Guilt trip from a 4x4 Shop

[MrWind]

Hello all, I'm at a loss on what to do...
been trying to lift my 19 JLU Sahara, to put 35's. After some research here and there, ordered a spacer kit from terraflex, without shocks.
I wanted to do it myself but I won't find the time...
so I went to a shop nearby to ask them if they would mount it ....they told me they took $140/hour and that it was anyway insane...and that I should (of course) put one of their lift kits for a amicable price of $3000 so that it would keep the drive comfort
I don't do any trails, it's a daily drive and I want it to ride smoothly...

so...are the spacer kits that bad? who should I go to to get that kit installed, or is it really a killer and I shouldn't...

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[MountainRigged]

Nah they're just trying to fool you because they probably understand that you aren't confident in what you bought.

A spacer lift is plenty. Teraflex is a good company overall.

Make a post about asking nearby jeep owners, and likely someone will assist you with the install.

 

[autotragic]

Hello all, I'm at a loss on what to do...
been trying to lift my 19 JLU Sahara, to put 35's. After some research here and there, ordered a spacer kit from terraflex, without shocks.
I wanted to do it myself but I won't find the time...
so I went to a shop nearby to ask them if they would mount it ....they told me they took $140/hour and that it was anyway insane...and that I should (of course) put one of their lift kits for a amicable price of $3000 so that it would keep the drive comfort
I don't do any trails, it's a daily drive and I want it to ride smoothly...

so...are the spacer kits that bad? who should I go to to get that kit installed, or is it really a killer and I shouldn't...

This is one of those situations where you should be giving the name of the shop so nobody else waste their time with them.

 

[NWJeepr]

IMO, a spacer kit is half-assing it. You're stretching stock suspension geometry for appearance to the detriment of ride quality.

$140/hr is a labor rate which encompasses the knowledge, skill, tools, facility, and staff required to magically work on your Jeep, for you. If that's offensive, perhaps work on it yourself.

A lift should involve replacing springs with better ones. Same for shocks. Plus brackets and other corrections for geometry to preserve ride quality when increasing capability substantially. What does a good suspension lift go for these days? I paid AEV over $2k for my lift on my JK and that was 10 years ago -- and worth every penny.

Put in a puck lift, nobody cares, but don't complain that someone gave you good advice or offered to put in something better, professionally.

 

[travis304]

From a fmr mechanic, who once worked on the YouTube fleet vehicles for a certain, very well-known jeep parts company in Pennsylvania that most of you probably shop at:

Spacers 1.5” or less are generally "OK" with OEM components for on-road driving. You’ll want shocks soon after you install spacers. But for the lift alone, nothing else is strictly, immediately necessary.

However: As soon as you put on 35’s, you’re going to find out how inadequate OEM components are. With that much unsprung weight, coupled with the lift, you're going to experience factory ball joint failure pretty quickly. Don't be surprised if you notice them clicking at standing turns immediately after you install those tires. OEM linkages and their bearings and bushings are also inadequate for 35" tires.

This is a case wherein the lift is fine, but the tires are not. Yes, even for mild highway driving. Others might chime in and tell you they, "installed 35" tires and it seems fine!" Respectfully, those folks have nary a clue what they're doing to their Jeeps, nor do they crawl under their Jeeps and do their own work -- until they suffer their first instance of death wobble a few thousand miles later.

To safely, comfortably roll around on 35" with a mild lift, you absolutely should install:

• MOPAR LCAs for caster
• Bigger, adjustable track bars
• Longer, thicker sway links
• Upgraded draglink
• Upgraded tie rods
• Upgraded ball joints
• Upgraded shocks

For the highway, OEM control arms will hold up. But if you decide to go off-road or articulate often, you should also get adjustable arms. Upper and lower.

And the part nobody wants to hear but is absolutely true: Re-gearing. For 35", 4.56 is appropriate for highway driving.

Although I'll say NWJeeper is incorrect on that labor rate. $140 is high, period.

