My lift idea...

Sport · **Posted:** Mon Jul 16, 2007 6:06 pm

I think it is time to upgrade. I have the 2.5 spacer lift and want something that I know is going to last a while without failure but I also want to be a little higher, about an inch.

So I am considering the Rock Krawler 3.5 x factor. (I am not looking for comments on the lift! :lol:

)

My thoughts for the front is 3.5 is too high and will be a problem in the future. What I want to do is a 1/2 inch cradle drop which will help the CV angle. I am at 2.5 now and the angle looks good so another half inch shouldn't be an issue (I am still working on how to make that happen). I also want to replace the stock springs out for CRD springs and upgrade the struts, because I might be adding some weight to the front in the future.

1. will the CRD springs make me sit higher?
2. What struts can I upgrade to with the CRD springs?

For the rear 3.5 inches should be fine and the lift comes with adjustable control arms.

Your thoughts?

jelohead · **Posted:** Mon Jul 16, 2007 6:24 pm

at 3.5" of lift, will you need to deal with your rear driveshaft? and brake lines?

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Mon Jul 16, 2007 6:33 pm

3.5in is just a tad to high for the kj's suspension.

You may also get vibes from the rear..

1. probably.. It may ride alittle rough though
2. OME or Rancho struts are good..

bighause · **Posted:** Mon Jul 16, 2007 7:19 pm

Just buy a Frankenlift and be done! Most people net at about 3" from it and it is a proven kit.

Sport · **Posted:** Mon Jul 16, 2007 8:37 pm

bighause wrote:

Just buy a Frankenlift and be done! Most people net at about 3" from it and it is a proven kit.

I already have 3" in the rear and all I would have to do is a clevis to get three in the front. So no thanks on the Frankenlift.

jerbacher · **Posted:** Mon Jul 16, 2007 8:58 pm

I'm no mechanic and do not have a very good understanding of suspension because I'm a complete newb! That being said, I had a topic a while ago where higher KJ lifs were discussed. Here's what ARBSeth had to say:

Quote:

The KJ is a tough rig to lift. One of the biggest probelms you guys DON'T see is that the IFS cradle for the D30A acts as a motor mount...
So you can't just cut the cross members and do a drop bracket without SERIOUSLY affecting the integrity of the chasis. Ask your good friends at Rock Krawler how well that worked out for them... as a good company, they said "Whoa.. that didn't work" so they scrapped it, too.
You can't compare one paltform to the other (KJ vs. WK) because there are too many differences to make it an even swap. You know, like a HEMI vs a lil ole 3.7 and stuff. Yes, I know you can get a 3.7 GC... but the chasis are different.

You guys are just going to have to understand that unless you want to dump a ton of money into your KJ, 3" is as good as it gets. It's just not safe for a Reputable company to do anything bigger. Sorry...

You can read the whole thing here.

http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=21037&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

JJsTJ · **Posted:** Mon Jul 16, 2007 10:05 pm

Search for posts by Jeepinal as he did a cradle drop as well as dropping the upper arms. HE put a LOT of work into it all and had it working but it wasn't easy. Good luck and keep us informed with what you figure out.

LiLredLibby · **Posted:** Mon Jul 16, 2007 10:37 pm

Sport.......I got the same lift,and I'm afraid that everones replies are pretty accurate.I actually netted just a tad under 3 1/4".When I sat it on the ground I looked everthing over pretty good,and all of the driveline angles seemed to be as sharp as I dared to go.At full droop I seen about 1/4" of daylight between Upper balljoint and coilspring,I knew then it was time to quit.I thought it over for a day or two,and just had to have at least one more inch of ground clearance.If your willing to do some trimming,your best bet from here would be some 265/75/16.Mine measured at 31.76 inches,and added about another 1 1/2".My libby came stock with the smallest size of 215s,so it was a major improvment.Not sure why you only got 2 1/2" out of the same lift but I took measurments before and after.Mine is mainly a daily driver,but if I use good common sense,and pick the right lines,I can still have a good time on the moderate trails.Not trying to talk you into anything,just throwing out some good advice to get you another inch or so.Good luck on whatever you decide,and keep us posted.

