Another Lift Question.......From a new guy....

[Stormrider]

I am new to this site and I know there are a lot of lift questions and so forth but I wanted to ask you guys about my CJ7 and see what you guys think.

Well, I just bought this CJ7 and it has 33'' tires on it now, so I am assuming that it has some kind of a lift otherwise it would probably rub but it doesn't. I don't know how much lift it has. I am guessing 2.5''-3". What do you guys think?

The shocks are old and the springs seem to be sagging a little in the back so I want to put another lift on it anyways. If I do a 4'' lift, it should clear the tires and maybe have a little more clearance than it does now don't you think?

Also, I don't want to spend alot so I am thinking about buying a Rough Country 4" lift kit on ebay with shocks and drop pitman arm for $510 shipped. Does any have any feedback about this kit? I know I will need to change the brake line but do I need to do anything else?

Sorry it's so long...and thanks in advance for any advice!!!!

Louie.






.

 

[Petescj]

Little tough to see but looks to be a shackle lift definately. Not sure on the springs. Looks a bit homebrew , like the springs are longer (rear ones ) and from a different vehicle.

 

[bdunnam]

Well personally I would keep the lift it has on it, unless you just have the extra money and the rest of your jeep is in working order. But I do have a rough country 4" lift and i like it, its a little stiff in the front but it handles just as good as it did without the lift, and plenty of flex.

 

[Stormrider]

Little tough to see but looks to be a shackle lift definately. Not sure on the springs. Looks a bit homebrew , like the springs are longer (rear ones ) and from a different vehicle.

I am not sure but here's a better picture. I don't like the sagging in the rear though. I guess maybe I can add a leaf?

 

[Stormrider]

Well personally I would keep the lift it has on it, unless you just have the extra money and the rest of your jeep is in working order. But I do have a rough country 4" lift and i like it, its a little stiff in the front but it handles just as good as it did without the lift, and plenty of flex.

I definately don't have the extra money but I just want to raise the back a little and maybe give it a little more clearance. It's good to know about the rough country kit though because if I do replace the lift, I would probably go with that one. Did you have to do anything else along with the lift?

 

[Oldguyinajeep]

I'm new to this forum as well, but have already found it to be a great resource. I have an '86 CJ7 with a 2.5" Rancho lift. I've run 33s on it for over 6 yrs, and never had a rubbing issue, even over some very rough trails. The main advantage to the lesser lift is it requires no other modification. I'm using my stock brakelines and Pitman arm. You also maintain a nice low center of gravity.

 

[Stormrider]

I'm new to this forum as well, but have already found it to be a great resource. I have an '86 CJ7 with a 2.5" Rancho lift. I've run 33s on it for over 6 yrs, and never had a rubbing issue, even over some very rough trails. The main advantage to the lesser lift is it requires no other modification. I'm using my stock brakelines and Pitman arm. You also maintain a nice low center of gravity.

Yes this forum is very helpful. I talked to a guy at a 4x4 shop in Charlotte today and he told me that even with the 4'' lift, I wouldn't have to replace the brake lines unless I hit the trails. I would only be driving it in the streets mainly and on the beach a couple of times a year. He said that the dropped pitman arm and the Transfer Case spacers would be all that I'd have to replace and the 4'' would clear 35'' tires. Can you post a picture of your Jeep from the side so I can see what it looks like with the 2.5'' lift? Thanks.

 

[Az84cj7]

I also run 33" tires with the rancho 2.5" springs and shackles. You will for sure get a way better ride going with somthing like this as opposed to the 4" rough country. Plus you already have the shackles which will give you and extra inch for a total of 3.5". And you shouldnt have to modify anything.
I also went with a 1" body spacer because I was rubbing just a tiny bit. You would need spacers for the beach!

 

[Oldguyinajeep]

Here's a side view. Hope this helps

Ron

 

[Stormrider]

Here's a side view. Hope this helps

Ron

Yes Ron, it helps a lot in more ways than one. That's an awesome looking CJ and it gives me motivation to go ahead and restore mine. I can't wait til it warms up a little then me and my 5 year old son will jump all over it!

 

[Stormrider]

I also run 33" tires with the rancho 2.5" springs and shackles. You will for sure get a way better ride going with somthing like this as opposed to the 4" rough country. Plus you already have the shackles which will give you and extra inch for a total of 3.5". And you shouldnt have to modify anything.
I also went with a 1" body spacer because I was rubbing just a tiny bit. You would need spacers for the beach!

