To many Jeep owners, this isn't even a thought, you just do it (lift first...ask questions later). Truthfully, that's what I did. However, I'd encourage any new Jeep owner to step back and think about whether a lift kit is REALLY the right decision for them before taking the plunge.
Why, you ask? Well, for the uninitiated, lifting a Jeep typically isn't as simple as bolting on the kit and then living happily ever after. Suspension lifts, specifically, will change the geometry of how your suspension was originally designed to work. I won't bore you with the specifics of control arm length, alignment specs, and pinion angles, but suffice to say that you'll be tweaking all of these at some point after your lift (something the catalogs forget to mention in their marketing copy). So, learn from my experiences young Padawan, and hopefully you'll save some cash and frustration along the way.
Here are some things to think about BEFORE you purchase a lift kit for your Jeep:
Research: make sure you do your homework before you buy. Read lift kit reviews, ask questions on forums, and quiz other Jeep owners about their lift experiences. If you've got a buddy (or club member) with a lifted Jeep, ask them to take you for a ride. Keep in mind that some Jeepers automatically think that the lift in THEIR Jeep is the best lift going....so make sure you talk to a few different people. 
Driving Habits: do you plan to take your lifted Jeep offroad regularly, or do you simply want to throw on your Jonas Brothers t-shirt and park out infront of Abercrombie & Fitch? If you want a "mall crawler," hey that's cool (everyone's welcome here), but just be honest with yourself. If your Jeep will only see the pavement, you can probably deal with a budget lift, stock gears, and 33s. However, if you plan on aggressively hitting the trails, you're bound to be disappointed pretty quickly with a setup like that.
Budget: how much are you willing to spend? You can spend as little as a few hundred or as much as several thousand dollars on the kit alone. However, don't forget about other items that you "may" end up needing/wanting after the fact such as: control arms, longer brake lines, adjustable track bars, slip yoke eliminator (SYE), new driveshaft, bigger tires, new wheels, gears, stronger axles, better steering components, etc. $500 will suit some people just fine, but others may have higher expectations and should wait until they can save up some more cash. Make sure your expectations are inline w/ your budget.
Lift Kit Choice: there are tons of options out there such as short arm lifts, long arm lifts, coil spacer lifts (aka: budget boosts), and body lifts. Within those options, some kits are much more complete than others. For example, you can buy a 4-inch lift kit that comes with the bare minimum of coil springs, shocks, a transfer case drop, and a track bar relocation bracket. Speaking from experience, you can "get by" with a kit like this for while, but you'll most likely end up spending more money later b/c of vibes and limited performance. Admittedly, I went this route in the beginning, but ended up spending significantly more money later on to correct driveline vibrations and poor handling. I ended up purchasing adjustable trackbars, SYE, new driveshaft, adjustable control arms, better shocks, better quick disconnects, etc. At the end of the day, I spent more money adding to my "basic" kit than I would have spent by buying a fully-equipped kit in the beginning. Some of this will come down to personal preference though. Not everyone will be comfortable with (or can afford) spending $2,000 on a kit right out of the blocks. Sometimes you may need to start with the $500-$600 kit b/c that's all your budget (or gf/wife) will allow. I'll just remind you again that you need to set your expectations appropriately and understand how much money you "may" need to allocate to additional accessories later on.
Jeep Performance & Road Manners: the right lift kit can really unlock your Jeep's offroad potential, but it will also change your onroad handling as well. Again, think about your driving habits and make sure your prospective mods make sense for you. If you use your Jeep to commute 50 miles to work each way, the 6-inch lift, 35" boggers, and 3.08 gears might not be the best option.
The Side Effects: as I alluded to earlier, lifting your Jeep and adding larger tires will change your ride and will most likely cause some annoying side effects. Some of the "fun" things you may experience are driveline vibrations, worn steering components, poor handling, tires that won't balance 100%, etc. I'm sure some people will chime in and say that their Jeep rides better than stock after the lift and that they've never had any problems whatsoever. That may be true, but just search a few of the Jeep forums for keywords like "death wobble," "wandering," "loose steering," "____ after lift"....this will give you an idea of the challenges that many lifted Jeep owners are dealing with.
Conclusion
So, this probably sounds like I'm telling you not to lift your Jeep, huh? No, that's certainly not my goal here. I just want to give full disclosure on the pros and cons of lifting. I lifted my own Jeep several years ago and I would certainly do it all over again (I might choose some different parts, but I'd definitely still lift it). My lift, tires, gears, (and now lockers) have pushed my Jeep well beyond its original capabilities...it really is a blast to drive on the trails. However, my Jeep has certainly brought its share of headaches along the way (some b/c of the lift, and others b/c it's simply a "Jeep"). But, I think that's the life of a Jeep lover. I sometimes compare it to playing golf....you can have the worst 17 holes of your life, but if you birdie the 18th you can't wait to get back on the course. When the doors are off my Jeep, there's mud on the windshield, and I've just conquered a tough trail...I forget all about the previous steering box replacements, death wobble, burning brakes, crappy starter motors, and electrical demons.
Got some other suggestions about choosing the right lift?....please share w/ everyone in the comments.
{ 216 comments… read them below or add one }
hey, i am 17 and i have a 97 tj that is lifted 2 inches already, i want more but for a cheap price, can i just add on some inch spacer lifters and have that work along with my lift kit already?
I had an 02 TJ X model. The mods were done as I got the funds using mixed and matched pieces from different kits. First, I ran 2″ spacers w. longer shocks and 31s on stock rims, and a rear lunchbox locker. Worked great. Then, added 2″ body lift (quite a bit of work for 1 person) to clear 33s on rock crawler rims, removed and threw away the sway bar at this point. Still worked great for several years. Then, I picked up some 4″ springs, new shocks and went to 35s, while adding a front ECTED locker. Worked ok, but vibration and steering issues would arise as parts wore. Added heavy duty tie rod, adjustable front and rear track bars (one of the best mods), and a transfer case lowering kit. Great for a year or two, then went to 36″ swampers. Finally replaced the stock arms with aftermarket tube arms and put 1″ spacers in over the 4″ coils. Fantastic at that point (still running stock driveshaft!) and left it that way until it died and went to the junk yard after a high speed rollover (kept me safe, though, no injuries). I spent and learned as I went, being happy with the Jeep at each stage, but planning and budgeting for more as I went. Oh, and less than half the parts I bought were new. I bought from club guys as well as Ebay, catching folks when they were upgrading. I would then sell any of my old parts to help offset the cost. Hope this helps, although I am joining this thread a few years too late.
thanks.
