Lift dilemma

[Bambamzx10]

Morning! I’m having a hell of a dilemma with figuring out a lift for my 22’ JLU. I don’t want to go crazy high just something around the popular 2.5”. When I research I’ve seeing a bunch of installing the lift and then changing this and that and it seems like a never ending process. I’m looking for something to install and go. I know budget is a huge part in this but speaking of budget, that’s my dilemma. I’m trying to decide to either go with a lift on my JLU or trade in for a Mojave Gladiator because they’re crazy rebated right now. Can someone please help me out. I don’t know a whole lot about the jeep lift kits as this is my first jeep. TIA pic is my Jeep currently

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[Roky]

Hey Ben,
When you’re researching lifts 2.5” or higher you just need to make sure that they include:

-adjustable front track bar ( this is to keep your axle centered and a bit of preventative maintenance, the stock t.b. isn’t that great)

-rear adjustable track bar, or a track bar relocation bracket ( this is to center the rear axle… the relo bracket raises the t.b. to center the axle and if you were lifting higher would help with roll center but that’s not going to be noticeable at 2.5” lift)

-front lower control arms, or geometry correction/drop brackets ( this is to increase the caster you’ll be losing when you lift)

-longer front sway bar links or some adjustable/quick disconnect ones.

-shocks for 2-3” lift or shock extensions if you want to use your oem shocks ( I don’t recommend that though)

-bump stops

These things will help keep your rigs geometry stay intact which will make it drive/ride a lot better….

Also, this is more critical if you’re doing a coil spring lift because in your sport you’ll likely get a little more lift than advertised. I would recommend to get these things even with a 2.5” spacer lift but since you will be exactly 2.5” after lifting you could get by without the track bars but still recommend everything else…(but again I personally would do all of it with either way you decide to lift it…….

 

[Bambamzx10]

Hey Ben,
When you’re researching lifts 2.5” or higher you just need to make sure that they include:

-adjustable front track bar ( this is to keep your axle centered and a bit of preventative maintenance, the stock t.b. isn’t that great)

-rear adjustable track bar, or a track bar relocation bracket ( this is to center the rear axle… the relo bracket raises the t.b. to center the axle and if you were lifting higher would help with roll center but that’s not going to be noticeable at 2.5” lift)

-front lower control arms, or geometry correction/drop brackets ( this is to increase the caster you’ll be losing when you lift)

-longer front sway bar links or some adjustable/quick disconnect ones.

-shocks for 2-3” lift or shock extensions if you want to use your oem shocks ( I don’t recommend that though)

-bump stops

These things will help keep your rigs geometry stay intact which will make it drive/ride a lot better….

Also, this is more critical if you’re doing a coil spring lift because in your sport you’ll likely get a little more lift than advertised. I would recommend to get these things even with a 2.5” spacer lift but since you will be exactly 2.5” after lifting you could get by without the track bars but still recommend everything else…(but again I personally would do all of it with either way you decide to lift it…….

Thank you Roky, I’ll look into that. Is there a good lift kit that includes all that? I was looking into Clayton because that seems to be a decent lift from what I’ve been reading.

 

[Roky]

Thank you Roky, I’ll look into that. Is there a good lift kit that includes all that? I was looking into Clayton because that seems to be a decent lift from what I’ve been reading.

Sure man, no worries……Clayton is a good lift, I personally only recommend Rock Krawler, Metal Cloak, and Clayton….,I’m not saying any of the other lifts are bad, but they don’t all include what I like to see included…. And some are way to expensive for what they include….I’ll leave that decision up to you, just keep that parts list intact for whatever you choose and you’ll be good….

 

[roaniecowpony]

Metalcloak is also a quality lift. They offer complete lift kits with shocks or you can piece-meal them together.

If you do a bit of reading of the people that have lifted their JLs, you'll find a lot of them experienced shimmy or death wobble after lifting. A lift is less tolerant of any looseness in the balljoints, or other steering components. Balljoints seem to be the component that the OEM has made particularly poorly. Many become loose with very low miles, due to the plastic lining. OEM trackbars and poorly made aftermarket trackbars are a big contributor to this problem as well.

