My head is spinning!

peej07 · **Joined:** Sat Mar 31, 2007 8:37 pm **Posts:** 8

I recently bought a 04 ltd for my wife and she wants it lifted to look a little tougher. This Liberty unfortunately will never be wheeled. So after reading KJ forums for the last week I'm getting more and more confused. I was all set to go frankenlift, then Rusty's, and now the Daystar. I need some help from the KJ masters out there to point me in the right direction. Thanks

Maximum Carnage · **Posted:** Mon Apr 09, 2007 10:42 am

From my understanding when I was looking for a lift.
A suspensions lift is more suitable for off road. This lift will cost more than a spacer lift.
The Spacer lifts are more for looks. You may still take a vehicle with space lift on the trails but it won’t perform as good as a suspension lift.

Troysterr · **Posted:** Mon Apr 09, 2007 10:43 am

I'd go with Rusty's coil lift, because it saves you the hassle of assembling the front strut assembly, and your on-road ride will still be really good. In fact, you might like the way it rides better. Also, when you decide that you really do want to go offroad (c'mon, you know it's going to happen

), you'll be ready.

But if you're REALLY never going to go offroad, it doesn't matter much which lift you install. Any of the ones you were considering should work fine. Just avoid OTT kits.

PBrug · **Posted:** Mon Apr 09, 2007 10:49 am

Troysterr wrote:

I'd go with Rusty's coil lift, because it saves you the hassle of assembling the front strut assembly

Does Rusty's come assembled?

peej07 · **Joined:** Sat Mar 31, 2007 8:37 pm **Posts:** 8

Is the Daystar a OTT?

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Mon Apr 09, 2007 10:58 am

You might consider the OME lift - one of their claims to fame has always been a progressively wound spring - the advantage is that you actually get a softer initial spring rate that gets stiffer as the spring compresses, so you actually get a softer onroad ride - and a stiffer off road ride.
I currently have Daystar because I have a CRD and the OME CRD spring wasn't released when I did the lift - I'll probably upgrade in the next budget cycle (spent too much money on this one).
The Daystar ride is just like stock (you've added a little spring preload - but not much).

Troyster - I'm confused about

Quote:

Rusty's coil lift, because it saves you the hassle of assembling the front strut assembly

I've always heard Rusty's comes as seperate pieces and only the Frankenlift comes fully assembled, did something change?

KJ04 · **Posted:** Mon Apr 09, 2007 10:59 am

Troysterr wrote:

I'd go with Rusty's coil lift, because it saves you the hassle of assembling the front strut assembly, and your on-road ride will still be really good. In fact, you might like the way it rides better. Also, when you decide that you really do want to go offroad (c'mon, you know it's going to happen

), you'll be ready.

But if you're REALLY never going to go offroad, it doesn't matter much which lift you install. Any of the ones you were considering should work fine. Just avoid OTT kits.

With the Rusty's you do have to get the front struts assembled!

However, for around $500.00 you will be getting 4 new lift coil springs, Old Man Emu struts and upgrade the rear shocks to OME also.
The rear shocks that come standard with the kit are on the poopy side.
This kit is well worth the the extra cost over a spacer lift, which with the extended rear shocks you will need are an extra cost anyways.
So for roughly $150.00 more, you're better off going with the Rusty's coil lift kit.

Then you can slap a set of 255/70/16's on with a set of Spyder Trax wheel spacers to make it look even rougher for her!

peej07 · **Joined:** Sat Mar 31, 2007 8:37 pm **Posts:** 8

Are you happy with the Daystar kit and how hardis it to install. I've done the lifts on my YJ, TJ, and XJ in my garage over a weekend. Thanks again!

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Mon Apr 09, 2007 11:10 am

The front end is a pain - some folks have it down to an art form and can pull it apart and put it back in 4-5 hours - took me the weekend (rear is simple 1-2 hours max)

CRD springs need heavy duty spring compressors - I ended up taking the pieces to a shop to get them assembled.

The Daystar works okay, but I think if you're lifting it 2 1/2 inches - then 2 1/2 inch of spring allows the suspension to work better than a 2 1/2 inch spacer.
(although the OME's are only about 1 1/2 inch lift and the Frankenlift adds a spacer under that)

Eddo · **Joined:** Thu Jul 07, 2005 7:01 pm **Posts:** 1214

ATXKJ wrote:

The front end is a pain - some folks have it down to an art form and can pull it apart and put it back in 4-5 hours - took me the weekend (rear is simple 1-2 hours max)

CRD springs need heavy duty spring compressors - I ended up taking the pieces to a shop to get them assembled.