Now i don’t know what to do
todd, you need a suspension lift. youre probably wearing out the control arms as it is. sorry, but it’s gonna cost you.
@Todd
It really depends what type of lift you have already. If you’ve got a
2-inch “suspension lift” (meaning: you already put longer springs in your
Jeep) you could probably add some coil spacers to that to get a little
more height (not the ideal mod, but “could” work). However, if you’ve already got coil spacers, I don’t think you’d want to try and put more of them on (or use spacers bigger than 2″). Another possible alternative is a “body lift.” A body lift basically raises up the body of your Jeep and doesn’t change the springs. Most people don’t recommend adding more than a 1-1.5″ of body lift.
FYI, both coil spacers and body lifts have their limitations (as opposed
to saving your $$ and waiting to buy a bigger suspension lift). Coil
spacers & body lifts won’t give your Jeep suspension any additional flex
(or travel) which is very helpful when you’re going offroad. However,
maybe that’s not a major concern for you.?
Hope this info is helpful. It’s hard to give exact advice without knowing
how your Jeep is currently setup. Just make sure you think about what your goals are before you buy something that you’ll end up scrapping in a year. It sucks when you end up doing things twice…and paying twice.
Take your time and do a decent amount of lift kit research. It’ll payoff in the end.
Good luck!
-Garrett
Hey Garrett, I really appreciate this site. I am a NY City kid, and am beginning research on potential lifts, as I like to go hard when I can get away upstate. I do use my jeep as a daily driver though, and should probably stay conservative. Anyway here’s my Q. The #1 thing that is bothering me was my run-in with death wobble. Oddly enough, all i have done to my 94 cherokee was trade in the stock 15’s for 16″ wheels with some backspacing… new shocks dampered the wobble, but its not quite eliminated– Any ideas? While I enjoy the power, I also enjoy the highway speed i get off the jeep. After this minor change, something as stupid as uneven pavement makes the jeep wander. I def want to regain a solid ride with good handling before i start lifting anything. Lord knows i’ll probably flip this thing on its first day… THanx, Bryan
@Bryan
Wobbles can often be a hard thing to diagnose. There can be several culprits such as tire balancing, alignment, trackbar, worn steering components, etc. When you went from 15 to 16″ wheels, you would have had to change your tires, so now you’ve added another variable to the mix. Every vehicle is different, so it’s really hard to say exactly what it could be. I’d definitely check your tire balancing and trackbar to start with. Make sure the trackbar is nice & tight and all your bushings are good. Good luck.
hey i am putting a 4in suspension lift on my 95 jeep wrangler rio grande and i am getting vibration from the driveshaft and i am wondering if i went too big on the lift and i am going in over my head and this week i am bying 29in tires. so i am wondering what kind of major problems i will encounter?
@Jesse
First off, you probably don’t need 4in of lift (or any lift for that matter) if you’re going to put 29in tires on…but whatever you prefer. That being said, any time you lift more than a couple of inches you’re going to significantly increase your risk of vibes. Vibes can be fixed, just depends how much $$ you want to throw at it. Some lifts come with a transfer case drop kit (lowers your t-case to get your driveshaft back inline)…sometimes you can get by with this, and other times you may need to do more. FYI, I ran a 4″ Superlift on my TJ for several years with only a t-case drop (no adjustable arms, SYE, or custom driveshaft)….the vibes were very minor and it worked out fine for me & my budget at the time. Good luck!
thank you All. Just what I needed. I am only a ppavement prowler and was considering a 4″ lft, w 37″ tires. Now I realize that I am even dumber than I had originally thought! LOL. I’ll have to invest in a cool t-shirt to park in front of the Abercr. & Fitch store…. thanks again.
@Steve
No shame in being a “pavement prowler,” as long as you enjoy your Jeep (that’s the important thing). 37s for the road, though, wouldn’t be my top recommendation (unless you’ve got spare $$ to burn).
I need some suggestions. I have an 87 TJ and my husband would like to do some modification for ME. I need to know if he is just doing them so he looks cool in it when he’s driving or if I would really need it. He wants to put a 4″ lift and 33’s on it because I do plan on taking it off road. I also drive it daily to work. I would like to find something that is going to accomedate both and would love suggestions. I do not know too much about the technical stuff yet so go easy on me.
@Michelle
If you’re going to take your Jeep offroad, my recommendation would be to run it offroad a few times BEFORE you lift it. This will give you an idea of its capabilities and will give you a better feel for how aggressive you really want to go. Be careful though, b/c once you start spending, it’s hard to stop. Good luck.
It’s hard to make an “exact” recommendation for what you (or your husband) should buy. It really depends upon your budget, driving habits, etc. FYI, all guys want their (or their wife’s) Jeep to look cool…it’s in our DNA unfortunately.
I would like to add a 2″ suspension lift to my TJ. I don’t go off road to much but I’m going to this summer. Ok My question is how much ground clearince will this give me running stock tires. Just 2″ or more ?
@driftwood
Actually, a 2″ suspension lift will add zero inches of “ground clearance” if you don’t increase your tire size (the same goes for 4″, 6″, or 8″ lift). The suspension lift basically lifts up your frame (above your axles) and provides additional suspension flex. If you also want to gain “ground clearance” (the distance between your axles and the ground) you need to add bigger tires. Hope that makes sense.
If you’re referring to “ground clearance” as the distance between the fenders and the ground….then you should pickup about 2″ when you add a 2″ lift. It really depends on the lift manufacturer (sometimes the heights will vary slightly based upon the spring type & stiffness). FYI, “ground clearance” is typically referred to as the distance from the axles to the ground…and you can really only affect that with larger tires.
Thanks Garrett ! I guess I need some bigger tire. You just saved me $300.00 bucks man.
Thanks driftwood
@driftwood
Keep in mind, that once you add bigger tires you’ll need a lift so they won’t rub…it’s a double-edged sword unfortunately.
