Suspension Lift.......Opinions wanted.

f1paul · **Joined:** Mon Aug 22, 2005 10:38 pm **Posts:** 20

hey guys......well, my kj is now off warranty and also needing new rubber( at least by winter anyway).
I am looking at either the TOYO A/T or COOPER AT/R or FUZION XTI' s , i like the square look of these tires.

Now, I have three methods to achieve fitment of these and am hoping for someones verification on my ideas,oh yeah 255/65/17 are the size i am wanting to put on and my goal is to stuff this size in with least amount of lift possible. had a stock cj-7 with 32" and loved the look of the stuffage.... yeah thats a word.

Option #1 -- CRD coils F+R (for the increased spring rate) and get lift from 1 extra rear iso(or 2,if needed) and plate plus clevis up front for about 1" of lift.
like this because gets stiffer ride and can increase in increments until i get clearance i need,dont mind some trimming and/or rub.

Option #2 -- OME med. springs all around with new OME shocks/struts.
like this cause i hear this rides nice but im thinking too tall.

Option #3 -- .75" spacer for front,1.5" actual lift(cant remember who makes this,but its on here somewhere) plus two isos in rear.
this is probably the cheapest way,just never put a spacer in a suspension and i keep reading everywhere to stay away,i dont want to lose comfortability or ride handling.

so,what is the best compromise u think, money is somewhat of a factor, not a millionaire yet.

JeepBumm68 · **Posted:** Mon Apr 20, 2009 9:21 am

FOr the lift bro i would say option one since it is going to be the best bang your buck,

as for tires you well love the toyo a/t's

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon Apr 20, 2009 11:56 am

First I think you really need to look at the CJs fenders and the KJs lots of difference in what and how you can stuff a tire up in there. Basically you are wanting to run a 30 inch tire. That is almost the same as say a 245-75-16 (30.5) and everyone running that size has at least 2.5 to 3 inches of lift and still has some rub at times depending on the wheel choice and the tire.
At the very least you want to replace the stock suspension ( springs and shocks ) just due to the age of it, that old plus if over 30/40,000 miles it is time.
So in doing that you need to be looking at OME springs and either Rancho ( a little cheaper) or OME shocks
O.E.M CRD springs will not really give you that much lift only when you have more weight it will hold it up better. Going from stock rate of 310 lbs to CRD springs with no aftermarket bumper is going to a lot rougher ride.
Liberty's do not have that much room for "stuffage" so you need to lift..period :wink:

Look over what others have done running a 30 inch tire and then choose

By the way are you 4 wheel or 2 wheel drive?

jeepkj02 · **Posted:** Mon Apr 20, 2009 12:09 pm

I would pick option 2 but with HD coils, same cost as medium duty coils. Ranchos shocks would be cheaper than OME.

JeepinJarhead03 · **Posted:** Mon Apr 20, 2009 1:19 pm

not to throw anyone off by asking a question, but aren't CRD rear springs (OME) just ome HD's ?

i appologize if i just asked a retarded question ive been up a very long time

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon Apr 20, 2009 1:23 pm

JeepinJarhead03 wrote:

not to throw anyone off by asking a question, but aren't CRD rear springs (OME) just ome HD's ?

i appologize if i just asked a retarded question ive been up a very long time

Yes you are correct :wink:

rear CRD springs are just the Heavy Duty OME948s

JeepinJarhead03 · **Posted:** Mon Apr 20, 2009 1:25 pm

roger roger

Guest · **Posted:** Mon Apr 20, 2009 5:10 pm

Liking the look or not, ThunderbirdJunkie would not recommend the Fusions.

The Toyos are good, the Coopers are good.

Now to your suspension choices...

Just do a full OME spring/Rancho shock lift. Less headaches in the future if you do it now, and you can run the tires you want...except...

On stock wheels, the tires in that size will rub inside of the fenderwell. ThunderbirdJunkie would recommend going to a 245/70-17. Liking the look is one thing...but you need to make sure they are going to fit properly. You won't need to touch the pinchweld with that setup either.

However, if you're going to wheel it, you might as well go with a mud terrain. Trust ThunderbirdJunkie on this. the roadgoing manners of an A/T are not worth the potential body damage from lack of traction off road.

