Lift Questions

[STLYoungblood]

I'm hoping to get some opinions here from you experts! I'm a first time wrangler owner with a JLU Sport S. I have it mainly for daily driving and reliability in iffy weather, but I wouldn't mind getting into some mudding or mild off-roading. Basically, a fun vehicle to take the doors and top off and drive around with the family, and if that happens to be off road, so be it.

I've never lifted a vehicle before, and I'd mainly do it for the improved look of the vehicle, probably in the 2-2.5" range, with some slightly larger tires, maybe like 33-35's. What I'd like to know is, with this being a daily driver, what should I be looking for? I don't want to make it a terrible ride on highways, or limit my speed below 70 like I've seen some say. I also don't want to make fuel economy a ton worse than where it is today. I'm willing to sacrifice in both areas a bit, but nothing drastic.

Is my desire of 2-2.5" feasible with the above considerations? Are there certain kits that I should be eyeing that give me the flexibility off road but also with daily driving in mind? I see some kits that seem like they would work in the 5-700 buck range, but then I see the Mopar kit at like 1750 and wondering what I'm missing there. Any notes would certainly help me to learn!
Thanks, STL

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[Jeepsk8]

The more parts in the kits the more money involved. That said, and I really hate to recommend it, you could be best suited with a "budget boost" which is nothing more than spring spacers and maybe shock mount extenders. I don't like them, but I'm inclined rock crawl my rig, so I build for that. A budget boost retains the factory ride but does slightly increase your center of gravity. That increase in height might affect your mpg a little, or it might not. No sense in throwing $2k worth of lift kit at the Jeep if it isn't going to be used.

 

[Sting_NC_USA]

Jeepsk8 nailed it. The budget boost option will give you a very similar ride to that which you're getting now, with an added benefit of fitting a larger wheel/tire set. As you ease into it, you're not locked since you can upgrade shocks and springs later, then decide if you need more after that.

I selected the Rubicon Express kit from 4Wheel Parts and couldn't be happier. Anything above a 35-inch tire will slow acceleration when in your overdrive gear, though an automatic transmission should downshift. I drive a manual, and have to drop it down into 5th (sometimes 4th) on larger inclines.

You won't be disappointed, and the price-point allows you to test without killing future options. Go for it... you'll be glad you did.

 

[Jeepsk8]

The Rough Country 2.5" is $180, The Rubicon Express 3" is $299.99 at Extreme Terrain. They are similar kits, the exception is RC provides longer sway bar end links, the RE kit drops the front sway bar using brackets. The RC kit is used by lots of people on this forum. Shoot, for the price I might do this as a temporary lift until I can afford the Rock Krawler X Factor kit I want, lol.

 

[Pressurized]

The primary reason the Mopar is so much more expensive is that it includes a set of the very good Fox Shocks for the JL. If they are $150 each, there's $600. These aren't available any other way, YET. We can probably buy them in a month or 2....

I'll throw out that their is a spring kit for not much more than a budget boost that is a pretty good starting point to a more complex build if you ever want to go there. This Superlift kit does Springs, sway bar links, bump stops, etc. But it uses shock extensions like the budget boost to keep cost down. And just like the budget boost, you can remove the shock extensions and put on a set of premium shocks any time you want to.

Just another option and nice for $399.

https://www.superlift.com/suspension-kits/lift-kits/jeep/wrangler-jl-unlimited

 

[STLYoungblood]

Thank you everyone.

@Pressurized is the reason that's a good entry into more intricate options based on the sway bar options it comes with?

 

[Pressurized]

Thank you everyone.

@Pressurized is the reason that's a good entry into more intricate options based on the sway bar options it comes with?

Mainly because it includes springs instead of spacers... But it does correct both sway bars which is very nice.