Well damned if I do damned if I don’t.
Is there any middle ground in this?
I’m new I just got my jeep in Nov and I dont know about the trick’s or have the experience you guys have in this. I just hate to waste my money on stuff I don’t need.
As I mentioned to Michelle above, I always recommend that people take their Jeeps offroad BEFORE lifting them (assuming that offroading is your main reason for wanting to lift in the first place). Once you go offroad a few times, you’ll have a better idea of how your Jeep performs and what mods you want to focus on. Also, it’s helpful if you go offroad with other Jeepers and ask them about their own rigs. Especially, ask them what they’d do differently if they had a chance. A good entry level path than many people take is a budget boost. Basically, this adds coil spacers & longer shocks (and will allow you to increase your tire size a bit). This budget boost kit gets a lot of good reviews: http://www.jeepreviews.com/jeep-parts-reviews/117/rubicon-express-reviews/
Thanks Garrett I’ll do that .
I thank you for your suggestion. I am takng her off road next weekend to see how she does before making any adjustments.
Hi, I have a 1999 Jeep Wrangler Sports which I only use for highways, i may use it for off road once or twice a year, I’m looking to lift it up just for the good sexy look it gives, I would like to know the specific parts that I need to replace, how many inch would I lift it, and how much approx it should cost me, and what will be the best and biggest size for wheels I should use, I think the bigger the size of the wheels is, the better she will look. size does matter!
@Sam
I’d recommend looking into a budget boost. Budget boost will add about 2″ of lift. If you’re going to go offroad, 15″ rims are a popular choice…or you can get wheel spacers to keep your stock rims (depending upon how wide of tire you go with). For tire size, you could probably fit a 32″ tire with a budget boost, but that’s not a great setup if you’re going offroad. You’ll probably want a max of 31″ if you’re going offroad due to rubbing issues & limited travel with bigger tires on a small lift. Another thing to think about is your gear ratio. The larger tire you go with, the more you’re going to mess with your effective gear ratio. Basically, the bigger you go, the more sluggish your Jeep will become (which is why re-gearing is often done when people add larger tires).
So, at a minimum, you’re probably looking at spending around $1,000 (rough estimate off the top of my head).
-Budget Boost: $200-$250
-Tires: $150-$200 each
-Wheels: $50-$250 each
Hope this info helps. Here is a link to a great article about installing a budget boost…there are also some additional FAQs there too:
http://www.4×4xplor.com/REBB.html
Garrett,
First off, I’d like to say thanks for a great website. Your information and advice are presented in a helpful and funny manner- not like some sites that speak in too technical and sometimes hostile terms… On with my question:
I have a 1990 Jeep Grandwagoneer (FSJ!) with a SkyJacker 4″ suspension lift and Bilstein 5125 series shocks. I am running on ProComp 15×10 series 152 wheels and Firestone Destination A/T 35×12.5s. Though on for only a couple of weeks, I have no rubbing issues- no one seems to believe that.
I do extreme landscape and remote location photography so I need to get to some far off, isolated places- think 50day African Safari or Siberia at the thaw. I never do rock crawling or mudding but I do have to move very fast sometimes when a flash flood pops up; and that moving can be over some rough terrain.
Question: Would you recommend a body lift? Everything is new and I have had no issues with rubbing or bottoming-out, yet. I just wanted an opinion from someone that does not simply want to sell me a body-lift.
Thanks for any help/info!
@Gabe
A Grand Waggy?…NICE! I’d love to see some pics. You don’t see many of those around anymore. Regarding your question: admittedly, I don’t have much experience w/ Grand Wagoneers, but I too am a little surprised to hear that you’re running 35s on 4″ of lift and don’t have any rubbing issues. That being said, my advice would be, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” If it does everything you need it to, on the terrain that you drive regularly, then I don’t see a need to do additional mods (just my opinion). Good luck!
Okay, so im 16 and i am looking to buy a 2003 jeep rubicon, dana 44s, lockers, 4:1, yah no, but i am on a very low budget, i was around 7-8 inches of lift, but as you know that involes front and read DSs, i am thinking 4in lift from skyjacker for $500, 2in body lift $100 (or make myself) and 2in coil spacers $100, and im looking to throw 37.10.5.15s or 12.5s, but with the dana 44s it should handle them, and im hoping the 4.11 gears should be fine, but with 4in susp. lift and 2in coil spacers and 2in body, should i get new fron and rear drive shafts? because thats around $900
and i will not use it off road, maybe some trail riding here and there. and no im not a pavment pounder, i have 2 old jeeps to play with, this ones my baby. but my concerns are the drive shafts, and money. Thank you.
4in skyjacker $500
2in coil spacers $100
2in BL $100
37s $1000
rims $380
lights $200
Front and rear bumper $900
Driving with the top down and doors off, Pricless
@Adam
I can’t say for sure whether you’d need new driveshafts or not. I ran a 4″ lift in my TJ for several years without new shafts. Odds are though, if you go an extra 2 inches, you’re much more likely to get vibes/issues. 4.11 gears with 37s also won’t be an “ideal” combo. Your Jeep will surely be big, but it probably won’t be too much fun on the highway. 37s on D44s is another downside if you plan to do any offroading (esp w/ the lockers). But, in the end it’s your call as to what’s most important for you, your driving style, and your budget.
& i am also looking for a cheap tj 1997 – 2006 with a 4L (under 100000 miles) and not been beat on, CHEAP though. live in michigan. Thanks.
Well, i think that if i go 37 10.5s it shouldnt be to bad, and i dont plan to beat on my baby at all. so it should be fine, and my opt. are 4in lift 2 in body and 35s or 4in lift, 2 coil, 2 body, and 37s. and oh i know it wont be to much on the highway, the thing is that i hate body lifts. and i had rough driving cars but what can yah do. but those super swamper LTB’s sure wont ride good but they are a steal. thanks. im sure when the money comes im looking for some 4.56s and 6in long arm F and R shafts and some bad ass jeepin’, you guys should check out the jeep bleesing in michigan also. very fun. or check out the truck and jeep fest in canfield ohio, they were well worth the drive.
