Spacer lift- What else needed?

[ejewels]

Hey guys, so in humbling myself as to what I'll ACTUALLY use my jeep for, I've decided on a spacer lift since I really just do mild offroading with this daily driver but still want some capability if I do more in the future. I'm reading so many conflicting things on other parts needed by just getting a mild spacer lift.

I have a '21 JLU Willys eTorque and softop from factory. (I've since added a hard top and rubi takeoff tires (33" ko2)). Since the willys come with the rubi shocks, do I need anything else like bump stops or anything to fit a 1 -1.5" spacer lift? I know the mopar LCAs help with getting the geometry back, but is even that necessary with a mild lift like this?

Lastly, doesn't anyone even make a 1" kit?! It seems like the teraflex 1.5 is close, but the front on that is 2". Any help appreciated!

Sponsored

 

[GATORB8]

How's your rake with the hard top? The 2 door version of the TF kit is 1" front, 1.5" rear.

If you clear everything now, no reason to bump unless you change/extend the shocks.

You should still have some reasonable downtravel with just the 1".

 

[AcesandEights]

My take on it is you don't need anything else. You determine what you need by what limits you, or breaks. In the case of 33" tires and a spacer lift, you probably won't ever have a need for more. You can enhance what you have by running control arms with joints, or whatever else ends up being an issue, but really, you won't have an issue. Old Man Emu has 10mm spacers, I think, and you can stack them, I think. 20mm is probably about an inch, but that's metric, so who knows with that magic.

 

[ejewels]

awesome, thanks guys. So will I be OK since the willys comes with the rubi shocks and just not the springs? Are these rubi shocks longer than what comes on a sport or sahara? I see some posts on here where sahara or sport owners get told they need bump stops and shock extenders (or new longer shocks) on those trims when they install the teraflex 1.5 kit. Thats why I'm asking.

 

[ejewels]

How's your rake with the hard top? The 2 door version of the TF kit is 1" front, 1.5" rear.

If you clear everything now, no reason to bump unless you change/extend the shocks.

You should still have some reasonable downtravel with just the 1".

I like how she sits now and the rake is slightly less since I added that hard top. But since I did add that hard top and the slightly larger 33's... the wheel wells are looking a tad stuffed IMO. So thats why I'm thinking only 1-1.5".

 

[GATORB8]

awesome, thanks guys. So will I be OK since the willys comes with the rubi shocks and just not the springs? Are these rubi shocks longer than what comes on a sport or sahara? I see some posts on here where sahara or sport owners get told they need bump stops and shock extenders (or new longer shocks) on those trims when they install the teraflex 1.5 kit. Thats why I'm asking.

Yup a little over 2" longer up front, and exactly 2" out back.

It depends where your sitting now how close you'll be getting in downtravel with the 2" spacer in front.

The front Rubi shocks are 23.63" extended, if you put a measuring tape on your front shocks (center of bolt to center of bolt) at your current ride height and add 2" you'll be able to compare.

 

[ejewels]

Yup a little over 2" longer up front, and exactly 2" out back.

It depends where your sitting now how close you'll be getting in downtravel with the 2" spacer in front.

The front Rubi shocks are 23.63" extended, if you put a measuring tape on your front shocks (center of bolt to center of bolt) at your current ride height and add 2" you'll be able to compare.

thanks man. Just to clarify though, I won't go that high in the front. 1.5" max all around. So in that case I definitely be good by what you said here? Also... this is related... why do getting proper lift kits require different backspace wheels... whereas going the spacer route you can use existing stock wheels?

 

[AcesandEights]

Based on tire size. As the tire gets larger, a bigger circle, it no longer fits in the space when turned in or out. Regardless of the size, it mounts to the same place, the middle of the circle is fixed, but the diameter is larger. As the tire is larger, it can rub, not just based on the height of the vehicle, but where the turned tire hits the body. I know it's hard to explain via text, so that may not make a lot of sense without seeing it. Go out to your rig and turn the steering all the way to one side and look at the tire. If the tire was larger it may impact the body, so you push the tire OUT by changing offset/backspace. You raise the vehicle, and push the tire out.