Ron

Sport · **Posted:** Tue Jul 17, 2007 1:15 pm

Thank for the feedback.

Longer brake lines are available

I hadn't thought about the drive shaft, is that why they make slip yoke eliminators?

Is there a stronger spring that will give me the same height as the stock spring? I thought some guys were using the CRD springs with the heavy bumpers?

Jeeping Al did do a cradle drop and so did some other member from Hawaii. I believe the guy from hawaii just put some spacers on top of the cradle. Maybe he will chime in.

OK, so if I can get the cradle drop done that should leave my CV's at a safe angle. The only thing to look at is the drive shaft, see if that is an issue or not. I have Al A arms so that will help with b joint contact.

I think this will be a pretty stought lift at 3.5, I am optimistic

Lilredlibby - you lost me on that thread.

I only netted 2.5 on the lift because it states 2.5 so if you got an extra inch out of it, I might be concerned. :shock:

Hood297 · **Posted:** Tue Jul 17, 2007 1:26 pm

i changed to CRD springs on my RC lift.
I definately got more lift in the front, but i also had a warn M8000 and ARB hanging on up there, never the less I did get more lift, and i think that being a stiffer spring it wont compress with the weight of the gasser.

Sport · **Posted:** Tue Jul 17, 2007 1:28 pm

Hood297 wrote:

i changed to CRD springs on my RC lift.
I definately got more lift in the front, but i also had a warn M8000 and ARB hanging on up there, never the less I did get more lift, and i think that being a stiffer spring it wont compress with the weight of the gasser.

Ok i see now. So did it even out with the weight of bumper and winch?

Hood297 · **Posted:** Tue Jul 17, 2007 5:01 pm

yes, It sits higher now than when it was just the lift (no ARB/warn).

after i got the CRD springs in the rear sat lower than the front, so i tossed 2 spring isolators on top of the rear springs. now its perfect.

jereosbou · **Joined:** Sun Sep 10, 2006 10:22 am **Posts:** 97

3.5 shouldnt cause trouble in the rear 4 inches is where al said eh was really experiencing trouble.. in the fornt it is my understanding the crd couls net 1 to 1.5 inches lift so you need to consider this when you do your rockcrawler clevis lift if i were oyu id keep the spacer and add the crd coils to see what oyu think of the ride then..... should net you the 3.5 inch lift you want or so ... in the rear to get that if yoiu want to do a spacer get some tj poly spacers theyl go on top of the spring and run about 35 dollars. if you want to go full spring in believe al used wk rear lift springs and got a similair lift to what thye claimed over the stock wk springs. youd have to email him if you coudl and yes you can do the 1/2 inch cradle drop kjhawaii did and help your cvs in front for the 3.5 inch lift if i was gonna do it id go ahead and go up to 4 or 3 and 3/4s in the rear for extra room as thats where i rub all the time now.... more then 1/2 inch drop and youll be having addtional problems with the cradle drop though.... now if you do all thsoe things and want adjustable control arms get some for a wrangler off ebay call the seller and get some similair in leingth to your stock one sand youll be in busines.. also this setup willbe much cheeper then the whole rockkfrawler lfit the other thing id do is get als uper a arms or rustys if his are out... both are gonna be equally good to prevent ball joint contact. hope this all helps also youl want longwer shocks to take advantage of extra height of lift. oh also any of the struts will work as far is i know theyre all gonna be similair in leingth so whichever you can get the best deal on as many people will swear by ome or rancho so its impossible to say which is better so assume both ar pretty close.... ..
sorry if this is jumbled but im just piecing things as they come together any more ?s just ask or if i was unclear about something.
also if you dont want to fab the cradle drop contact me and when i make mine ill make one for you to just like kjhawaiis and ship it to you... for just cost of materials... ive been meaning to do it for a while it might give me good motivvation...

My lift idea...

Who is online