OK, first time jeep owner, all jokes aside I am having a hard time finding out what all I need to do about lifting my Grand Cherokee. I was looking into just buying 2″ spacers and didnt know what else if anything I would have to do. Im not looking to do much offroading and no climbing just want a little better look for my DD. Do I have to change my shocks or anything else or can I just get away with the spacers? Thanks for your help everyone and yeah its ok to make jokes I can take it!
@seth
Regarding spacer lifts, the general consensus from Grand Cherokee owners is to go with a “budget boost” package that comes with spacers AND shocks. You “can” reuse your stock shocks if you really want to cut costs, but they’re not the best option and will wear out pretty fast. If you plan to do any offroading, the new shocks will provide an advantage b/c they’re longer than the stock ones and will allow for a bit more suspension flex (and longevity).
No jokes/flaming here….I want everyone to be welcome to ask questions whether they’re beginners or veterans.
The one kit that seems to get the most recommendations by far is the Rubicon Express Budget Boost. This 2″ lift will allow for a max tire size of 30″ high x 9.5″ wide. Some people run 31″ tires with a 2″ budget boost, but most of them report that some fender trimming is needed to eliminate rubbing issues….you may not want to open that can of worms.
HTH. Good luck!
Thanks for the info. I also purchased a Rapid Performance Module that I am suppose to hook up to my intake air temp sensor wires. Im not familiar with this and just wanted your thoughts on this. The instructions said I could hook up either of the wires from the module to either wire on my IAT sensor. Have you ever seen these modules before and what is your take on them?
Thanks again.
Seth, unfortunately I don’t have any experience with the Rapid Performance Module.
Alright guys I have a 96 cherokee, its running well …..after a new fuel system, transmission, radiator and helper springs for my shot leaf springs. I want to put a 4′ suspension lift on it but I am alittle unsure as to what to get. Should I go for a real exspensive kit? I dont really want to go above 900 on the kit.
And what else on top of that will I need to work out all the kinks? I heard people talking about adding a SYE……I suppose what my question is if you guys were starting from scratch with my jeep what would you throw underneath it?
@Pat Cat
Like Wrangler owners, many XJ owners often recommend kits like this one from Rubicon Express. I don’t personally own a Rubicon Express lift kit, but they always seem to get solid reviews on the site, so I’d say they’re worth checking out. With a kit like that one, you may be able to get by without doing an SYE right away. Some people add spacers to drop the transfer case a bit and end up w/ no vibes. Others aren’t so lucky…sometimes it really depends upon your Jeep unfortunately (nothing is “certain” until you install it on your own rig). Other things you’ll need w/ this kit: shocks (I don’t think it comes w/ new shocks, so you need to budget for those). If you do lift, I’m assuming that you’ll want bigger tires, which typically means new rims as well (so set aside some more $$ for those). Gears: you “may” want/need lower gears (depending upon what you have now and how big of tire you’re going to). I say “may” because it’s really up to you. When I first lifted my TJ, I went to 33″ tires with 3.73 stock gears. My Jeep was certainly much slower off the line than with 30″ tires (and it didn’t crawl as good as before), but it wasn’t terrible. I ran with the 3.73 gears for several years until I set aside enough $$ to upgrade to 4.56s. Gears are expensive, you only want to do those once.
Hope the info helps you out!
i have a 95 jeep wrangler with a supercharged 454 bbc, i have 2 1/2 ton rockwell axles on order and would like to put 53″ tires on it but can’t figure out how much lift i need i been looking at coilovers and air bag suspension but don’t know how tall of a bag or shock to order i’m currently deployed and would like to have the parts at home when i get their so i can put it all together
thanks for any help i can get
@Adam
However, I’m sure everyone here would love to see pics (or a writeup) when you’re done…happy to post some stuff up if you send it to me. Good luck!
If you really plan on running 53″ tires, you’re probably looking at some serious customization work. Realistically, I’d think you’d need to consider lengthening the wheelbase on your Jeep to effectively handle tires that size (and still have a usable vehicle). Goes w/o saying that your entire drivetrain would need to be upgraded. Unfortunately, I don’t have any specific lift recommendations…honestly, a project of this scope is a bit out of my league.
will be happy to send pics when i get home if you would like i’ll send the entire build i am probably gonna stretch the wheel base a bit and i all ready have a drivetrain lined up the biggest block i have to get through right now is the suspension my plan is either a 4 link or just ladder bars with coilovers shocks, just massive coils or i’ve even looked at airbags but really need to find the length of what i need plus i’m trying to build it without spending any more money then i have to.
again thanks for your input and help.
Pics would be great…sounds like a really cool build you’ve got going.
Keep your head down out there man!
As for any one looking for a lift for any jeep try ntwonline.com they have a wide selection of lifts and accessories and if you call they will help plan your lift to your budget.
Garret,
I am the proud owner of an 03 TJ. I currently have a 4″ zone suspension lift and running 33×12.5 tires. I dont have any problems with vibrations or wobbling but was wanting to put a 2″ body lift just for looks. Its my daily driver and I dont want to create any new problems. Do you think its worth the effort? I do have a problem with shifting into 2nd gear. It binds a little and I have to force it into gear. Any thoughts on why? My kit came with a 1″ transfer drop and I was told that I might need a SYE but dont want to spend the money if not needed. I am running stock gears and have lost alot of power due to the bigger tires. Do you recommend an upgrade?
Andy, I’m a big fan of the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” philosophy, but that’s just me. 4″ lift + 2″ body lift is definitely overkill if you’re just running 33s (you really won’t get much additional functionality from this, but you did say it was “just for looks” so). Your current shifter problems are “most likely” a result of your shifter hitting your center console (or getting overly-restricted by your shifter boot). I’d recommend removing the shifter boot so that you can get a look at what’s going on underneath. Often you can see where the shifter is hitting/binding and can fix the problem w/ some creative trimming. Alternatively, some people take the mounting screws out of their center console and move the whole console back a little bit (and remount) so that the shifter is centered in the opening again and doesn’t hit anything.
If you do decide to go with more lift, I think a body lift is probably a safer/cheaper choice. If you add coil spacers then you’ve got the potential to run into issues like: needing longer shocks, needing longer control arms to get your alignment (caster) back, worsening your driveline angles again, etc. As far as gears go, that’s personal preference and budget. I ran 33s with 3.73s for several years (it worked for my budget and my driving habits at the time). I eventually upgraded to 4.56s once I got the money. I also didn’t do gears until I was SURE that I was sticking with 33s. You don’t want to do gears and then decide a month later that you want to upgrade to 35s b/c that’s what all your buddies are running.
