To many Jeep owners, this isn’t even a thought, you just do it (lift first…ask questions later). Truthfully, that’s what I did. However, I’d encourage any new Jeep owner to step back and think about whether a lift kit is REALLY the right decision for them before taking the plunge.
Why, you ask? Well, for the uninitiated, lifting a Jeep typically isn’t as simple as bolting on the kit and then living happily ever after. Suspension lifts, specifically, will change the geometry of how your suspension was originally designed to work. I won’t bore you with the specifics of control arm length, alignment specs, and pinion angles, but suffice to say that you’ll be tweaking all of these at some point after your lift (something the catalogs forget to mention in their marketing copy). So, learn from my experiences young Padawan, and hopefully you’ll save some cash and frustration along the way.
Here are some things to think about BEFORE you purchase a lift kit for your Jeep:
Research: make sure you do your homework before you buy. Read lift kit reviews, ask questions on forums, and quiz other Jeep owners about their lift experiences. If you’ve got a buddy (or club member) with a lifted Jeep, ask them to take you for a ride. Keep in mind that some Jeepers automatically think that the lift in THEIR Jeep is the best lift going….so make sure you talk to a few different people. 🙂
Driving Habits: do you plan to take your lifted Jeep offroad regularly, or do you simply want to throw on your Jonas Brothers t-shirt and park out infront of Abercrombie & Fitch? If you want a “mall crawler,” hey that’s cool (everyone’s welcome here), but just be honest with yourself. If your Jeep will only see the pavement, you can probably deal with a budget lift, stock gears, and 33s. However, if you plan on aggressively hitting the trails, you’re bound to be disappointed pretty quickly with a setup like that.
Budget: how much are you willing to spend? You can spend as little as a few hundred or as much as several thousand dollars on the kit alone. However, don’t forget about other items that you “may” end up needing/wanting after the fact such as: control arms, longer brake lines, adjustable track bars, slip yoke eliminator (SYE), new driveshaft, bigger tires, new wheels, gears, stronger axles, better steering components, etc. $500 will suit some people just fine, but others may have higher expectations and should wait until they can save up some more cash. Make sure your expectations are inline w/ your budget.
Lift Kit Choice: there are tons of options out there such as short arm lifts, long arm lifts, coil spacer lifts (aka: budget boosts), and body lifts. Within those options, some kits are much more complete than others. For example, you can buy a 4-inch lift kit that comes with the bare minimum of coil springs, shocks, a transfer case drop, and a track bar relocation bracket. Speaking from experience, you can “get by” with a kit like this for while, but you’ll most likely end up spending more money later b/c of vibes and limited performance. Admittedly, I went this route in the beginning, but ended up spending significantly more money later on to correct driveline vibrations and poor handling. I ended up purchasing adjustable trackbars, SYE, new driveshaft, adjustable control arms, better shocks, better quick disconnects, etc. At the end of the day, I spent more money adding to my “basic” kit than I would have spent by buying a fully-equipped kit in the beginning. Some of this will come down to personal preference though. Not everyone will be comfortable with (or can afford) spending $2,000 on a kit right out of the blocks. Sometimes you may need to start with the $500-$600 kit b/c that’s all your budget (or gf/wife) will allow. 🙂 I’ll just remind you again that you need to set your expectations appropriately and understand how much money you “may” need to allocate to additional accessories later on.
Jeep Performance & Road Manners: the right lift kit can really unlock your Jeep’s offroad potential, but it will also change your onroad handling as well. Again, think about your driving habits and make sure your prospective mods make sense for you. If you use your Jeep to commute 50 miles to work each way, the 6-inch lift, 35″ boggers, and 3.08 gears might not be the best option.
The Side Effects: as I alluded to earlier, lifting your Jeep and adding larger tires will change your ride and will most likely cause some annoying side effects. Some of the “fun” things you may experience are driveline vibrations, worn steering components, poor handling, tires that won’t balance 100%, etc. I’m sure some people will chime in and say that their Jeep rides better than stock after the lift and that they’ve never had any problems whatsoever. That may be true, but just search a few of the Jeep forums for keywords like “death wobble,” “wandering,” “loose steering,” “____ after lift”….this will give you an idea of the challenges that many lifted Jeep owners are dealing with.
Conclusion
So, this probably sounds like I’m telling you not to lift your Jeep, huh? No, that’s certainly not my goal here. I just want to give full disclosure on the pros and cons of lifting. I lifted my own Jeep several years ago and I would certainly do it all over again (I might choose some different parts, but I’d definitely still lift it). My lift, tires, gears, (and now lockers) have pushed my Jeep well beyond its original capabilities…it really is a blast to drive on the trails. However, my Jeep has certainly brought its share of headaches along the way (some b/c of the lift, and others b/c it’s simply a “Jeep”). But, I think that’s the life of a Jeep lover. I sometimes compare it to playing golf….you can have the worst 17 holes of your life, but if you birdie the 18th you can’t wait to get back on the course. When the doors are off my Jeep, there’s mud on the windshield, and I’ve just conquered a tough trail…I forget all about the previous steering box replacements, death wobble, burning brakes, crappy starter motors, and electrical demons.
Got some other suggestions about choosing the right lift?….please share w/ everyone in the comments.
293 Comments. Leave new
hey, i am 17 and i have a 97 tj that is lifted 2 inches already, i want more but for a cheap price, can i just add on some inch spacer lifters and have that work along with my lift kit already?
I had an 02 TJ X model. The mods were done as I got the funds using mixed and matched pieces from different kits. First, I ran 2″ spacers w. longer shocks and 31s on stock rims, and a rear lunchbox locker. Worked great. Then, added 2″ body lift (quite a bit of work for 1 person) to clear 33s on rock crawler rims, removed and threw away the sway bar at this point. Still worked great for several years. Then, I picked up some 4″ springs, new shocks and went to 35s, while adding a front ECTED locker. Worked ok, but vibration and steering issues would arise as parts wore. Added heavy duty tie rod, adjustable front and rear track bars (one of the best mods), and a transfer case lowering kit. Great for a year or two, then went to 36″ swampers. Finally replaced the stock arms with aftermarket tube arms and put 1″ spacers in over the 4″ coils. Fantastic at that point (still running stock driveshaft!) and left it that way until it died and went to the junk yard after a high speed rollover (kept me safe, though, no injuries). I spent and learned as I went, being happy with the Jeep at each stage, but planning and budgeting for more as I went. Oh, and less than half the parts I bought were new. I bought from club guys as well as Ebay, catching folks when they were upgrading. I would then sell any of my old parts to help offset the cost. Hope this helps, although I am joining this thread a few years too late.
thanks.
Now i don’t know what to do
todd, you need a suspension lift. youre probably wearing out the control arms as it is. sorry, but it’s gonna cost you.
@Todd
It really depends what type of lift you have already. If you’ve got a
2-inch “suspension lift” (meaning: you already put longer springs in your
Jeep) you could probably add some coil spacers to that to get a little
more height (not the ideal mod, but “could” work). However, if you’ve already got coil spacers, I don’t think you’d want to try and put more of them on (or use spacers bigger than 2″). Another possible alternative is a “body lift.” A body lift basically raises up the body of your Jeep and doesn’t change the springs. Most people don’t recommend adding more than a 1-1.5″ of body lift.
FYI, both coil spacers and body lifts have their limitations (as opposed
to saving your $$ and waiting to buy a bigger suspension lift). Coil
spacers & body lifts won’t give your Jeep suspension any additional flex
(or travel) which is very helpful when you’re going offroad. However,
maybe that’s not a major concern for you.?
Hope this info is helpful. It’s hard to give exact advice without knowing
how your Jeep is currently setup. Just make sure you think about what your goals are before you buy something that you’ll end up scrapping in a year. It sucks when you end up doing things twice…and paying twice. 😉
Take your time and do a decent amount of lift kit research. It’ll payoff in the end.
Good luck!
-Garrett
Hey Garrett, I really appreciate this site. I am a NY City kid, and am beginning research on potential lifts, as I like to go hard when I can get away upstate. I do use my jeep as a daily driver though, and should probably stay conservative. Anyway here’s my Q. The #1 thing that is bothering me was my run-in with death wobble. Oddly enough, all i have done to my 94 cherokee was trade in the stock 15’s for 16″ wheels with some backspacing… new shocks dampered the wobble, but its not quite eliminated– Any ideas? While I enjoy the power, I also enjoy the highway speed i get off the jeep. After this minor change, something as stupid as uneven pavement makes the jeep wander. I def want to regain a solid ride with good handling before i start lifting anything. Lord knows i’ll probably flip this thing on its first day… THanx, Bryan
@Bryan
Wobbles can often be a hard thing to diagnose. There can be several culprits such as tire balancing, alignment, trackbar, worn steering components, etc. When you went from 15 to 16″ wheels, you would have had to change your tires, so now you’ve added another variable to the mix. Every vehicle is different, so it’s really hard to say exactly what it could be. I’d definitely check your tire balancing and trackbar to start with. Make sure the trackbar is nice & tight and all your bushings are good. Good luck.
hey i am putting a 4in suspension lift on my 95 jeep wrangler rio grande and i am getting vibration from the driveshaft and i am wondering if i went too big on the lift and i am going in over my head and this week i am bying 29in tires. so i am wondering what kind of major problems i will encounter?
@Jesse
First off, you probably don’t need 4in of lift (or any lift for that matter) if you’re going to put 29in tires on…but whatever you prefer. That being said, any time you lift more than a couple of inches you’re going to significantly increase your risk of vibes. Vibes can be fixed, just depends how much $$ you want to throw at it. Some lifts come with a transfer case drop kit (lowers your t-case to get your driveshaft back inline)…sometimes you can get by with this, and other times you may need to do more. FYI, I ran a 4″ Superlift on my TJ for several years with only a t-case drop (no adjustable arms, SYE, or custom driveshaft)….the vibes were very minor and it worked out fine for me & my budget at the time. Good luck!
thank you All. Just what I needed. I am only a ppavement prowler and was considering a 4″ lft, w 37″ tires. Now I realize that I am even dumber than I had originally thought! LOL. I’ll have to invest in a cool t-shirt to park in front of the Abercr. & Fitch store…. thanks again.
@Steve
No shame in being a “pavement prowler,” as long as you enjoy your Jeep (that’s the important thing). 37s for the road, though, wouldn’t be my top recommendation (unless you’ve got spare $$ to burn).
I need some suggestions. I have an 87 TJ and my husband would like to do some modification for ME. I need to know if he is just doing them so he looks cool in it when he’s driving or if I would really need it. He wants to put a 4″ lift and 33’s on it because I do plan on taking it off road. I also drive it daily to work. I would like to find something that is going to accomedate both and would love suggestions. I do not know too much about the technical stuff yet so go easy on me.
@Michelle
It’s hard to make an “exact” recommendation for what you (or your husband) should buy. It really depends upon your budget, driving habits, etc. FYI, all guys want their (or their wife’s) Jeep to look cool…it’s in our DNA unfortunately. 🙂 If you’re going to take your Jeep offroad, my recommendation would be to run it offroad a few times BEFORE you lift it. This will give you an idea of its capabilities and will give you a better feel for how aggressive you really want to go. Be careful though, b/c once you start spending, it’s hard to stop. Good luck.
I would like to add a 2″ suspension lift to my TJ. I don’t go off road to much but I’m going to this summer. Ok My question is how much ground clearince will this give me running stock tires. Just 2″ or more ?
@driftwood
Actually, a 2″ suspension lift will add zero inches of “ground clearance” if you don’t increase your tire size (the same goes for 4″, 6″, or 8″ lift). The suspension lift basically lifts up your frame (above your axles) and provides additional suspension flex. If you also want to gain “ground clearance” (the distance between your axles and the ground) you need to add bigger tires. Hope that makes sense.
If you’re referring to “ground clearance” as the distance between the fenders and the ground….then you should pickup about 2″ when you add a 2″ lift. It really depends on the lift manufacturer (sometimes the heights will vary slightly based upon the spring type & stiffness). FYI, “ground clearance” is typically referred to as the distance from the axles to the ground…and you can really only affect that with larger tires.
Thanks Garrett ! I guess I need some bigger tire. You just saved me $300.00 bucks man.
Thanks driftwood
@driftwood
Keep in mind, that once you add bigger tires you’ll need a lift so they won’t rub…it’s a double-edged sword unfortunately. 🙂
Well damned if I do damned if I don’t.
Is there any middle ground in this?
I’m new I just got my jeep in Nov and I dont know about the trick’s or have the experience you guys have in this. I just hate to waste my money on stuff I don’t need.
As I mentioned to Michelle above, I always recommend that people take their Jeeps offroad BEFORE lifting them (assuming that offroading is your main reason for wanting to lift in the first place). Once you go offroad a few times, you’ll have a better idea of how your Jeep performs and what mods you want to focus on. Also, it’s helpful if you go offroad with other Jeepers and ask them about their own rigs. Especially, ask them what they’d do differently if they had a chance. A good entry level path than many people take is a budget boost. Basically, this adds coil spacers & longer shocks (and will allow you to increase your tire size a bit). This budget boost kit gets a lot of good reviews: http://www.jeepreviews.com/jeep-parts-reviews/117/rubicon-express-reviews/
Thanks Garrett I’ll do that .
I thank you for your suggestion. I am takng her off road next weekend to see how she does before making any adjustments.
Hi, I have a 1999 Jeep Wrangler Sports which I only use for highways, i may use it for off road once or twice a year, I’m looking to lift it up just for the good sexy look it gives, I would like to know the specific parts that I need to replace, how many inch would I lift it, and how much approx it should cost me, and what will be the best and biggest size for wheels I should use, I think the bigger the size of the wheels is, the better she will look. size does matter!
@Sam
I’d recommend looking into a budget boost. Budget boost will add about 2″ of lift. If you’re going to go offroad, 15″ rims are a popular choice…or you can get wheel spacers to keep your stock rims (depending upon how wide of tire you go with). For tire size, you could probably fit a 32″ tire with a budget boost, but that’s not a great setup if you’re going offroad. You’ll probably want a max of 31″ if you’re going offroad due to rubbing issues & limited travel with bigger tires on a small lift. Another thing to think about is your gear ratio. The larger tire you go with, the more you’re going to mess with your effective gear ratio. Basically, the bigger you go, the more sluggish your Jeep will become (which is why re-gearing is often done when people add larger tires).
So, at a minimum, you’re probably looking at spending around $1,000 (rough estimate off the top of my head).
-Budget Boost: $200-$250
-Tires: $150-$200 each
-Wheels: $50-$250 each
Hope this info helps. Here is a link to a great article about installing a budget boost…there are also some additional FAQs there too:
http://www.4x4xplor.com/REBB.html
Garrett,
First off, I’d like to say thanks for a great website. Your information and advice are presented in a helpful and funny manner- not like some sites that speak in too technical and sometimes hostile terms… On with my question:
I have a 1990 Jeep Grandwagoneer (FSJ!) with a SkyJacker 4″ suspension lift and Bilstein 5125 series shocks. I am running on ProComp 15×10 series 152 wheels and Firestone Destination A/T 35×12.5s. Though on for only a couple of weeks, I have no rubbing issues- no one seems to believe that.
