daystar.

Many of the other spacer kits utilize an over the top spacer which can be bad for your front suspension.

The skyjacker looks to be misadvertised as a KJ product. As far as I know, all they have for the KJ is a spring lift.

Your other option is to buy a frankenlift front and spacers for the back, which would cut the cost down a couple hundred.

Video Guy · **Posted:** Fri Sep 29, 2006 12:54 pm

How does Daystar kit KJ09123BK (spacers only -- no strut plates) compare to their next one up, KJ09116BK (taller in the front, uses strut plates). Am I more likely to blow out my struts using the spacer-only kit, or do these strut plates solve that problem? (I just read an older post saying that these plates fix the geometry.)

My thoughts are, if I can get by with spacer kit for $200 that uses my factory shocks and struts, fine. But if a good spacer kit costs $300, I'd rather wait, save some cash, and get the Rusty's coil spring kit for $465.

My current factory suspension has almost 44K miles on it. If my struts and shocks are near the end of their service life, I'll spring for the Rusty's kit. I guess one bad pothole at 50 mph could be the end, right? If so, that could be arranged. :twisted:

I'd have an easier time justifying the expense to my wife if a new suspension is something I need.

How long do shocks and struts typically last?

Keep the opinions coming.

Video Guy · **Posted:** Fri Sep 29, 2006 12:57 pm

fdezone wrote:

The WJ's front end doesn't have any similarities with the KJ. It doesn't utilize struts like the KJ or even the WK and XK. Do some comparison shopping, some of the so called Budget Boosts can get pretty pricey and don't include shocks.

We're talking older WJ's, like '94-'01, I think. Could be why that's why the WJ20 kit isn't marketed for KJ's after '03. :?:

Video Guy · **Posted:** Fri Sep 29, 2006 1:00 pm

pixeldzn wrote:

If you are gonna do a spacer lift, go for the daystar.

Many of the other spacer kits utilize an over the top spacer which can be bad for your front suspension.

Are these OTT spacers sometimes called "strut extensions"? If so, that will rule out some other lifts I am considering (BDS/Rough Country).

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Fri Sep 29, 2006 3:26 pm

Your shocks can last alot longer than 45k miles. We have a grand cherokee with 160k and it still have the stock suspension. It has sagged alittle but the shocks seem just fine. :wink:

pixeldzn · **Posted:** Fri Sep 29, 2006 4:39 pm

Keep in mind the daystar and the rusty's kit are going to require disassembly of your front suspsnsion components to either install the spacers or the springs depending upon which kit you buy.

At that point it seems foolish to me to not replace the struts as you have it all apart anyway and its gonna cost in the neighborhood of $50-$75 to have them done anyway.

Any of the kits that let you get by without disassembling the front strut assembly to put the spacer under the top plate are just going to cause you problems down the road, IMO. They are a lot cheaper for a reason.

The frankenlift requires no dissasembly because it comes preassembled with a daystar puck and top plate, and OME coil and a rancho or OME strut. Rusty's coil kit requires you to reuse the stock top plate.

eggwhite93 · **Posted:** Fri Sep 29, 2006 6:03 pm

I would say if you want the best bang for your buck do what I am doing and go for the Rustys coil lift. Yeah your have to disassamble the front but its not that hard and you can "rent" the spring compressor tool from many auto parts stores.

Video Guy · **Posted:** Mon Oct 02, 2006 2:08 pm

eggwhite93 wrote:

I would say if you want the best bang for your buck do what I am doing and go for the Rustys coil lift. Yeah your have to disassamble the front but its not that hard and you can "rent" the spring compressor tool from many auto parts stores.

Pics, please.

I'm leaning toward this, but I have my moments when I'd rather go cheap just to have ANY kind of lift ASAP. But the Rusty's system seems like a good all-around solution. Because I don't wheel very often or very aggressively, the extra $300 for Frankenlift seems hard to justify. My wife drives the KJ a lot, so the less she notices the lift, the better. The main reason I want to lift is to better my approach and departure angles, and get some more space between my belly and the rocks beneath it.

jeepkj02 · **Posted:** Mon Oct 02, 2006 2:39 pm

Video Guy wrote:

fdezone wrote:

The WJ's front end doesn't have any similarities with the KJ. It doesn't utilize struts like the KJ or even the WK and XK. Do some comparison shopping, some of the so called Budget Boosts can get pretty pricey and don't include shocks.

We're talking older WJ's, like '94-'01, I think. Could be why that's why the WJ20 kit isn't marketed for KJ's after '03. :?:

ZJ - 93-98

WJ - 99-04

WK - 05+

XK - 06

Video Guy · **Posted:** Thu Oct 19, 2006 3:31 pm

Thanks for all the info, guys. I've ruled out the Skyjacker spacer lifts, but considering my limited offroading opportunities, I'm still considering a Daystar poly spacer lift -- specifically, KJ09123BK (1.5" front and 2" rear). I understand that lifting 2.5" or more requires long rear shocks, but would I need longer shocks with only the 2" rear spacer? If so, which shocks do you recommend? I don't want bucking on the highway, but don't mind if the ride is soft offroad. In general, are gas or hydraulic shocks better for my needs?

THIS SITE ROCKS! I've learned a lot here in the last 4 months or so. Looking forward to the next L.O.S.T. Midwest run on 10/28. Probably won't be lifted by then.

T.J.

Skyjacker WJ20 "budget boost"

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