Garett,
Thanks for the info. Your right its not broke so there is no need to fix it. Its almost like an addiction trying to fix up the TJ! Just trying to figure out how to convince the wife that these mods are necessary! I would like to stay with 33’s for the long run. So I’ll have to do some saving for the gears. The shifter was hitting on the side of the console. I just removed the screws and recentered it. It shifts great with no more binding. If I do go with a body lift down the road would you recommend I also do an engine mount lift as well? Again thanks for a great site and all your help.
Glad that your Jeep is shifting better again, nice! It’s not mandatory to do a motor mount lift (MML) in conjunction with a body lift, it’s really up to you. However, if you don’t do the MML you’ll need to lower your fan shroud so the fan blades don’t hit it.
Was also wondering about 2″ coil spring spacers instead of the 2″ body lift. Will this be a good combo with the lift or is the body lift a better choice?
See comment above.
Hi, im new to the whole wrangler thing, i have a 2000 jeep wrangler sport. i want to put a 4in lift kit on it and put 33s. But would i also have to change my gear ratio? i want to do some off roading nothing crazy but i dirt bike regularly and would like to take my jeep through some nice trails that ive found. and would i also have to put longer brake lines on?
thank you for any adive you could give and ive read alot of your responses to post and i think this is the best forum ive seen for beginners
Dimitri,
Changing your gear ratio is really up to you and what type of performance (or lack of) you’re willing to tolerate. I ran 33s on my TJ with 3.73 gears for several years…it wasn’t that bad. I have a 5-speed and basically you don’t end up using 5th gear much anymore b/c it doesn’t have any power w/ the ratio change. The first thing you need to do is figure out your current gear ratio. I think you’ve either got 3.07s or 3.73s (depends upon what options your Jeep came with). There are a couple of ways to tell, but the easiest is to crawl under your Jeep and try to read the ratio off of the axle. Go behind your Jeep and look for a tag on the rear axle differential cover (driver’s side @ about 9 o’clock on the diff cover). The tag (if legible) will have a bunch of numbers on it. If it starts with 3.73, you’ve got 3.73s. If it starts with 3.07, well then you’ve got 3.07s. If you’ve got 3.07s, I think your Jeep is going to be a real “dog” with 33s on it. You can do it, but I think you’re going to notice a big difference (esp on the highway).
Regarding the extended brake lines: you can probably get away without them if you’re not going to do much offroading. If you ARE going to drive offroad (and disconnect your swaybar regularly) you could run into some issues…it really depends how much suspension flex you get. One way to tell for sure (after the lift) is to disconnect your front swaybar, jack up the Jeep, support the Jeep from the frame w/ jackstands, let your front axle droop, and check the tension in the brake lines.
Good luck!
I have a 2000 grand cherokee limited and i want to put 31,s on it im wondering what size lift i need i was looking at the 2in rocky road lift because it pretty cheap any advice?
Hello. I just want to say I enjoy your site, very informational. I have a 94 grand Cherokee v8. Next week I’m putting on a 3.5 inch lift kit. The kit is a front to rear coil swap. The kt includes 4 shocks 2 front coils front and rear extended sway bar links and instructions for a re drilling of the front track bar. I will be running 31 inch tires on cragar soft 8’s. My question is, if a decide to add a .75 -1″ coil spacers to my lift will I be ok with stock control arm and track bar? Also I will most likely drop the transfer case a bit too. I’ve heard a 1 inch drop should suffice? Thank you
i have a 1989 yj i have a set of 33’s and bolted them up front had no rubbing in the front but the back was close i wanna lift but i dont have that much money so i was gonna get 2 inch lift shackles and just new shocks what am i getting my self in to my buddy said i would be sawing the wheel to keep this thing straight
I am buying a 2010 Unlimited tomorrow and want to lift it. how much am i looking at spending for a decent lift rims and tires? after reading everyones post i am kind of afraid to lift it now. i am not doing anything too crazy as far as off roading goes. my main objective is to have a NICE looking jeep that maybe once or twice a month i can take out to the desert and have fun with. any ideas???
ps. thanks for the great site. being new to the jeep world it is nice to have a place to come and brainstorm.
Nick,
If I had to “ballpark” a price, I’d say to probably plan on at least $2,000. However, it’s hard to say exactly because each accessory you add has a wide range of prices. Take rims for example, you can buy $50 black steel wheels or you can buy $200+ alloys. You might replace all 5 tires or you might decide to only do 4 and keep an odd-sized spare. You might decide to pay a shop several hundred dollars to install your lift/tires, or you might be comfortable doing it yourself and saving that $$. You see my point? Anyway, my overall advice (and I say this to anyone who first gets a Jeep) is to drive your Jeep “as is” for little while. In its stock form, your Jeep will be a very capable vehicle. Take it out in the desert a few times and see how it performs…this will give you an idea of which mods to prioritize and where you want to spend your money. For example, if your rims get chewed up in the desert (depending upon your terrain) maybe you don’t invest in expensive alloys? If you spend a lot of time doing highway driving, you “might” not want an aggressive tire that’s loud and has shorter tread life. I can’t make those decisions for you. Anyway, good luck with the new Jeep, I hope it treats you well and you have a blast with it!!
First of all, many thanks for helping out the newbie on matter of lifting Jeep. I am also planning to lift my joy ride. I have 2009 Jeep Wrangler (4 door model). I researched on the net and was very much interested in Skyjacker 4″ Standard Lift Kit in Classic Red (Part # JK401KCRN). The kit already includes items like, shocks, coil springs etc. After reading above regarding driveline vibrations, worn steering components, poor handling, I need your advice. If I install Skyjacker 4″ Standard Lift Kit & 35 inch tires in my Jeep would it also affect its drive shaft or proper steering etc.
I would also appreciate if you can advice such lift kit (2″ to 4″) which would not affect badly on my model.
Cheers and again thanks for advices.
