I need (suspension) voices in my head...

[RajahSC]

Hey guys! I'm looking for some voices of experience here. It's time to purchase a lift for my '79 CJ7 and the choices are all beginning to run together. Hopefully, you guys can shed some light on what I'm after because I'm having difficulty figuring out what I need.

This is what I want:
-to run a 31" tire with 15x8 wheels (or 15 x 10)
-as little lift as I can get by with
-I don't like body lifts
-I need new springs anyway as mine are shot.

I have looked through extensive catalogs and online. I guess a 1.5 or 2 1/2" lift is what I'm wanting but here are some things I need to know-

Do I need a dropped pitman arm with these short lifts?
Do I need a dropped Transfer Case pan with these lifts?
What about caster changes with a short lift?

I'm looking for a nearly stock height but want a little bigger tire. Anyone have any experience with a good lift kit? Any recommendations?

I've priced replacing the stock springs and such with stock stuff and the cost is about the same, but I couldn't run 31's (they say). Right now I've got 2 axles sitting on jacks and the frame is on jack stands, so I'm at work stoppage

Price is an object, but then again so is ride and hitting the height right the first time. I dont mind paying for the right kit, but which one is right? My jeep had a 4" lift on it and it was done right, but that is too tall for my tastes and makes 31's look small. a 1 to 2" lift is an entirely different animal, I think.

I would sure appreciate all answers, hints, advice, recommendations, and warnings. Or any other comments you'd like to throw in.

Sorry for the long post!
-Chuck

 

[Jimbos76cj]

For 31's I would look into a decent body lift..1"-1.5" if ride is what your going for a set of good stock springs, 1" body lift and .5"-1" shackle lift will put you there. I would start with new stock springs and see how the 31's fit. When you get into spring lifts they start getting stiffer. The taller you go the stiffer they get. I stuffed a set of 35's under a Cj with only 4" lift springs.. They fit well.. I'm sure if I was to flex em and stuff the tires that they would rub but I never had to flex it like that. I worked on a yj that fit 32 tires with stock springs. They rubbed when hitting speed bumps so a 2" body lift was put on and took care of it.

With all that being said I'm not a fan of the body lifts and shackle lift but do believe that as long as they do not get to big that they serve a purpose. If you go to bigger springs you will need longer shocks, drop pitman arm, and extended break lines. If you go up to a 4" lift you will almost certainly need a cv shaft, have to adjust your front caster and trough in a Transfer Case drop.

Doing the small shackle lift and 1" body lift will keep you from having to buy all of that stuff.

 

[hole]

I'm very fond of the OME YJ conversion I did to my 8. The ride is smoother than it was stock, not too high (3" is the claim) and no issues with dropping Transfer Case . I'm running 30" tires on stock 15x7 rims

 

[NorthwestCJer]

You can get 2.5 inch springs for around 80 bucks each. You say your springs are shot already so I agree with no body lift and I do not like long shackles. And the YJ springs are not a bolt in. You will have to change the hangers.
If you are just wanting a bolt in low cost way of taking the sag out and only running 31" tires.

I will throw another option at you. "Add a leaf". we used to do this a lot. You will not need to change anything else, like shocks.

http://www.summitracing.com/search/part-type/leaf-spring-add-a-leafs/make/jeep/model/cj7

Sorry, I am a huge fan of Summit.

Good luck.

 

[GatorBate]

I run 31' tries and I just lifted my CJ5 using EMU YJ springs CS036R on all four corners. It gave me about 2.5 inch of lift. I did not use any kit. I just pieced it together. You need new shackle hanger and shackle, mainly on the front because you will be going from a 2 inch wide spring to a 2.5 inch spring. longer shocks and brake lines.

I also did the tie rod flip using go-fer-it inserts. That lined up the tie rod and drag link again eliminating the need for a dropped pitman arm.

 

[hdgapeach]

I'm with NorthwestCJer, add-a-leafs are a reasonable way to generally gain about 1-1/2" inches of lift. No other modifications to make and would more than likely be more than enough to clear the extra tire height, especially if you find some non-wore out (non-sagging) stock springs before installing the add-a-leafs.

My experience is they don't roughen up the ride like the positive arc leaf packs do in a normal lift kit.

 

[Sasquach]

I run 31' tries and I just lifted my CJ5 using EMU YJ springs CS036R on all four corners. It gave me about 2.5 inch of lift. I did not use any kit. I just pieced it together. You need new shackle hanger and shackle, mainly on the front because you will be going from a 2 inch wide spring to a 2.5 inch spring. longer shocks and brake lines.

I also did the tie rod flip using go-fer-it inserts. That lined up the tie rod and drag link again eliminating the need for a dropped pitman arm.

I am with this advice including the go-fers. Add a leaf is not anything I would concider myself but maybe it works for others.

 

[RajahSC]

Thanks guys for all the input. I've found some stock springs, they look excellent, and the fellow says I can have them for free so...

I'm looking at the add-a-leaf idea. Cheap, relatively easy to install, moderate lift height, and saves changing all the other stuff. In fact, I may install the tires first and see if they rub after putting on new springs (it's so close) but we'll see then.

I had already purchased new, greasable shackles, so I hated to buy more. Thanks again for all the input. I can see each as a viable solution. Some are a little cheaper than others. I guess we'll start back stock and go from there.

-Chuck