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What to look for in a lift?

Discussion in 'Suspension' started by cimpala, Oct 1, 2017.

  1. Oct 1, 2017 at 5:20 AM
    #1
    cimpala

    cimpala [OP] New Member

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    Hello Jeep Community

    Obviously im new here and looking for advice on all things jeep related but we will start with the easy stuff first.

    i have no prior experience with jeeps other than what i have read on the internet and watched on you tube

    As for as what i will be using the jeep for it will not be a daily driver - looking to do some light off road stuff i live within driving distance of uwarrie in troy nc - go out on the beach - get involved in the off road community and see where it goes with that said

    Im Looking to buy a new jeep i have a couple in mind one is a Sahara with aftermarket tires that have been put on by the dealership it has the mickey thompson deegans on it looks like if im reading the tire size correctly its a 35 on a 17" wheel

    the other two have no mods one is a sport and the other is a rubicon

    i actually recently test drove a used lifted jeep from what i could see it had a rough country lift and nitto terra grapplers on it not sure of tire size i do believe the wheels were 20" not sure though they were fuel wheels that's about all i remember other than it pulled really hard to the left and when i asked about that i was told that all jeeps lifted with big tires would pull some well this wasnt some it was alot which is why i didnt purchase that jeep


    the question is i have no idea what is good or bad when it comes to a lift what brand of lift to get or things to make sure that it includes i dont want to just throw big tires on and raise the body 2"-3" i also want it to be able to be driven on the highway with out the death wobble that i have heard so much about.

    also suggestions on tires would be good some that will be ok on the road and good for the trail.

    Looking forward to looking through the fourm and getting ideas and gaining knowledge needed to be a jeeper

    I have also posted a photo of the Sahara with the mickey thompsons on it let me know what you guys think
    Jeep 1.jpg
     
    chris4x4 and OFFGRID like this.
  2. Oct 1, 2017 at 6:45 AM
    #2
    aggrex

    aggrex Well-Known Member

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    Welcome! Sounds like you made a good decision avoiding that jeep with questionable pulling. Based on the pic the Sahara looks nice and likely lifted in order to run 35s. Gearing or reprogramming could be an issue as Sahara models usually have "tall" gears like 3.21 which can affect overall performance running 35s. My JK is a DD that I depend upon so my recommendation is to try to find as near a stock vehicle to build using a complete lift kit from some of the major companies. The complete lift kits have all the engineered parts that are designed to work together for a successful lift. If you're a more experienced jeeper as many on this forum are and have the resources, skills and time to diagnose someone else's project with problems at a fantastic price then that's another pathway. Watch your planned budget as JKs have a reputation for resale value that could make buying new a consideration.
     
    Bob, JKBob 25 and OFFGRID like this.
  3. Oct 1, 2017 at 8:53 AM
    #3
    chris4x4

    chris4x4 With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine Moderator

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    Welcome!
     
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  4. Oct 1, 2017 at 12:03 PM
    #4
    OFFGRID

    OFFGRID Well-Known Member

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    1979 Jeep CJ7, 258, TH350, NP208
    Howell fuel injection, header, HEI distributor, TH350, NP208, SOA lift with YJ springs in the front & GW springs in the Rear. AMC20 with G2 1 piece chromos trussed, Dana 30 with G2 chromos and 760x ujoints and MM Stainless Hubs, Geared 4.56. Tom Woods shafts, Metal cloaks, Caged, 37" Toyo MTs.
    Not true on the pull. My jk has 40s. It drives straight with my hands off the wheel. I have seen Saharan cost more than rubicons at the same dealership. Get the Rubicon if it is cheaper than that lifted Sahara. A decent 3in. Lift from teraflex is under $800 and maybe another $800 if you are having it installed. I like teraflex because you can build on there systems as you go so the initial cost is not wasted if you want to add things later. You can purchase a set of 17x9 wheels for $600 or less with many choices in that price range. 35x12.50x17s will run you $1000 for a set of 4. The key to maintaining good drivability with big tires is frequent rotation, at least once every five thousand miles. Post a picture of your new Jeep and update us on the build. I love Jeep porn.
     
