Which brand of lift kit

Which brand of lift kit
O

oldyeller

Jeeper
Posts
71
Thanks
0
Location
West Tennessee
Vehicle(s)
1980 CJ7 Renegade 304 2bbl Dana 30 / AMC 20 3:54-1
I have a stock 1980 Renegade and have been researching different lift kits and it seems to be a huge difference in price to get kits that have good consumer reviews. So far the rubicon express kit comes with everything you need to complete the lift 4 1/2 but it is about $1,600 . Other less expensive kits like rough country gets feedback stating that it rides terrible, I don't need mine to handle any worse, it's white knuckle time on rough roads. Is there any advice before I take the plunge on the rubicon express. I think it's overkill for me because I'm not gonna be trail riding or rock crawling.
 
For starters, the first thing I do when the trail gets rough is cut down on the tire air pressure. A good set of off-road shocks would be the next thing.
 
Bds
 
Use the softest valved shocks you can find.
Look for less spring lift and add a 1" body lift.
LG
 
Very happy with OME.
 
I also went with BDS about a year ago and am happy with it. It is stiff, but smooth, if that makes sense. I opted for it over OME due to the spring perch relocation issue...the YJ springs are a much better ride from what I’ve heard.

If you’re having handling issues, I’d strongly suggest you take a look at your steering, too. I did the tie rod flip with new components and I’d have to say it’s the single best upgrade I’ve done with regard to safety/driveability
 
This answer will likely go against almost all others. I highly recommend Rough Country.

I have installed a total of 8 lift kits from 2.5" to 6", mostly on CJ7s through the years. The worst I have experienced is very expensive and already recommended here. The best was a Superlift I put on a 1977 Dodge Power Wagon. The best I have put on a CJ7 , and there have been six of them, was the last one ...... a 4" kit that came with a drop pitman arm an shocks. It rides good on road and handles GREAT off road at Disney and Clayton Oklahoma, mostly rock climbing with some mud.

I have found it imperative to also change out to a good set of non lift shackles and pay attention to following instructions to the letter. Especially make sure you do not over tighten the shackle bolts.
 
oldyeller said:
So you recommend Rough Country or Superlift?
Click to expand...

Not sure about Superlift on a Jeep, I tried a 6" Superlift on a Dodge and it was great.

I have had two 4" Rough Country lifts on CJ7s and liked both of them.
 
Thanks for your input guys, sorry to go off the scope for a while. Back to topic. As everyone, I would like to get as much for my money as I can, but budget won't stop me if there is a stand out, hands down, winner in the lift kit world. Some of the most complete kits have been Rubicon express. But the price is triple. It jumps from 500 to 1600. Like I said, it has everything, brake lines, degree shims, shocks, drop arms, etc. I think I need to research more because some of the kits mentioned here I have never heard of. Thanks for your help.
 
oldyeller said:
I think it's overkill for me because I'm not gonna be trail riding or rock crawling.
Click to expand...

I think we'll be able to offer better help if you define your goals, what you plan to do with your jeep and your constraints. (E.g. trying to fit 33s, doing mud bogs but also need good street manners, not cutting fenders, don't want to go to YJ springs, etc.)

With 4in you'll have to address driveline issues which adds a bit to the budget. There is a chart floating around from JP magazine that shows what lift is needed for what tires, but you can get away with more tire and less lift depending on your use.
 
No rock crawling, mud bogging, may trail ride occasionally. i have given thought to 3" suspension and 1-2 body lift. wheel spacers for help on clearance.
 
What size tire are you wanting to run? Sounds like that is the driving factor here if your needing a 5" overall lift. There are a lot more factors to consider when you lift a CJ. For a daily driver and some trail riding, 5 inches of lift is a lot. With that you have to consider your axle angle, driveshaft and u-joints. You'll also need to take a hard look at your steering components. Maybe you'd be better off going with a slightly smaller tire that still looks good, but allows you to use a 2 1/2 inch lift. This way you are not stressing your drivetrain components or your steering setup. There are several threads on here about the other things that come into play with several inches of lift.
 
oldyeller said:
No rock crawling, mud bogging, may trail ride occasionally. i have given thought to 3" suspension and 1-2 body lift. wheel spacers for help on clearance.
Click to expand...

33's would do you well then. Forget wheel spacers.
What's your R&P ratio? What tranny are you running?
Do you still have the OEM 2-piece axles in the rear?
LG
 
If your intent is to run 33" tires, and run mud, then you need to be 4.10 gears in the axles. Running mud is all about wheel speed, and it's going to be hard on the Dana 30 front end. If you've beefed up the AMC20 , then you should be okay with 33's.

Honestly, without the articulation issues of crawling rocks, you can get by with a 2.5" lift and a 1" body lift.

I'm running a BDS 2.5" lift on my 76 CJ5 with 32" TSL/SX tires. And honestly, the BDS warranty is tough to beat.
 
Once again I really appreciate the response. I have the oem Dana 30 front and AMC20 rear running 3.54 r/p. Open diff. Still 2 piece axles. i just finished replacing every rubber bushing in the sway bar and the suspension. This helped my drift problem considerably. It still gets a little squirrelly after hitting bumps in the road but that may be normal. I have no problem with it but I'm trying to get it ready for my 16 year old daughter to drive occasionally. She tried it when I first brought it home and at 20 mph we were all over the road. Finally making progress. Happy new year everyone!
 
Getting squirrelly when hitting bumps on the road is probably due to tired rod ends, it is not normal.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Jeep-CJ Donation Drive

Help support Jeep-CJ.com by making a contribution.

Help support Jeep-CJ.com by making a contribution.
Goal
$200.00
Earned
$25.00
This donation drive ends in
Contribute
Back
Top Bottom