JeepinJarhead03 · **Posted:** Mon Apr 20, 2009 5:19 pm

speaking of tires, saw a chevy 4x4 in the parking lot today that had baja claws

and they were on backwards.. :lol:

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon Apr 20, 2009 5:25 pm

JeepinJarhead03 wrote:

speaking of tires, saw a chevy 4x4 in the parking lot today that had baja claws

and they were on backwards.. :lol:

some run them off road like that for extra traction , but on the road they would wear really funky! :shock:

JeepinJarhead03 · **Posted:** Mon Apr 20, 2009 5:38 pm

judging by the people around here, it wasn't intentional, only capable offroader that knows his junk around here that i know of is a NC Krawler or somethin, hes got a nice jeep!

f1paul · **Joined:** Mon Aug 22, 2005 10:38 pm **Posts:** 20

hey guys, thanks for the replies on this....

i have always been favouring the OME route and after hearing ur opinions think that is by far the best way.
i guess i didnt think i would need all that that lift has to offer but it seems i may, one question though, keep hearing the ranchos to fit the jeep are made for durango, if i do OME would it not be better to go OME shocks too ?? a couple of u guys suggested OME springs and mentioned to go for the ranchos(shock/strut) instead of OME, are these better riding or is this for the cost advantage only ?

Now i just have to talk my dad into keeping his eye open for an off-road shop in his trucking lane to buy these for me. he travels from barrie,ontario to geneva, illinois twice a week.
Cant believe to order these for canada destination after duties and shipping it almost triples the cost.

DryBones · **Posted:** Tue Apr 21, 2009 9:58 pm

ThunderbirdJunkie wrote:

Liking the look or not, ThunderbirdJunkie would not recommend the Fusions.

I have been running Fuzion XTi's for my daily driver tires for well over a year and they still look like new. grip the pavement like glue even in the rain and worked very well in the snow too. Probably would not recommend for off road as TBJ stated especially with the soft sidewall.

tommudd · **Posted:** Tue Apr 21, 2009 10:01 pm

I guess you could say Ranchos are a cheaper alternative to the OME shocks, but they also do a great job, ride great and have a life time warranty :wink:

so for me I like the Ranchos, tons of miles on mine so far!

If we know the route that your Father takes you could have them shipped to one of us and we could possibly meet him somewhere, if that would help you out. Does he run to the same place every trip?

Thinking about it, he runs down across Michigan right? I would be willing to run up and meet him somewhere along the line :wink:

Guest · **Posted:** Tue Apr 21, 2009 11:25 pm

DryBones wrote:

ThunderbirdJunkie wrote:

Liking the look or not, ThunderbirdJunkie would not recommend the Fusions.

I have been running Fuzion XTi's for my daily driver tires for well over a year and they still look like new. grip the pavement like glue even in the rain and worked very well in the snow too. Probably would not recommend for off road as TBJ stated especially with the soft sidewall.

Not trying to be Debbie Downer or anything, but did the Fuzions replace the stock Goodyears?

htkrph · **Posted:** Wed Apr 22, 2009 7:11 am

i like my coopers ATRs.

DryBones · **Posted:** Wed Apr 22, 2009 10:24 am

ThunderbirdJunkie wrote:

DryBones wrote:

ThunderbirdJunkie wrote:

Liking the look or not, ThunderbirdJunkie would not recommend the Fusions.

I have been running Fuzion XTi's for my daily driver tires for well over a year and they still look like new. grip the pavement like glue even in the rain and worked very well in the snow too. Probably would not recommend for off road as TBJ stated especially with the soft sidewall.

Not trying to be Debbie Downer or anything, but did the Fuzions replace the stock Goodyears?

no they replaced some Kumho all season things that were fine too but I had a problems with 1 that needed to be replaced along with the spare, which was still factory, and they were out of stock everywhere so I just ordered a set of 5 Fuzion's from Tirerack. I went 245/65/17's instead of the stock 235's. Now are you going to tell me they are the same tire as the Goodyear? :lol:

f1paul · **Joined:** Mon Aug 22, 2005 10:38 pm **Posts:** 20

Eh thanks tommudd, i have to speak with him still.

drybones, have any pics ??

DryBones · **Posted:** Thu Apr 23, 2009 11:07 pm

here you go. these were from right after I had them installed. 245/65/17's stock rims and suspension.

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Thu Apr 23, 2009 11:24 pm

Bones, I love that color of KJ. One of my favorite colors!
F1paul, go with the Toyo Open Country A/T. From the tires you listed, they are probably the best tire for both on-road and off-road. They air down well and come in many sizes. Also, I like the OME shocks better than the Rancho shocks because they are the long travel and will give you more flex in the rear.

Suspension Lift.......Opinions wanted.

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