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.
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Hey.
I’ve got 16 inch alloy wheels on my 07 jeep wrangler unlimited. I’m thinking of sticking with the original wheels and putting on 31 inch tires on. Will this be a problem? I’d prefer not to get a lift. I hear so many different things about tires and rims. I do some light trails but mostly pavement driving. I see that a lot of people switch over to steel wheels, but I honestly dont want to spend the extra money if I dont have to. Any suggestions?
Question answered here: Can You Fit 31-inch Tires on Stock Jeep JK Wheels?
Hey,
I am buying a 2010 JK and will probably never see dirt. I would like to put a 4” Teraflex lift and 35” Boggers or Thornbirds on it. I just want to know from your expereance is there a better lift out there? I had a TJ with a 3.5” Rancho lift with 33” Thornbirds and loved it.
Teraflex is a respected brand name which seems to get decent reviews in general. It’s really tough to say if there’s anything better…or to say what’s the “best” kit out there b/c there are so many brands and tons of kit variations within those brands.
Hey there garrett,
Absolutlly a awsome review. I own a TJ very well modded and i hit the trails on a regualer. My question for you is i just bought a JK, which not to knolagable about. Its my wifes and she want a small lift, 2 inchs. I have been looking around and i love OME, they make a great lift. Will this void my warranty on my powertrain. I have called my local dealer and all they want to do is sell me thier new Mopar 2 inch lift thats not even out yet for 1500(it does come with billstin shocks though) and prob 500 for install. It is a factory replacement set up supposable. Thanks and hope all is well.
Robert,
However, I’ve talked to several friends and read a lot about other peoples experiences with lifts & warranties. The general consensus is that dealers are consistently inconsistent. Some dealers say things like “anything over a 2-inch lift will void your warranty.” Other dealers use a different height number, some say any lift will void the warranty, and yet others will support warranty claims on your lifted Jeep as long as they have done the install.
I’ve heard nothing but great things about Old Man Emu lifts. I run OME shocks on my TJ and I’ve been very happy with them. As far as the warranty issues go, I honestly can’t give you a definitive answer here…my TJ has been out of warranty range for about 10 years now.
I think the best advice I can offer is to call your dealer and ask them outright (sounds like you may have done that). If your dealer is inflexible, you might try calling another dealer in your area to see if their “policy” is different. Also, if you do hear an answer like, “yes, a 2-inch lift is fine and won’t void your warranty”….try to get the dealer to put this in WRITING for you. You’ll want to have some proof in case they change their tune if/when you bring your Jeep in for service later.
Good luck!
BTW, if you’re going to buy an Old Man Emu kit. Make sure you check out DPG Offroad. DPG has very competitive prices on OME stuff and Dirk (I think he’s the owner) is a great guy….Dirk is very knowledgeable and will give you “no-BS” advice.
Disclaimer: I don’t have any relationship w/ DPG. I’ve just been very impressed w/ their customer service & pricing when I’ve dealt w/ them in the past.
I need help Garrett! I have a 1998 2.5 liter with a 2 inch lift kit and 33 Mickey Thompson Baja Belted tires on it. It runs slow and I dont do off roading. I did it for the looks only. While I love the Jeep no matter how slow it drives, I was pulled over the other day and fined for my tires sticking out past the fenders. So….what to do. Should I keep the tires and go with wider fender flares? A Rep from Quadratec told me that wider flares would no look so good. Or should I keep my stock flares (which are all faded) and get new tires? Any recommendations? I love the look it currently has but I am truly lost on what to do. New tires are going to cost me a fortune and I don’t drive the Jeep very often.
Hey Suzanne,
Sucks that you got a ticket. Larger fender flares is probably the cheapest way out. I have Bushwacker Fender Flares on my Jeep and I’ve been happy with them. I run the 6-inch Bushwacker flares and they cover my 33×12.5×15 tires (mounted on rims with 4-inches of backspacing). These flares cost around $450. There are also some cheaper options out there (with different looks) if you shop around a bit. You can see all fender flare reviews (with user-submitted photos) here.