 

[Shibadog]

Based on the OP’s comment this is for “the look” only. Know that everything you do is a compromise. As a general rule the more “off road” you make it, the less “on road” it becomes. Your nickel, just know there is no free lunch

 

[AC77]

Hello all, I'm at a loss on what to do...
been trying to lift my 19 JLU Sahara, to put 35's. After some research here and there, ordered a spacer kit from terraflex, without shocks.
I wanted to do it myself but I won't find the time...
so I went to a shop nearby to ask them if they would mount it ....they told me they took $140/hour and that it was anyway insane...and that I should (of course) put one of their lift kits for a amicable price of $3000 so that it would keep the drive comfort
I don't do any trails, it's a daily drive and I want it to ride smoothly...

so...are the spacer kits that bad? who should I go to to get that kit installed, or is it really a killer and I shouldn't...

Don’t listen to that bs. I have had the teraflex spacer lift for a while now and the ride has not changed. At all ! Factory ride and feel.

 

[bjm00se]

In general, it's a bad idea to purchase parts online and take them to a shop to install.

If there's a problem, the shop will say: "You brought us bad parts" and if you contact the manufacturer, they will say: "the installation was faulty."

Professional installation is for folks who've got the coin. If you've got the coin, go to a shop you trust, then listen to their advice, and use parts they source for you. If they're a good shop, they should also be listening to your needs, and be making a recommendation on appropriate parts. (Which does include "spacer lifts" for some use cases, IMO)

Conversely, if you're trying to pinch a penny, either leave your Jeep stock, or learn to wrench on your own junk.

It's important to realize that once you've started down the path of modification, there's a potentially endless chain of mess-ups and unintended consequences. You have to be OK with that, learning and correcting and improving as you go.

Once you're OK with that, then you're mentally on the right path to learn to do your own work.

This is also why Old Jeeps exist. You can buy one, leave it in your garage or driveway, work on it, learn while doing, and try out your work at leisure. Then if you mess up or damage it on the trails, it's OK. You can drive your "daily" to work on Monday.

 

[azwjowner]

Don’t listen to that bs. I have had the teraflex spacer lift for a while now and the ride has not changed. At all ! Factory ride and feel.

As long as the spacer kit includes spacers for the shocks, and longer control arms, ride quality should be unchanged. 95 percent of lifted Jeeps should be on spacers. The only reason for a full lift kit is if you need more articulation.

 

[AC77]

As long as the spacer kit includes spacers for the shocks, and longer control arms, ride quality should be unchanged. 95 percent of lifted Jeeps should be on spacers. The only reason for a full lift kit is if you need more articulation.

Good to know and even with a level kit ? Need longer control arms ?
I’ve been looking at the AEV spacer lift. But it doesn’t mention anything about installing longer LCA like a minimum a mopar lca
I’ve tried calling them multiple times and can never get through to a live person

 

[Pig-Pen]

Ive installed spacer lifts on a couple sports on 35s that are street driven and they been fine for a few years now. I hear more issues from people with real lift kits lol.

there are shops that will sell and install a spacer lift if you want. Any mechanic can install a basic spacer lift for you. Or the dealership. Beats paying $$$$$$ for something you dont need.

spacer lift is an easy install. Watch some youtube videos. Do it youself. Save $ and be sure it was done right.

 

[azwjowner]

Good to know and even with a level kit ? Need longer control arms ?
I’ve been looking at the AEV spacer lift. But it doesn’t mention anything about installing longer LCA like a minimum a mopar lca
I’ve tried calling them multiple times and can never get through to a live person

The AEV kit is top quality. You can get away without longer control arms but I would add them. Probably the Mopar ones that are 1/4” longer, as they only cost $70. Otherwise AEV also has a geometry correction bracket to use with the stock arms that is even better, but expensive: https://www.aev-conversions.com/product/jl-geometry-correction-brackets/

 

[AC77]

The AEV kit is top quality. You can get away without longer control arms but I would add them. Probably the Mopar ones that are 1/4” longer, as they only cost $70. Otherwise AEV also has a geometry correction bracket to use with the stock arms that is even better, but expensive: https://www.aev-conversions.com/product/jl-geometry-correction-brackets/

That’s a lot of fabrication from AEV compared to the Mopar lca which is $70~ for the pair and would do the same …. You know what I mean

 

[Pig-Pen]

I have dynatrac 2” lift kit and .5” spacers. Im running mopar lcas. It drives pretty good but i plan on upgrading the lcas eventually. For 2” or less, i think mopar is sufficient. Even at my 2.5” its fine, but i think it could be better. But im in no hurry. Ive got other parts higher on the want list.

 

[AC77]

Also thinking ( I like to experiment )
AEV spacer lift with Mopar LCA’s and 392 shocks

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