 

[GATORB8]

thanks man. Just to clarify though, I won't go that high in the front. 1.5" max all around. So in that case I definitely be good by what you said here? Also... this is related... why do getting proper lift kits require different backspace wheels... whereas going the spacer route you can use existing stock wheels?

Yeah, you should still have about 2.5" of downtravel left, which is probably similiar to what comes on the sport stock.

Front lower control arms are normally the hit point on lift kits, the stock (and some aftermarket) are bent inwards for clearance. It doesn't have anything to do with spacer vs. spring.

 

[ejewels]

Yeah, you should still have about 2.5" of downtravel left, which is probably similiar to what comes on the sport stock.

Front lower control arms are normally the hit point on lift kits, the stock (and some aftermarket) are bent inwards for clearance. It doesn't have anything to do with spacer vs. spring.

Ah ok, makes sense. If I were to get the mopar LCAs just to give me more caster adjustment, would they still work with my stock willys wheels and 33" kO2?

 

[GATORB8]

Ah ok, makes sense. If I were to get the mopar LCAs just to give me more caster adjustment, would they still work with my stock willys wheels and 33" kO2?

Yes, they're basically the exact same, but are 1/4" longer. They aren't adjustable, they'll just get you a little extra caster.

 

[rcadden]

I put the 1.5" TF spacers on my Sahara a couple of years ago and it's been awesome - perfect for my needs and my budget. I didn't do the extended bump stops or anything.

My original plan was for this to be a short-term solution and then get a proper suspension lift later, but I'm not so sure I actually need to do that for my usage.

Going from 32" Duratracs to 33" KO2s made a bigger difference, IMO.

 

[ejewels]

I put the 1.5" TF spacers on my Sahara a couple of years ago and it's been awesome - perfect for my needs and my budget. I didn't do the extended bump stops or anything.

My original plan was for this to be a short-term solution and then get a proper suspension lift later, but I'm not so sure I actually need to do that for my usage.

Going from 32" Duratracs to 33" KO2s made a bigger difference, IMO.

thanks man, I actually was checking out your build thread since I searched around! I believe having the sahara, your shocks are even shorter than mine. My willys comes with the rubi shocks. So if you're doing ok on it I'm sure I will as well. Did you add anything else suspension-wise, or is it all otherwise stock? And you wheel it pretty good as well? I saw some of your "action" pics in your thread and some of those trails seemed like the most I'd do anyways. Did you get those bump stops in the "ST1" kit they have, or just the spacer kit?

 

[rcadden]

thanks man, I actually was checking out your build thread since I searched around! I believe having the sahara, your shocks are even shorter than mine. My willys comes with the rubi shocks. So if you're doing ok on it I'm sure I will as well. Did you add anything else suspension-wise, or is it all otherwise stock? And you wheel it pretty good as well? I saw some of your "action" pics in your thread and some of those trails seemed like the most I'd do anyways. Did you get those bump stops in the "ST1" kit they have, or just the spacer kit?

Yeah I'm at ~48K miles and haven't had any major issues. I'm to the point now where I'm likely to maybe pick up a Rubi take-off suspension, but unsure. I've done several badge trails with this setup with no issues.

My concern was similar to yours - I have a short garage and a short wife, and being able to park in the garage (preferably with the Sunrider open) is mandatory for me, so getting more than 2" of lift would actually be a really bad thing for me.

I did get the steering system and drag link replaced recently - their measurements showed my caster at 4.25%, so I might research whether that's high or low. The MOPAR LCAs are universally recommended and pretty cheap. I've read that 6% is the target caster.

 

[ejewels]

Yeah I'm at ~48K miles and haven't had any major issues. I'm to the point now where I'm likely to maybe pick up a Rubi take-off suspension, but unsure. I've done several badge trails with this setup with no issues.

My concern was similar to yours - I have a short garage and a short wife, and being able to park in the garage (preferably with the Sunrider open) is mandatory for me, so getting more than 2" of lift would actually be a really bad thing for me.

I did get the steering system and drag link replaced recently - their measurements showed my caster at 4.25%, so I might research whether that's high or low. The MOPAR LCAs are universally recommended and pretty cheap. I've read that 6% is the target caster.

what was wrong with the steering... was that because of the death wobble in your thread? I also seem to read about people getting trackbars too. But I think thats more for bigger lifts.

Sponsored