    JKBob 25, chris4x4 and aggrex like this.
  5. Oct 1, 2017 at 5:49 PM
    #5
    cimpala

    cimpala [OP] New Member

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    I appreciate the feed back and will check into the teraflex lift

    but when you say add things to the lift what would you add later that you wouldn't have initially

    will do on the pictures
     
  6. Oct 1, 2017 at 6:30 PM
    #6
    JKBob 25

    JKBob 25 Well-Known Member

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    Welcome to the forum cimpala.
    As far as lift kits are concerned. You can install your basic 2" to 3" coil spacers lift to some very high end kits that can run you $2000 to $3000. Which contain just about every conceivable part you can think of. But also as mentioned. There are some several hundred $$ kits that you can add to. Such as adjustable track bars and control arms. Just several parts you can add on to your kit. But keep in mind. Any lift you install, your going to have to install other parts, such as your track bars and control arms to keep your factory ride.
    Looks like you have a pretty good idea on what your looking for. And some members have given you some great advice. Let us know what you end up buying, of coarse, post a pic. As OFFGRID said. We like Jeep porn. o_O. And don't hesitate to ask for any advice you might need. Hope you enjoy the forum.:wave:
     
    OFFGRID and aggrex like this.
  7. Oct 2, 2017 at 7:10 AM
    #7
    OFFGRID

    OFFGRID Well-Known Member

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    Howell fuel injection, header, HEI distributor, TH350, NP208, SOA lift with YJ springs in the front & GW springs in the Rear. AMC20 with G2 1 piece chromos trussed, Dana 30 with G2 chromos and 760x ujoints and MM Stainless Hubs, Geared 4.56. Tom Woods shafts, Metal cloaks, Caged, 37" Toyo MTs.
    A 3in lift doesn't necessarily come with control arms relying on the factory control arms for many lifts. Teraflex entry level 3in lift uses the factory control arms. You can later ad the teraflex control arms which are a lot beefier. If you end up adding a winch and heavier bumper you might feel that the added weight dropped your front too much and want to swap out 4 in springs for the 3in springs you have to get your front up. If you decide you want to run 38s or 40s with a 3 in lift you can get the adjustable control arms front an back and push out your axles up to 1.5 inches to aid in making more room for the tires. bump stops can be added to keep the tire from getting into the fenders. Now with the meatier tires you will definitely want to get stonger steering components and maybe even stronger axles like the Teraflex Dana 44 for the front to match the 44 in the back if you don't get the Rubicon. Or you may want to move up to the Teraflex Dana 60. And by the way their Dana 60s housings are custom forged to rotate the housing forward maintaining correct pinion angle for a 60 thereby creating more ground clearance under the pumpkin which you would normally lose when bumping up to 60s. The list goes on. This is an addiction.

    You can spend 3 grand right up front and get their top of the line suspension, but not everybody is going all out on the trails so it is not necessary to have the HD control arms etc.
     
    JKBob 25 and aggrex like this.
  8. Oct 3, 2017 at 5:33 PM
    #8
    Offroad798

    Offroad798 Well-Known Member

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    fenders, bumpers, winch, inner fenders, cb, headliner storage, oil pan armor
    Welcome to the forum. From practical experience I would say to first decide what type of jeepin you would like to do. Then if possible find a jeep club or friend to ride with and see what they are using. Each part of the country has different type of terrain that you would build you jeep towards. Each jeep vehicle has pros and cons. Then the 2nd decision would be on your budget and how handy you are on equipment for the jeep. For ex you have tons of money you can have anything built for you, your good with wrenching skills, trade off work with other people. Jeep clubs can definitely help with wrenching and knowledge and 4 wheeling stories. Here is the hard part sticking to what you want to build with your budget and keeping to it. Improvements can get pricey and out of hand quickly. Been there done that. As far tires and lift there is a lot of good stuff out there. It all comes back to what you are going to do with your jeep. Do some research on your potential jeeps. This will save you time and money later. For me I drive my 15 Rubicon all the time. Came with dana 44 front and rear with lockers. Also I have all armor underneath for rocks and stuff, going with a 3.5 inch lift. Be glad to give you my 2 cents worth if you need on parts. Good Luck and remember no matter what you get and build is up to you.
     
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  9. Oct 3, 2017 at 6:25 PM
    #9
    JKBob 25

    JKBob 25 Well-Known Member

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    Good stuff Rookie. You made several points some of us, me, missed. I'd have paid 4 cents. Lolll. :bowdown:
     
  10. Oct 3, 2017 at 6:56 PM
    #10
    Offroad798

    Offroad798 Well-Known Member

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    Thanks. Glad to help.
     
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  11. Oct 3, 2017 at 8:19 PM
    #11
    JKBob 25

    JKBob 25 Well-Known Member

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    Welcome to the forum. Again. Great to have ya here. You've already made in impact.
    You earned 2 Trophy Points in my eyes. I asked some time ago about Trophy Points. Come to find out. We don't give out Trophy Points. Lolll But....im still here. Lolll.. Awesome forum.....and a great community.

