Determining "real" suspension height

[darylm74]

I bought a RockCrawler 2.5 inch lift for a diesel but after getting it installed, high clearance fenders and 37's, it definitely seems a lot more than 2.5. I used this as a gauge to determine actual height

https://www.wranglerforum.com/threads/jl-jlu-average-factory-height-diagram.2453097/

I have 15.5 inches vs the 10 7/8 from the measurements listed for axle to spring capture. This seems more like a 4.5 inch lift. I had 2.5 in my old JK and didn't seem that high. After this one, especially after a Crossfit class, I feel like I am climbing up a mountain. Concerns are drivetrain and making sure I have the shafts updated. I also seem to be rubbing slightly in full turn on the driver side against the front lower arms, but not when turning to the passenger side. I have stock rims but 2.5 inch spacers. A couple of pics of my rig.

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[Camaroboi13]

Do you seriously have 2.5” wheel spacers??? ?

Anyway, just by looking at your jeep, it looks like it has a 3” lift with 35.5” tires and higher than factory fenders. I don’t see 4.5” of lift there personally.

 

[AcesandEights]

For anyone thinking about a lift, just take a measurement under the spring and above the spring; axle housing to frame rail for example. Ground to frame rail. After the fact is harder because you don't know the pre-lift measurement.

 

[Roky]

I bought a RockCrawler 2.5 inch lift for a diesel but after getting it installed, high clearance fenders and 37's, it definitely seems a lot more than 2.5. I used this as a gauge to determine actual height

https://www.wranglerforum.com/threads/jl-jlu-average-factory-height-diagram.2453097/

I have 15.5 inches vs the 10 7/8 from the measurements listed for axle to spring capture. This seems more like a 4.5 inch lift. I had 2.5 in my old JK and didn't seem that high. After this one, especially after a Crossfit class, I feel like I am climbing up a mountain. Concerns are drivetrain and making sure I have the shafts updated. I also seem to be rubbing slightly in full turn on the driver side against the front lower arms, but not when turning to the passenger side. I have stock rims but 2.5 inch spacers. A couple of pics of my rig.

Ask on here, or if you know someone with a stock Willys or stop at a dealership and measure from top of the axle to the upper coil housing like in the pic …… then measure yours, the difference is how much lift you actually got………

 

[darylm74]

Do you seriously have 2.5” wheel spacers??? ?

Anyway, just by looking at your jeep, it looks like it has a 3” lift with 35.5” tires and higher than factory fenders. I don’t see 4.5” of lift there personally.

Do you seriously have 2.5” wheel spacers??? ?

Anyway, just by looking at your jeep, it looks like it has a 3” lift with 35.5” tires and higher than factory fenders. I don’t see 4.5” of lift there personally.

I was looking to be sure as I don't remember if I put 2 or 2.5 spacers but needed quite a bit of space to keep the stock wheels and was a lot cheaper. The tires are 37's but technically KO2s are 36.5. I am going to need to find someone with a stock diesel willy's which may be difficult to find to measure exactly but the 10 7/8 was the average according to the link I posted. Per Roky's picture, that is the same measurement I got 15.5.

 

[Westymike]

certain lift heights are based off of a specific models with aftermarket skids, bumpers, sliders installed. Base models with stock parts will sit higher as they are lighter. Just something worth noting…

 

[LazyJL]

The factory shop manuals for TJs and XJs have actual height measurements for the front and rear axles indicated by measuring the distance between the top of the axles to the bottom of the frame.
This provided a baseline for measuring suspension height.
I cannot find the same for JLs, there doesn't seem to be the same baseline measurements available for JLs.
Does anyone know differently?

 

[Camaroboi13]

The tires are 37's but technically KO2s are 36.5.

No sir, technically they are 35.5 ??

 

[darylm74]

No sir, technically they are 35.5 ??

They advertise them as 36.5 but yep, 35.5 according to the Stanley Tape Measure. False Advertising

 

[Camaroboi13]

They advertise them as 36.5 but yep, 35.5 according to the Stanley Tape Measure. False Advertising

That’s one of the reasons I want to go 38s, hopefully I can end up with a real 37” tire.

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