I do extreme landscape and remote location photography so I need to get to some far off, isolated places- think 50day African Safari or Siberia at the thaw. I never do rock crawling or mudding but I do have to move very fast sometimes when a flash flood pops up; and that moving can be over some rough terrain.
Question: Would you recommend a body lift? Everything is new and I have had no issues with rubbing or bottoming-out, yet. I just wanted an opinion from someone that does not simply want to sell me a body-lift.
Thanks for any help/info!
@Gabe
A Grand Waggy?…NICE! I’d love to see some pics. You don’t see many of those around anymore. Regarding your question: admittedly, I don’t have much experience w/ Grand Wagoneers, but I too am a little surprised to hear that you’re running 35s on 4″ of lift and don’t have any rubbing issues. That being said, my advice would be, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” If it does everything you need it to, on the terrain that you drive regularly, then I don’t see a need to do additional mods (just my opinion). Good luck!
Okay, so im 16 and i am looking to buy a 2003 jeep rubicon, dana 44s, lockers, 4:1, yah no, but i am on a very low budget, i was around 7-8 inches of lift, but as you know that involes front and read DSs, i am thinking 4in lift from skyjacker for $500, 2in body lift $100 (or make myself) and 2in coil spacers $100, and im looking to throw 37.10.5.15s or 12.5s, but with the dana 44s it should handle them, and im hoping the 4.11 gears should be fine, but with 4in susp. lift and 2in coil spacers and 2in body, should i get new fron and rear drive shafts? because thats around $900 🙁 and i will not use it off road, maybe some trail riding here and there. and no im not a pavment pounder, i have 2 old jeeps to play with, this ones my baby. but my concerns are the drive shafts, and money. Thank you.
4in skyjacker $500
2in coil spacers $100
2in BL $100
37s $1000
rims $380
lights $200
Front and rear bumper $900
Driving with the top down and doors off, Pricless 🙂
@Adam
I can’t say for sure whether you’d need new driveshafts or not. I ran a 4″ lift in my TJ for several years without new shafts. Odds are though, if you go an extra 2 inches, you’re much more likely to get vibes/issues. 4.11 gears with 37s also won’t be an “ideal” combo. Your Jeep will surely be big, but it probably won’t be too much fun on the highway. 37s on D44s is another downside if you plan to do any offroading (esp w/ the lockers). But, in the end it’s your call as to what’s most important for you, your driving style, and your budget.
& i am also looking for a cheap tj 1997 – 2006 with a 4L (under 100000 miles) and not been beat on, CHEAP though. live in michigan. Thanks.
Well, i think that if i go 37 10.5s it shouldnt be to bad, and i dont plan to beat on my baby at all. so it should be fine, and my opt. are 4in lift 2 in body and 35s or 4in lift, 2 coil, 2 body, and 37s. and oh i know it wont be to much on the highway, the thing is that i hate body lifts. and i had rough driving cars but what can yah do. but those super swamper LTB’s sure wont ride good but they are a steal. thanks. im sure when the money comes im looking for some 4.56s and 6in long arm F and R shafts and some bad ass jeepin’, you guys should check out the jeep bleesing in michigan also. very fun. or check out the truck and jeep fest in canfield ohio, they were well worth the drive.
OK, first time jeep owner, all jokes aside I am having a hard time finding out what all I need to do about lifting my Grand Cherokee. I was looking into just buying 2″ spacers and didnt know what else if anything I would have to do. Im not looking to do much offroading and no climbing just want a little better look for my DD. Do I have to change my shocks or anything else or can I just get away with the spacers? Thanks for your help everyone and yeah its ok to make jokes I can take it!
@seth
No jokes/flaming here….I want everyone to be welcome to ask questions whether they’re beginners or veterans. 🙂 Regarding spacer lifts, the general consensus from Grand Cherokee owners is to go with a “budget boost” package that comes with spacers AND shocks. You “can” reuse your stock shocks if you really want to cut costs, but they’re not the best option and will wear out pretty fast. If you plan to do any offroading, the new shocks will provide an advantage b/c they’re longer than the stock ones and will allow for a bit more suspension flex (and longevity).
The one kit that seems to get the most recommendations by far is the Rubicon Express Budget Boost. This 2″ lift will allow for a max tire size of 30″ high x 9.5″ wide. Some people run 31″ tires with a 2″ budget boost, but most of them report that some fender trimming is needed to eliminate rubbing issues….you may not want to open that can of worms.
HTH. Good luck!
Thanks for the info. I also purchased a Rapid Performance Module that I am suppose to hook up to my intake air temp sensor wires. Im not familiar with this and just wanted your thoughts on this. The instructions said I could hook up either of the wires from the module to either wire on my IAT sensor. Have you ever seen these modules before and what is your take on them?
Thanks again.
Seth, unfortunately I don’t have any experience with the Rapid Performance Module.
Alright guys I have a 96 cherokee, its running well …..after a new fuel system, transmission, radiator and helper springs for my shot leaf springs. I want to put a 4′ suspension lift on it but I am alittle unsure as to what to get. Should I go for a real exspensive kit? I dont really want to go above 900 on the kit.
And what else on top of that will I need to work out all the kinks? I heard people talking about adding a SYE……I suppose what my question is if you guys were starting from scratch with my jeep what would you throw underneath it?
@Pat Cat
Like Wrangler owners, many XJ owners often recommend kits like this one from Rubicon Express. I don’t personally own a Rubicon Express lift kit, but they always seem to get solid reviews on the site, so I’d say they’re worth checking out. With a kit like that one, you may be able to get by without doing an SYE right away. Some people add spacers to drop the transfer case a bit and end up w/ no vibes. Others aren’t so lucky…sometimes it really depends upon your Jeep unfortunately (nothing is “certain” until you install it on your own rig). Other things you’ll need w/ this kit: shocks (I don’t think it comes w/ new shocks, so you need to budget for those). If you do lift, I’m assuming that you’ll want bigger tires, which typically means new rims as well (so set aside some more $$ for those). Gears: you “may” want/need lower gears (depending upon what you have now and how big of tire you’re going to). I say “may” because it’s really up to you. When I first lifted my TJ, I went to 33″ tires with 3.73 stock gears. My Jeep was certainly much slower off the line than with 30″ tires (and it didn’t crawl as good as before), but it wasn’t terrible. I ran with the 3.73 gears for several years until I set aside enough $$ to upgrade to 4.56s. Gears are expensive, you only want to do those once. 🙂
Hope the info helps you out!
i have a 95 jeep wrangler with a supercharged 454 bbc, i have 2 1/2 ton rockwell axles on order and would like to put 53″ tires on it but can’t figure out how much lift i need i been looking at coilovers and air bag suspension but don’t know how tall of a bag or shock to order i’m currently deployed and would like to have the parts at home when i get their so i can put it all together
thanks for any help i can get
@Adam
If you really plan on running 53″ tires, you’re probably looking at some serious customization work. Realistically, I’d think you’d need to consider lengthening the wheelbase on your Jeep to effectively handle tires that size (and still have a usable vehicle). Goes w/o saying that your entire drivetrain would need to be upgraded. Unfortunately, I don’t have any specific lift recommendations…honestly, a project of this scope is a bit out of my league. 🙂 However, I’m sure everyone here would love to see pics (or a writeup) when you’re done…happy to post some stuff up if you send it to me. Good luck!
will be happy to send pics when i get home if you would like i’ll send the entire build i am probably gonna stretch the wheel base a bit and i all ready have a drivetrain lined up the biggest block i have to get through right now is the suspension my plan is either a 4 link or just ladder bars with coilovers shocks, just massive coils or i’ve even looked at airbags but really need to find the length of what i need plus i’m trying to build it without spending any more money then i have to.
again thanks for your input and help.
Pics would be great…sounds like a really cool build you’ve got going.
Keep your head down out there man! 🙂
As for any one looking for a lift for any jeep try ntwonline.com they have a wide selection of lifts and accessories and if you call they will help plan your lift to your budget.
Garret,
I am the proud owner of an 03 TJ. I currently have a 4″ zone suspension lift and running 33×12.5 tires. I dont have any problems with vibrations or wobbling but was wanting to put a 2″ body lift just for looks. Its my daily driver and I dont want to create any new problems. Do you think its worth the effort? I do have a problem with shifting into 2nd gear. It binds a little and I have to force it into gear. Any thoughts on why? My kit came with a 1″ transfer drop and I was told that I might need a SYE but dont want to spend the money if not needed. I am running stock gears and have lost alot of power due to the bigger tires. Do you recommend an upgrade?
Andy, I’m a big fan of the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” philosophy, but that’s just me. 4″ lift + 2″ body lift is definitely overkill if you’re just running 33s (you really won’t get much additional functionality from this, but you did say it was “just for looks” so). Your current shifter problems are “most likely” a result of your shifter hitting your center console (or getting overly-restricted by your shifter boot). I’d recommend removing the shifter boot so that you can get a look at what’s going on underneath. Often you can see where the shifter is hitting/binding and can fix the problem w/ some creative trimming. Alternatively, some people take the mounting screws out of their center console and move the whole console back a little bit (and remount) so that the shifter is centered in the opening again and doesn’t hit anything.
If you do decide to go with more lift, I think a body lift is probably a safer/cheaper choice. If you add coil spacers then you’ve got the potential to run into issues like: needing longer shocks, needing longer control arms to get your alignment (caster) back, worsening your driveline angles again, etc. As far as gears go, that’s personal preference and budget. I ran 33s with 3.73s for several years (it worked for my budget and my driving habits at the time). I eventually upgraded to 4.56s once I got the money. I also didn’t do gears until I was SURE that I was sticking with 33s. You don’t want to do gears and then decide a month later that you want to upgrade to 35s b/c that’s what all your buddies are running. 🙂
Garett,
Thanks for the info. Your right its not broke so there is no need to fix it. Its almost like an addiction trying to fix up the TJ! Just trying to figure out how to convince the wife that these mods are necessary! I would like to stay with 33’s for the long run. So I’ll have to do some saving for the gears. The shifter was hitting on the side of the console. I just removed the screws and recentered it. It shifts great with no more binding. If I do go with a body lift down the road would you recommend I also do an engine mount lift as well? Again thanks for a great site and all your help.
Glad that your Jeep is shifting better again, nice! It’s not mandatory to do a motor mount lift (MML) in conjunction with a body lift, it’s really up to you. However, if you don’t do the MML you’ll need to lower your fan shroud so the fan blades don’t hit it.
hey man saw your old blog hows the lift holding up thinking about putting a zone lift in my 04 wrangler x any info would be helpful – thanks
Was also wondering about 2″ coil spring spacers instead of the 2″ body lift. Will this be a good combo with the lift or is the body lift a better choice?
See comment above.
Hi, im new to the whole wrangler thing, i have a 2000 jeep wrangler sport. i want to put a 4in lift kit on it and put 33s. But would i also have to change my gear ratio? i want to do some off roading nothing crazy but i dirt bike regularly and would like to take my jeep through some nice trails that ive found. and would i also have to put longer brake lines on?
thank you for any adive you could give and ive read alot of your responses to post and i think this is the best forum ive seen for beginners 🙂
Dimitri,
Changing your gear ratio is really up to you and what type of performance (or lack of) you’re willing to tolerate. I ran 33s on my TJ with 3.73 gears for several years…it wasn’t that bad. I have a 5-speed and basically you don’t end up using 5th gear much anymore b/c it doesn’t have any power w/ the ratio change. The first thing you need to do is figure out your current gear ratio. I think you’ve either got 3.07s or 3.73s (depends upon what options your Jeep came with). There are a couple of ways to tell, but the easiest is to crawl under your Jeep and try to read the ratio off of the axle. Go behind your Jeep and look for a tag on the rear axle differential cover (driver’s side @ about 9 o’clock on the diff cover). The tag (if legible) will have a bunch of numbers on it. If it starts with 3.73, you’ve got 3.73s. If it starts with 3.07, well then you’ve got 3.07s. If you’ve got 3.07s, I think your Jeep is going to be a real “dog” with 33s on it. You can do it, but I think you’re going to notice a big difference (esp on the highway).
Regarding the extended brake lines: you can probably get away without them if you’re not going to do much offroading. If you ARE going to drive offroad (and disconnect your swaybar regularly) you could run into some issues…it really depends how much suspension flex you get. One way to tell for sure (after the lift) is to disconnect your front swaybar, jack up the Jeep, support the Jeep from the frame w/ jackstands, let your front axle droop, and check the tension in the brake lines.
Good luck!
I have a 2000 grand cherokee limited and i want to put 31,s on it im wondering what size lift i need i was looking at the 2in rocky road lift because it pretty cheap any advice?
Hello. I just want to say I enjoy your site, very informational. I have a 94 grand Cherokee v8. Next week I’m putting on a 3.5 inch lift kit. The kit is a front to rear coil swap. The kt includes 4 shocks 2 front coils front and rear extended sway bar links and instructions for a re drilling of the front track bar. I will be running 31 inch tires on cragar soft 8’s. My question is, if a decide to add a .75 -1″ coil spacers to my lift will I be ok with stock control arm and track bar? Also I will most likely drop the transfer case a bit too. I’ve heard a 1 inch drop should suffice? Thank you
i have a 1989 yj i have a set of 33’s and bolted them up front had no rubbing in the front but the back was close i wanna lift but i dont have that much money so i was gonna get 2 inch lift shackles and just new shocks what am i getting my self in to my buddy said i would be sawing the wheel to keep this thing straight
I am buying a 2010 Unlimited tomorrow and want to lift it. how much am i looking at spending for a decent lift rims and tires? after reading everyones post i am kind of afraid to lift it now. i am not doing anything too crazy as far as off roading goes. my main objective is to have a NICE looking jeep that maybe once or twice a month i can take out to the desert and have fun with. any ideas???
ps. thanks for the great site. being new to the jeep world it is nice to have a place to come and brainstorm.
Nick,
If I had to “ballpark” a price, I’d say to probably plan on at least $2,000. However, it’s hard to say exactly because each accessory you add has a wide range of prices. Take rims for example, you can buy $50 black steel wheels or you can buy $200+ alloys. You might replace all 5 tires or you might decide to only do 4 and keep an odd-sized spare. You might decide to pay a shop several hundred dollars to install your lift/tires, or you might be comfortable doing it yourself and saving that $$. You see my point? Anyway, my overall advice (and I say this to anyone who first gets a Jeep) is to drive your Jeep “as is” for little while. In its stock form, your Jeep will be a very capable vehicle. Take it out in the desert a few times and see how it performs…this will give you an idea of which mods to prioritize and where you want to spend your money. For example, if your rims get chewed up in the desert (depending upon your terrain) maybe you don’t invest in expensive alloys? If you spend a lot of time doing highway driving, you “might” not want an aggressive tire that’s loud and has shorter tread life. I can’t make those decisions for you. Anyway, good luck with the new Jeep, I hope it treats you well and you have a blast with it!!