    Thank you Chris4x4.....and Bob. :). Awesome Admins Thank you for Jeep Dot. Net..
     
  12. Oct 3, 2017 at 9:24 PM
    #12
    phonedrn8

    phonedrn8 Member

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    This is a lot of good info, I'm just over here sucking it up., Son the root of this is a 2nd job for the Jeep fund
     
    JKBob 25 likes this.
  13. Dec 10, 2017 at 2:39 AM
    #13
    HardHat420

    HardHat420 Well-Known Member

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    Welcome.

    Second of all, unless you're a girl, do not get the Sahara. That thing has matching fenders and bells and whistles that should come with a makeup bag for you.

    Get the Rubicon. Front and rear lockers, sway bar disconnect, Dana 44 front and rear. You won't just hang with the off-road community. You will lead the off-road community.

    Suspension: If you have the money, coilovers. If not, long arms might give you the best all around performance both off/on road and comfort. Long arms improve articulation and help the suspension absorb the impact from bumps. A shorter arm will transfer the impact to the frame and thus the driver. Many people here like teraflex, rock krawler, bds, and metalcloak.

    Tires: unless your running 37s or bigger, a wrangler should have 15s. All 17s are 10 ply. Except for some 40s and other few exceptions. This is overkill for any jeep. A 10 ply is for dually trucks. To put it in perspective, a twelve ton forklift uses 12 ply tires. This means that running on 10 ply tires on a wrangler will feel comparable to driving on bricks. Especially with a crapy suspension. Oh and if you want something >17 then get your Sahara, your makeup bag, and go cruise the mall. 18s or greater have zero functionally on the trail.

    About the pull: when my wrangler had the stock wheels, it did not pull. Then I put mud terrains and it pulled horribly to the right no matter how many times it was aligned. Then I changed the tire for another mud terrain, no more pulling. Go figure.

    Lifts: there are so many options that it can cause a cluster headache. People have already offered some good advice here. All I would add is choose the correct height the first time. The higher you go the more you will want to consider longer arms. Although a 2.5" lift will ride very similar to stock even with the factory control arms.

    You are going to love your jeep. Also, if you can, buy it stock and mod it yourself.
     
    Last edited: Dec 10, 2017
    aggrex likes this.
  14. Dec 10, 2017 at 9:07 AM
    #14
    chris4x4

    chris4x4 With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine Moderator

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    Hey now. I know a lot of Jeepers that get the Sahara Wrangler, and off road it plenty.

    My feelings are, get the jeep that YOU want, and like, with the features YOU will be happy with. Most don't need the extras the Rubicon has, but might want the other amenities.
     
    JKBob 25 likes this.
  15. Dec 10, 2017 at 11:46 AM
    #15
    HardHat420

    HardHat420 Well-Known Member

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    Yes, this is true too. But when I was first looking at jeeps I found a nice Sahara and a kind jeep owner did me the favor of swaying me away from buying it. But you are right tho.
     
  16. Dec 10, 2017 at 12:09 PM
    #16
    Offroad798

    Offroad798 Well-Known Member

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    I agree with chris4x4. Get the jeep that you will be happy with. It doesn't hurt for opinions and looking at other jeeps. You just need to decide on what you want to do with your jeep and how much you want to spend then try to stick to you plan. But if your planning to use it off road more than on road then HardHat420 makes some good points. All advice is good even mine, but take with a grain of salt. I started with a stock rubicon rock. I changed the fenders bumpers added a winch and other small things. Then I jumped to 37's on bead locks. Now I have a lift kit on order to use those big tires. The 4.10s work ok for now but I will be doing a gear change. I will also change the brakes due to more rolling mass and things I have bolted on. I changed the exhaust also. As you can see it does start this snowball effect. I knew I was going to do this so this wasn't a shock. Just take your time and do a little research into what you want. Good luck.
     
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  17. Dec 10, 2017 at 6:24 PM
    #17
    JKBob 25

    JKBob 25 Well-Known Member

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    Amen.

    And my 2 cent opinion. I like the painted fender flares. I have Xenon flat flares. And I painted them to match my rig.
     
  18. Dec 11, 2017 at 4:49 PM
    #18
    HardHat420

    HardHat420 Well-Known Member

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    Aesthetically I like them too.

    But they have no function and get scratched on the trail.

    If I could I would have my entire jeep in the same finish as the non Sahara fenders.

    But that's just me cuz I trail pretty good.
     

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