$25 'lift kit'

waddy whiteguts · **Posted:** Sun Jul 02, 2006 4:48 pm

I've finished installing the cheapest lift ever on my '02 KJ Limited. It is a pre-lowered model to begin with. I had the front end apart at my mechanic's shop to replace the failed LBJs with the Moog greasable units and so we put in some spacers while it was apart. I cut a couple 1/2" spacers out of a scrap of aluminum that cost me $5 (link to details below). And I added a pair of OEM upper spring isolator pads to the rear that cost me $20 at the dealership. I still need to add some length to my front bumpstops because of the clevis lift which I'll get done soon enough.

I gained 1.25" in the front and 1" in the rear at the bottom of the rocker panels and got rid of the rakish look of the stock KJ. I am sitting at 14.5" at the bottom of the rocker panels front and rear on the original SRA Goodyears (gotta lose those next). The KJ rides the same as it did before the little lift but looks nicer IMO. I parked it next to a new CRD at the dealership and the difference is quite noticeable at the fender gaps above the tires, partly due to the 02s higher stock height and partly due to my mods. It's nothing extreme by any means but for $25 it works for me!

http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=5217 Details on the front clevis spacers according to AZ_Overdrive whom I got the idea from. Thanks again!

http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=9602 Details on the options available for the rear spring pad.

priell3 · **Posted:** Sun Jul 02, 2006 9:19 pm

Nice job on your "budget lift"!

kicks6000 · **Posted:** Sun Jul 02, 2006 11:19 pm

Nice job, but AHHHHHH!!!!! Look at all that rust! All of us here in Colorado take our drier climate for granted!

waddy whiteguts · **Posted:** Sun Jul 02, 2006 11:30 pm

Yea 40k miles only and everything not painted is rusted good under there. It sucks but I have over 10,000 lakes to boat on!

Stuhlie · **Posted:** Mon Jul 03, 2006 1:37 am

this may be a stupid ? but did have to get a wheel alingment afterwards with the lift installed that you made ?
Also You did this to a stock Ribbi right or wrong and Thanks for sharing that with us . I love Cheap mods as well .
My 03 Sport is still all stock and is crying to be lifted .!!!

waddy whiteguts · **Posted:** Mon Jul 03, 2006 8:47 am

Yes the KJ was stock for the most part. Yes I need an alignment, I haven't done that yet, it doesn't drive funny or anything but I'm assuming the camber changed some. I spose I should check my headlight alignment too :lol:

Se7enLC · **Posted:** Mon Jul 03, 2006 9:55 am

kicks6000 wrote:

Nice job, but AHHHHHH!!!!! Look at all that rust! All of us here in Colorado take our drier climate for granted!

Mine looked like that pretty much right when I took it off the dealers lot brand new. Ahh new england.

waddy whiteguts · **Posted:** Tue Jul 04, 2006 12:26 am

I put over 500 miles on the Jeep today mostly at 80mph. It drove great as usual. The KJ really holds the road nice I think.

Stuhlie · **Posted:** Wed Jul 05, 2006 12:41 am

Ok Whiteguts !
I talked to my boss tonite and he is gonna make some spacers for my LIbby !! He told me that the Alum. we are using
is a very high quality #6061 . I work for a Aircraft Braking Company which has 3'' round stock laying around .
I gave him your measurments of 3'' O.D X 2 3/16 I.D and 1'' 1/4 tall I hope this right !!! This way my spacer will be a
1 piece design instead of the 3 spacers . I should have this in over the weekend I hope . Please let me now if I was wrong
on the #'s you gave . thanks Dave

Waldn · **Posted:** Wed Jul 05, 2006 1:07 am

Ahhhh.... those are 1/2" tall
at 1.25" you won't have enough strut left to install the clevis.

waddy whiteguts · **Posted:** Wed Jul 05, 2006 10:34 am

Oh yea definately don't go over 1/2" tall! The geometry of the suspension gives you around 1-1/4" of lift for a 1/2" spacer. Also if you have stock struts you will need a small notch in the ID of the spacer to fit over the keyed strut shaft. 6066 is what I used although with the clevis torqued down to 100lb.ft. I doubt you need anything real strong in there.

Stuhlie · **Posted:** Thu Jul 06, 2006 12:01 am

I will call my Boss on Thurs. to cut them down to 1/2'' and not 1 1/4 '' . Thanks alot I just measured the 2'' conduit rings and
took that number for the spacer. OK so how did you get that 1 1/4 lift then ? Will the 1/2 spacer give that much ?
I'm to this Jeep modding thing !! Thanks for your Help . Dave

corwyyn · **Posted:** Thu Jul 06, 2006 3:27 am

Stuhlie wrote:

OK so how did you get that 1 1/4 lift then ? Will the 1/2 spacer give that much ?
I'm to this Jeep modding thing !! Thanks for your Help . Dave

What happens is that the amount of 'lift' is multiplied due to the way the IFS is designed, so as mentioned above with the 1/2" spacer you should get around 1" to 1 1/4" of actual lift. I've been toying with the idea of getting a friends husband to machine me a pair since I just can't seem to scrape together enough for a frankenlift :cry:

And after the trip the AZ group took this last Sunday I KNOW I want some more ground clearance.

waddy whiteguts · **Posted:** Thu Jul 06, 2006 10:37 am

I think 2" conduit locknuts are a bit too large on the ID for stock struts, they slip over the lip on the top of the lower shaft where it sits on the clevis normally. They do seem to work on aftermarket struts with a bigger lip though.

Stuhlie · **Posted:** Thu Jul 06, 2006 10:49 pm

I will have some for sale real soon !! After I get mine cut down to the right size . Taking offers . I'll check in on Fri nite
and let you know how many I have , If my Boss got them done for me .

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Thu Jul 06, 2006 11:01 pm

I found out that I cannot do a cleavis lift with my ome lift. The drivers side UBJ will hit If i do. My pass. side will not hit though.

nolakj · **Posted:** Fri Jul 07, 2006 12:40 pm

Jeepjeepster wrote:

I found out that I cannot do a cleavis lift with my ome lift. The drivers side UBJ will hit If i do. My pass. side will not hit though.

Time to call Al for some of his dropped A-arms.

jason thompson · **Posted:** Fri Jul 07, 2006 8:58 pm

ok so i thought i had this IFS thing down
i am a TJ guy all the way but the wife drives a KJ
if i am reading thi right i can get the much needed every mans dream 1 extra inch if i can simply "machine" some spacers from some 3/8 flat bar
and some new rear spring pads over the old ones?
if it is realy that easy then by all means i would do it tomarow so is it realy?
what about ride quality?

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Fri Jul 07, 2006 9:05 pm

jason thompson wrote:

ok so i thought i had this IFS thing down
i am a TJ guy all the way but the wife drives a KJ
if i am reading thi right i can get the much needed every mans dream 1 extra inch if i can simply "machine" some spacers from some 3/8 flat bar
and some new rear spring pads over the old ones?
if it is realy that easy then by all means i would do it tomarow so is it realy?
what about ride quality?

Yes. The ride quality should remain the same since it does not compress the springs any.

waddy whiteguts · **Posted:** Fri Jul 07, 2006 9:45 pm

It really is that easy! Mine rides and handles exactly the same as it did before the little lift. One aspect I didn't want to change was the way my KJ handled in the corners on road and it still holds the road and turns flat like it always had. The only thing I am concerned about is the bumpstop possibly being too short for the extra compression stroke.

$25 'lift kit'

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