Abid,
The general consensus w/ JKs is that once you get over 3″ of lift you’re starting to get into the danger zone when it comes to developing driveshaft issues. It isn’t guaranteed, but it certainly ups your risk once you get into the 4″ lift range. Bigger tires in general will wear out components (ie. steering) faster than smaller tires, but things certainly shouldn’t explode on day 1 if you run 35s. One thing to think about with 35s though is gearing. You “can” run 35s with 4.10 gears, but you’ll pretty much lose overdrive (if you’ve got an auto tranny) or 6th gear (if you’ve got a manual tranny)….not sure if that’s a big deal for you or not. Good luck.
I’m in the same situation as Garrett, I bought a 2009 JK X Unlimited in September and I’m interested in giving it a more aggressive look with better capability off-road. This is my primary vehicle, not a weekend project, so it needs to stay reasonable…and I like the look of the stock 17 inch rims…just interested in larger tires. I’m starting to think the budget boost lift is my best option, but what sized tire should I zero in on?? Thanks for your help!
Yeah, a 2″ budget boost with 33″ tires is a pretty decent option. You can go up to 35″ tires if you add 3″+ of lift, but you’ll start to run into potential gearing issues (which you probably want to avoid if you’re looking to keep this on the cheaper side).
I have a 98 Sahara that i want to lift. It it my daily driver and I would want to wear out my 31 10.50’s before I put new rubber on it. Right now I’m trying to decide between a 2 inch lift that only includes shocks and springs and a 4 inch Skyjacker lift with new track bars, tranny lowering, dropped pittman arm, etc. Which would be better? and what would be the biggest tire size i could have? There is also a 1.5 inch body lift already on.
Alex,
If you’re going to spend a lot of time offroad I’d recommend going with a larger suspension lift (3-4″ suspension lift). If you’re on a budget, you could combine a budget boost with your existing 1.5″ body lift and fit 33″ tires. As mentioned though, if offroad performance is a top priority, a 3-4″ lift will be more ideal than spacers and a body lift.
hi im have a jeep cherokee and want to first put a 4.5 inch lift on it with 31 inch tires and get a slip yoke elimantor with the longer drive shaft, also quick disconnects sway bar,over the knockle steering and in the future i want to get lockers and a long arm kit. im use my jeep as a daily driver i also am going to go offroading a lot. so does sound like the right way to go and im planing to uses rustys offroad
thank you
Brad,
Sounds like you’re moving in the right direction and will have a very capable rig when you’re done. As for Rusty’s Offroad products, I personally don’t have experience with them, but they gets lots of “mixed” reviews here on the site.
I am buying my first Jeep 1995 rio grande i wanna lift but not jacked up real high i wanna spend around 300-800 bucks what do u think
There are lots of lifts out there. BDS lift kits for YJs seem to get mentioned alot, so you may want to check those out.
You seem pretty knowledgable about this (more so than others i’ve talked to) so i was wondering if you could help me out.
I’m newer to the Jeepin world and don’t know too much about anything at this point. However, I’m looking to raise the suspension on my 2009 JK (4d) about 4 inches and add some big coil shocks (I’m currently riding stock and even though it’s a Jeep, it seems to be riding a little rough even on road). I’ve been looking around and have seen full kits ranging from $500-$2500. My budget is around $1500 dollars (including installation cost). I mainly do trails (when I get the time) and don’t ever plan on rock climbing or anything too serious. So my question is, what would kits would suit my situation best and what hidden costs can I expect? I don’t want anything too cheap that I’ll have to replace in the near future, but I know I don’t need anything top of the line either. Recommendations?
And i don’t really want to lift the body either; never really liked that.
A budget boost is a decent option if you have a small budget and don’t plan on doing regular offroading. With a 2″ budget boost, you s/b able to fit 33s easily on your JK. As for the rough ride, it’s a Jeep dude…get used to it.
Adding a lift to your Jeep typically won’t make it ride any softer (if anything, it’ll probably be a little harsher ride).
Hey Garrett,
I have been researching Jeep Lifts for about a week now and this site is the best so far. Your suggestions to others appear to be honest and informative! Here is a little background.
After a 3 year flitation with a Tacoma, I traded it in for my real love….a 2010 Wrangler JK Sport – four door couple weeks ago. I have ordered LT285/70R17D1 tires and 17″ wheels. Optional equipment lists my rear axle ratio as 3.73 with a Trak-Lok Limited Sliip Rear Differential (not exactly sure what all that means 
)
I used to have a ‘99 Wrangler TJ Sport. I eventually had a shop put in a 1 /3/4 ” spacer kit (I think) and ran 32’s on it. This set up worked well for me on and the off road terrain I was interested in traversing, as this was my only vehicle. After about 100,000 miles it needed some drive train/axel work and I had to sell it……toughest day of my life
My dealership is pushing for a Pro-Comp 2.5 ” lift that with parts and labor will be $1,700 installed, because that is the one they ‘usually’ install. That is more than I wanted to spend, but will if it is what I need to make it all happen. I was thinking of a 2″ spacer kit…but after reading some reviews of here, I am considering a 2″ budget lift.
I will probably go for wheeling 5-10 times a year. This is my only vehicle. I want it to look cool, ride well on the highway and be able to off road well. I want it all
My habits will likely have not changed since my TJ.
Any suggestions regarding the: 2″ space lift vs. 2″ budget boost, or the type of lift the dealership wants? Reading my window sticker the 3.73 rear axle ratio was an added option, is this a good thing for bigger tires….will I be ok with not changing any of my axle ratios? Any other considerations I have not mentioned that might bte me in the rear? Sorry for all the questions…I am not all that well versed yet with Jeeping as I should be. Thanks for your time!!!
Mike
Mike,
$1,700 sounds pretty high for the Pro Comp 2.5″ kit you mentioned. I just did a quick Google search and saw that kit for $700 (and you can probably find it cheaper if you dig around a bit). So, you’re probably getting a sizable installation charge. FYI, spacer lifts and budget boosts are pretty much the same thing (except the budget boost comes with shocks). A budget boost is a decent alternative if you won’t be going offroad much and you’re looking to save some cash. A 2″ budget boost will accommodate the 285/70R17s you mentioned.
