lifting a CJ7

[reptile610]

i'm planning on lifting my cj in the future, i already have the daystar 1" bodymout replacement/lift and plan on running metal cloak fenders and rear armor for a more LCG approach. im thinking about also doing a 2-2.5" suspension lift on it. i've heard of BDS, rancho, skyjacker, and pro comp making them. i was a nice ride (or as nice as you can get with a CJ) and good offroad performance as this jeep will hopefully do it all. im also assuming to buy some bada$$ shocks to go along with this lift to help out the ride.

 

[Petescj]

So whats your question?

 

[reptile610]

sorry. whats a good all around lift is basically what i wanna know. i want a good on road and off road lift and preferable 2.5"

 

[Petescj]

No problem , just wanted to clarify what you were asking.

I had a Rancho lift and a Skyjacker lift , niether of wich I liked very much. Both were very stiff. I bought some used springs that were Superlift and I liked them. Thats what Im going with again only new this time.

sorry. whats a good all around lift is basically what i wanna know. i want a good on road and off road lift and preferable 2.5"

 

[Old Dog]

Old Man Emu is probably the best all around lift.

 

[IOPort51]

My Skyjacker was so much smoother than the stock or the Rancho I had on another vehicle that I have not had any complaints.

Are you reasonably well confused yet??

OME has a great rep and a steep price.

I never rode in a Superlift.

The Skyjacker leaf springs were/are made of an alloy that gives a better and smoother cyclic rate than most other leaf springs. For what that is worth.

I sometimes wonder how much of the ride is the shocks, Performance of suspension is a lot of smoke and mist with very little comparable data.

 

[reptile610]

OME has a great rep and a steep price.

.

yeah quadratec wants over $900 without shocks for a 2.5"

 

[diddy2003]

What size tires are you hoping to run?

 

[reptile610]

What size tires are you hoping to run?

im going to run metal cloack armor which their website states with a 2"BL i can run 35's. so i figure with a 2.5" suspension lift and 1" BL i'll run 35's

 

[CJ]

An OME YJ spring conversion will give you about the best ride / articulation you can get.

YJ Wrangler spring conversion kit for Jeep CJ, 1976 and newer

A good write-up on OME springs -->> Old Man Emu springs and shocks -->> OME shocks

 

[diddy2003]

im going to run metal cloack armor which their website states with a 2"BL i can run 35's. so i figure with a 2.5" suspension lift and 1" BL i'll run 35's

Ok, cool. I was wondering because I am rubbing on my flares a bit with just my 33s after a 4 inch lift. I know people hate on rough country, but I REALLY like my lift. It was great in the woods and I actually think it is pretty smooth on the street as well. All personally preference I guess. I have been very happy with it. I was looking at Skyjacker, BDS, and the rest. Settled on what I have after one of my buddies, that owns an offroad shop, recommended it.

 

[reptile610]

Ok, cool. I was wondering because I am rubbing on my flares a bit with just my 33s after a 4 inch lift. I know people hate on rough country, but I REALLY like my lift. It was great in the woods and I actually think it is pretty smooth on the street as well. All personally preference I guess. I have been very happy with it. I was looking at Skyjacker, BDS, and the rest. Settled on what I have after one of my buddies, that owns an offroad shop, recommended it.

I had rough country on my xj and didn't like it

 

[reptile610]

I did look on bds last night, they offer a yj conversion kit that I can buy 2.5" leafs with. Thoughts on them???

 

[PaRenegade]

BDS probably makes the second most reputable conv. springs out there. As for kits, they all vary, but you might be able to piece it together cheaper from differing sources. Okay4WD offers a great conversion kit designed around OME springs called the Rock Granite kit. Note though that pictures of kits on websites are not always correct. Verify on the phone what all is included, don't rely on what are sometimes generic pics.

I'm piecing my kit together because I don't need all the parts included in them. I bought 4 OME springs (heavy YJ rear's) for $98 each and the OME bushings(greasable) for them at $22 per spring, from Quadratec.
Now the plates vary according to your needs but just keep this in mind for correct part gathering. The YJ front springs are 2 1/2" wide (like the rear of both CJ's and YJ's) unlike the CJ's front which are only 2" wide. And also the YJ's front axle (Dana 30 ) has the pumpkin towards the drivers side, where the CJ's Dana 30 has it towards the passenger side. Both of those things will effect spring plate selection.

 

[Razorfish]

An OME YJ spring conversion will give you about the best ride / articulation you can get.

YJ Wrangler spring conversion kit for Jeep CJ, 1976 and newer

A good write-up on OME springs -->> Old Man Emu springs and shocks -->> OME shocks

This write-up seems to be a YJ spring in an SOA config. Is there a way to do a YJ spring without and SOA? Thanks.

 

[CJ]

-->> Jeep CJ OME lift

 

[GatorBate]

I've been looking at BDS 2 1/2" lift. Has any one had any experience with them? They have the military wrap, Looks like that would make them stronger. but what about the ride?

 

[reptile610]

BDS probably makes the second most reputable conv. springs out there. As for kits, they all vary, but you might be able to piece it together cheaper from differing sources. Okay4WD offers a great conversion kit designed around OME springs called the Rock Granite kit. Note though that pictures of kits on websites are not always correct. Verify on the phone what all is included, don't rely on what are sometimes generic pics.

I'm piecing my kit together because I don't need all the parts included in them. I bought 4 OME springs (heavy YJ rear's) for $98 each and the OME bushings(greasable) for them at $22 per spring, from Quadratec.
Now the plates vary according to your needs but just keep this in mind for correct part gathering. The YJ front springs are 2 1/2" wide (like the rear of both CJ's and YJ's) unlike the CJ's front which are only 2" wide. And also the YJ's front axle (Dana 30 ) has the pumpkin towards the drivers side, where the CJ's Dana 30 has it towards the passenger side. Both of those things will effect spring plate selection.

for the plates couldn't you just buy the conversion kit plates? and wouldn't those then come with some sort of mounting instructions?

 

[Rescue Diver]

No problem , just wanted to clarify what you were asking.

I had a Rancho lift and a Skyjacker lift , niether of wich I liked very much. Both were very stiff. I bought some used springs that were Superlift and I liked them. Thats what Im going with again only new this time.

I recently swapped out my junk harsh rear Rough Country springs for new YJ Superlift springs. They only cost me $65 each delivered! I love them. The ride is 1000 times better!

Superlift offers two different ride options. I opted for the softer springs since my fiberglass body makes the jeep so light.

YJ and CJ rear springs are the same length and 2 1/2" wide so they're interchangeable. YJ front springs are also 2-1/2" wide but CJ takes a 2" wide front spring, so doing the YJ swap requires installing rear CJ hangers on the front, and swapping out the U-Bolt pads as well. The frame side of the CJ front springs will fit a 2-1/2" wide spring. They just put extra thick bushings in them from the factory to accomodate 2" springs.

 

[Jawbox]

How are Rusty's springs these days? I remember from 5+ years ago with my YJ that Rusty's made a pretty compelling product at a decent price, anyone here running them on a CJ?