Garrett. I have a 1997 2.5L TJ. I am looking to see about lifting it and have been doing lots of research. I have heard of all the problems that you are discussing but although they are mentioned no one seems to really get into how they affect ME! I only want a 3″ to 4″ lift. My question is if i do this what else do i have to worry about (i.e. brake lines, steering stabalizer, control arms, drive shafts, etc.) I just want to add the 3″ to 4″ lift that doesnt break the bank but i also want to know exactly what i am getting into before i start. I was just wondering if you could bore me with some of the problem details you left out?
Sean,
It’s hard to answer this question “exactly.” There are few reasons for that such as: every Jeep is different, every Jeep owner has different expectations/budgets, many lift kits come with different components,etc. Regarding 3-4″ lifts, you can put in a basic lift like a Rough Country 4″ kit (a buddy of mine just did this last week). Aside from the kit itself, he ended up also buying new tires (obviously), new rims (with more backspacing) to accommodate larger tires, and new fender flares to cover the wider tires (and keep the Jeep “legal”). His kit came with lower control arms so he was able to get his alignment back into spec. He didn’t put in a new driveshaft, but opted for the transfer case drop that came with the kit. He DID replace the steering stabilizer separately b/c his stock one was shot. So, with that he now has a Jeep rolling on 33s and looking pretty good.
So, is he done buying parts? I’d say no because eventually his driveshaft vibes will get worse (if he keeps the Jeep long enough)…this will require an SYE kit, new driveshaft, and adjustable control arms to fix. He’ll also eventually want lower gears if he goes offroad frequently (for now he’s just “dealing” with the power loss). He’ll eventually end up buying new shocks b/c the Rough Country shocks are pretty cheap. He “may” end up buying a new rear axle if he wheels hard b/c he’s got a Dana 35 in the rear currently. He doesn’t “have” to do all of those mods now, but (in my opinion) many of them will be necessary if he drives the Jeep alot (esp. offroad). So, yeah, you can get rolling with a “basic” kit, but your purchasing probably won’t stop there. Hope that helps.
I have a 1997 jeep wrangler with a 4″ lift and 33″ tires. I have taken it to climb a little, but not as much as it should be out there. I recommend that if you want to use it for off-road then the lift and tires are exactly what you need, but if its just for around town I would not do anything like that. Before I lifted my jeep, I got 15mpg (I know, doesnt sound right for a 4cyl) and after the lift and tires i believe i am getting 10-12 around the city. I want to sell it because it gets horrible gas, but i love the fact i sit up high and the waves to the passing jeeps. I think that gas is more important to me at this point since the economy is down. I want to sell it, but i have no idea what to price it can someone help me with the pricing because i dont believe kbb understands because i have seen jeeps that are lifted and have tires and a soft top with 89,000 miles (same as mine but i have a hard top) for about $7,500. Do you think i can get $10,000 since i also have a stereo system in it?
Garrett,
This was a great article. Everything you’ve said is “spot on”. Having recently purchased a well used TJ which needed some suspension components replaced anyway, I too started out with a “basic” kit – a 2.5″ coil spring, shock, transfer case lowering kit (…no plans for muddin’ or rock crawling – I don’t think I’d enjoy washing mud balls the size of bowling balls off my driveway or fixing things that break after I already fixed them the weekend before). Indeed, the basic kit was just the beginning… that led to adjustable sway bar links, adjustable track bars, control arms, and I also see drive line work in my future… all of which are little things that quickly add up moneywise. I’m really not complaining… it’s not my daily driver – just a weekend ride and project vehicle, but as you indicated, one thing certainly does lead to another.