Regarding the 3.73 gears, those are “ok” to run with a 33″ inch tire (285/70R17 is just about 33″). You will notice a power loss when you add the bigger tires, but it won’t be “terrible” with 33s. Ideally, you’d want the 4.10 gears with 33s (I actually run 4.54s with my 33s). FYI, Trak-Lok limited slip is designed to give you more traction in the rear. With a “open” differential, the wheel that has the least resistance will spin & get all of the power…so, if one tire is up in the air, it’ll spin and the tire on the ground will get zero traction/power. With a limited slip, your tire in the air won’t take ALL of the power, you’ll get some of the power transmitted to the tire on the ground and will get better traction than an open differential…FYI, it’s a little more complex than that, but that’s a basic overview. Good luck!
Hi Garrett, Firstly, you’re awesome for taking the time to respond to so many questions, well done to you.
I have a 2009 Sahara 4 door. I would like to rasie my jeep mostly for looks, and to a smaller degree, for off roading purposes. It appears from your posts that a budget boost would be best for me. Would you reccomend a body lift or a suspension lift? and if I do perfrom one of these type lifts (assuming just a 2″ BB), do I then also need to replace my stock tires and go with larger tires (& rims?). For cost (marriage:)) reasons, I’d prefer to avoid buying new tires/rims.
I thank you in advance for your response.
Warren
Warren,
My personal preference would be to go with the budget boost. I’m not a fan of body lifts in general (esp. over 1″ ) b/c of the gaps between the frame and body. Also don’t like idea of having body 2″ above frame for offroading issues. Just my opinion though.
Whatever lift you choose, you don’t “have” to buy larger tires. Typically, people add lifts in order to fit bigger tires, but you don’t have to add bigger tires if you don’t want to…your choice. Just keep in mind that your tires WILL get smaller once you add a lift. Not physically smaller of course, but it’ll play mind games w/ you.
If price is not a consideration, what is, in your opinion, the ideal lift and tire size for a 2010 Jeep Rubicon used 75% of time off road with lots of mud
Ronnie,
It really depends upon your personal preference and driving habits. I run 33s with 4″ of lift and I’m happy with that. If money was no object, I might upgrade to 35s b/c I think they “look” nicer….however, for my offroad habits I wouldn’t get much extra benefits from 35s IMO (I also like the lower center of gravity). Lastly, if I upgraded to 35s my Jeep would no longer fit inside my garage…so money would REALLY have to be of no concern b/c I’d have to modify my garage along w/ my Jeep.
how do we feel about Rancho lifts? i had 3 lifts to chose from. rough country, procomp, and rancho and i went with the rancho. did i make the smart decision?
Nick,
If you like it, and it performs well for you, then I think you made the right choice. Rancho has been around for a while and I haven’t seen lots of major complaints about their stuff. That being said, you can find anyone that’ll complain about anything online (whether they’ve actually owned the product or not). My first lift was a $400 Superlift…lots of people on the forums said Superlift was crap. However, it worked out fine for me. Fit my budget at the time and performed quite well for the terrain that I wheeled on. Actually, I’m still using the coil springs from that lift (~8 years later).
Alright guys here is a toughy…
I just got my first jeep a few months ago and have been doing a lot of “off-road” driving (some mud slicks and sand, etc.). Anyway, I am planning a jeep/camp trip with a buddy up into the rockies and wanted to know what you think my jeeper needs (I am pretty new at this). I have an ‘03 Wrangler Sahara with a 4.0 liter in-line six. I have the stock tires on it still because I have not even come close to getting stuck (fingers crossed). Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Without knowing the terrain you’re targeting, it’s hard to give exact advice. However, general advice would be to research the trails and make sure you drive on trails that suit your driving experience and your Jeep’s abilities. The Rockies have some extreme terrain, so know your limits and respect them. Aside from doing your research on the terrain, you should always carry some basic things with you, for example:
Those are the standard supplies that initially come to mind. Also, before you venture out on ANY trip, always tell other people where you’re going and what day/time you expect to return. If you get stranded outside of cell or CB range, you want someone at home that can send somebody looking. This certainly isn’t an exhaustive list, but perhaps others will chime in with some extra essentials or tips that I may have missed. Have fun!
i have an 1989 yj i6cyl sahara that i love to offroad in, despite getting stuck, and i want to be able to drive on the road without too much of a hassle. ive been researching a 4in lift (most likely procomp or fabtech) for around 800$. my main question is will i need to lengthen my drive shaft or rotate my axle or buy a new drive shaft to accommodate a 4inch lift?
ive called into a couple 4×4 shops and everyone seems to have different info, one shop said if the kit doesn’t have it it’s not need and the other suggested a whole new drive shaft
are 33’s my best choice for tires or would it be better to change my gearing first?
(i am unsure what i have right now and its dark out so ill have to look tomorrow xD)
when would it be a good time to get a sway bar quick disconnect?
any help would be greatly appreciated
AJ,
A slip yoke eliminator (SYE) and a longer driveshaft are typically the best setup after a lift like that, but they aren’t necessarily “mandatory.” You can often get by with a transfer case drop (spacers are included in many lift kits) to lessen your driveshaft angle and get rid of vibrations after the lift. The major “problem” with a transfer case drop is that you lose ground clearance….so, essentially you’re lifting your Jeep up, but then dropping the center down. Many people add lifts for better offroading performance/clearance and don’t want to drop the transfer case (eliminating the clearance gains in the center).
As far as new gears go, that’s a judgment call. I ran 33s with 3.73 gears for a few years and it was very manageable. Personally, I wouldn’t want to run 33s with gears less than 3.73s though (I think it would be too sluggish for my liking). To each his own, though. Hope that helps.
thanks a ton, i ended up going with a 4in lift by rubicon express and a custom sye and rear drive shaft by tom woods. i think im going to wait to change the gearing but that seems necessary since i have a slipping differential atm -.-
Glad to help. Good luck w/ your build up.
Hey I am thinking about getting a 2″ budget boost on my 2005 WK. But I was wondering if i were to do so, would i also need to buy new shocks and other stuff or should i be fine with just the 2″bb? Thanks!
I did some quick searching and only came across the Teraflex Budget Boost. Admittedly, I’ve never installed one of these on a Grand Cherokee, but the item description does imply that it’s pretty much “bolt-on” and that a shock upgrade isn’t needed.
