Which Lift to get?

Se7enLC · **Posted:** Thu Sep 15, 2005 2:02 pm

I'm not immediately getting a lift, but I thought it would be good to get a general idea of which lifts are good / what the differences are. I did a little research, and here's what I found so far. Prices are rough estimates based on whatever random price I found online:

Spacer Lifts: Inexpensive, travel remains the same as stock. Ride is more stiff than the coil lifts

Spacer / Coil Lifts: Moderate expense, part Spacer, part coil replacement

Coil Lifts: More expensive, coils replaced front and rear, higher travel.

Outrageous Lifts: Stupidly expensive, replace lots of parts

Let me know if I missed any / got any of the information wrong. Please chime in with suggestions on which one you prefer and what the differences are. I'm thinking the way to go is with a full coil suspension, since it's not that expensive and adds more travel instead of just lift. Thoughts?

raceinfan · **Posted:** Thu Sep 15, 2005 2:38 pm

Jeff go with RUSTYS it's your best bang for the buck a majority of the guy's run it & are quite happy with it plus you saw it in action on Orlando's jeep

when I get ready that's what I'll buy

L.O.S.T.#535
04 COLUMBIA ED. & 04 SPORT

skrracing · **Posted:** Thu Sep 15, 2005 2:41 pm

"Frankinlift Baby". later...Clint

priell3 · **Posted:** Thu Sep 15, 2005 2:48 pm

You left out the similar kits from 4WD Hardware and BDS Suspensions.
Nice new springs on all 4 corners plus rear shocks.

BDS
4WD

I got the 4WD Hardware lift and I'm pleased with the results. You can see pics by clicking the link in my signature.

Se7enLC · **Posted:** Thu Sep 15, 2005 2:50 pm

raceinfan wrote:

Jeff go with RUSTYS it's your best bang for the buck a majority of the guy's run it & are quite happy with it plus you saw it in action on Orlando's jeep

when I get ready that's what I'll buy

L.O.S.T.#535
04 COLUMBIA ED. & 04 SPORT

So far it's looking like the best value, it's a few hundred bucks cheaper than the other all-coil lifts.

When we got stuck in the sand before lunch last week, Orlando was driving up and down from the path down to where I was stuck while I was trying to get out - Irma said something like "How come he can do it and you can't??". That may well have been just the tires in that case, since I wasn't bottoming out in the sand at that point, but still, the lift adds a lot.

Skyjump136 · **Joined:** Tue Jul 05, 2005 6:50 pm **Posts:** 1633

Quote:

Spacer Lifts: Inexpensive, lift without changing how it rides, travel remains the same.

Ah, no. Spacer lifts are notoious for tightening up the front suspension. The Frankenlift is the third lift I've had and is by far the best.

Se7enLC · **Posted:** Thu Sep 15, 2005 3:30 pm

Skyjump136 wrote:

Quote:

Spacer Lifts: Inexpensive, lift without changing how it rides, travel remains the same.

Ah, no. Spacer lifts are notoious for tightening up the front suspension. The Frankenlift is the third lift I've had and is by far the best.

Don't spacer lifts use the same coils/struts/etc as factory, though? I would think that it would be the same ride as factory, but not as good as replacing the coils. I guess raising the jeep and not accounting for it in the suspension would result in a stiff ride, now that I think about it.

Frankenlift is a spacer lift? I thought that was coil all around? (the page says "OME coils...I guess I don't know if that means Old Man Emu or "Original Manufacturer Equipment") Or was that a completely different train of thought?

WV(0)IIIIIII(0) · **Posted:** Thu Sep 15, 2005 3:47 pm

Make sure you are getting the front kit and the rear coils with the skyjacker. That price looks a little cheap for both. I have got this lift and so far have been happy with it.

Se7enLC · **Posted:** Thu Sep 15, 2005 3:52 pm

Here's where I found the price for the skyjacker. Looks like it includes all the right parts:
http://www.morris4x4center.com/liberty/skyjacker_suspension_lift_kits.htm

The photo shows 4 coils, but the list only mentions two. What should this kit include?

skrracing · **Posted:** Thu Sep 15, 2005 4:06 pm

The Frankinlift is a full coil lift with shocks. The BIG advanatage of the Frankinlift is that is is already assembled

It is a complet kit with Rancho struts and Shocks and front and rear springs from OME (Old Man Emu). They also add other parts to make the lift higher then the regular OME kit.