Hi, I am about to turn 16 and my dad bought me a 1999 jeep wrangler sport. He wants to put a 4″ skyjacker suspension lift kit on it, but he says he would go 6″ but he doesn’t want to replace gears and have to buy an extended stearing rod and all that expensive and labor intensive stuff. I’m going to put 33″ nitto mud grapplers on it and 17″ procomp alloy rims on it. I plan to go mudding and maby rock crawling quite frequently. If I were to put a 6″ lift would we have to change everything? What about a 4″ suspension and 2″ body? How do you feel about programmers? Do they actually work? And also are air lockers or electromagnetic lockers helpfull? And is there anything you recomend instead of what I am going to put on it?
Robert,
Congrats on the new TJ. In my opinion, 6″ of lift is overkill if you’re going to run 33s. However, even with 4″ of lift, you’ll still probably end up replacing control arms, front & rear trackbars, & driveshaft at some point (esp. if you wheel it regularly). FYI, the need for gears isn’t related to lift height, it’s related to what size tires you run. A gear change isn’t mandatory with 33s, but your perceived power loss will really vary depending upon what gears you’ve got now. In my opinion, 3.73 gears are bearable with 33s, but if you’ve got something like 3.07s now you’ll probably find yourself itching for lower gears once you put 33s on.
You asked about “programmers”….I’m assuming you’re referring to computer chips (ie. Jet Chip). Personally, I’ve never tried them, but the general consensus I’ve heard from the Jeep community is don’t waste your money. Lockers are certainly helpful and provide significantly more traction if you plan to do a lot of offroading. Selectable lockers (e.g. air, cable, electric) offer more flexibility b/c you can lock & unlock whenever you want, but that flexibility comes with a higher price tag.
garrett,
Hey great article I have a 94 jeep grand cherokee laredo I just put a 4 inch rouch country suspension lift on it and 31s toyo ats i wanna know what you think about puttin a 2 inch body lift on it to put 33s i off road pretty regularly I just wanna know what you think about that and will have to elongate things and if its even a good idea and what i should do about gearing it is 4 all time and what else should I do to it thanks man
Taylor, You can’t put a body lift on a grand cherokee. Both grand cherokees and XJ cherokees are uni-body which means the body and the frame are one peice. not a body on frame. If you want 2 more inches put some spacers on between the coils.
Also do you recommend any brand for lift kit?
There are tons of different brands out there. Check out the lift kit reviews on the main site.
I just bought a 98 TJ Sahara. It has a six inch long arm suspension lift with BFG 35’s. I want to get a new exhaust and headers. Am I going to need any modifying to the exhaust when I install it. What size gears do you recommend for 35’s with a mixture of on and off road driving? I’ve heard go with 4.56 and 4.88. Thanks
I’ve got a 98TJ too…have a Banks header and Magnaflow muffler. Didn’t really need to do any special mods to the exhaust…just some custom pipe bends to try and protect the pipe from rocks. For 35s, most people say either 4.56s or 4.88s. Personally, I’d go with the 4.88s. I’ve got 4.56s w/ 33s and I think that’s a perfect combo. If I had 35s, I’d want 4.88s.
Thanks for the help Garrett.
I was wondering if you could fit 33’s on a brand new 2012 jeep rubicon?
At this point, I haven’t seen/heard the specs on the 2012 yet. Currently though, you can fit 33s on a JK but you’re going to get some rubbing (esp. offroad). To be safe, I think you’ll want a small spacer lift (2″ Budget Boost would be good) to clear 33s and have no rubbing offroad. You’ll also need to adjust your rim backspacing for the wider tires.
First, thanks for the insight.
How should you go about installing the lift kit? Should you try and get the kit yourself and (me not being too technically inclined) shop around to garages on install or should I buy the kit AND install at the garage all at once? With all that being said, what’s the best way not to get hosed by the garage when they see an unsuspecting victim coming with 3 inches of lift and big ol tires in their eyes?
If you’re definitely going to pay someone else to install, I’d make sure you talk to them first. Find out first if they’ll allow you to bring in your own kit or if you have to buy from them. Sometimes shops will warranty the kit & install if you buy everything from them. If possible, I’d definitely try to find a shop that has a lot of experience w/ Jeeps specifically…get some references from them before agreeing to anything.