First of all, many thanks for helping out the newbie on matter of lifting Jeep. I am also planning to lift my joy ride. I have 2009 Jeep Wrangler (4 door model). I researched on the net and was very much interested in Skyjacker 4″ Standard Lift Kit in Classic Red (Part # JK401KCRN). The kit already includes items like, shocks, coil springs etc. After reading above regarding driveline vibrations, worn steering components, poor handling, I need your advice. If I install Skyjacker 4″ Standard Lift Kit & 35 inch tires in my Jeep would it also affect its drive shaft or proper steering etc.
I would also appreciate if you can advice such lift kit (2″ to 4″) which would not affect badly on my model.
Cheers and again thanks for advices.
Abid,
The general consensus w/ JKs is that once you get over 3″ of lift you’re starting to get into the danger zone when it comes to developing driveshaft issues. It isn’t guaranteed, but it certainly ups your risk once you get into the 4″ lift range. Bigger tires in general will wear out components (ie. steering) faster than smaller tires, but things certainly shouldn’t explode on day 1 if you run 35s. One thing to think about with 35s though is gearing. You “can” run 35s with 4.10 gears, but you’ll pretty much lose overdrive (if you’ve got an auto tranny) or 6th gear (if you’ve got a manual tranny)….not sure if that’s a big deal for you or not. Good luck.
I’m in the same situation as Garrett, I bought a 2009 JK X Unlimited in September and I’m interested in giving it a more aggressive look with better capability off-road. This is my primary vehicle, not a weekend project, so it needs to stay reasonable…and I like the look of the stock 17 inch rims…just interested in larger tires. I’m starting to think the budget boost lift is my best option, but what sized tire should I zero in on?? Thanks for your help!
Yeah, a 2″ budget boost with 33″ tires is a pretty decent option. You can go up to 35″ tires if you add 3″+ of lift, but you’ll start to run into potential gearing issues (which you probably want to avoid if you’re looking to keep this on the cheaper side).
I have a 98 Sahara that i want to lift. It it my daily driver and I would want to wear out my 31 10.50’s before I put new rubber on it. Right now I’m trying to decide between a 2 inch lift that only includes shocks and springs and a 4 inch Skyjacker lift with new track bars, tranny lowering, dropped pittman arm, etc. Which would be better? and what would be the biggest tire size i could have? There is also a 1.5 inch body lift already on.
Alex,
If you’re going to spend a lot of time offroad I’d recommend going with a larger suspension lift (3-4″ suspension lift). If you’re on a budget, you could combine a budget boost with your existing 1.5″ body lift and fit 33″ tires. As mentioned though, if offroad performance is a top priority, a 3-4″ lift will be more ideal than spacers and a body lift.
hi im have a jeep cherokee and want to first put a 4.5 inch lift on it with 31 inch tires and get a slip yoke elimantor with the longer drive shaft, also quick disconnects sway bar,over the knockle steering and in the future i want to get lockers and a long arm kit. im use my jeep as a daily driver i also am going to go offroading a lot. so does sound like the right way to go and im planing to uses rustys offroad
thank you
Brad,
Sounds like you’re moving in the right direction and will have a very capable rig when you’re done. As for Rusty’s Offroad products, I personally don’t have experience with them, but they gets lots of “mixed” reviews here on the site.
I am buying my first Jeep 1995 rio grande i wanna lift but not jacked up real high i wanna spend around 300-800 bucks what do u think
There are lots of lifts out there. BDS lift kits for YJs seem to get mentioned alot, so you may want to check those out.
You seem pretty knowledgable about this (more so than others i’ve talked to) so i was wondering if you could help me out.
I’m newer to the Jeepin world and don’t know too much about anything at this point. However, I’m looking to raise the suspension on my 2009 JK (4d) about 4 inches and add some big coil shocks (I’m currently riding stock and even though it’s a Jeep, it seems to be riding a little rough even on road). I’ve been looking around and have seen full kits ranging from $500-$2500. My budget is around $1500 dollars (including installation cost). I mainly do trails (when I get the time) and don’t ever plan on rock climbing or anything too serious. So my question is, what would kits would suit my situation best and what hidden costs can I expect? I don’t want anything too cheap that I’ll have to replace in the near future, but I know I don’t need anything top of the line either. Recommendations?
And i don’t really want to lift the body either; never really liked that.
A budget boost is a decent option if you have a small budget and don’t plan on doing regular offroading. With a 2″ budget boost, you s/b able to fit 33s easily on your JK. As for the rough ride, it’s a Jeep dude…get used to it. 🙂 Adding a lift to your Jeep typically won’t make it ride any softer (if anything, it’ll probably be a little harsher ride).
Hey Garrett,
I have been researching Jeep Lifts for about a week now and this site is the best so far. Your suggestions to others appear to be honest and informative! Here is a little background.
I used to have a ’99 Wrangler TJ Sport. I eventually had a shop put in a 1 /3/4 ” spacer kit (I think) and ran 32’s on it. This set up worked well for me on and the off road terrain I was interested in traversing, as this was my only vehicle. After about 100,000 miles it needed some drive train/axel work and I had to sell it……toughest day of my life 😉 After a 3 year flitation with a Tacoma, I traded it in for my real love….a 2010 Wrangler JK Sport – four door couple weeks ago. I have ordered LT285/70R17D1 tires and 17″ wheels. Optional equipment lists my rear axle ratio as 3.73 with a Trak-Lok Limited Sliip Rear Differential (not exactly sure what all that means 🙂 )
My dealership is pushing for a Pro-Comp 2.5 ” lift that with parts and labor will be $1,700 installed, because that is the one they ‘usually’ install. That is more than I wanted to spend, but will if it is what I need to make it all happen. I was thinking of a 2″ spacer kit…but after reading some reviews of here, I am considering a 2″ budget lift.
I will probably go for wheeling 5-10 times a year. This is my only vehicle. I want it to look cool, ride well on the highway and be able to off road well. I want it all 🙂 My habits will likely have not changed since my TJ.
Any suggestions regarding the: 2″ space lift vs. 2″ budget boost, or the type of lift the dealership wants? Reading my window sticker the 3.73 rear axle ratio was an added option, is this a good thing for bigger tires….will I be ok with not changing any of my axle ratios? Any other considerations I have not mentioned that might bte me in the rear? Sorry for all the questions…I am not all that well versed yet with Jeeping as I should be. Thanks for your time!!!
Mike
Mike,
$1,700 sounds pretty high for the Pro Comp 2.5″ kit you mentioned. I just did a quick Google search and saw that kit for $700 (and you can probably find it cheaper if you dig around a bit). So, you’re probably getting a sizable installation charge. FYI, spacer lifts and budget boosts are pretty much the same thing (except the budget boost comes with shocks). A budget boost is a decent alternative if you won’t be going offroad much and you’re looking to save some cash. A 2″ budget boost will accommodate the 285/70R17s you mentioned.
Regarding the 3.73 gears, those are “ok” to run with a 33″ inch tire (285/70R17 is just about 33″). You will notice a power loss when you add the bigger tires, but it won’t be “terrible” with 33s. Ideally, you’d want the 4.10 gears with 33s (I actually run 4.54s with my 33s). FYI, Trak-Lok limited slip is designed to give you more traction in the rear. With a “open” differential, the wheel that has the least resistance will spin & get all of the power…so, if one tire is up in the air, it’ll spin and the tire on the ground will get zero traction/power. With a limited slip, your tire in the air won’t take ALL of the power, you’ll get some of the power transmitted to the tire on the ground and will get better traction than an open differential…FYI, it’s a little more complex than that, but that’s a basic overview. Good luck!
Hi Garrett, Firstly, you’re awesome for taking the time to respond to so many questions, well done to you.
I have a 2009 Sahara 4 door. I would like to rasie my jeep mostly for looks, and to a smaller degree, for off roading purposes. It appears from your posts that a budget boost would be best for me. Would you reccomend a body lift or a suspension lift? and if I do perfrom one of these type lifts (assuming just a 2″ BB), do I then also need to replace my stock tires and go with larger tires (& rims?). For cost (marriage:)) reasons, I’d prefer to avoid buying new tires/rims.
I thank you in advance for your response.
Warren
Warren,
My personal preference would be to go with the budget boost. I’m not a fan of body lifts in general (esp. over 1″ ) b/c of the gaps between the frame and body. Also don’t like idea of having body 2″ above frame for offroading issues. Just my opinion though.
Whatever lift you choose, you don’t “have” to buy larger tires. Typically, people add lifts in order to fit bigger tires, but you don’t have to add bigger tires if you don’t want to…your choice. Just keep in mind that your tires WILL get smaller once you add a lift. Not physically smaller of course, but it’ll play mind games w/ you. 🙂
If price is not a consideration, what is, in your opinion, the ideal lift and tire size for a 2010 Jeep Rubicon used 75% of time off road with lots of mud
Ronnie,
It really depends upon your personal preference and driving habits. I run 33s with 4″ of lift and I’m happy with that. If money was no object, I might upgrade to 35s b/c I think they “look” nicer….however, for my offroad habits I wouldn’t get much extra benefits from 35s IMO (I also like the lower center of gravity). Lastly, if I upgraded to 35s my Jeep would no longer fit inside my garage…so money would REALLY have to be of no concern b/c I’d have to modify my garage along w/ my Jeep. 🙂
how do we feel about Rancho lifts? i had 3 lifts to chose from. rough country, procomp, and rancho and i went with the rancho. did i make the smart decision?
Nick,
If you like it, and it performs well for you, then I think you made the right choice. Rancho has been around for a while and I haven’t seen lots of major complaints about their stuff. That being said, you can find anyone that’ll complain about anything online (whether they’ve actually owned the product or not). My first lift was a $400 Superlift…lots of people on the forums said Superlift was crap. However, it worked out fine for me. Fit my budget at the time and performed quite well for the terrain that I wheeled on. Actually, I’m still using the coil springs from that lift (~8 years later).
Alright guys here is a toughy…
I just got my first jeep a few months ago and have been doing a lot of “off-road” driving (some mud slicks and sand, etc.). Anyway, I am planning a jeep/camp trip with a buddy up into the rockies and wanted to know what you think my jeeper needs (I am pretty new at this). I have an ’03 Wrangler Sahara with a 4.0 liter in-line six. I have the stock tires on it still because I have not even come close to getting stuck (fingers crossed). Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Without knowing the terrain you’re targeting, it’s hard to give exact advice. However, general advice would be to research the trails and make sure you drive on trails that suit your driving experience and your Jeep’s abilities. The Rockies have some extreme terrain, so know your limits and respect them. Aside from doing your research on the terrain, you should always carry some basic things with you, for example:
Those are the standard supplies that initially come to mind. Also, before you venture out on ANY trip, always tell other people where you’re going and what day/time you expect to return. If you get stranded outside of cell or CB range, you want someone at home that can send somebody looking. This certainly isn’t an exhaustive list, but perhaps others will chime in with some extra essentials or tips that I may have missed. Have fun!
i have an 1989 yj i6cyl sahara that i love to offroad in, despite getting stuck, and i want to be able to drive on the road without too much of a hassle. ive been researching a 4in lift (most likely procomp or fabtech) for around 800$. my main question is will i need to lengthen my drive shaft or rotate my axle or buy a new drive shaft to accommodate a 4inch lift?
ive called into a couple 4×4 shops and everyone seems to have different info, one shop said if the kit doesn’t have it it’s not need and the other suggested a whole new drive shaft
are 33’s my best choice for tires or would it be better to change my gearing first?
(i am unsure what i have right now and its dark out so ill have to look tomorrow xD)
when would it be a good time to get a sway bar quick disconnect?
any help would be greatly appreciated
AJ,
A slip yoke eliminator (SYE) and a longer driveshaft are typically the best setup after a lift like that, but they aren’t necessarily “mandatory.” You can often get by with a transfer case drop (spacers are included in many lift kits) to lessen your driveshaft angle and get rid of vibrations after the lift. The major “problem” with a transfer case drop is that you lose ground clearance….so, essentially you’re lifting your Jeep up, but then dropping the center down. Many people add lifts for better offroading performance/clearance and don’t want to drop the transfer case (eliminating the clearance gains in the center).
As far as new gears go, that’s a judgment call. I ran 33s with 3.73 gears for a few years and it was very manageable. Personally, I wouldn’t want to run 33s with gears less than 3.73s though (I think it would be too sluggish for my liking). To each his own, though. Hope that helps.
thanks a ton, i ended up going with a 4in lift by rubicon express and a custom sye and rear drive shaft by tom woods. i think im going to wait to change the gearing but that seems necessary since i have a slipping differential atm -.-
Glad to help. Good luck w/ your build up.
Hey I am thinking about getting a 2″ budget boost on my 2005 WK. But I was wondering if i were to do so, would i also need to buy new shocks and other stuff or should i be fine with just the 2″bb? Thanks!
I did some quick searching and only came across the Teraflex Budget Boost. Admittedly, I’ve never installed one of these on a Grand Cherokee, but the item description does imply that it’s pretty much “bolt-on” and that a shock upgrade isn’t needed.
This website rocks its helped me so much already.
i was wondering i have a stock 95 wrangler, i was wanteding to put a 4 inch suspension lift on it and probly run some 33s on it but i got to reasearching and saw that it might take more than just the lift and tires and rims.
i heard that if i put a 3 inch lift you dont have to do much more than just the lift and tires and all.
so i guess my question is if i put a 4 inch lift will i need to mess with much more? or can i get around it? ill be driving alot of country roads but not much highway and hopefully a bit of trails but nothing hardcore.
Trevor,
There aren’t any guarantees that ANY lift kit will be bolt-on with nothing more to add. You could put on a 4-inch lift and be fine (many people do this), but someone else may get major vibes and need to do a slip yoke eliminator (SYE) and longer driveshaft. Same goes for the 3-inch lift. The 3-inch lift should have less of a chance of getting driveline vibrations (vs. a 4-inch), but nothing is guaranteed.
ok thanks alot for the help
hey. i have a jeep with no lift kits and the same tires i bought it with. i drive it to school everyday….but take it muddin on the weekends. ive just started doin research, but im wantin to put a 2 in suspension kit on it, and some bigger tires. so what im wonderin is how much a 2 in kit will cost and how big of tires i will be able to fit on it afterwards? thank for the article and all the help
Need to know what year & model Jeep you have in order to give you an answer. Thanks.
hey its a 2000 wrangler sport utility…after readin some more articles i’m kinda thinkin i dont want a lift on it because of the after affects and i mainly drive it on the road…but do u think i will be able to put bigger tires on it?
The max tire size that you can put on without any lift (and without running into major rubbing issues) is a 31 inch tire.
