How high am I?

[nevyn]

I recently purchased an '85 CJ7 with a lift installed and running on 33x12.5 tires. The previous owner stated that it has a 6" lift on it but, admitted it was the owner prior to him who had it installed. I don't personally like her quite so high nor how badly she handles/rides. My goal is to lower her to a height more suitable to my tastes and improve the quality of the ride. My thinkin was that my first task was to determine what height/lift I wanted. With this basic idea and wanting to see what my options were with what was on the jeep I went to the site of the current lift's manufacturer.

As, it turned out the company doesn't make a 6" lift for the CJ. I was confused ... was the PO mistaken? The jeep certainly looks like she's got more than 4" of lift. As, I've never owned a vehicle with a lift on it I set out to educate myself. I quickly learned that many people install a CJ to YJ kit in order to use YJ springs. I then went back to the manufacturer of the lift and sure enough they sell a 6" YJ kit. At this point I was guessing they used a conversion kit with the 6" kit. However, looking at the documentation for the 6" lift I noticed that the part numbers didn't match up with what I was seeing on my CJ7 . Again I began to think it was the 4" lift but, also thinking she sure looks high.

I decided to work with the assumption it was a 4" lift. However, as I had already read on jeep forums you can sometimes get more than the advertised lift out of a kit, my next obvious step was to find measurements I could use to determine how much lift I was getting. After all, I can't exactly determine how much lift I want if I don't know how much I have now ... especially since I haven't seen any other CJ7 's in town I might could use for comparison either.

Okay, believe me I know how many times the question of determining amount lift has been asked not only on this forum but, many others as well. The thread http://www.jeep-cj.com/forums/f19/height-dimension-stock-cj7-11713/ was one such thread. I especially liked Busa's diagram which I have come across many times in many different threads. Also, in other threads they don't take tire size in to account so, it makes using their measurements hard.

After all that my problem is this: having read all sorts of threads on determining lift I get conflicting result's that vary from a 3.5" to 5.5" of lift.

I was getting cross-eyed looking for ways to determine how much lift I was getting on my CJ so, I decided to take a break from that and research manufacturers to see who the best were. Obviously there are many good choices out there and as many opinions but, I have been leaning toward a 2.5" OME kit. The problem is still height though. I seems that the 2.5" OME lift actually gives 3" to 3.5" of lift. I think I read somewhere it has to do with it requiring the CJ to YJ conversion that gives the extra height.

Now I'm back were I started and wondering if the OME springs will end up giving me more height than I want since I don't know how much lift I have now. Seeing as how the "How much lift do I have" question hasn't provided me with a satisfactory answer I want to try going at the problem in a different way.

Is there anyone who has recently installed 2.5" OME lift on their CJ7 who can give me measurements that will give me an idea how high mine will be if I were to install it? I realize this may be a strange way to tackle this problem but, I'm at a loss as to what else to do. I don't want to spend lots of $$$ on a lift only to realize I still don't like the height and should have gone with something as low as stock height (CJ to YJ conversion stock height).

Thanks in advance for any and all help.

 

[Torxhead]

I personally would like to keep my CJ as low as possible, just high enough so the tires don't rub and to clear most of the rocks on the trails that I travel. You don't really want to tip the thing over either, if you can help it. I would say a picture would help, we like pics. Usually a lifted CJ can consist of a spring lift, body lift, and spring shackle lift along with setting them up properly. With a little research, you can get your CJ to the right height. Welcome to the forum, you will find a few guys that know quite a bit about CJs.

 

[IOPort51]

the distance between the top of the axle and the bottom of the bump stop , on the front axle is 1" on a stock suspension. Measure what you have and subtract the 1" and that is the lift you have. It will generally be a bit less than advertised.

 

[CJim7]

Traditionally, a 4" lift is appropriate to run 33" tires. 2½" and you will rub unless you extend your bumpstops almost to the axles. It depends on how you want to use it (offroad, onroad)

With YJ conversion springs, keep in mind that YJ springs are much flatter than CJ springs and 4" YJ lift springs are going to net you less lift than 4" CJ springs. But they will be a lot smoother on the road.

 

[Woolyworm]

This isn't an answer to your question about the true lift of the OME kit but it may help.

You have wide axles on the 85 which makes a difference in that it controls where your tires are in relation to your fenders along with the back spacing of the wheels. I assume that your tires are out beyond the sheet metal but 3" or so - correct?

I agree with Torx regarding height.

Are you going to continue to run 33x12.5?


I have a 3" Black Diamond lift which I have heard is Warns copy of the OME. It rides and flexes great and has military end wraps. On my 76 narrow track axles with that lift I can squeeze my 12.5 IROKs inside the fenders if straight but they rub if turned. The tears run on the inside of the tub under compression.

I had 34x10.5 LTB swampers and they tucked inside the well very well with rubbing only at full compression and full turn.

A lower spring lift will ride softer.

You might consider trying the OME kit, which is very nice from what I've heard, and add a 1" body lift down the road if you find you need it.

Good luck and I'm also curious about the OME ride height on the CJ.




Wooly

 

[Neuner]

Also, the lifts will sit higher than normal until they are broken in. My 2.5" OME on my old XJ started off stiff and at about 3.5" until I really flexed it and worked it over.