The Daystar works okay, but I think if you're lifting it 2 1/2 inches - then 2 1/2 inch of spring allows the suspension to work better than a 2 1/2 inch spacer.
(although the OME's are only about 1 1/2 inch lift and the Frankenlift adds a spacer under that)

Art form.. lol. Me and moose can crank out the entire lift (front and rear) in about 2 hours. But I've installed some many KJ that I'm starting to loose count.

Anyways Rustys is your best bet. You get new springs, new shocks and new struts. If you upgrage your shocks and struts with the Daystar lift then you are over the price of Rusty's kit.

Skipperb · **Posted:** Mon Apr 09, 2007 11:56 am

Daystar
if you will see a little off road and want the looks there is not much sense in paying an arm and leg for anything other that the pucks. I went 2 years with out new struts and mine did just as good it rides and handles
like it did stock. there are all kinds of lifts and we all think ours is better or worse If you spend more than 250.00 you are wasting your time.struts let you have more down travel .

click on pix I go where they go

peej07 · **Joined:** Sat Mar 31, 2007 8:37 pm **Posts:** 8

So of the puck lifts which is the better one to go with?

KJ04 · **Posted:** Mon Apr 09, 2007 12:39 pm

peej07 wrote:

So of the puck lifts which is the better one to go with?

The RRO Combo kit is a good kit that won't ruin anything. The Daystar 2.5" will really tighten up the front coils, but they do have a 1.5" version for the front. With any of these kits you will need to add the price of extended rear shocks. Which will put you around $300.00 + shipping.

TDI4BY · **Joined:** Sun Apr 02, 2006 11:56 pm **Posts:** 644

KJ04 wrote:

peej07 wrote:

So of the puck lifts which is the better one to go with?

The RRO Combo kit is a good kit that won't ruin anything. The Daystar 2.5" will really tighten up the front coils, but they do have a 1.5" version for the front. With any of these kits you will need to add the price of extended rear shocks. Which will put you around $300.00 + shipping.

The full daystar kit I have has the upper strut plates in the front and it WILL NOT tighten up the front springs. It works very well and I recommend it.

peej07 · **Joined:** Sat Mar 31, 2007 8:37 pm **Posts:** 8

Anyone have any info or feedback on the Rough Country kit?

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Mon Apr 09, 2007 2:17 pm

Daystar kit has been around a long time and has been reliable for the most part.

Love a woman that wants to lift a Jeep, but then again, how do you know she doesn't want to take it off-road? A secret passion she has kept to herself, perhaps?

peej07 · **Joined:** Sat Mar 31, 2007 8:37 pm **Posts:** 8

I've scared the poop out of her in the TJ enough that she'll stick to the pavement. :shock:

peej07 · **Joined:** Sat Mar 31, 2007 8:37 pm **Posts:** 8

Last question what is involved with the Revtek install? The back is a no brainer but I'd like to know what I'm getting myself into with the front. Thanks

jason thompson · **Posted:** Mon Apr 09, 2007 5:52 pm

For the wifes ride I would recomend
OME med. springs all around with either rancho or OME struts and shocks

This is what we did to her KJ about 8 months ago and she loves it
it is just enough to set it apart from the rest of the KJ's and it gives a better than stock ride

Keep in mind that sometime between 36k and 50k miles you will need new struts and shocks any way so why fart around with spacers?
If you will be replacing struts and shocks then the cost of those is a none issue then all you have is the cost of springs wich I got lucky when rustys was selling the OME's for $100 a pair so in my eyes we got around 2" of lift for only $200 + shipping
I say 2" because we had some major spring sag problems on our KJ so it is up 2" from where it was the day we got it done
I think that now you can pick up OME's for like $140 a pair or around that

Troysterr · **Posted:** Mon Apr 09, 2007 6:04 pm

KJ04 wrote:

Troysterr wrote:

I'd go with Rusty's coil lift, because it saves you the hassle of assembling the front strut assembly...

With the Rusty's you do have to get the front struts assembled!

D'oh! Sorry, my mistake. :oops:

My head is spinning!

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