Hi,
I have a 1993 jeep wrangler 5 speed 6 cly I also have 33″ tires that I want to put on.
My question is how much of a lift the jeep needs? Just want it for looks and hwy driving, and around how much should I spend including installation? And if you know of a place where they can do the job? I live in Newark NJ
Thank you in advance John
4 inches of lift is typically recommended to fit 33s on a Jeep YJ (on a “standard” install that is). You can do it with less lift, but then you’ll be getting into trimming fenders and such to prevent rubbing issues. I honestly don’t know a ballpark installation charge for a lift…never paid anyone to do it. I’d recommend trying to call around your area for pricing at a few different shops. Here is one shop that appears to be about an hour away from Newark. I’ve never been to this shop, but they get pretty good reviews here on the site: http://www.jeepreviews.com/where-to-buy-jeep-accessories/110/ok4wd-reviews/
Good luck!
Ok thanx, what’s the average price on just parts? And which ones do you recommend?
Prices can really vary based upon the type of kit you buy. I’d recommend checking out some of the reviews (and pricing links) here:
http://www.jeepreviews.com/jeep-parts-review/11/lift-kit-reviews/
I have a 08 jeep wrangler jk and put a 2 inch spacer lift on it. After i was done i noticed from the back the tires stuck out further on one side. So is this bad for my jeep and how can i fix it. I also want to put a 1 inch body lift. Is this too much risk for a jk still under factory warrenty?
Ernie,
Sounds like you need an adjustable rear trackbar (or a trackbar relocation bracket) to get that rear axle centered again underneath your Jeep. As for the warranty question, the safest thing is to call your local Jeep dealer and ask them directly. Some dealers install lots of lifts/accessories and may not care if you’ve got a lift…others may give you a hard time (so, it’s best to call and find out for yourself).
I have a 94 Jepp Cherokee Country. I have raised it 4 1/2 in all the way around. I now have an annoying vibration in drive train. I have new drive shaft, u joints, yoke, and 31.10.5. 15 tires. tires just balanced. Still have vibration. As I have read many of your post, I gather that I need to lower transfer case to take some angle out of driveline. How much, or is it a hit or miss situation. I don’t go off raoding per say. I do use it at a local race track as a first responder to the race crashes. So I do get a little air borne at times getting to a crash. I love my jeep, and really want to get this problem fixed. Thanks for taking your time to read and hopefully help me. Al carrier
Sounds like a transfer case drop might be needed (assuming you’ve eliminated all other possibilities). You could start with 1″ and then gradually add washers for more drop if needed.
Hello. im wondering if u guys could help me with exactly what i need and what the avg cost would be. I want to have my jeep standing taller. I wanna climb into my jeep sort of speak lol. Not too much just enough to be a little more badass. Im 19 and this is my first jeep so i dont know to much. thanks.
“Badass” is in they eye of the beholder. 🙂 One of the easiest (and most cost effective) ways to add height is with a budget boost.
Hey,
I(my wife) has a 97 TJ Sport with Manual transmission. It is mostly driven around town, however it will be used for some moderate offroading(camping trips, hunting, etc). No rock crawling or anything crazy. We really want to put 35’s on it, but can we do that with a 4″ lift (Pro Comp, Tuff Country, Rough Country, Rancho, or any other brand) or do we need to purchase additional accessories? SYE, Brake lines, etc? I really don’t want any rubbing if I can avoid it and I haven’t puchased any wheels or tires yet, so I can buy whatever the best size, width, offset you would reccomend. Any suggestions would be great to help me get my ball rollng. Thanks!
35s on 4 inches of lift will be a little tight and you’ll probably get some rubbing. If you’re going with a 4″ suspension lift, you’ll probably want at least a 1″ body lift to accompany it (assuming you don’t want to get into trimming your fenders). Also, with 4″ of lift you’ll “ideally” need an SYE and longer driveshaft to deal with the driveline vibrations. Alternatively, you can add a transfer case (TC) drop to decrease the driveshaft angle and hopefully eliminate your vibes. TC drops are really just a bandaid fix though while the SYE is a better longterm solution.
Hey, I have a 99 wrangler sport, stock automatic. It needs new shocks and I’m thinking of getting a 2″ suspension lift while getting the shocks. I would also like to put 33″s on it after the lift and all. Will I have any rubbing issues? And how much power loss would I have if any? Should I go up to a 4.5 geat ratio? I’m unsure of my current gear ratio(Tried looking but couldn’t find any numbers). I am also very new to jeeps and have no experience with it. I already have trouble going 50 up even slight hills. Thanks alot.
Question answered here:
Can You Fit 33-inch Tires on a Jeep With a 2-inch Lift?
Hey.
I’ve got 16 inch alloy wheels on my 07 jeep wrangler unlimited. I’m thinking of sticking with the original wheels and putting on 31 inch tires on. Will this be a problem? I’d prefer not to get a lift. I hear so many different things about tires and rims. I do some light trails but mostly pavement driving. I see that a lot of people switch over to steel wheels, but I honestly dont want to spend the extra money if I dont have to. Any suggestions?
Question answered here: Can You Fit 31-inch Tires on Stock Jeep JK Wheels?
Hey,
I am buying a 2010 JK and will probably never see dirt. I would like to put a 4” Teraflex lift and 35” Boggers or Thornbirds on it. I just want to know from your expereance is there a better lift out there? I had a TJ with a 3.5” Rancho lift with 33” Thornbirds and loved it.
Teraflex is a respected brand name which seems to get decent reviews in general. It’s really tough to say if there’s anything better…or to say what’s the “best” kit out there b/c there are so many brands and tons of kit variations within those brands.
Hey there garrett,
Absolutlly a awsome review. I own a TJ very well modded and i hit the trails on a regualer. My question for you is i just bought a JK, which not to knolagable about. Its my wifes and she want a small lift, 2 inchs. I have been looking around and i love OME, they make a great lift. Will this void my warranty on my powertrain. I have called my local dealer and all they want to do is sell me thier new Mopar 2 inch lift thats not even out yet for 1500(it does come with billstin shocks though) and prob 500 for install. It is a factory replacement set up supposable. Thanks and hope all is well.
Robert,
I’ve heard nothing but great things about Old Man Emu lifts. I run OME shocks on my TJ and I’ve been very happy with them. As far as the warranty issues go, I honestly can’t give you a definitive answer here…my TJ has been out of warranty range for about 10 years now. 🙂 However, I’ve talked to several friends and read a lot about other peoples experiences with lifts & warranties. The general consensus is that dealers are consistently inconsistent. Some dealers say things like “anything over a 2-inch lift will void your warranty.” Other dealers use a different height number, some say any lift will void the warranty, and yet others will support warranty claims on your lifted Jeep as long as they have done the install.
I think the best advice I can offer is to call your dealer and ask them outright (sounds like you may have done that). If your dealer is inflexible, you might try calling another dealer in your area to see if their “policy” is different. Also, if you do hear an answer like, “yes, a 2-inch lift is fine and won’t void your warranty”….try to get the dealer to put this in WRITING for you. You’ll want to have some proof in case they change their tune if/when you bring your Jeep in for service later.
Good luck!
BTW, if you’re going to buy an Old Man Emu kit. Make sure you check out DPG Offroad. DPG has very competitive prices on OME stuff and Dirk (I think he’s the owner) is a great guy….Dirk is very knowledgeable and will give you “no-BS” advice.
Disclaimer: I don’t have any relationship w/ DPG. I’ve just been very impressed w/ their customer service & pricing when I’ve dealt w/ them in the past.
I need help Garrett! I have a 1998 2.5 liter with a 2 inch lift kit and 33 Mickey Thompson Baja Belted tires on it. It runs slow and I dont do off roading. I did it for the looks only. While I love the Jeep no matter how slow it drives, I was pulled over the other day and fined for my tires sticking out past the fenders. So….what to do. Should I keep the tires and go with wider fender flares? A Rep from Quadratec told me that wider flares would no look so good. Or should I keep my stock flares (which are all faded) and get new tires? Any recommendations? I love the look it currently has but I am truly lost on what to do. New tires are going to cost me a fortune and I don’t drive the Jeep very often.
Hey Suzanne,
Sucks that you got a ticket. Larger fender flares is probably the cheapest way out. I have Bushwacker Fender Flares on my Jeep and I’ve been happy with them. I run the 6-inch Bushwacker flares and they cover my 33×12.5×15 tires (mounted on rims with 4-inches of backspacing). These flares cost around $450. There are also some cheaper options out there (with different looks) if you shop around a bit. You can see all fender flare reviews (with user-submitted photos) here.
Garrett. I have a 1997 2.5L TJ. I am looking to see about lifting it and have been doing lots of research. I have heard of all the problems that you are discussing but although they are mentioned no one seems to really get into how they affect ME! I only want a 3″ to 4″ lift. My question is if i do this what else do i have to worry about (i.e. brake lines, steering stabalizer, control arms, drive shafts, etc.) I just want to add the 3″ to 4″ lift that doesnt break the bank but i also want to know exactly what i am getting into before i start. I was just wondering if you could bore me with some of the problem details you left out?
Sean,
It’s hard to answer this question “exactly.” There are few reasons for that such as: every Jeep is different, every Jeep owner has different expectations/budgets, many lift kits come with different components,etc. Regarding 3-4″ lifts, you can put in a basic lift like a Rough Country 4″ kit (a buddy of mine just did this last week). Aside from the kit itself, he ended up also buying new tires (obviously), new rims (with more backspacing) to accommodate larger tires, and new fender flares to cover the wider tires (and keep the Jeep “legal”). His kit came with lower control arms so he was able to get his alignment back into spec. He didn’t put in a new driveshaft, but opted for the transfer case drop that came with the kit. He DID replace the steering stabilizer separately b/c his stock one was shot. So, with that he now has a Jeep rolling on 33s and looking pretty good.
So, is he done buying parts? I’d say no because eventually his driveshaft vibes will get worse (if he keeps the Jeep long enough)…this will require an SYE kit, new driveshaft, and adjustable control arms to fix. He’ll also eventually want lower gears if he goes offroad frequently (for now he’s just “dealing” with the power loss). He’ll eventually end up buying new shocks b/c the Rough Country shocks are pretty cheap. He “may” end up buying a new rear axle if he wheels hard b/c he’s got a Dana 35 in the rear currently. He doesn’t “have” to do all of those mods now, but (in my opinion) many of them will be necessary if he drives the Jeep alot (esp. offroad). So, yeah, you can get rolling with a “basic” kit, but your purchasing probably won’t stop there. Hope that helps.
I have a 1997 jeep wrangler with a 4″ lift and 33″ tires. I have taken it to climb a little, but not as much as it should be out there. I recommend that if you want to use it for off-road then the lift and tires are exactly what you need, but if its just for around town I would not do anything like that. Before I lifted my jeep, I got 15mpg (I know, doesnt sound right for a 4cyl) and after the lift and tires i believe i am getting 10-12 around the city. I want to sell it because it gets horrible gas, but i love the fact i sit up high and the waves to the passing jeeps. I think that gas is more important to me at this point since the economy is down. I want to sell it, but i have no idea what to price it can someone help me with the pricing because i dont believe kbb understands because i have seen jeeps that are lifted and have tires and a soft top with 89,000 miles (same as mine but i have a hard top) for about $7,500. Do you think i can get $10,000 since i also have a stereo system in it?
Garrett,
This was a great article. Everything you’ve said is “spot on”. Having recently purchased a well used TJ which needed some suspension components replaced anyway, I too started out with a “basic” kit – a 2.5″ coil spring, shock, transfer case lowering kit (…no plans for muddin’ or rock crawling – I don’t think I’d enjoy washing mud balls the size of bowling balls off my driveway or fixing things that break after I already fixed them the weekend before). Indeed, the basic kit was just the beginning… that led to adjustable sway bar links, adjustable track bars, control arms, and I also see drive line work in my future… all of which are little things that quickly add up moneywise. I’m really not complaining… it’s not my daily driver – just a weekend ride and project vehicle, but as you indicated, one thing certainly does lead to another.
Hi, I am about to turn 16 and my dad bought me a 1999 jeep wrangler sport. He wants to put a 4″ skyjacker suspension lift kit on it, but he says he would go 6″ but he doesn’t want to replace gears and have to buy an extended stearing rod and all that expensive and labor intensive stuff. I’m going to put 33″ nitto mud grapplers on it and 17″ procomp alloy rims on it. I plan to go mudding and maby rock crawling quite frequently. If I were to put a 6″ lift would we have to change everything? What about a 4″ suspension and 2″ body? How do you feel about programmers? Do they actually work? And also are air lockers or electromagnetic lockers helpfull? And is there anything you recomend instead of what I am going to put on it?
Robert,
Congrats on the new TJ. In my opinion, 6″ of lift is overkill if you’re going to run 33s. However, even with 4″ of lift, you’ll still probably end up replacing control arms, front & rear trackbars, & driveshaft at some point (esp. if you wheel it regularly). FYI, the need for gears isn’t related to lift height, it’s related to what size tires you run. A gear change isn’t mandatory with 33s, but your perceived power loss will really vary depending upon what gears you’ve got now. In my opinion, 3.73 gears are bearable with 33s, but if you’ve got something like 3.07s now you’ll probably find yourself itching for lower gears once you put 33s on.
You asked about “programmers”….I’m assuming you’re referring to computer chips (ie. Jet Chip). Personally, I’ve never tried them, but the general consensus I’ve heard from the Jeep community is don’t waste your money. Lockers are certainly helpful and provide significantly more traction if you plan to do a lot of offroading. Selectable lockers (e.g. air, cable, electric) offer more flexibility b/c you can lock & unlock whenever you want, but that flexibility comes with a higher price tag.
garrett,
Hey great article I have a 94 jeep grand cherokee laredo I just put a 4 inch rouch country suspension lift on it and 31s toyo ats i wanna know what you think about puttin a 2 inch body lift on it to put 33s i off road pretty regularly I just wanna know what you think about that and will have to elongate things and if its even a good idea and what i should do about gearing it is 4 all time and what else should I do to it thanks man
Taylor, You can’t put a body lift on a grand cherokee. Both grand cherokees and XJ cherokees are uni-body which means the body and the frame are one peice. not a body on frame. If you want 2 more inches put some spacers on between the coils.
Also do you recommend any brand for lift kit?
There are tons of different brands out there. Check out the lift kit reviews on the main site.
I just bought a 98 TJ Sahara. It has a six inch long arm suspension lift with BFG 35’s. I want to get a new exhaust and headers. Am I going to need any modifying to the exhaust when I install it. What size gears do you recommend for 35’s with a mixture of on and off road driving? I’ve heard go with 4.56 and 4.88. Thanks
I’ve got a 98TJ too…have a Banks header and Magnaflow muffler. Didn’t really need to do any special mods to the exhaust…just some custom pipe bends to try and protect the pipe from rocks. For 35s, most people say either 4.56s or 4.88s. Personally, I’d go with the 4.88s. I’ve got 4.56s w/ 33s and I think that’s a perfect combo. If I had 35s, I’d want 4.88s.