Hey. Just wondering if anyone could help me. Im wanting to get a lift on my 99 wrangler but im not really sure what to get. It well be used on road more than off but when it is off it will be mainly in mud. I drive it everyday so I want something that rides good to. Thanks for the help!
I have a 2006 Jeep Wrangler SE with a 4″ suspension lift and 33×12.50’s on it. I’m noticing a hard time on pickup speed on the highway. It’s approaching new tire time and I couldn’t help but wonder, would getting smaller tires help me with this? I don’t do much offroading and would like to still have a mean looking Jeep. What size would you recommend?
Mike,
Yeah, I think what you’re experiencing is the power loss that happens when you put the larger tires on your Jeep (without regearing to lower gears). If you downsized to something like a 30″ tire, you’d see a big difference in your acceleration/pickup. However, 30″ tires will look pretty tiny w/ 4″ of lift…so, it’s your call on what’s most important to you (looks or acceleration).
Hey I have been thinking about getting a 98′ Grand Cherokee, but I am thinking about getting a lift for it when I buy it. I have heard that a 2″ spacer lift is the highest I should go if I don’t want to spend a ton of money (over 700) on making the jeep stable and drive correctly. I was wondering if this was true and since i might hit the trails a couple times, but nothing extreme if this is enough lift for a good look. Also what tire size would be best for that lift?
think the max tire you can run w/ 2 inches of lift is a 31 x 10.5. Your call on whether that’s big enough for a “good look” or not. As you mentioned, yes things will get a lot more involved (and costly) if you want to go a lot larger than that.
alright thanks, and is 2″ the max that i can go without doing anything else to it or would I be able to do like a 2.5″ or 3″ spacer lift?
Hi, thanks for a great article.
I have a few questions if anyone would be willing to give me some advice. I have a 2008 Grand Cherokee 4X4. I just installed a 3.5 inch Rock Krawler X Factory Lift Kit. I also installed Mamba Type MR-1 wheels with 265/70/17 BFG All-Terrains. I’m more concerned with looks, then off-road performance. However my main concern is the durability and longevity of my Jeep. In other words, I want to do whatever I need to do to ensure the proper operation of my Jeep. My next step was to add an ARB front bumper or something similar (any suggestions on front bumpers would be appreciated). My question is this: before I go on to further improve the aesthetics of my Jeep, is there anything I should be doing now to ensure that the new additions to my Jeep “play nicely” with the rest of my Jeep? Do I need to upgrade any parts that may now be under more stress then they previously were? Thanks for any advice you guys might have.
-Logan
Hi and thanks for the article.
I have a 91 YJ with 31’s and they are rubbing really bad. My springs are shot and I would like to keep the 31’s. I have been told I would need a 2.5 inch lift for the 31s but I don’t have much to spend on it. I also don’t want any further problems by putting a lift in. Do you think i would be able to go with a 2 inch body lift and new stalk springs or should i go with a 2 inch suspension lift? I will be using the jeep for my every day driver but also for off road I am not into the really extreme stuff but just want it for getting into remote lakes and some deactivated roads. Do you think I would need a bigger lift and would a suspension lift cause more problems than a body lift? With a 2 inch basic lift would I need other modifications?
If you replace your springs, you should get a lot of clearance back (those old springs sag a lot over time). With new, stock springs the 31s should fit, but you’ll probably get some rubbing on bumps (and it won’t be ideal for offroading). A 1″ body lift should give the extra clearance you need.
Thanks Garrett. I really appreciate the advice.
Garrett,
I just installed a Zone 4″ lift kit and put 33×12.5×15 tires on it. I noticed that the engine slopes backwards a little bit now and I was wondering if that is because the transfer case drop or do I have a more serious problem? Also, will an SYE eliminate the need for the transfer case drop, therefore correcting my sloped engine. Other than this, I love the lift so far(no offroading yet, but it looks badass). Thanks!
