help on a lift kit

steve03sport · **Posted:** Wed Jun 02, 2010 7:18 am

im looking to lift my 03 kj for the first time. and want to know whats the best lift i can get for around 350-450$$ anyone hear good or bad about the ruff country? or please give some input

tommudd · **Posted:** Wed Jun 02, 2010 7:36 am

Ruff Country- Just Say no!!! :grim:

Best for 350-400?
None really unless you have a low mileage ( under 35000 miles) then go Daystar, with new shocks all around and front bumpstops you're still going to be in the 450-500 dollar range.
Save up and do it right with a full spring lift from OME , new shocks , bumpstops
Trust me it will ride better, handle better, last ten times longer than anything cheaper
Cheap is Expensive in the long run :wink:

A lot of us saved up over two or three months to do it right :JEEPIN:

LibertyCRD · **Posted:** Wed Jun 02, 2010 8:08 am

I have a grand total of $130 invested in my lift kit. I bought used Daystar spacers ($50), installed conduit washers ($10), and spent $70 on Skyjacker shocks.

The result: A Jeep with a leveled look, a true 2.5" of lift front and rear, excellent ride quality, and I can go just about anywhere offroad that I used to go with my modified YJ or ZJ. 83,000+ miles on these OEM springs and I'm sitting at the same ride height as the guys with other brands, contrary to what you'll hear.

If you have money falling out of your pockets, you can also drop a grand on the OME kit or Frankenlift and get the same results. You do have options.

tommudd · **Posted:** Wed Jun 02, 2010 8:26 am

Have to remember that LibertyCRD started out with better / higher rated springs as well, even with the weight of the CRD so its not quite the same :wink:

as comparing it to a gasser.
But ride quality being the same with spacers??? Never :wink:

plus still using stock front shocks :shock:

I've removed enough spacer lifts and switched people over to OMEs and they all stated how much better of a ride they had

steve03sport · **Posted:** Wed Jun 02, 2010 4:56 pm

whats the whole ome lift gonna cost?

SurfGuitar141 · **Posted:** Wed Jun 02, 2010 5:17 pm

steve03sport wrote:

whats the whole ome lift gonna cost?

Over a grand, and more if you get the fronts pre-assembled, which if you do go that route I would spend the extra money and get them pre-assembled....saves you lots of aggravation and the expense of either renting a spring compressor, or having a local shop press it together for you.

I'm with LibertyCRD.....I spent $160.00 total on a brand new Daystar spacer kit, it's going in this weekend, I only have 29,000 miles on my '05 Renegade...(95% Highway)..... and the struts and shocks are barely broken in, plus I just don't have the $$$ to drop on a top of the line suspension replacement like the OME, or Frankenlift.....

The Daystar kit will work with your stock shocks and struts, many here will say otherwise, but I know others who have done it this way, and have no problems, complaints, or issues, but that also depends on the mileage already on them, if you're closing in on 40K, then you probably should replace them as well.....

I'm also fortunate that I was able to borrow a really good quality spring compressor from the mechanic at work to do my fronts, saving me the added expense and hassle of taking everything to a garage and pay them to assemble it.....

tommudd · **Posted:** Wed Jun 02, 2010 5:28 pm

You know its still funny on what some people think is good and what they will buy that is cheap
Also funny that so many have done away with their Daystar lifts due to sagging, rougher ride

An OME lift with good shocks will NOT run over a 1000 dollars
look at more 750 or so
Doesn't cost that much to have the springs compressed

Bet some spend more on fishing gear than they will for a good lift that will provide a good ride everyday :ROTFL:

At 29,000 the shocks need replacing before long, springs maybe another 5-10,000

steve03sport · **Posted:** Wed Jun 02, 2010 7:50 pm

of course i want max height for the money. but want it to look good and preform good

LibertyCRD · **Posted:** Wed Jun 02, 2010 8:31 pm

What is funny is that there are people who think you can't have a satisfactory lift for less than a grand. :SOMBRERO:

I've done full suspension swaps (springs, shocks, u-bolts, disconnects, the whole nine yards) with OME stuff. I've done spacer lifts. And I've done combos of the two. And I can tell you for a fact that the Daystar lift on my current Jeep rides excellent and will perform just as well on the trail as a KJ with a full OME kit. My ride is controlled, I have no body roll, dips in the road are soft and smooth, and the overall quality is great. I'm VERY satisfied, especially considering that I have less than $150 invested.

Springs and shocks sagging and becoming useless in less than 50K miles? That's hilarious. I've never seen sagging springs on ANY 4x4 until WELL past 100,000 miles, if even then. And even IF my springs were to sag, I can do this lift I have FIVE TIMES with replacement factory springs for the price of one aftermarket kit.