Thanks for the help Garrett.
I was wondering if you could fit 33’s on a brand new 2012 jeep rubicon?
At this point, I haven’t seen/heard the specs on the 2012 yet. Currently though, you can fit 33s on a JK but you’re going to get some rubbing (esp. offroad). To be safe, I think you’ll want a small spacer lift (2″ Budget Boost would be good) to clear 33s and have no rubbing offroad. You’ll also need to adjust your rim backspacing for the wider tires.
First, thanks for the insight.
How should you go about installing the lift kit? Should you try and get the kit yourself and (me not being too technically inclined) shop around to garages on install or should I buy the kit AND install at the garage all at once? With all that being said, what’s the best way not to get hosed by the garage when they see an unsuspecting victim coming with 3 inches of lift and big ol tires in their eyes?
If you’re definitely going to pay someone else to install, I’d make sure you talk to them first. Find out first if they’ll allow you to bring in your own kit or if you have to buy from them. Sometimes shops will warranty the kit & install if you buy everything from them. If possible, I’d definitely try to find a shop that has a lot of experience w/ Jeeps specifically…get some references from them before agreeing to anything.
Hey. Just wondering if anyone could help me. Im wanting to get a lift on my 99 wrangler but im not really sure what to get. It well be used on road more than off but when it is off it will be mainly in mud. I drive it everyday so I want something that rides good to. Thanks for the help!
I have a 2006 Jeep Wrangler SE with a 4″ suspension lift and 33×12.50’s on it. I’m noticing a hard time on pickup speed on the highway. It’s approaching new tire time and I couldn’t help but wonder, would getting smaller tires help me with this? I don’t do much offroading and would like to still have a mean looking Jeep. What size would you recommend?
Mike,
Yeah, I think what you’re experiencing is the power loss that happens when you put the larger tires on your Jeep (without regearing to lower gears). If you downsized to something like a 30″ tire, you’d see a big difference in your acceleration/pickup. However, 30″ tires will look pretty tiny w/ 4″ of lift…so, it’s your call on what’s most important to you (looks or acceleration).
Hey I have been thinking about getting a 98′ Grand Cherokee, but I am thinking about getting a lift for it when I buy it. I have heard that a 2″ spacer lift is the highest I should go if I don’t want to spend a ton of money (over 700) on making the jeep stable and drive correctly. I was wondering if this was true and since i might hit the trails a couple times, but nothing extreme if this is enough lift for a good look. Also what tire size would be best for that lift?
think the max tire you can run w/ 2 inches of lift is a 31 x 10.5. Your call on whether that’s big enough for a “good look” or not. As you mentioned, yes things will get a lot more involved (and costly) if you want to go a lot larger than that.
alright thanks, and is 2″ the max that i can go without doing anything else to it or would I be able to do like a 2.5″ or 3″ spacer lift?
Hi, thanks for a great article.
I have a few questions if anyone would be willing to give me some advice. I have a 2008 Grand Cherokee 4X4. I just installed a 3.5 inch Rock Krawler X Factory Lift Kit. I also installed Mamba Type MR-1 wheels with 265/70/17 BFG All-Terrains. I’m more concerned with looks, then off-road performance. However my main concern is the durability and longevity of my Jeep. In other words, I want to do whatever I need to do to ensure the proper operation of my Jeep. My next step was to add an ARB front bumper or something similar (any suggestions on front bumpers would be appreciated). My question is this: before I go on to further improve the aesthetics of my Jeep, is there anything I should be doing now to ensure that the new additions to my Jeep “play nicely” with the rest of my Jeep? Do I need to upgrade any parts that may now be under more stress then they previously were? Thanks for any advice you guys might have.
-Logan
Hi and thanks for the article.
I have a 91 YJ with 31’s and they are rubbing really bad. My springs are shot and I would like to keep the 31’s. I have been told I would need a 2.5 inch lift for the 31s but I don’t have much to spend on it. I also don’t want any further problems by putting a lift in. Do you think i would be able to go with a 2 inch body lift and new stalk springs or should i go with a 2 inch suspension lift? I will be using the jeep for my every day driver but also for off road I am not into the really extreme stuff but just want it for getting into remote lakes and some deactivated roads. Do you think I would need a bigger lift and would a suspension lift cause more problems than a body lift? With a 2 inch basic lift would I need other modifications?
If you replace your springs, you should get a lot of clearance back (those old springs sag a lot over time). With new, stock springs the 31s should fit, but you’ll probably get some rubbing on bumps (and it won’t be ideal for offroading). A 1″ body lift should give the extra clearance you need.
Thanks Garrett. I really appreciate the advice.
Garrett,
I just installed a Zone 4″ lift kit and put 33×12.5×15 tires on it. I noticed that the engine slopes backwards a little bit now and I was wondering if that is because the transfer case drop or do I have a more serious problem? Also, will an SYE eliminate the need for the transfer case drop, therefore correcting my sloped engine. Other than this, I love the lift so far(no offroading yet, but it looks badass). Thanks!
hey, saw your old statment about the Zone lift kit thinkin about getting one for my sons 04 wrangler x with a set of 33’s wanted to know hows the lift holding up thanks
Thank you for this very informative post Garret. I have a 2005 Grand Cherokee and I want to do a 2″ spacer lift and Bilstein shocks with a 31″ tire. It’s a daily driver (mainly highway; occasionally beach sand dune trails). I was wonder if I would end up having to spend a lot more money on future with only a 2″ lift. Would I? I’ve been doing a lot of searching and I think that this is the safest lift. Also, will this tire give me any power lost? The stock tire is 245/65/17 and the tire I’m putting on is 245/70/17.
Thank you.
Marcus.
hey, i have aa 2007 black jk wrangler.. most of the time im at the pavement not offroading but sometimes i do go offroading not aggrreessive offroading but light, what sugggestions can you give me for my jeep dealing with tire, wheelss and lift kits,,,(i dont want all terrain tires…)
Hi Garret, Thanks for the article it is very helpfull.
I just had a couple quick questions. I have a ’99 XJ with 31″ tires, and as you answered for someone else the 31″ rub. I was thinking about getting a 2 or 3.5 rubicon express lift kit since they run about 250-500$ (give or take). I dont plan on getting into really rough terrain since it is my only vehicle I want to make sure it lasts a while, but I do like to get into some kind of rough areas sometimes. Do you have any experience with rubicon express? are they good?. Also if I were to buy a lift kit that did not come with new shocks would I need to buy some right away or would I be ok as long as it wasnt too large of a lift? Thank you very much I look forward to your reply.
Steven
Garret,
I have a 04 WJ and i was thinking about just puting a 2″ lift on it. Then put some all terrains on it. Which kit would you suggest? And what tires would go good with a 2″ lift?
Hi, my name is john. I have read all kinds of articles on the pros and cons of lifting a jeep and they all say “well, it depends on what you plan on using the jeep for. I know that sometimes giving someone a straight answer can be difficult if the intentions for the jeep are unknown. Im waiting for someone to say, ” If you are planning on doin some serious off roadin, this is what you need. If you only want the lift for appearance, than this is what you need. Needless to say im still waiting, so im gonna ask,and hopefully I can get a straight answer. I am planning on putting a 3 or 4 inch lift on my 97 wrangler sport. I also plan on purchasing 16 in rims w 33 in tires. I live in colorado and love to go camping, but I dont do any serious offroadin. My jeep is the only car I have, so it needs to be road worthy. Heres the question, what is the best route to take? 3 or 4 in lift 33in tires 16 in rims and 65 on the highway. Please suggest something, im getting tired of driving a mail truck around town lol. If you can help, please do
Thanks, John
I have 08 jeep wrangler and wanna go big on it when i come back from deployment. How much of a lift is to much and tires as well whats a good lift to tire ratio for the’s jeeps?
hi i bought my daughter a 95 yj it has 30`s on it,is it ok to put shackles that are bigger or not ? its a hardtop and it looks like the back is sagging ..or should i just just new springs all the way around to fit 31`s ? i was going to put a lift but daughter is only 16 its a auto 4cyl. what should do just to get it up a little higher ?
If the springs are sagging really bad (that’s common for old YJs), you’ll probably want to replace them . If you replace your springs, you should get a lot of clearance back (those old springs sag a lot over time). With new, stock springs the 31s should fit, but you’ll probably get some rubbing on bumps (and it won’t be ideal for offroading). A 1″ body lift should give the extra clearance you need.
Garret,
This is the objective advice/suggestion/help I have been looking for. I have a ’10 JK and know very little about kits etc. I love the look of lifted Jeeps however, I am one of those that will probably only see fire roads/dirt etc. No climbing or looking for challenging terrain. Access to outdoors fun at best, fly fishing, mountain biking etc. I think I will slow it down and really figure out if having the amazing look is worth jumping in. I plan on keeping my Jeep for a long time so any mods that will cause new vibrations, undue wear etc really doesnt appeal to me. If there is a true on kit does it all and removes the “fun” things you mention I may be in but until I am educated on the subject I will keep reading your post. This site will get saved.
Cheers,
BobbyD
I have a 2006 jeep wrangler rubicon and I want to fit 35″ tires under it, but lifting it the as little as possible, but WITHOUT having to trim anything. Now, I have a secondary vehicle, so road handling isn’t my main concern although I certainly don’t want death wobbles. What is the most efficient way to do this? A combination of Flat fenders and a small lift is what I had in mind, but I don’t know exactly what combination I would need. Right now, it’s sitting bone stock apart from slightly more aggressive tires. Any suggestions would be great.
If you’re going to run flat fenders and 35s, you can probably get away with a 3-inch lift (I’ve seen a few Jeeps with this setup). A potential alternative to flat/tube fenders is also some flares that offer more clearance like the Xenon flat flares. Lastly, and probably the most expensive route is to go with something like the AEV Highline Body Kit.
With a JK 35’s and flat fender flares is easily doable with no lift. 3.5 to 4 inch backspaced wheels and extended bumpstops and your all set.
hey garrett i have a 1999 jeep gc larado wj and i want to get a 4in suspenstion lift the lifts a rough county 4inch lift will i have to put longer brake lines and and get a longer sterring colium and would the 4 in b a good on and off the road the off roading is just going to b beach riding and minore trail ridding and wat tires would b a good set ott all around tires
Ok here’s a question for anyone ..I just bought a 97 tj the Guy I bought it from put some kind of lift and 33 12.5 15 which had to go immediately. Anyway I’m trying to decide how big of a suspension lift to put on it. I already have a body lift in it and bought some 31 12.5 15 tsl boggers. Ok here’s the kicker it has a 4 cylinder in it and a manual transmission. I know its never going to be a speed deamon but I’ve really enjoyed it so far. I’m thinking about a 4″ but for a couple hundred more I can get a 6″ any advice (other than get rid of it) will be greatly appreciated. Money isn’t a problem so feel free to recommended a good lift kit.
Just one question. Do I need a SYE and CV Shaft for a 2006 Unlimited lifted 4″ with 33″ tires? Thanks
Eric,
Since the Unlimited has a longer driveshaft (as opposed to a standard TJ) you should be able to get away with a 4″ lift without doing a slip yoke eliminator (SYE) and a CV shaft.
Thanks Garrett, had alot of conflicting opinions figured I get some more before I make any purchases
Hi Garrett,
I have a 91 yj and with 31″ tires I am planning to put new stock leaf springs for front and rear, and shocks for the front.( I have already replaced the rear ones). I am wondering if i put a 1″ shackle lift in if I would need more than stock shocks or if stock ones would do the job? I am also wondering if the 1″ shackle lift would have much of a negative affect on the vehicles original design regarding changing the angle of the drive shaft? or is it worth spending more money and time on a 1″body lift?
Admittedly, I’m not a YJ expert, but most YJ owners seems to recommend the 1″ body lift vs. the 1″ shackle (given a choice between the two). The shackle lift can throw off your alignment and require tweaks to fix. That being said, some people just don’t prefer the “gap” that’s left between the body/frame post-bodylift…so, I guess it’s up to you.
I’ve got a 2007rubicon 2 door jk(18,000 miles)with a 4inch super lift and 35s. After getting it back from the shop who put it on, I had a massive death wobble. Took it back immediately and they fixed it somewhat. Now when I hit a bump I still get wobble but it comes out instantly. Is there anything else I could do
Hey Travis,
Death wobble is often caused by issues with the front trackbar. If the front trackbar isn’t torqued down to spec, you can get bad wobbles. So, I’d double/triple-check that your trackbar is in good shape and is really tight (especially where it bolts to the axle). Also, if you don’t have an adjustable front trackbar, that “could” be causing the issue too. Sometimes lift kits suggest that you just re-use your stock trackbar and redrill the trackbar hole at the axle end to accommodate for the higher lift height and trackbar alignment change…however, this can cause issues if you don’t drill your new hole perfectly and get a nice tight fit. This happened to me on my TJ. I tried to cheap-out and re-use the stock trackbar by drilling a new hole. Did the drilling very precisely, but still couldn’t get the Jeep’s handling dialed in. Adjustable trackbar made a big difference for me.
FYI, you’ll find lots of people that say they fixed their death wobble by replacing the steering stabilizer with a new one (or a beefier one)…this may work, but honestly your Jeep shouldn’t have bad death wobble with a regular steering stabilizer. If it does, it’s probably an indicator that there is a bigger problem (like with the trackbar). Sometimes these things are hard to pinpoint as alignment & tire balancing can also cause handling & wobble/shimmy issues, but I’d take a look at the trackbar first. Good luck!
hi, i bought a 01 jeep wrangler sport with a 4 inch suspention lift and a 2 inch body lift with 35/14.50 swampers. my tires are wearing out and my shock broke. i ordered new shocks and my dad ordered 6 inch shocks instead of 4 inch. i want a 6 inch suspention lift so if i kept those new shocks he got me and got new 6 inch springs would that be considered a 6 inch suspention lift? and what all would i have to change as in drive shatf and pinion angles to get that extra 2 inches?
thanks,
Cam
Hi im getting a 2011 sahara unlimited and i want either 35s or 37s what would i need to do to really maximize its potential and how much would it cost.
hey Garrett
i just got a good deal on a 95 jeep wrangler 4 banger just paid 3500 and it has a 100k miles so i jump on in but i have no idea what to get for it next… i know the vacuum lines are broken for the 4wd so i am getting a posi lock, but as far a lift goes i have no idea what to go with parts and good complete lift kits because this is my first jeep
i was looking to get a 4 inch lift because it already has 33s with a 2 inch body lift, but the tires scrub. if you can put me in a good direction for a good complete kit i got about 1000 to spend on a lift
i would like to do it once and do it right the first time and if i have to save more then it will have to wait
wheeling is a constant thing for me like i go every weekend around town
Daryl
been looking at the rc 4 inch lift how do you rate that?
wondering if u got the rc lift and if so how do you like it
Hey garret that was a great article.So I was wondering would it be a good idea to put a 3in lift on a 2003 wrangler with 32s or 33s. I haven’t gotten the jeep yet but would like to know for when I do ,I would be doing a good bit or on road with a good amount of pure mud.