Thank you for this very informative post Garret. I have a 2005 Grand Cherokee and I want to do a 2″ spacer lift and Bilstein shocks with a 31″ tire. It’s a daily driver (mainly highway; occasionally beach sand dune trails). I was wonder if I would end up having to spend a lot more money on future with only a 2″ lift. Would I? I’ve been doing a lot of searching and I think that this is the safest lift. Also, will this tire give me any power lost? The stock tire is 245/65/17 and the tire I’m putting on is 245/70/17.
Thank you.
Marcus.
hey, i have aa 2007 black jk wrangler.. most of the time im at the pavement not offroading but sometimes i do go offroading not aggrreessive offroading but light, what sugggestions can you give me for my jeep dealing with tire, wheelss and lift kits,,,(i dont want all terrain tires…)
Hi Garret, Thanks for the article it is very helpfull.
I just had a couple quick questions. I have a ‘99 XJ with 31″ tires, and as you answered for someone else the 31″ rub. I was thinking about getting a 2 or 3.5 rubicon express lift kit since they run about 250-500$ (give or take). I dont plan on getting into really rough terrain since it is my only vehicle I want to make sure it lasts a while, but I do like to get into some kind of rough areas sometimes. Do you have any experience with rubicon express? are they good?. Also if I were to buy a lift kit that did not come with new shocks would I need to buy some right away or would I be ok as long as it wasnt too large of a lift? Thank you very much I look forward to your reply.
Steven
Garret,
I have a 04 WJ and i was thinking about just puting a 2″ lift on it. Then put some all terrains on it. Which kit would you suggest? And what tires would go good with a 2″ lift?
Hi, my name is john. I have read all kinds of articles on the pros and cons of lifting a jeep and they all say “well, it depends on what you plan on using the jeep for. I know that sometimes giving someone a straight answer can be difficult if the intentions for the jeep are unknown. Im waiting for someone to say, ” If you are planning on doin some serious off roadin, this is what you need. If you only want the lift for appearance, than this is what you need. Needless to say im still waiting, so im gonna ask,and hopefully I can get a straight answer. I am planning on putting a 3 or 4 inch lift on my 97 wrangler sport. I also plan on purchasing 16 in rims w 33 in tires. I live in colorado and love to go camping, but I dont do any serious offroadin. My jeep is the only car I have, so it needs to be road worthy. Heres the question, what is the best route to take? 3 or 4 in lift 33in tires 16 in rims and 65 on the highway. Please suggest something, im getting tired of driving a mail truck around town lol. If you can help, please do
Thanks, John
I have 08 jeep wrangler and wanna go big on it when i come back from deployment. How much of a lift is to much and tires as well whats a good lift to tire ratio for the’s jeeps?
hi i bought my daughter a 95 yj it has 30`s on it,is it ok to put shackles that are bigger or not ? its a hardtop and it looks like the back is sagging ..or should i just just new springs all the way around to fit 31`s ? i was going to put a lift but daughter is only 16 its a auto 4cyl. what should do just to get it up a little higher ?
If the springs are sagging really bad (that’s common for old YJs), you’ll probably want to replace them . If you replace your springs, you should get a lot of clearance back (those old springs sag a lot over time). With new, stock springs the 31s should fit, but you’ll probably get some rubbing on bumps (and it won’t be ideal for offroading). A 1″ body lift should give the extra clearance you need.
Garret,
This is the objective advice/suggestion/help I have been looking for. I have a ‘10 JK and know very little about kits etc. I love the look of lifted Jeeps however, I am one of those that will probably only see fire roads/dirt etc. No climbing or looking for challenging terrain. Access to outdoors fun at best, fly fishing, mountain biking etc. I think I will slow it down and really figure out if having the amazing look is worth jumping in. I plan on keeping my Jeep for a long time so any mods that will cause new vibrations, undue wear etc really doesnt appeal to me. If there is a true on kit does it all and removes the “fun” things you mention I may be in but until I am educated on the subject I will keep reading your post. This site will get saved.