Again... the big difference is the front struts are already put together for you so a spring compressor is not needed.

Later...Clint

skrracing · **Posted:** Thu Sep 15, 2005 4:11 pm

The kit you are looking at...i think the picture is wrong. The kit they are talking about (almost sure) is front struts with front spacers...not springs. Then in the rear they use coil springs but does not come with shocks.

BE DANG SURE YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE GETTING.

Read the pasts that are included with this kit very carefully and you will see what I mean. I think this is one of the older kits Skyjacker was selling as a cheaper kit than their full on coil spring kit. Hope that helps. later...Clint

Se7enLC · **Posted:** Thu Sep 15, 2005 4:13 pm

skrracing wrote:

Again... the big difference is the front struts are already put together for you so a spring compressor is not needed.

ooh, good point.

So am I right in thinking that it will make that lift the easiest to install? I've never done more to a car than filters, tires, spark plugs, and electrical work (stereo) - Is it something that is easy enough to install without needing too much assistance? (I would definitely prefer doing a lift party, but I do want to be able to do as much of it myself as possible, just for the experience)

That may well be worth the extra $200 of my time/hassle/labor costs, if it can be done in-house within a few hours.

Quote:

Read the pasts that are included with this kit very carefully and you will see what I mean. I think this is one of the older kits Skyjacker was selling as a cheaper kit than their full on coil spring kit. Hope that helps. later...Clint

I got the part #s from skyjackers page and did a google search to find a place that sells them. The installation instructions for the LIB250K show springs+shocks for front and rear, but the parts list in the install guide doesn't show any of the parts for the rear, it seems. I can't seem to find any other place selling the two skyjacker kits

Edit: I found it for $589 here: http://www.4wheelparts.com/4wp/products/productLine.asp?cat=SUS&prodline=836&catName=Suspension&man=SKY&parentProdline=SusJeepSKY&expand=sub4

skrracing · **Posted:** Thu Sep 15, 2005 4:23 pm

OK I have tracked this down and the Skyjacker kit you are looking at is the full coil kit but does not come with rear shocks. you would still have to buy them.

I will be straight up...Any kit out there is still a big jiob to do on the front of a KJ. The rear is very easy buit the front...it is a job.

I am not trying to scare anyone away but if you have friends that can do this to help...or have your local club do a lift party...This will really help.

The big deal with the Frankinlift other than the great on and off road ride is that the front strut is put together for you. Yes it is still a lot of work but not having to deal with a spring compressor really saves tons of time and effort not even bring up the safety issue.

Hope that helps. later...clint

KJTX · **Joined:** Fri Jul 08, 2005 12:56 pm **Posts:** 216

Se7enLC wrote:

So am I right in thinking that it will make that lift the easiest to install? I've never done more to a car than filters, tires, spark plugs, and electrical work (stereo) - Is it something that is easy enough to install without needing too much assistance? (I would definitely prefer doing a lift party, but I do want to be able to do as much of it myself as possible, just for the experience)

That may well be worth the extra $200 of my time/hassle/labor costs, if it can be done in-house within a few hours.

Edwin and I installed the Old Man Emu lift on his over Labor Day weekend. He purchased it from All J's with the front struts pre-assembled. so the only difference between it and the Frankenlift is the brand of parts. The actual install time only took about 3 hours (we actually spent closer to 5 on the whole thing, mostly looking for dropped bolts and mis-placed tools). But to answer your question, you and a friend could easily install it yourselves.

Skyjump136 · **Joined:** Tue Jul 05, 2005 6:50 pm **Posts:** 1633

Se7enLC wrote:

Skyjump136 wrote:

Quote:

Spacer Lifts: Inexpensive, lift without changing how it rides, travel remains the same.

Ah, no. Spacer lifts are notoious for tightening up the front suspension. The Frankenlift is the third lift I've had and is by far the best.