 

[Silverblkrilla]

My needs/wants are similar and here is a lift I just started eyeing. It's a 2" by Daystar and they are known for thier spacer lift/level kits. This kit reads as lift and level but it's actually a consistent 2" of lift on each corner according to their tech team. I believe they may edit the info to reflect the forementioned.

http://www.daystarweb.com/productdetail.php?productID=1586

It has everything I feel I'll need except for updated shocks. For shocks I'm looking at the Falcons by Teraflex and waiting on the Fox's for comparison.
Not a fan of shock extensions. With coils being different lengths and spring rates on the JL I want to keep the stock coils for now until like 10 years from now when I go crazy with it and leave it at our cabin in Colorado.
This kit also has set control arms like factory and the Mopar kit so no need to adjust them or check them often. The bushings are part Kevlar and the ride is more geared toward city driving and not rock flexing.

Will this kit do well off-roading? Yeah for majority of the current jeep community and I'd take it up the jeep trails we travel around our home in N.TX/OK or at our family cabin in Lake City, CO.

You can go with Rough Country but you'll lose some rake (front lift is higher then rear lift to level the jeep) which effects MPG slightly and if you want to add lower control arms to improve caster you are looking at another 200-300 bucks on top of the 190 spent. So you might end up spending a little more (like 20-30 bucks) but not much. You don't have to get LCA's but they can help improve the ride and handling. Adjustable arms can be nice if you plan on changing things down the road or want to tune the ride a little more for your liking. I'm also adding JKS Swaybar Quickdisconnects for around $160. These will allow me to disconnect the sway bars without a tool for a little extra flex when needed. With members coupons I'm looking at spending $1000 for everything.

If you just want the look and don't want to spend the cash then get the Rough Country spacer and add parts as you go. I'm way far from an expert but I like to deeply investigate where I spend my money.

I'm basically building a similar kit to the Mopar kit minus the questionable coils and adding swaybar disconnects for 500$ less.

 

[BaldEagle]

My needs/wants are similar and here is a lift I just started eyeing. It's a 2" by Daystar and they are known for thier spacer lift/level kits. This kit reads as lift and level but it's actually a consistent 2" of lift on each corner according to their tech team. I believe they may edit the info to reflect the forementioned.

http://www.daystarweb.com/productdetail.php?productID=1586

It has everything I feel I'll need except for updated shocks. For shocks I'm looking at the Falcons by Teraflex and waiting on the Fox's for comparison.
Not a fan of shock extensions. With coils being different lengths and spring rates on the JL I want to keep the stock coils for now until like 10 years from now when I go crazy with it and leave it at our cabin in Colorado.
This kit also has set control arms like factory and the Mopar kit so no need to adjust them or check them often. The bushings are part Kevlar and the ride is more geared toward city driving and not rock flexing.

Will this kit do well off-roading? Yeah for majority of the current jeep community and I'd take it up the jeep trails we travel around our home in N.TX/OK or at our family cabin in Lake City, CO.

You can go with Rough Country but you'll lose some rake (front lift is higher then rear lift to level the jeep) which effects MPG slightly and if you want to add lower control arms to improve caster you are looking at another 200-300 bucks on top of the 190 spent. So you might end up spending a little more (like 20-30 bucks) but not much. You don't have to get LCA's but they can help improve the ride and handling. Adjustable arms can be nice if you plan on changing things down the road or want to tune the ride a little more for your liking. I'm also adding JKS Swaybar Quickdisconnects for around $160. These will allow me to disconnect the sway bars without a tool for a little extra flex when needed. With members coupons I'm looking at spending $1000 for everything.

If you just want the look and don't want to spend the cash then get the Rough Country spacer and add parts as you go. I'm way far from an expert but I like to deeply investigate where I spend my money.

I'm basically building a similar kit to the Mopar kit minus the questionable coils and adding swaybar disconnects for 600-1000$ less.

Pls explain

 

[Silverblkrilla]

Pls explain

Not sure what you are asking? What do you need explained? I'm far from a pro. I was off on my price hadn't looked up the Mopar kit in weeks and I thought I saw an increase in price. The savings is closer to $300-500. If you ditch the quick disconnects it's $450-650.