Cheers,
BobbyD
I have a 2006 jeep wrangler rubicon and I want to fit 35″ tires under it, but lifting it the as little as possible, but WITHOUT having to trim anything. Now, I have a secondary vehicle, so road handling isn’t my main concern although I certainly don’t want death wobbles. What is the most efficient way to do this? A combination of Flat fenders and a small lift is what I had in mind, but I don’t know exactly what combination I would need. Right now, it’s sitting bone stock apart from slightly more aggressive tires. Any suggestions would be great.
If you’re going to run flat fenders and 35s, you can probably get away with a 3-inch lift (I’ve seen a few Jeeps with this setup). A potential alternative to flat/tube fenders is also some flares that offer more clearance like the Xenon flat flares. Lastly, and probably the most expensive route is to go with something like the AEV Highline Body Kit.
With a JK 35’s and flat fender flares is easily doable with no lift. 3.5 to 4 inch backspaced wheels and extended bumpstops and your all set.
hey garrett i have a 1999 jeep gc larado wj and i want to get a 4in suspenstion lift the lifts a rough county 4inch lift will i have to put longer brake lines and and get a longer sterring colium and would the 4 in b a good on and off the road the off roading is just going to b beach riding and minore trail ridding and wat tires would b a good set ott all around tires
Ok here’s a question for anyone ..I just bought a 97 tj the Guy I bought it from put some kind of lift and 33 12.5 15 which had to go immediately. Anyway I’m trying to decide how big of a suspension lift to put on it. I already have a body lift in it and bought some 31 12.5 15 tsl boggers. Ok here’s the kicker it has a 4 cylinder in it and a manual transmission. I know its never going to be a speed deamon but I’ve really enjoyed it so far. I’m thinking about a 4″ but for a couple hundred more I can get a 6″ any advice (other than get rid of it) will be greatly appreciated. Money isn’t a problem so feel free to recommended a good lift kit.
Just one question. Do I need a SYE and CV Shaft for a 2006 Unlimited lifted 4″ with 33″ tires? Thanks
Eric,
Since the Unlimited has a longer driveshaft (as opposed to a standard TJ) you should be able to get away with a 4″ lift without doing a slip yoke eliminator (SYE) and a CV shaft.
Thanks Garrett, had alot of conflicting opinions figured I get some more before I make any purchases
Hi Garrett,
I have a 91 yj and with 31″ tires I am planning to put new stock leaf springs for front and rear, and shocks for the front.( I have already replaced the rear ones). I am wondering if i put a 1″ shackle lift in if I would need more than stock shocks or if stock ones would do the job? I am also wondering if the 1″ shackle lift would have much of a negative affect on the vehicles original design regarding changing the angle of the drive shaft? or is it worth spending more money and time on a 1″body lift?
Admittedly, I’m not a YJ expert, but most YJ owners seems to recommend the 1″ body lift vs. the 1″ shackle (given a choice between the two). The shackle lift can throw off your alignment and require tweaks to fix. That being said, some people just don’t prefer the “gap” that’s left between the body/frame post-bodylift…so, I guess it’s up to you.
I’ve got a 2007rubicon 2 door jk(18,000 miles)with a 4inch super lift and 35s. After getting it back from the shop who put it on, I had a massive death wobble. Took it back immediately and they fixed it somewhat. Now when I hit a bump I still get wobble but it comes out instantly. Is there anything else I could do
Hey Travis,
Death wobble is often caused by issues with the front trackbar. If the front trackbar isn’t torqued down to spec, you can get bad wobbles. So, I’d double/triple-check that your trackbar is in good shape and is really tight (especially where it bolts to the axle). Also, if you don’t have an adjustable front trackbar, that “could” be causing the issue too. Sometimes lift kits suggest that you just re-use your stock trackbar and redrill the trackbar hole at the axle end to accommodate for the higher lift height and trackbar alignment change…however, this can cause issues if you don’t drill your new hole perfectly and get a nice tight fit. This happened to me on my TJ. I tried to cheap-out and re-use the stock trackbar by drilling a new hole. Did the drilling very precisely, but still couldn’t get the Jeep’s handling dialed in. Adjustable trackbar made a big difference for me.