Everybody has their own opinions but don't let anyone tell you that Daystar lifts on a KJ are junk. Those people are just plain wrong.

tommudd · **Posted:** Wed Jun 02, 2010 9:10 pm

Hate to tell you this but Liberty springs do IN FACT start going away at or even before 30,000 miles
If you think they will last 100,000 miles then you will be riding on stacked springs, plain and simple.
I have seen quite a few now with under 50,000 that have already lost an inch or more. They simply do not hold up period.

But think what you will
lots of people have been down that same road

LibertyCRD · **Posted:** Wed Jun 02, 2010 9:31 pm

Well when I get to 100K (which I will in less than 12 months) I will send you a picture of my springs, which are not stacked and will not be stacked. I'll send pics of the 7,000 lb. loads I tow with the Jeep, and the twisty trails I drive to go with them so you can see what the springs have been subjected to. And then at 150,000 miles I'll send another picture with a tape measure held up next to the Jeep to prove that my ride height is still the same.

I am confident enough to do this because my previous KJ (bought with 52 miles on it) and this KJ (with 83,200 and counting) sat the exact same height with the exact same spacers.

Combat Truck Monkey · **Posted:** Wed Jun 02, 2010 11:23 pm

And I'd be glad to send you a photo of my odometer which barely reads 50,000 mi; my shot front springs; and my latest set of tires which didn't last my wife 10,000 miles due to cupping from failed springs.

I can't speak for the CRD suspensions, but I am one of a few people I know who have Liberties, all with failed front springs.

steve03sport · **Posted:** Thu Jun 03, 2010 7:30 am

ok guys easy... back to lift options?? kits spacers springs ect..

tommudd · **Posted:** Thu Jun 03, 2010 7:59 am

Steve
please post how many miles you have on yours
also post the measurement from the bottom of the flare to the middle of the wheel on all 4 corners

Thank you

mikey1273 · **Posted:** Thu Jun 03, 2010 8:05 am

OME spring lift is $801.18 + shipping at all J
http://www.boulderbars.com/frankenlift.htm

or $744.00 + shipping at DPG Off-road

http://www.dpgoff-road.com/site/kj_liberty_kits.htm

Powerman04 · **Posted:** Thu Jun 03, 2010 10:05 am

My lift: OME HD 927 springs in front, 948 springs in rear, Koni adjustable shocks all around, all shipped, $796.46. Springs were from JBA and Koni's were direct of their website. Also got extended front bumpstops from JBA for $40.

The only spacer lift I would trust would be a Daystar. The others just don't have that much love from KJ owners, and some just look plain scary. :shock:

Judging from the mudslinging, CRD springs have a little bit more life to them, but for us gassers we got the short end of that twig. I can say that my KJ was lower then the initial stock height at 62k miles. I put my lift on at 64k and I kick myself now for not actually measuring what I was at before. Visually, it was a huge difference. If you want to go the budget way, I'd say grab the Daystar, and you will want to highly consider longer shocks in the rear to compensate for the added lift. Once you grab some more money, maybe replace your springs if the rides just too rough or if you aren't satisfied with the height and feel new springs will go well with the spacers. Then swap the front shocks and your golden.

The only reason I can see why people here religiously make sacrifices to the almighty OME/Rancho gods is that it's a one time deal, it's tried and true, and gives them one less thing to worry about. I myself am biased here since me and people I've driven all admit the handling and ride of the KJ after my lift is just 100% better. No regrets spending the money, but I'm not going to tell you to flee for your life from a budget lift either. :wink:

If you haven't read this write-up yet, you should to see if the Daystar is your ideal. viewtopic.php?f=16&t=26190

Pirate Halfbeard · **Joined:** Mon Mar 08, 2010 3:55 pm **Posts:** 2

BDS!!! 440 comes with rear shocks and front shock extensions

tommudd · **Posted:** Thu Jun 03, 2010 3:32 pm

Pirate Halfbeard wrote:

BDS!!! 440 comes with rear shocks and front shock extensions

But you still have to buy new front shocks at around 200/240 or better so there's 640/660 plus

onebaucom · **Posted:** Thu Jun 03, 2010 3:48 pm

Just listen to tommudd...
He definitely knows what he is talking about.
I originally wanted something for the height and around the same price as you.
After months of research and listening to the more educated members I went with the full OME kit
I am glad I saved up and went with the right stuff the first time
You will still get two inches of lift plus an awesome ride
Also, you won't have to buy new springs and shocks for a long long time
Anyways, good luck! :BANANA:

Pirate Halfbeard · **Joined:** Mon Mar 08, 2010 3:55 pm **Posts:** 2

Eh the extensions lets you retain the factory struts (if there still good) , I didn't replace mine and it rides good i'm happy with it.

help on a lift kit

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