Thanks for the info .
Garrett, do they make a shock that will lift the jeep without a lift kit? I am trying to find a shock that will give about a 2 inch lift w/o changing anything else.
I have a 1995 wrangler and I want to put a budget boost on it. What components must I buy to lift it? I want to spend the least amount of money possible.
Hello,
I currently have an 05 TJ Sport rolling on 31″ Goodyear MT/R’s. No lift. I have been working with a specialty shop to figure out what is best for me in terms of lift kit/bigger tires. I have been looking at the 4″ Pro Comp Stage I kit, with 33″ tires (Mickey Thompson MTZ). The more I read on forums, etc and through the great info you have offered here, there is the likelyhood that I will end up spending more money down the road.
My question is, if I opt for a smaller lift, like the Pro Comp 2.5″, with 32″x11.5R15 tires, could I avoid some of the costly complications that seem common with bigger lifts? (speed wobble, driveshaft vibrations, etc) This is a daily driver, that gets shined up at the site of mud. Looking to beef it up for aesthetics and the occasional fishing trip on a gravel road. Thank you very much in advance, great site for those of us that know very little…..
So I have a CJ7. 77. I’m looking to put a lift on it I was wondering if a 3″ is gonna be good enough to I’m prove my trail ride. I just don’t wanna go to big or to small. It rides great for stock it will hang with all the lifted Jeeps. Just have to work a lil harder
So I plan on buying the 2012 rubicon unlimited. I want to put a lift on it with some bigger tires. I live out in the country but I drive more highway than dirt. I plan on useing it on the weekend for the trails. So my question is what would be a good setup for my situation?( lift, tires, bumpers, etc…)
i have a 95 wrangler rio grande that has 6in sus lift and 33’s on it what the biggest size tires i could put on with out more lift or cutting the finder wells
Hey man! i love the review! But i was wondering i am in highschool and wish i could hit the trials with my jeep! i am thinking just a 2 inch life. but i will not be out on the trails or mudding a lot. just here and there! its mainly a pavement jeep what do you think i should do?
Hey Garrett,
So I have a 99 Cherokee and I’m thinking about lifting her with a 3” suspension kit and getting some new tires. This past summer I had new left springs put in because the old ones were flattening out, new brakes all around, and some other basic work done. I mostly do pavement driving(college student) but I do enjoy off roading when I can. I guess I’m just wondering what the kit should include (control arms, etc) and if I should go long arm or not? Any input would be great 🙂
thanks
I see you! Unless you are really going to off-road you don’t need to buy this 🙂
I have a 2000 jeep xj i want to go with a 6 rough counrty 900 dollar basic kit and which of the extra parts that they sell as extras do i need
Hey Garrett,
Thanks for all the great replies so far, they are very much appreciated. I have a 2010 JK Sport that came with stock P255/75R17’s. I’m looking to upgrade to some 33″ Duratracs, either LT285/75R16 or LT305/70R16, so I’ll be better prepared for some light trails and the delightful New England winters. For now, I would prefer to avoid any additonal mods if possible. As my daily driver, it sees about 95% road 5% dirt, and nothing too challenging offroad. Will some extra backspacing on the new wheels be enough to eliminate the slight rub with that setup? Also if I were to go that route, how will that affect all the additional issues you mentioned (ie death wobble, steering stabalizer, control arms, etc.)? As you said, I’ll probably be able to get by for a while, but I plan on having the Jeep for a very long time so I would much rather do it properly the first time and not risk long term issues. Unfortunately, it has 3.21 gears atm so I am also concerned that moving to 33s will turn it into a complete slug on the highway, and I really don’t have the bank for a regear right now. Any insight here would be great. Thanks again man.
Matt
Hey Garret, so I am going to be buying a new Jeep not sure which one yet, ide like to start hitting the trails and this will be a car I will be driving on the pavement as well. I will probably be off the road 15% of the time. I want something hopefully big and badass that makes the other jEeps jealous and that should last quite a while, any advice?
Jennifer,
If I could do it all over again, I’d buy a Rubicon. They’re super-capable out of the gate and they’ve got extra goodies (e.g. stronger axles, 4.10 gears, lockers, 4:1 ratio transfer case) which will fit well with future upgrades like larger tires. Unfortunately, they didn’t make Rubi’s in 1998 when I bought my TJ new. Good luck.
i currently have a 99 wrangler sport. i have a 2in body lift and running 31″s. i wanna put 33″ thornbirds on my stock rims . i was just wondering if they will slide right on and not have to cut or take off anything or what will i have to do to make them fit on there good with the less amount of money spent possible.
Hey Garret, I have a 2006 Jeep Liberty 65th Anniversary. I am looking to lift it and put new tires on it.Do you have any recommendations on what brand of suspension lift to use or how many inches it is safe to lift it?
Thank You!
Hey my name is Nick,
I’m thinking I want to put a 2 maybe 3″ left on my 95 grand cherokee but have a few questions on lift kits.
So If I want a 2″ lift it come with coils and shacks or another lift I’m looking at comes with shacks and 2″ spacers for about the same price. Witch one should I go with and if I’m lifting it 2-3″ do I need to replace my lower control arms?..
G’day, I own an 03 WJ which I had lifted 2″ by way of coil resetting for looks only. I have just ordered a set of 2″ coil spacers to add to the lift to compensate for the coils settling.
Will I run into trouble with my shocks, steering etc. The only off road I will be doing is beach and flat dirt tracks, other than that it’s only pavement city driving.
I would love to hear from you.
Nes
i have a 1997 jeep cherokee sport currently it is all stock as far as tires go and suspension. ir hA 145,000 miles on it. in the past year i have noticed that it has been bottoming out a lot in the front when i go through a dip at 5-7 miles an hour and when i have people in the car the back hit the stoppers so as you can tell over the years it has gotten soft. i plan to keep it for a very long time and love the rig. it is my daily driver and has not other problems to speak of. since it is getting soft i am looking at doing some spring work on it both front and back. what i am looking at doing is through a company called boise spring works they are based in boise idaho witch is where i live
what they will do is temper the front coil springs and pull them back out to factory hight they say you can then pull about another inch to two inches and be just fine this would give it some hight and also a little more travel i was thinking of having them bring it about an inch above stock this would lift, stiffen, and add travel to the front end and they say the springs are as good as new. as for the back they would take the leafs out and measure them and then would build 2or 3 more leafs in there tempering furnace i think or order some and then customize them they will then insert them in-between the first and second spring keeping all the original leafs and adding those 2 or 3. this would increase the ride hight and also the lode rating on them they will do the front first and then the rear this way they can level the rear with the front. they said as long as you keep it around an inch lift it really dose not harm anything like drive shafts or joints or any other part and can keep all other things factory.
i would just like some input on what you think about this and if you for see any problems
just something i left out i use this mostly for on rode use but i do like to go bird hunting and also some camping an recreational driving ever so often and at times get into som nasty stuff and do seem to lack clearance in some cases. all i would like is an extra inch or so and that would be plenty i just want to know if i am going to be doing fixit thing the rest of my life from this
Garrett, seems you know what your talkin about. I have a 98 Cherokee sport, and am thinking of putting rubicons 5.5″ long arm lift kit on, any feedback on the lift? Also I’m debating the size of my lift because I don’t want to give up some of the sweet trails and steep slopes for possibly unnecessary height….any and all feedback is appreciated.
If your going with a 5.5″ lift do NOT go with short arm. just a bad experience i had, ride rough as hell
Hey zacky , might I add some feedback on looking at the Rock Crawler lifts , there all steel and cost 300$ more than rubicon. Depending on where you go, all places are different with prices, there Is absolutely nothing wrong with rubicon. I love it . Great ride , great everything , not a bad thing about it . But look up rock crawler lifts. There from New York. The con of getting rock crawler though is it may take some time if your from Cali or something to get a replaced part
You could also mention, larger tires require larger fender flares. This was my project today! Had to cut the old ones off only to find some rust and my first set of new fender flares are going back and I’m going to buy the ones that don’t require cutting. Just another problem I really don’t want to get into because I have plenty of clearance with the new 31″ tires already. You bring up some great points and I’m sorry I didn’t read it before the 2500 I spent. With that said… I love the way it looks and I can hardly wait to get to the beach! I guess we all take the good with the bad.
I have a Jeep Liberty 3.7L, 2004 model and am thinking of installing a 2″ suspension lift kit, what all i should be aware of, before i go ahead
thanks
I lifted my 2003 LIberty several years ago. Put over 50k, and several hard (for a liberty) and many light offrad excursions.
I put on a Rusty’s 2.5″ lift that is 4 new coil springs and front struts. Also added a spacer plate above the front strut mount to level out the low front rake. I spent one weekend installing as a novice mechanic. I ended up with about 3″ of lift, that perhpas has settled just a bit now. I have 245/75R16 tires on orginal rims.
Overall, I have been very pleased with the lift, except that the rear shocks that came with kit were lacking. I have since replaced them. I would recommend the rustys kit, but woudl call and see if you can get different shocks. Jeep has a little more bounce to it but nothing that makes one uncomfortable on the road. The nice thing about the liberty’s front independant suspension is that with a 2.5″ lift, you really add 2.5″ of ground clearance (in the front).
I have a WK Grand Cherokee 2010 and I’m looking forward to getting a new set of tires. I’d like them to look bigger that the factory ones (245/65R17), so I need to know what would be the best option without the need of installing a suspension lift kit and/or spacers. Thank you.
QUESTION ! i have a 2006 jeep wrangler with a 3 inch lift kit and the factory rubber shift boot keeps ripping allowing realy hot air in to the cab and that sucks is ther a fater market shift boot that will fit and wont rip with a 3 inch lift kit some one tell me using old towles to plug the hole isnt a good idea for long periods and might even be a fire hazzard
repeat 3 inch lift and boot keeps ripping open any suggestions?/
Try a transfer case drop kit possibly?
Or try some punctuation…we can hardly read what you’re saying
You need to get a little Papa Steve, youthink?
I would say lift it a couple of inches. That way you can get bigger tires.
Buying 2011 wrangler sport. want it lifted. Have ripped bottom out on two cars built with low clearance. Hike alot and use trails to get to trailheads. Not looking to beat her up on offroad expeditions. should I ask dealer to lift and put on different tires, as they may trade me out against factory tires. What type of lift do I need. Want to be able to hear radio at 65mph. Tire suggestions? Would like to have some knobiness to them. What I’m reading is control arms, brake lines, SYE, drive shaft need to be considered. I’m the guy who will use it for getting to the trail, but want it to look good outside my favorite bar. Any suggestions on what lift product I should ask the dealer to install? Also, years ago, had a wrangler, and found it top heavy. Should wheel base be widened a little, if I’m lifting it? Thanks to any suggestions.
hey, i drive a 2011 4 door jeep wrangler and want to get it lifted. its currently all stock. i go off roading on sand dunes and mudding, but i want it to still handle fairly well on highway too. i also want it for the looks, i think all jeeps look better lifted. any ideas on what i should go for??
I just bought a 2012 4-door Jeep Wrangler and am considering the same lift idea with bigger tires. Won’t do any off-roading, just highway (live in the Florida Keys) but I agree they look so much better lifted. Not finding much real help on the web so sorry to bother but you’re the closest I’ve found with my interest. Hope you don’t mind sharing any input you’ve gotten.
hAs anyone responded to you? I’m in the same boat. T
I have a 09 4 door. i recently started researching lifting it and big tires.
I was able to speak with a cpl guys with different set ups. Most run 33’s or 35’s and 2.5 – 3″ lifts. They look great… try to catch some guys with set up that you like. Also check out http://www.quadatrec.com Pretty informative Good Luck
You can fit 33’s on stock JK that looks good. Or for a daily driver a 2-2.5 inch budget lift would be ideal. The kits usually come with everything you need and under 4 inch theres no need for driveshaft replacement or other surprises. Be sure to buy a kit with shocks and springs not one with coil spring spacers. Terra flex makes good kits and seem to be the nicest ride out of opinions on forums. I have a 4 inch rough country kit and it is named appropriately lol very rough ride
But if you do add bigger tires, it affects your speed gauge. I ended up having to get the gears changed in my TJ to fix it
FYI, you don’t need to change gears to fix your speedometer. It IS true that changing tire size will throw off your speedometer, but you can fix this with a new (~$20) speedometer gear. There are lots of charts online that tell you what size speedometer gear you need for your appropriate tire size & gear ratio combo. That being said, adding larger tires will also throw off your gear ratio and your Jeep won’t have as much power (or low end “grunt”) as it used to. If you want to get the power back, that’s what you need to regear your axles for (but, that’s an expensive repair…..can be $1,000+ depending upon your area and whether you need stronger axles to support yer new gears).
3.5″ Rubicon Express kit with 33″ Nitto Trail Grappler tires. You won’t be sorry. I did this on my ’08 JKU Sahara and you get a great looking ride and can still hear the radio at 65mph. Yes, you will hear the tires, but it’s far from annoying.
I have a 98 grand cherokee laredo, everything on it right now is stock. I want to get 2″ BB’s and new shocks. Are there any other parts i should be concerned about with just a 2 inch lift? and do i need to get new coils? also i have some 15×8 black rims laying around and i want to put them on. would 30×10.5×15 fit on a 2″ with no trimming?
with the 2″ bb lift your not gonna have any problems shocks is a good idea but you should be able to fit up to 32/10.5/15’s no problem. i think you will like 31/10.5/15 though they look good just don’t get the toyo mud terains they suck. and no on the springs you just need the spring spacers. you need four of them.
I have a jeep grand cherokee 98 also I don’t believe the bullshit 30 two’s with only a 2 inch lift also I’ve never seen 30 10 5 15 before you should be able to fit the 30 9.5 15 without a problem you don’t need to do anything else but put some coil spring spacers I recommend a rubber ones. I have 30 9.5 15 on my jeep right now all have is coil spring spacers.
hey matt i had a 95 grand with no lift lol and put 32’s right on with the stock rims however it did rub a bit so with a little back yard cutting of the front bumper they fit perfect with little to no rub had i put a spacer in i would have had no probs so ya 32’s will fit just fine with a 2 in bb lift
yea the rims will fit but i believe the tires are a ltitle bit larger and you might have some tire rub issues if you go wheeling or jump it but just normal driving you should be fine
I have a 2000 Jeep Wrangler with 31″ and no lift. I want to lift it, and next month I’m going to have the money to do it. I definitely want a 3 inch lift. I was looking between all the options available in ebay and it seems that a 2.5 lift kit plus a 1 inch coil spacer will cost me around 400 bucks that is right what i’m willing to spend. I use my jeep as my daily commute and i’m not planning to do crazy off road, mostly because I live in miami and the options here are very limited. I just want something to be able to go to the keys and play a little bit in the mud sometimes that also looks good. My questions is what are some of the considerations I have to keep in mind if I put a 3.5 inch lift? Does I’m going to need something else like longer brake lines or a new track-bar besides the alignment?