FYI, you’ll find lots of people that say they fixed their death wobble by replacing the steering stabilizer with a new one (or a beefier one)…this may work, but honestly your Jeep shouldn’t have bad death wobble with a regular steering stabilizer. If it does, it’s probably an indicator that there is a bigger problem (like with the trackbar). Sometimes these things are hard to pinpoint as alignment & tire balancing can also cause handling & wobble/shimmy issues, but I’d take a look at the trackbar first. Good luck!
hi, i bought a 01 jeep wrangler sport with a 4 inch suspention lift and a 2 inch body lift with 35/14.50 swampers. my tires are wearing out and my shock broke. i ordered new shocks and my dad ordered 6 inch shocks instead of 4 inch. i want a 6 inch suspention lift so if i kept those new shocks he got me and got new 6 inch springs would that be considered a 6 inch suspention lift? and what all would i have to change as in drive shatf and pinion angles to get that extra 2 inches?
thanks,
Cam
Hi im getting a 2011 sahara unlimited and i want either 35s or 37s what would i need to do to really maximize its potential and how much would it cost.
hey Garrett
i just got a good deal on a 95 jeep wrangler 4 banger just paid 3500 and it has a 100k miles so i jump on in but i have no idea what to get for it next… i know the vacuum lines are broken for the 4wd so i am getting a posi lock, but as far a lift goes i have no idea what to go with parts and good complete lift kits because this is my first jeep
i was looking to get a 4 inch lift because it already has 33s with a 2 inch body lift, but the tires scrub. if you can put me in a good direction for a good complete kit i got about 1000 to spend on a lift
i would like to do it once and do it right the first time and if i have to save more then it will have to wait
wheeling is a constant thing for me like i go every weekend around town
Daryl
been looking at the rc 4 inch lift how do you rate that?
Hey garret that was a great article.So I was wondering would it be a good idea to put a 3in lift on a 2003 wrangler with 32s or 33s. I haven’t gotten the jeep yet but would like to know for when I do ,I would be doing a good bit or on road with a good amount of pure mud.
Thanks for the info .
Garrett, do they make a shock that will lift the jeep without a lift kit? I am trying to find a shock that will give about a 2 inch lift w/o changing anything else.
I have a 1995 wrangler and I want to put a budget boost on it. What components must I buy to lift it? I want to spend the least amount of money possible.
Hello,
I currently have an 05 TJ Sport rolling on 31″ Goodyear MT/R’s. No lift. I have been working with a specialty shop to figure out what is best for me in terms of lift kit/bigger tires. I have been looking at the 4″ Pro Comp Stage I kit, with 33″ tires (Mickey Thompson MTZ). The more I read on forums, etc and through the great info you have offered here, there is the likelyhood that I will end up spending more money down the road.
My question is, if I opt for a smaller lift, like the Pro Comp 2.5″, with 32″x11.5R15 tires, could I avoid some of the costly complications that seem common with bigger lifts? (speed wobble, driveshaft vibrations, etc) This is a daily driver, that gets shined up at the site of mud. Looking to beef it up for aesthetics and the occasional fishing trip on a gravel road. Thank you very much in advance, great site for those of us that know very little…..