One thing about the kits Roky and I recommended; they will allow you to change springs (and shocks if necessary) to go to a taller lift later, if you decide to go higher for larger tires.

 

[Bambamzx10]

Sure man, no worries……Clayton is a good lift, I personally only recommend Rock Krawler, Metal Cloak, and Clayton….,I’m not saying any of the other lifts are bad, but they don’t all include what I like to see included…. And some are way to expensive for what they include….I’ll leave that decision up to you, just keep that parts list intact for whatever you choose and you’ll be good….

I’m going to look into the other ones you listed!

 

[Bambamzx10]

Metalcloak is also a quality lift. They offer complete lift kits with shocks or you can piece-meal them together.

If you do a bit of reading of the people that have lifted their JLs, you'll find a lot of them experienced shimmy or death wobble after lifting. A lift is less tolerant of any looseness in the balljoints, or other steering components. Balljoints seem to be the component that the OEM has made particularly poorly. Many become loose with very low miles, due to the plastic lining. OEM trackbars and poorly made aftermarket trackbars are a big contributor to this problem as well.

One thing about the kits Roky and I recommended; they will allow you to change springs (and shocks if necessary) to go to a taller lift later, if you decide to go higher for larger tires.

Are there good quality aftermarket ball joints?

 

[roaniecowpony]

Are there good quality aftermarket ball joints?

Great question. Yes, Dynatrac seems to have the best reputation among off-roaders of jeeps. Metalcloak released their balljoints about a year ago now. Both are rebuildable. Both are more expensive than you will have expected.

There are many others. None of which I have any experience with. And none of which I'm aware are rebuildable. And all of which are cheaper than the two above.

 

[BDinTX]

Excellent recommendations thus far. Couple of options for ball joints, personally I ordered Teraflex.

I'm curious why trading your JL for a JT is on the table to begin with. Worst case is you do a bunch of upgrades on your current jeep then still decide to trade it for something else.

 

[roaniecowpony]

... I’ve seeing a bunch of installing the lift and then changing this and that and it seems like a never ending process ....

They change things later because they opted to go for the less expensive route to lift their jeeps initially. Once they find out their bargain lift isn't all they wanted or has issues, they spend more money chasing the performance they should have paid for initially. As you pointed out, these hills are full of such examples. Hence the "buy once, cry once" motto around here.

 

[tomk62]

They change things later because they opted to go for the less expensive route to lift their jeeps initially. Once they find out their bargain lift isn't all they wanted or has issues, they spend more money chasing the performance they should have paid for initially. As you pointed out, these hills are full of such examples. Hence the "buy once, cry once" motto around here.

This is exactly why I went Clayton Overland+ from the get go ... maybe more than I need, but now I am all set and have peace of mind. YMMV.

 

[Bambamzx10]

Great question. Yes, Dynatrac seems to have the best reputation among off-roaders of jeeps. Metalcloak released their balljoints about a year ago now. Both are rebuildable. Both are more expensive than you will have expected.

There are many others. None of which I have any experience with. And none of which I'm aware are rebuildable. And all of which are cheaper than the two above.

Thank you.

 

[Bambamzx10]

Great question. Yes, Dynatrac seems to have the best reputation among off-roaders of jeeps. Metalcloak released their balljoints about a year ago now. Both are rebuildable. Both are more expensive than you will have expected.

There are many others. None of which I have any experience with. And none of which I'm aware are rebuildable. And all of which are cheaper than the two above.

My jaw almost hit the floor when I looked up the price of those ball joints lol

 

[Roky]

My jaw almost hit the floor when I looked up the price of those ball joints lol

lol……. Don’t price the Reid steel knuckle with the dynatracs that some of us have done preemptively and some out of necessity it’s liable to render you catatonic, ?….. the lift rabbit hole runs deep….?

 

[Bambamzx10]

lol……. Don’t price the Reid steel knuckle with the dynatracs that some of us have done preemptively and some out of necessity it’s liable to render you catatonic, ?

It’s nuts to see how much money you can drop just to lift your jeep lol

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