Well I guess I'll have to reconsider then. I didn't know that those were bigger shackles. If I can get 3.5'' total, that would be ok with me too. Thanks.

 

[Petescj]

Sorry I lost sight of this thread. I have some used 2 1/2 springs on mine with the minimal lift aftermarket shackles. It cleared 33s but rubbed enough when off camber that I took out the sawzall and threw some Tj flares on.

 

[Cheepjeep85]

"ROUGH" country, just that. a good priced kit, usually cheaper that rough country is the rusty's offroad 4" lift, 2yrs on mine and extremely happy with it. 33s and 4" no rubbing.
Rustys Offroad: CJ 4" Spring Pack Kit ('76-'86)
don't really need a dropped pitman arm with manual steering if thats what you have.

 

[Stormrider]

Sorry I lost sight of this thread. I have some used 2 1/2 springs on mine with the minimal lift aftermarket shackles. It cleared 33s but rubbed enough when off camber that I took out the sawzall and threw some Tj flares on.

That's actually a great idea and looks pretty good too. I might consider that if mine rubs. Thanks.

 

[Stormrider]

"ROUGH" country, just that. a good priced kit, usually cheaper that rough country is the rusty's offroad 4" lift, 2yrs on mine and extremely happy with it. 33s and 4" no rubbing.
Rustys Offroad: CJ 4" Spring Pack Kit ('76-'86)
don't really need a dropped pitman arm with manual steering if thats what you have.

The kit that I was thinking about getting comes with the dropped pitman arm for my power steering.

 

[cj5grandnationalturbo]

From what I saw in the pictures all the jeep has on it is the shackles. That means probably a 2 1/2 inch lift. Going to a four inch kit is a good idea but I would not go with the rough country. It is cheap for a reason. In my experience and from what I've been told there ride sucks and they don't last that long. I use sky jackers because I like how soft they are and they are good long last spring and wont cost you must more than the rough county kit. Also Your probably going to have to get new drive shafts or get your lengthened.

 

[yuanyelss]

I would keep the lift it has on it, unless you just have the extra money and the rest of your jeep is in working order. But I do have a rough country 4" lift and i like it, its a little stiff in the front but it handles just as good as it did without the lift, and plenty of flex......

 

[jeep whisperer]

i have an 84 CJ7 . i originally had the shackle lift. but the whole front axel would sway side left and right. it drove like . now i have the rough country 4in. lift with stock shackles. i'm running 34x9.50 super swamper tsl's. they do rub a little bit. it's a really stiff lift and take's a lot of the comfort out of the jeep. but handle's better down the road than the shackle lift. you need some weight in the rear to smooth out the ride. i don't know if i would go with the same lift again or not. just remember you get what you pay for.

 

[Stormrider]

i have an 84 CJ7 . i originally had the shackle lift. but the whole front axel would sway side left and right. it drove like . now i have the rough country 4in. lift with stock shackles. i'm running 34x9.50 super swamper tsl's. they do rub a little bit. it's a really stiff lift and take's a lot of the comfort out of the jeep. but handle's better down the road than the shackle lift. you need some weight in the rear to smooth out the ride. i don't know if i would go with the same lift again or not. just remember you get what you pay for.

I have put alot of thought into the lift and even talk to a couple of guys at my local 4x4 shop. They told me that I just have shackles plus a couple add a leaf springs on it now. I have decided to go with a 2.5'' BDS lift kit. The new springs and those shackles that's already on there should give me at least 3.5'' total and that would be good enough for me. I will also be doing the dropped pitman arm, Transfer Case spacers, shocks, stabilizer, endlinks, and thinking about changing to beefier tie rods also. It's a little more than the rough country kit but it's got a lifetime warranty and I think that I would be much happier with the ride.

 

[jeep whisperer]

i would go with the 4 in. lift. the half inch doe's make a difference. it seem's like a jeep owner always want's to stuff bigger tire's under there. i went from 31's to 33's x 10.50 and i'm now running 34 x 9.50 and have been thinking of 36 in swampers. the nice thing about the year you have, it's that you should have narrower axels that's a good thing if you want bigger wider tires in the future. you should look up other year jeep CJ7 and look at the different in year jeeps and what size lift and tire's they are running. this will give you good idea on what your jeep could look like in the future. this will also save you the disappointment when you buy a lift that has a picture of a newer cj and it sit's better on a 82-86 than it would on a 76-81. do your research before you buy.
good luck and happy jeeping.


"jeepen aint easy, but it's fun!"