What you guys recommend? Should I go just go for the 2.5 lift and forget about the 1 inch coil spacer? I can’t find any 3″ lift kit with shocks. Thanks
I am 16 and I have an 02 wrangler I just want my jeep to sit about 2 in. higher what do i need to do.
i also want to lift my jeep i have a jeep grand cherokee 2001 and i want to lift it about 2 inches and i dont know if it is a good idea after reading all these reviews about lifting just to look good because i wont be offroading with it much
I have a 98 grand jeep cherokee limited im trying to figure out how high I can lift it ive seen 7″ coils from irok being it has coil springs all around I wasnt sure how high I could go anybody got a good answer for me
Hi, i bought a 2008 Jeep Wrangler. My mom had a jeep when i was little and I’ve been stuck on getting one since. I’ve asked around about getting a lift. . . my boss had me drive his jeep, I think 6 inch lift with 33 inch tires. It was awful! So i thought, like scary. I want to put bigger tires on without lifting it. i want to keep the smoothness of the ride as much as possible. I like to go 4w out in the boonies on my days off, i’m just getting use to what it can really do. I still drive it around town & to work. But every chance i get i take it to the hills. What would you Suggest? my husband says to put 33 on it :/ with no lift? How would that handle???? Any feed back? I’m a first time jeep owner. . . . I need help please O.o
Not sure why your boss has 6″ lift for 33’s but with JK’s you won’t need that much lift with 33’s. His problem COULD be he has that much lift with short control arms or has geometry issues with his setup.
I have a 2010 JKU with just 2.5 inches of lift and I run 35’s. Now some people may disagree but JK’s can run 33’s without a lift as long as you are not jumping it or crawling over rocks. Research a couple of Jeep forum discussion boards and find out what others recommend.
Remember that when you put taller (bigger) tires on your jeep you are changing the overall driveability as far as gears go. I live in Colorado where there are hills all over the place and I have to downshift from 6th gear to sometimes 4th gear(depending on the hilll) to maintain speed. My wife has a 04 TJ and learned how to go offroading with stock tires and no lift. She learned the limitations of her Jeep with that configuration. After she learned how to say “It won’t make it over that”, she wanted it upgraded to go over that. Now she has 3.5″ of lift with 33″ BFG KM2’s and the winch for when she overestimates the ability of her Jeep. If you want to lift it slightly, look into budget boosts. Nothing radical needed for 33’s.
I have a stock 96 jeep Cherokee XJ and when it is in 4 wheel drive it does not like to turn that well. Jumps and noisey. What can it be? Thanks. Also emissions told me that my rear tires wont come to a complete stop. The rear brakes wont stop them. Is that a master cyclender issue. I replaced the drum pads. I can use all the advice I can get
When in 4WD and attempting to make a turn on dry hardened surfaces you are forcing the inside tire to try to turn at the same speed as the outside tire. DO NOT DRIVE in 4WD on dry hardened surfaces, especially if you have to turn. This can cause you to break a couple of things. You could break your gear assembly inside the axle or the axle shaft itself. You could also tear up the transfer case as well. Refer to your owners manual or any 4WD manual.
Brakes-a sensitive subject because of liability issues. Best advice is to have your XJ brakes looked at by a qualified technician for repairs. It could be your master cylinder, portioning valve, rear brake cylinders or just misadjusted brake shoes.
What you are experiencing is normal. You more than likely have the “NP231” transfer case. This case is what I’ve got as well. It has these settings in order from top to bottom; 2HI, 4HI, NEUTRAL, 4LO. This transfer case differs from the NP242 because it lacks a full-time 4wd choice where you can actually turn your steering wheel all the way in 4wheel. The NP242 is more popular up north where you would use 4wd on a daily basis along your normal route and would need to be able to turn. If your jeep hardly ever sees any off-road adventures then just forget about your “problem” seeing as tho it isn’t really a problem but a factory choice of components.
I have a 1995 jeep wrangler 5 speed I just put 30×9.50×15 on it stock everything it fits fine but one thing I’d like to do is lift it and maybe kick the tires outside the fenders…I heard putting spacers on the wheels to kick em out was bad news what do you think? Also I only wanted to lift it about 2-3 inches and have thought a lot about body lift but I don’t no what else I would have to add like brake lines steering extensions etc. I heard of a trick where I put the leaf springs on top of the axle instead of underneath like to hear yer though on it…and it can be a rough ride off road as you can imagine with stock but can I add a suspension lift with leaf springs? Thanks for your time
Just bought 2012 Jeep, with 3″ lift, 33″ tires. Looks great and handles very well on highway. Took it to South Lake Tahoe and was a fantastic experience. Still, temperamental steering though, but you get used to it. Now I wouldn’t change anything. Also, 3″ lift doesn’t require additional changes to all sorts of stuff underneath. Tore out two undercarriages on vehichles on trails (not off roading) but on the way to hiking trail heads in Cave Creek AZ, and now the clearance is great.
Robert, have an alignment shop check out your caster settings on your front axle. Not sure of the tempermental problems but if your have bump steer, when you hit a small bump the steering wheels jerks, you MAY be able to adjust the caster with some cam bolts. Basically, you put them on the lower control arms on the axle side and it will slightly adjust your front axle’s caster settings. I did a trial and error to find the right setting. I pushed the bottom of the front axle towards the front therefore decreasing the caster setting and was able to eliminate all my wobbling problems. Also check your front track bar with wear and ensure the bolts are tight(use lock-tite). There was an article of some lift manufactures giving the wrong size bolt shaft for the trackbar and it allowed the track bar to move VERY slightly (.01″) creating an unfindable slight wobble.
I have a 98 jeep grand cherokee laredo with the 5.2l engine.I have 2 problems with it..#1 is it wanders all over the road and i have to keep correcting it to stay in a straight line..I have checked the whole front end out and nothing is worn or loose.#2 is when im on a bumpy road,it sounds like there is something loose in the front..both on the drivers side and the passengers side. I cant seem to locate the problems and its making me tear my hair out..if anyone can help me i would greatly appreciate it..thanks..Rick
Rick,
I have a similar noise coming from the back of my 98 ZJ .Check the tracking bar bushings. OE are rubber and they wear and break down after awhile. The tracking bars are front and rear and tie one side of the axle to the opposite side body. If you try to push the vehicle sideways at the front or read bumper you may be able to cause the rattle your hearing. I have been told that the bushing cant be replaced,you have to replace the entire track bar but I am not sure I believe that.
i would take your track bar off and check it as its hard to check it when installed and also have your ball joints looked at and if none of thats it redo all your bushings and such i had the same problem with my jeep and it was the track bar and ball joints when you put your track bar back on use lock tite on it.
Lifting just to look better is silly. Your gas mileage will drop, your vehicle will perform worse, your parts will ware out quicker.
Lifting properly is expensive, really expensive. Good lift kit $1500 – $3000. Larger wheels and tires $1500 – $3000, new gearing $500 – $1000, Lockers $800 per axle, larger axles like some D44’s or D60 $2000 – $7000 per axle. New drive shafts $200 – $500 each. Then add the cost to install it all if you don’t know how to do it yourself….
I’m going with a small 4.5″ Lift on a 99WJ yet I’m planning on spending more than I did for the vehicle itself in parts. $1500 on a Iron Rock Off Road lift, $1100 for a set of 33″ rubber on some Rubicon 17″ rims, $800 Front ARB Locker, $389 for a Tom Woods rear drive shaft, $299 for a front drive shaft add another $600 for 4.10 gears and quite honestly even though I’m spending nearly $5000 on lifting this Jeep it’s still nothing badass. To build something really wicked I’d have to drop another $5000 into it.
Well sir some would say putting more money in a vehichle than it is worth is silly, that being said I think you are the type person to have a good time and if it tears up fix it. However, I do want to look good in my 2012 Jeep JK Wrangler and hope to be the envy of the neighborhood. Will be going on some muddy terrain to get where I need to go but the fun for me is the rock climbing experience when I get there. I have read others having clearance issues and am hoping the 4″ kit and 33″ tires will be the right fit for me.
06 Rubicon Unlimited, I’m limited on 4×4 shops to ask and try to read Q/A’s. .I’d like to try and run a set of 33″ tires on stock rims, maybe 10 inches wide, would a Old Man EMU 2 1/2 coil spring and shocks get me by without any issues? Mostly road, or trail driving, I’m not into tearing anything up. Thanks ( I realize you get asked the same questions)
Roger-Old Man EMU has been around for awhile now and is a decent kit. While the springs may or may not affect the ride quality (harsher or softer). With 33’s on the road and easy trail riding should not be problem. You will have to adjust your steering stops which is really easy but that may not be enough to eliminate your tires from rubbing on the frame at full turns. You could also go for a budget boost which are spacers that fit between your factory springs and the top spring perch to achieve the lift you are looking for. I have installed quite a few of the budget boosts for ZJ’s/TJ’s and XJ’s. The XJ’s are a little different because of the leaf springs in the rear but work the same.
I have an 2003 wrangler sport. I’m running the rough country 3.25 lift. I was looking to go a little bit bigger and thought about throwing a 2 inch spacer above my springs. My question is, will I need to mess around with my control arms and track bars to make this work?
I was looking into doing the $500 rough country 4 inch lift for my 2000 TJ i was wondering how you liked your lift and what exactly you had done when you installed the lift? would you recommended the 3.25 lift? what size tires do you have on? How much did it cost you?
Brandon-running anything above 4″ total can cause some serious driveline issues. There are some that have ran 5.25″ of lift with no issues but I believe you may have some issues. Remember when you lift that high, your axles twist upwards and forward. You MAY end up having to get adjustable control arms and definately adjustable trackbars. If you are needing to go that high, research everything you may need such as SYE, extended driveshafts, etc. Do some serious research.
i would appreciate some experienced feedback on a quality lift kit and the make
i am planning to add a lift onto my 2008 rubicon 4 door
there are so many kits out there, unreal..
thanks
nicolas
I just bought a 2012 jeep wrangler unlimited Rubicon. I have been told that with a 3 1/2″ lift the transfer will stay in line and shouldn’t have any vibration. Is this true??
Ron-no experience with the 2012 JKU’s yet but I did put on a 4″ teraflex on a 2010 JKU. No issues with his JKU but each jeep responds differently.
Any suggestions on front sway bar disconnects? How about a steering stabilizer? I have a two inch suspension lift (pucks) and a 1 inch body lift. I should have done a two in body lift while I was at it… I’m running 31s. Looking to swap out for 33s.
Buzz-There are a variety of different disco’s that require no disconnect to like some that don’t run front sway bars. I am sort of a cheap skate and looked at price as a motivator. Check out Rough Country’s disco’s. I have them on my wifes TJ and she loves how easy it is to disconnect and reconnect.
Depending what you do with your Jeep (trails, mud, rocks) will determine if the 33’s will work with your 3 inches of lift. Wife has 3.5 inches on her TJ and since I extended her bumpstops in the front we get MOSTLY minor tire rubbing into the fender. That being said, we have pushed up the fenders a bit on the outside edge still. But we are living with that since I’m a believer in LCG(low center of gravity) so we a content.
hey there so i have a 94 jeep yj 4 cyl 2.5 i want to do a lift on it but dont want to have to change much like drive shafts slip yokes brake line extentions ect i have heard that jeeps can be lifted to 4 inch with out haveing to change anything just bolt on and go im more thinking of the 3-3.5 inch lift any imput would be appreciated thankss also will be keeping my r15 wheels no big honkers going on
hey i have a 94 yj bone stock 16 inch duratrac goodyear tires 2.5 l inline 4 cyl i am looking at a 4 inch rough country lift with everything needed in the kit has t case drop and wedges on the rear leafs will that be ok for drive shaft angle? i dont want no vibes also with a 4 inch lift will the rear drive shaft be long enough or will i need a new one ? last question will i get death wobble and will the relocation brackets be good enough for 4 inch drop for the brake lines if you could help it would be appreciated thankss
Hello.
I am hoping you can assist me with my 2000 WJ. It is currently stock and I plan on lifted her close to 4″. I was looking at the OME 3.5″ lift and run between 31-33″ tires on stock 16 rims. Eventually I will replace the front bumper with the Iceland Off-road winch bumper. Everything I to read says I “should” be ok. The question is, what else will I need after purchasing the lift aside from the above and longer brake lines? If you can offer some insight I would greatly appreciate it.
I have a 1999 WJ with Clayton 4.5″ Long Arm with 32/33″ tires that I have had good luck with. Recent non suspension related problems have made me want to start over. Recently bought 2001 and am thinking about a 3″ +/- lift using the short arms–probably change to adjustable arms. We tow the Jeep and travel a lot so offroading is about 25% of driving. I would be interested in what you find out and decide to do. Our offroading has mainly been Easter Jeep Safari and the Clayton handles their 5 to 6 rated difficulty trails easily. Not sure about 5’s with short arm 3″ lift.
Will take me a while to trade all the parts to the ’01—-Good luck with your project. Keep me posted if you want. Thanks
if you dont mind me asking how much did you spend on it all? and what add ons did you need just for the 4.5 inch lift?
I have a 01 jeep wrangler running 33’s.. straight stock.. with upgraded bump stops it can crawl fine and highway is fine.. but it drifts randomly on yhe highway to the left and right.. its awkward..it doesn’t rub at all.. extremely bumpy and extremely uncontrollable on rough terrain at speeds above 10mph.. lifting because I already have replaced bending axles.. lifting with a rubicon ex. 3.5in superflex system… will I need a new rear driveshaft?? its 3.5 in the front and 2.5 in the rear.. comes with all needed parts..
btw. its a 01 sport. k&n cold air with banks turbo. chipped. banks offroad exaust. 16×12 5inch backspace. 33x12x16.
I have a 2000 cherokee sport. It is a daily driver and occasional off road vehichle. Its stock ride height is extremley low and rubs my tires when I hit bumps. I am thinking of putting a 4.5 inch suspension lift on it. I wanted a rough country but now am starting to lean towards terra flex because I hear it rides better. What all would I have to replace in extra parts besides the lift just to keep it running in good order. I wanted a 6 but everyone says not to because the amount of extra replacement parts is not worth it. Especially a daily driver.. Let me know what you think and my budget is around 800.. give me feedback and comments on what you prefer and let me know if im headed down the smart path thanks!!!
So I’m thinking of getting a ’97 jeep wrangler. I was wondering what I’d need to do to lift it. I have no plans on taking it on off road trips on a daily basis, frankly even on a monthly basis. I live in Newport Beach California, so there really aren’t many places to take it out to other than the desert. Anyway, what would be some sick rims/tires to put on for some daily driving and very very rarely out in the sand (once in a year), and a lift kit that would be decent enough to put in some wheels that would make my jeep a bit taller than most stock jeeps. Also, how would I get my car lifted? I have no idea how to install any of that….