So I have a CJ7. 77. I’m looking to put a lift on it I was wondering if a 3″ is gonna be good enough to I’m prove my trail ride. I just don’t wanna go to big or to small. It rides great for stock it will hang with all the lifted Jeeps. Just have to work a lil harder
So I plan on buying the 2012 rubicon unlimited. I want to put a lift on it with some bigger tires. I live out in the country but I drive more highway than dirt. I plan on useing it on the weekend for the trails. So my question is what would be a good setup for my situation?( lift, tires, bumpers, etc…)
i have a 95 wrangler rio grande that has 6in sus lift and 33’s on it what the biggest size tires i could put on with out more lift or cutting the finder wells
Hey man! i love the review! But i was wondering i am in highschool and wish i could hit the trials with my jeep! i am thinking just a 2 inch life. but i will not be out on the trails or mudding a lot. just here and there! its mainly a pavement jeep what do you think i should do?
Hey Garrett,
So I have a 99 Cherokee and I’m thinking about lifting her with a 3” suspension kit and getting some new tires. This past summer I had new left springs put in because the old ones were flattening out, new brakes all around, and some other basic work done. I mostly do pavement driving(college student) but I do enjoy off roading when I can. I guess I’m just wondering what the kit should include (control arms, etc) and if I should go long arm or not? Any input would be great
thanks
I see you! Unless you are really going to off-road you don’t need to buy this
I have a 2000 jeep xj i want to go with a 6 rough counrty 900 dollar basic kit and which of the extra parts that they sell as extras do i need
Hey Garrett,
Thanks for all the great replies so far, they are very much appreciated. I have a 2010 JK Sport that came with stock P255/75R17’s. I’m looking to upgrade to some 33″ Duratracs, either LT285/75R16 or LT305/70R16, so I’ll be better prepared for some light trails and the delightful New England winters. For now, I would prefer to avoid any additonal mods if possible. As my daily driver, it sees about 95% road 5% dirt, and nothing too challenging offroad. Will some extra backspacing on the new wheels be enough to eliminate the slight rub with that setup? Also if I were to go that route, how will that affect all the additional issues you mentioned (ie death wobble, steering stabalizer, control arms, etc.)? As you said, I’ll probably be able to get by for a while, but I plan on having the Jeep for a very long time so I would much rather do it properly the first time and not risk long term issues. Unfortunately, it has 3.21 gears atm so I am also concerned that moving to 33s will turn it into a complete slug on the highway, and I really don’t have the bank for a regear right now. Any insight here would be great. Thanks again man.
Matt
Hey Garret, so I am going to be buying a new Jeep not sure which one yet, ide like to start hitting the trails and this will be a car I will be driving on the pavement as well. I will probably be off the road 15% of the time. I want something hopefully big and badass that makes the other jEeps jealous and that should last quite a while, any advice?
Jennifer,
If I could do it all over again, I’d buy a Rubicon. They’re super-capable out of the gate and they’ve got extra goodies (e.g. stronger axles, 4.10 gears, lockers, 4:1 ratio transfer case) which will fit well with future upgrades like larger tires. Unfortunately, they didn’t make Rubi’s in 1998 when I bought my TJ new. Good luck.
i currently have a 99 wrangler sport. i have a 2in body lift and running 31″s. i wanna put 33″ thornbirds on my stock rims . i was just wondering if they will slide right on and not have to cut or take off anything or what will i have to do to make them fit on there good with the less amount of money spent possible.
Hey Garret, I have a 2006 Jeep Liberty 65th Anniversary. I am looking to lift it and put new tires on it.Do you have any recommendations on what brand of suspension lift to use or how many inches it is safe to lift it?
Thank You!
Hey my name is Nick,
I’m thinking I want to put a 2 maybe 3″ left on my 95 grand cherokee but have a few questions on lift kits.
So If I want a 2″ lift it come with coils and shacks or another lift I’m looking at comes with shacks and 2″ spacers for about the same price. Witch one should I go with and if I’m lifting it 2-3″ do I need to replace my lower control arms?..
G’day, I own an 03 WJ which I had lifted 2″ by way of coil resetting for looks only. I have just ordered a set of 2″ coil spacers to add to the lift to compensate for the coils settling.
Will I run into trouble with my shocks, steering etc. The only off road I will be doing is beach and flat dirt tracks, other than that it’s only pavement city driving.
I would love to hear from you.
Nes
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