This website rocks its helped me so much already.
i was wondering i have a stock 95 wrangler, i was wanteding to put a 4 inch suspension lift on it and probly run some 33s on it but i got to reasearching and saw that it might take more than just the lift and tires and rims.
i heard that if i put a 3 inch lift you dont have to do much more than just the lift and tires and all.
so i guess my question is if i put a 4 inch lift will i need to mess with much more? or can i get around it? ill be driving alot of country roads but not much highway and hopefully a bit of trails but nothing hardcore.
Trevor,
There aren’t any guarantees that ANY lift kit will be bolt-on with nothing more to add. You could put on a 4-inch lift and be fine (many people do this), but someone else may get major vibes and need to do a slip yoke eliminator (SYE) and longer driveshaft. Same goes for the 3-inch lift. The 3-inch lift should have less of a chance of getting driveline vibrations (vs. a 4-inch), but nothing is guaranteed.
ok thanks alot for the help
hey. i have a jeep with no lift kits and the same tires i bought it with. i drive it to school everyday….but take it muddin on the weekends. ive just started doin research, but im wantin to put a 2 in suspension kit on it, and some bigger tires. so what im wonderin is how much a 2 in kit will cost and how big of tires i will be able to fit on it afterwards? thank for the article and all the help
Need to know what year & model Jeep you have in order to give you an answer. Thanks.
hey its a 2000 wrangler sport utility…after readin some more articles i’m kinda thinkin i dont want a lift on it because of the after affects and i mainly drive it on the road…but do u think i will be able to put bigger tires on it?
The max tire size that you can put on without any lift (and without running into major rubbing issues) is a 31 inch tire.
Hi,
I have a 1993 jeep wrangler 5 speed 6 cly I also have 33″ tires that I want to put on.
My question is how much of a lift the jeep needs? Just want it for looks and hwy driving, and around how much should I spend including installation? And if you know of a place where they can do the job? I live in Newark NJ
Thank you in advance John
4 inches of lift is typically recommended to fit 33s on a Jeep YJ (on a “standard” install that is). You can do it with less lift, but then you’ll be getting into trimming fenders and such to prevent rubbing issues. I honestly don’t know a ballpark installation charge for a lift…never paid anyone to do it. I’d recommend trying to call around your area for pricing at a few different shops. Here is one shop that appears to be about an hour away from Newark. I’ve never been to this shop, but they get pretty good reviews here on the site: http://www.jeepreviews.com/where-to-buy-jeep-accessories/110/ok4wd-reviews/
Good luck!
Ok thanx, what’s the average price on just parts? And which ones do you recommend?
Prices can really vary based upon the type of kit you buy. I’d recommend checking out some of the reviews (and pricing links) here:
http://www.jeepreviews.com/jeep-parts-review/11/lift-kit-reviews/
I have a 08 jeep wrangler jk and put a 2 inch spacer lift on it. After i was done i noticed from the back the tires stuck out further on one side. So is this bad for my jeep and how can i fix it. I also want to put a 1 inch body lift. Is this too much risk for a jk still under factory warrenty?
Ernie,
Sounds like you need an adjustable rear trackbar (or a trackbar relocation bracket) to get that rear axle centered again underneath your Jeep. As for the warranty question, the safest thing is to call your local Jeep dealer and ask them directly. Some dealers install lots of lifts/accessories and may not care if you’ve got a lift…others may give you a hard time (so, it’s best to call and find out for yourself).
I have a 94 Jepp Cherokee Country. I have raised it 4 1/2 in all the way around. I now have an annoying vibration in drive train. I have new drive shaft, u joints, yoke, and 31.10.5. 15 tires. tires just balanced. Still have vibration. As I have read many of your post, I gather that I need to lower transfer case to take some angle out of driveline. How much, or is it a hit or miss situation. I don’t go off raoding per say. I do use it at a local race track as a first responder to the race crashes. So I do get a little air borne at times getting to a crash. I love my jeep, and really want to get this problem fixed. Thanks for taking your time to read and hopefully help me. Al carrier
Sounds like a transfer case drop might be needed (assuming you’ve eliminated all other possibilities). You could start with 1″ and then gradually add washers for more drop if needed.
Hello. im wondering if u guys could help me with exactly what i need and what the avg cost would be. I want to have my jeep standing taller. I wanna climb into my jeep sort of speak lol. Not too much just enough to be a little more badass. Im 19 and this is my first jeep so i dont know to much. thanks.
“Badass” is in they eye of the beholder.
One of the easiest (and most cost effective) ways to add height is with a budget boost.
Hey,
I(my wife) has a 97 TJ Sport with Manual transmission. It is mostly driven around town, however it will be used for some moderate offroading(camping trips, hunting, etc). No rock crawling or anything crazy. We really want to put 35’s on it, but can we do that with a 4″ lift (Pro Comp, Tuff Country, Rough Country, Rancho, or any other brand) or do we need to purchase additional accessories? SYE, Brake lines, etc? I really don’t want any rubbing if I can avoid it and I haven’t puchased any wheels or tires yet, so I can buy whatever the best size, width, offset you would reccomend. Any suggestions would be great to help me get my ball rollng. Thanks!
35s on 4 inches of lift will be a little tight and you’ll probably get some rubbing. If you’re going with a 4″ suspension lift, you’ll probably want at least a 1″ body lift to accompany it (assuming you don’t want to get into trimming your fenders). Also, with 4″ of lift you’ll “ideally” need an SYE and longer driveshaft to deal with the driveline vibrations. Alternatively, you can add a transfer case (TC) drop to decrease the driveshaft angle and hopefully eliminate your vibes. TC drops are really just a bandaid fix though while the SYE is a better longterm solution.
Hey, I have a 99 wrangler sport, stock automatic. It needs new shocks and I’m thinking of getting a 2″ suspension lift while getting the shocks. I would also like to put 33″s on it after the lift and all. Will I have any rubbing issues? And how much power loss would I have if any? Should I go up to a 4.5 geat ratio? I’m unsure of my current gear ratio(Tried looking but couldn’t find any numbers). I am also very new to jeeps and have no experience with it. I already have trouble going 50 up even slight hills. Thanks alot.
Question answered here:
Can You Fit 33-inch Tires on a Jeep With a 2-inch Lift?