P.S.
Can someone please tell me what rims this person has on his car.
LINK: http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/cto/2825183655.html
I kinda want my car to look like this, so whats the needed setup
Im looking to do a 2.5 (33 tires) or 3.5 (35 tires) lift on my 4 door jeep. I don’t plan on taking it off road much. My biggest concern is that I don’t want to have to climb in the jeep. Do you know how much these would lift the jeep off the ground? I’m only 5.6. Any suggestions???
I have the 2.5 in lift with 35’s on a 2010 JK unlimited. I have to do a small hop to get in. I’m 5’10. 33’s should fit keep you from jumping
I just got my 92 jeep wrangler about 2 months ago. I was thinking about getting a 2-3 inch body lift. Will this do any other damage to my jeep?
Shouldn’t but make sure you buy a whole kit. PB blast all your body bolts prior to starting.
I got a 2011 four door wrangler it’s a rubicon so it has 32 inch tires and a 2inch lift kit I did all my homework and I wanted 36 tires with a four inch lift I’m throwing a lot of money into it to it totals up to 5000 so it’s good stuff my parents “recommend” no because I only drive on high way sometimes off road so they say it will make my jeep more noisy in the inside and not as smooth and a big difference help soon please
Rubicon springs do not have additional “lift” just a higher spring rate meaning that they do not sag as much with the weight.
Finding 36 inch tires usually mean you are going with extreme mud tires like Thornbird’s or similiar. MOST people stick with common sizes of tires for affordablility/availability(33/35/37’s). Road noise in the cabin of the Jeep depend on the tire. Extreme mud tires howl like crazy on the road and wear significally on the road. You also have to think of the driveability of your tires in wet weather and snow. Most mud tires do not like water and have less traction in snow on the road. Do more research on your tires. Since you are driving mostly on the street, extreme mud tires have a high ply rate that make driving on the street almost unbearable.
Having 4 inches of lift is good for up to 40 inch tires if you keep your flex down or get higher fenders.
Something else to think about is gearing. I have 35″ Goodyear MT/R’s on 2″ of lift and 3.73 gears. I rarely get to use my 6th gear. I plan on upgrading to 4.88’s to get power back on the road.
Hate to say this but research what others are using and doing to find what works and what doesn’t work.
i have a 91 cherokee sport with the part time 4×4 with a 4 inch fabtech suspension lift on it and im running 33-10.5 15s on it and it drives fine it drives like a lifted truck but i had somone tell me to remove my sway bares for more articulation and it worked i can do things i shouldnt be able to do but i dont feel to safe on the road due to the swaying when i turn i see pavment out my side window what should i do to keep the same articulation but without the swaying?
Not safe just removing the sway bars. Instead buy some sway bar quick disconnects. This allows you to run with sway bars on the street and you can disconnect them when you go offroading.
I have a 2012 Liberty, I asked the guy at the dealership to quote me a price and he laughed saying no one has asked to lift that car. I can only go 2″ (without voiding the warranty) any thoughts on a good brand? And what size tires can I get with that? Right now I have the stock 16s
I did a quick google search on lift kits for your 2012 and the only thing I could find was a leveling kit.
http://www.autoaccessoriesgarage.com/Suspension/Daystar-Comfort-Ride-Lift-Leveling-Kit
I by no means represent or work for the above link. Just a good description of the components and explanation of the kit.
Normally, not always, you can go up one or two sizes without affecting too much drivability issues.
I have a 2012 4 door wrangler unlimited and am looking to do about a 3″ – 2.5″ lift nothing crazy just want some fun offroading but it is also my daily driver Iam also looking at updating my tires. Any help or suggestions would be a great help
Hey Jonathan, I have an 09 JKU and I added a 2″ Skyjacker lift and 33″ x 12.5″ Dick Cepek Mud Country tires and love the look. Not the monster truck-like look of 35″ tires like my friend’s, but just enough to set yourself apart from the growing masses of JKs on the road. The ride is the same, the mileage is a little down, and the road noise is minimal…I actually like the hum on the highway. Don’t wait a year like I did, asking for everyone’s opinions, just do it now and enjoy the ride!
I have a 2008 JK wrangler with 31 inch tires. I’m new to all of this jeeptalk and don’t know much about cars in general… but I’m trying my best to get into it! so my question is this: are my 31″ tires too small to get a 1 inch body lift? I want to retain my mileage but start to get my jeep to look more “official.” If a lift would make my tires look puny, what mods should i get that won’t break the bank? I’m not looking to do any really difficult offroading, just riding some medium difficulty trails every once in a while. Thanks for the help!
Hi Garrett…you can see my set up in the post above your’s under “Joe”. Yes, your 31″ tires are too small, especially if they have the smooth highway tread. If you want to keep them, a 1″ lift will not make them look smaller IMO, but you might want to upgrade to a more capable 32″ like what runs on the stock Rubicons…or a set of BFG KM2s. These will give you a great look. If you also want to make your Jeep look like it’s bigger than it really is, consider chopping your front bumper to make it a stubby…you’ll show off more front tire giving it an aggressive look. Personally though, I’d go with a 2″ lift and a set of aggressive looking 33s.
I have a 2000 Sahara and i’m debating between 6in long arm with 35s or a 4in lift with 33s. I do a lot of on road traveling but some light trails every now and then. Shooting to make this a very capable jeep off road and in the snow during the winter, but still want to keep it practical for all the on road driving…
I would stick with the 4in with 33’s. My wife has 4 inch long arm kit and 33’s, and a buddy now has 6 inch long arm with 37’s. Her jeep is daily driver, his sits in garage. Even with just 33’s, it can be very capable. SNOW driving…I have no advice for you on that one. I personally hate off-roading in the snow but that is due to others mistakes and me having to help dig them out.
From what I’ve read, good/wide tires help in the snow. Air them down some to acheive maximum traction.
I got my son a 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee. He really wants to put a lift kit on it and get new tires. I don’t want to spend alot of money and I think he wants it so he looks cool not too much for off road use. Any suggestions??
I would go with a budget lift which are just spring spacers, shocks and tires then. While the springs are off, just repaint them so they look new(er) and it looks like you put a lift on. Stay under 2 inches of spacer and you should be good to go.
I have a 1993 Wrangler YJ with a 2.5 litre. Recently had the Rough Country 4″ lift and M/T 33″ installed. I really am pleased with the lift. I would recommend it highly to anyone who asked. The ride is greatly improved over stock. Handling is great also. Now I have got to order my 5.88 gears for front and rear.
5.88’s? Crap, I am planning on running 37’s and only need 4.88’s ir 5.13’s. Unless you plan on never running on the road/highway…’eh to each their own. IMO, overkill but oh well.
I lifted mein 2001 Jeep Cherokie with a 3″ lyft kit this summer und it rydes very weil. Das ist un gut Jeep Lyft klautenhammer.
I got a stock 2005 jeep liberty 4 cylinder 6 speed manual. I am interested in taking it onto the rubicon but don’t known enough yet to make the decision on what I need to modify on it if anything. If i do need to modify, what do I modify? How cheap can it be? And how can I keep from loosing as much power as possible? I would like to still be able to drive it on road/highways even after modification. What do I need?
I have got a 2005 jeep liberty 4 cylinder 6 speed manual. It is trail rated (not sure entirely what that means) but I would like to be able to take it on the rubicon. I’m am not sure what modification it would need to be able to do it. Yet I would still like to be able have some horsepower for on the road/highway, what do I need? How cheap can it be? And how much power will I loose with these modifications?
Hey Orion you are looking at alot of money to do the upgrades that you would need. First is if you will need to lift it even for cheap 3 in lifts “and the quality is horrible” at least $800 with install. You will need better bigger tires. Not sure how much clearence you will have but it wont clear more than 31s. For a decent pair cost probably round $800 give or take $200 You will lose a bunch of power though due to the bigger tires. You could add a cold air intake for minimal hp gains $150 -$250. Is the jeep 4×4? Trail rated is a suspension tuning just like when you see S on cars. If you wanted to you could regear your axels/differential to make up for the power loss. It will cost you a good bit of money to do all is required it would be more cost effective to buy a used older wrangler and fixing it for what you want to do. Parts for wrangler are normally cheaper. Hope this helps. Matt
Have a few questions for all the experts. I used to own a 03 wrangler with 31.5’s and no lift. I had it 3 years and then sold it. I have now jumped back in and bought another jeep. 2011 jk with 6 in lift and 35’s. I knew handling was going to be different, but it seems like it over-steers easily. I am not one that plans on going offroad a lot, but 4-5 times a year. It is a daily driver and looks awesome, but was wandering if downsizing tires would help with handling or would that change the gears? Any ideas or suggestions welcome.
I have a 2014 Patriot I am a girl who likes things decked out and one of the things I was looking into was a lift not a big one. My jeep would look too ridiculous. What’s some oppinions on the best way to go, lift kit, tires etc. I do offroad most of the summer nothing big but I am from the country and have a long rough dirt road to drive home on daily. So it’s not necessarily just for a highway drive most of the time either. And what is yalls experiences with yalls mpg changing.
I want to lift my 04 JeepCherokee any suggestions on what I should use
I’m buying a 2015 jeep sport unlimited. . I would like about a 3in lift on it. Maybe some 35in tires. What type lift would be best and how much would that impact handleing .. I do mostly road driving but do like going off road at time to time. Thanks
I have a 2000 keep Cherokee sport straight axle in front and i was thinking about doing 3 inch coil spacers in front and 2 inch shackles in back. I want to run 31×10.50 tires with 15×9 rim. Will this effect my driveshaft any at all or put it in a bind?
Great site and informative information.
Just purchased 2012 liberty sport… Everything stocklifts
Im excited about a new “beefy” look but also very inexpierienced with the process/options of lifts.
Wondering if the 2in budget lift will give me the rugged look I’m going for.
Also leaning towards AT tires do to this being my only vehicle mostly hwy and near nothing of off roading.. What size, kind if any tire would you suggest.. Maybe just some nice times same tires?
Also have read a lot about change in how the jeep will ride?? And replacing springs?? Coils??
Please help??!!
I am looking at purchasing a ’01 Jeep Wrangler that currently has an 8″ SFAB Tech 8 point lift on 38’s….looks amazing! This will be my first jeep purchase and i know nothing about them except they are rugged and look awesome. It will be a 2nd vehicle that i will drive around town on beautiful days and maybe take it hunting and trail riding 10% of the time. My parents own some land 2 hours south of my current location and my thoughs are to take it down there from time to time. I am wondering if that is too much jeep for my plans…
Also, what questions should i have for the seller regarding it’s current setup? When i test-drove the jeep, it wobbled really bad while stopping once and i notice the drive-shaft had been removed. The seller mentioned that he needed to put it back on….is this a red flag?
Thanks,
Eric
Dear Sir, I have a 02 wrangler X. I have had several jeeps and never lifted one, but have always wanted a small lift. I am a little tail and 2″ seemed simple enough and I could turn right into the seat. I got on a computer and thought I researched me ideas. I finally decided to go with new springs instead of spacers. I ended up going with a 2.5 rough country lift. This seemed like a better way to go. I installed it myself, because it is my jeep and I want to be proud of what I did. When I finished the rear axle was off set to one side and the front was set to the other side. I went with 2.5 thinking I would not need track bars as so many people had told me. I ended up having to put adj track bar on the front and the rear. I took my jeep to the local lift/alignment/tire shop. They said it all looked good and correct. With my excitement I picked it up and drove it home. I have put several miles on it and found that it drives terrible. It has been back to shop only to drive the same. It has 31″ tires which is enough for me. I had planned on different rims with a wider offset to give more clearance at the spring seats, but can not afford them yet. I am at the point of putting my stock springs back and giving up. Any ideas would be appreciated.
I already have a small 2″ onmy 91xj which I like I plan on going 3.5″ eventually for I don’t want to sit high rather low and wide but I do want to keep a lot of tire drop so I can get all flexed out on the tril I currently have a lot of drop but not enough clearance and am not sure on how to get more wheel drop any advice is appreciated
I bought my wife a 95 Rio yj and want to lift it and put 33’s on it……not a daily driver or off-roader….mainly country roads in summer and snow in winter…need advice
Looking to buy Rubicon mainly roadside and traveling out in the woods some I was thinking about a two and a half inch lift 35 inch tires 17 and a half rim this will be a brand new 2016 should I lift it or should I not
Hey, I have a stock 2010 Jeep Wrangler Sahara that I am looking to fix up. its my daily driver but would like to get best of both worlds (on and off road). How should I go about this, where do I start
Hey, I just bought a 2010 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara. It has everything stock still, runs great. little shake to it but nothing bad. I’m debating on a lift kit. I mainly will just use it for looks ( maybe off road once or twice a year). Everyone I talk to are strongly against any lift kit so I hope you can give me some input. I will purchase 20′ rims (they say thats the best size to go with) running 33’s. I had found a 3″ ZONE OFF ROAD LIFT KIT for 439.99. Is this a good deal too go with? Any other parts you would buy to go with the lift kit or anything im missing? I will be putting the lift on myself so im looking to stick around 1000.00.
Thank you for any help you can give!
Hi, I just change my wheels to 20’s and my tires to 33’s do i need to do something else to get everything right? like leveling or lifting? thank you in advance
I’m new to all of this. I have stock everything on my JK. I’m just looking for a little more lift and better more knobby tires. I was wondering if anyone has any input on this I was also wondering which would be the way to go tires first or lifting?
Hi, I have a jeep Cherokee Kk 2010 3.7 v6 is it worth putting in a 2inch lift kit?
I have a 2004 Jeep Wrangler – I added 32’s and when I turn corners it makes a rubbing sound. Should I lift it? I want a 2″ lift as my Jeep is mainly for work but I want to take it to the beach. Any Suggestions on what I should do?
I have a 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee and was wanting to lift it up maybe 2-4 inches . Any ideas on the best way to do that? I use it as an everyday driver , some trails here and there . I appreciate it any information and feedback!
I’m about to look at buying A 2004 Jeep ribcon it’s already lifteswith a 6 inch rc lift with 35” tires it has all kinds of mods and listed them all I don’t plan on going off road I just love the look.. and I’ve always wanted a Jeep!! And it doesn’t look like he went cheap on anything.. my question is what should I look for when I test drive it .. cause he uses it for his daily driver.. or me know..
I have a 2017 jku and I wanted to do either a 2/2.5 inch leveling kit or a 2.5 inch lift kit. The leveling kit seems like it is cheaper and won’t affect performance too much. I don’t plan to off-road very much as it is my daily driver.
I have a 2003 jeep grand cherokee, she has a 4.7 in her. I would like to lift it 3 in, but idk where to start. I’ve recently replaced tie rods, sway bars, and balls joints and the steering stabilizer. What kind of lift should I be looking at and what other things/parts should I be expecting to fix?