2" Set up I'm interested in:
$1090 (Lift $340, Shocks $600, Sway QD $150);
Fixed LCA
Bumpstops
Falcon Shocks or Fox Shocks
Sway Bar QuickDisconnects
Coil Spacers
Using OE coil perches
Bushings, Bolts. etc.

2" Mopar kit (Reported as slightly higher, really a 2.5-3" kit):
$1400 (Total kit);
Fixed LCA
Bumpstops
Fox Shocks
Sway Bar Links
Lifted Coils (The only thing I'm not changing because the JL factory coils are tricky; multiple rates and lengths)
Coil perches
Bushings, Bolts. etc.

I basically get a very similar lift to the Mopar but instead of new coils I extend the coils with spacers and don't worry about spring bowing. Is there a new spring perch out for the Mopar kit to correct the bowing? YES, but other company's have released lift coils for the JL without a special perch and they aren't bowing if any and if so its sightly.
I also get swaybar Quickdisconnects since there are no auto swaybar disconnects on sports and saharas. Basically stick hand on sway bar pin and pull it to disconnect. Quick and easy swaybar disconnect without the electronics. Some extra flex.
I want an actual 2" lift not an advertised 2" lift that really gives you 2.5-3" like the Mopar. I want 35's not 37's.
I also get to research and pick my shock preference.
I'd like sightly better bushings, so bushing made with Kevlar are an upgrade to factory.
I don't plan on getting a door ding on my jeep until it's paid off. Will I take it on trails and off-road? YES, but I won't push it. For a mid term (4-6 years) daily driver I feel the set up I mentioned works for a guy who will spend 85-90% on road like most new jeep buyers.

I have 4 wheelers and a lifted ZJ with under 40k miles. I'll tear them up for now.

 

[Silverblkrilla]

Another good choice and one I’m contemplating is a RC 2.5 spacer for $160, Rusty adjustable LCA for $210, and Falcon or Fox Shocks for $600-700. Then add QD sway links and coils later after the aftermarket catches up.

 

[WXman]

For the record, I did the Rough Country 2.5" kit and now I do want some lower control arms in the future. It doesn't drive bad, but it does drive different. I want to play around with caster settings and see if I can make this thing handle better. (It handled like crap from the factory, but the lift makes it a little more noticeable). Also, the ride is more stiff which happens anytime you change control arm geometry. No way around it. You're going to get more force transmitted into the frame, which makes the ride more jarring. That's just a fact of lift kits. Finally, there's more yawl to the Jeep now, since the track bars at both ends run different directions and their geometry is thrown off now too. It makes for a strange feeling for a week or two until you get adjusted to it.

For the money, you can't beat the kit. It's great. But in the future you'll want to upgrade certain things like control arms, track bars, shocks, etc.

 

[Jeepsk8]

For the record, I did the Rough Country 2.5" kit and now I do want some lower control arms in the future. It doesn't drive bad, but it does drive different. I want to play around with caster settings and see if I can make this thing handle better. (It handled like crap from the factory, but the lift makes it a little more noticeable). Also, the ride is more stiff which happens anytime you change control arm geometry. No way around it. You're going to get more force transmitted into the frame, which makes the ride more jarring. That's just a fact of lift kits. Finally, there's more yawl to the Jeep now, since the track bars at both ends run different directions and their geometry is thrown off now too. It makes for a strange feeling for a week or two until you get adjusted to it.

It's these reasons and much better articulation that I want to hold off until I can get a purpose built lift kit that has all the bits to correct this stuff right from the go. I don't like to piece meal a kit, I'm getting too old to be rolling around on the ground more than necessary, lol.

 

[Pressurized]

It's these reasons and much better articulation that I want to hold off until I can get a purpose built lift kit that has all the bits to correct this stuff right from the go. I don't like to piece meal a kit, I'm getting too old to be rolling around on the ground more than necessary, lol.

No need to wait if you're ready to go...

https://www.metalcloak.com/JL-Wrangler-Suspension-Lift-Kit-3-5-RockSport-p/7631.htm

 

[Jeepsk8]

Well, it's not in stock and 3.5" is bigger than I'm looking to go, lol. But thank you anyway

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