Don't spacer lifts use the same coils/struts/etc as factory, though? I would think that it would be the same ride as factory, but not as good as replacing the coils. I guess raising the jeep and not accounting for it in the suspension would result in a stiff ride, now that I think about it.

Frankenlift is a spacer lift? I thought that was coil all around? (the page says "OME coils...I guess I don't know if that means Old Man Emu or "Original Manufacturer Equipment") Or was that a completely different train of thought?

On a live axle a spacer will retain the factory ride. Due to the geometry of an independent suspension it can result in a pretty stiff ride, coil bind, etc. The Frankenlift uses a longer spring (old man emu), a 1.5" spacer (daystar), and a new top plate (daystar). That's the front. In the rear it currently uses Skyjacker springs, but that will soon be changing to OME as well due to limited supply of the SJs. I'm not sure why the ride of the Frankenlift is so nice with that spacer, but I'd imagine it's because it is a very small spacer.

Quote:

Edwin and I installed the Old Man Emu lift on his over Labor Day weekend. He purchased it from All J's with the front struts pre-assembled. so the only difference between it and the Frankenlift is the brand of parts.

Not exactly...because of the spacer the Frankenlift will net quite a bit more height.

Se7enLC · **Posted:** Thu Sep 15, 2005 5:04 pm

Skyjump136 wrote:

On a live axle a spacer will retain the factory ride. Due to the geometry of an independent suspension it can result in a pretty stiff ride, coil bind, etc. The Frankenlift uses a longer spring (old man emu), a 1.5" spacer (daystar), and a new top plate (daystar). That's the front. In the rear it currently uses Skyjacker springs, but that will soon be changing to OME as well due to limited supply of the SJs. I'm not sure why the ride of the Frankenlift is so nice with that spacer, but I'd imagine it's because it is a very small spacer.

Oh, I see, so the frankenlift uses both a spacer AND a replacement coil for the front. So it probably doesn't have quite the travel of a full 2.5 coil in the front, but has the same overall lift height, without the problems that come with long travel in an IFS.

Calvin56 · **Joined:** Fri Jul 08, 2005 1:59 am **Posts:** 345

I love my FRANKENLIFT

Skyjump136 · **Joined:** Tue Jul 05, 2005 6:50 pm **Posts:** 1633

Quote:

Oh, I see, so the frankenlift uses both a spacer AND a replacement coil for the front. So it probably doesn't have quite the travel of a full 2.5 coil in the front, but has the same overall lift height, without the problems that come with long travel in an IFS.

The Frankenlift has more flex than any other functioning (so exclude RK) lift that's currently available. Period. It actually nets closer to 3.25" on 2003+ year KJs (2.5" on the 2002s). Put a Frankenlifted KJ next to a Rusty's lift and you'll see a difference. Rusty's nets 2.5" on 2003+ year KJs and closer to 1.75" on the 2002.

Edit: Keep in mind that travel is a combination of compression AND DROOP. Rusty's strut limits droop, while Frankenlift will give a full droop (upper ball joint all the way down to the spring).

Se7enLC · **Posted:** Thu Sep 15, 2005 7:21 pm

Skyjump136 wrote:

Quote:

Oh, I see, so the frankenlift uses both a spacer AND a replacement coil for the front. So it probably doesn't have quite the travel of a full 2.5 coil in the front, but has the same overall lift height, without the problems that come with long travel in an IFS.

The Frankenlift has more flex than any other functioning (so exclude RK) lift that's currently available. Period. It actually nets closer to 3.25" on 2003+ year KJs (2.5" on the 2002s). Put a Frankenlifted KJ next to a Rusty's lift and you'll see a difference. Rusty's nets 2.5" on 2003+ year KJs and closer to 1.75" on the 2002.

Edit: Keep in mind that travel is a combination of compression AND DROOP. Rusty's strut limits droop, while Frankenlift will give a full droop (upper ball joint all the way down to the spring).

And I'm sold!

I'm still not certain I want to get a lift at all, but if I do, this will be it.

PitViper · **Posted:** Thu Sep 15, 2005 8:45 pm

I don't have a lift yet, but from everything I have been reading here for over a year, my first choice would be Frankenlift. Rusty's with rancho's would be second.

Which Lift to get?

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