Coil Spacer Lift???

[AZ Outlaws]

I have a '08 JK X that I put 33" BFG M/T KM2's on. I installed a Rubicon Express 2.0 coil spacer lift with RE monotube shocks. The three reasons i went with a spacer lift are:

- I only needed a couple of inches to keep the 33" tires from rubbing
- when you start going higher than a 2-3" lift on a JK, you start running into problems associated with a bigger lift that I didn't want to address.
- cost was also a big factor.

My style of wheeling is up to 3.0~3.5 rated trails so the 2" lift was more than adequate for my needs.

My questions...

- what do you guys that have experience with lifted Jeeps think of the coil spacer lift?
- how well do they hold up?
- will it cause undo wear on any of the stock suspension components?
- should I have gone with the more expensive 2.5 or 3.0 coils lift?

Please keep in mind that I do not plan on going any higher than 33's on my Jeep.

With the 2" lift and 33" tires, the bumpers are 24" off the ground, the rock rails are 20" and the differentials have a little over 13" of ground clearance. The bottom pic shows full flex with my set up....

 

[daspes]

My questions...

- what do you guys that have experience with lifted Jeeps think of the coil spacer lift?
_ how well do they hold up?
- will it cause undo wear on any of the stock suspension components?
- should I have gone with the more expensive 2.5 or 3.0 coils lift?

I ran a RE 2.5" Spacer lift on my '00 TJ Sport for a long time. You won't have any issue. Very , very, very rarely the polyurethane space can crack or split from a problem with the run at the factory. Nothing you can do about it, and it will happen with the first 6 months if it does. As far as wear and tear, none really. Biggest disadvantage to a spacer is that you are still on the stock springs. Which isn't bad, just not as good as a full suspension lift.

 

[narleycarley]

DASPES why do you say not as good as factory? I thought some lift springs were stiffer ride?


AZ Outlaws I like the wheel and tire combo, what is it?

 

[daspes]

DASPES why do you say not as good as factory? I thought some lift springs were stiffer ride?


AZ Outlaws I like the wheel and tire combo, what is it?

Nearly every aftermarket spring (for the JK) will ride better than the stock (which aren't that bad for OEM). Most manufactures do not change or increase the spring rate from the factory specs (small bump when they do), just change the length of the coils. The ones that do (OME, Poly Performance) offer either your choice of spring rates, or a progressive wound spring, which is miles above the factory springs. Another consideration is tha factories springs will sag. Most reputable aftermarket springs will not, or will be warrantied if they do.

 

[narleycarley]

ahh, I see

 

[AZ Outlaws]

AZ Outlaws I like the wheel and tire combo, what is it?

Thanks!!

They are BFG M/T KM2 285/75-16 (33x11.25) on Eagle Alloy model 186 16x8 rims. I haven't noticed any seat of the pants performance loss with the larger tires. My '08 X started out with the Goodyear Wranglers 225/75-17 (32x10) street tires on 17x7.5 Moab rims and crappy 3.21 gears....

Before....

After....

 

[kickitandholdit]

airforce?

 

[AZ Outlaws]

airforce?

24 years... aircraft maintenance working on the the big jets.

 

[daspes]

airforce?

Zoomie!

 

[kickitandholdit]

24 years... aircraft maintenance working on the the big jets.

thats awesome! i thought about being an aircraft mechanic cause i love planes and stuff but after i thought about it... the things that could happen if i did something wrong.. id never sleep at night haha

 

[AZ Outlaws]

Zoomie!

Squid!! atriot:

 

[JKMudder]

See, now this just confuses me more. Jeep looks great AJ. Im torn between a BB, keeping the stock bumpers and whatnot and getting some 33s for just a bit bigger than stock look, or going all out with new bumpers, 35s etc. I just cant decide which way I want to go.

 

[AZ Outlaws]

Thanks!!

I don't plan on going with larger tires (at least for now). If and when I can save up the $$$ I'd like to get some off road bumpers w/o a winch. I may have to change over to a coil list because of the added weight.

 

[Fulltimer]

Nearly every aftermarket spring (for the JK) will ride better than the stock (which aren't that bad for OEM). Most manufactures do not change or increase the spring rate from the factory specs (small bump when they do), just change the length of the coils. The ones that do (OME, Poly Performance) offer either your choice of spring rates, or a progressive wound spring, which is miles above the factory springs. Another consideration is tha factories springs will sag. Most reputable aftermarket springs will not, or will be warrantied if they do.

Agree 100%. You would be surprised at the increase in ride quality.

Terry

 

[daspes]

See, now this just confuses me more. Jeep looks great AJ. Im torn between a BB, keeping the stock bumpers and whatnot and getting some 33s for just a bit bigger than stock look, or going all out with new bumpers, 35s etc. I just cant decide which way I want to go.

Remember to run 33's you don't need anything larger than a .75" front leveling lift.

 

[JKMudder]

Remember to run 33's you don't need anything larger than a .75" front leveling lift.

Yeah, but I like a little more air under it as opposed to looking stuffed in.

Im currently torn between a 2" with 285s or a 2.5" with 305s (70R17 in both cases).

 

[AZ Outlaws]

Remember to run 33's you don't need anything larger than a .75" front leveling lift.

I'm running 285/75-16 (32.83" x 11.22") wannabe 33" BFG M/T KM2's on 16" wheels with a 4.25 backspace. I bottomed out the rear end on a regular basis when on the trail prior to the 2.0 spacer lift and shocks. That's the only reason I got the lift.

Prior to the 2.0" lift....

With 2.0" and longer monotube shocks lift....

Sway bar disconnected and tire stuffed with 2.0" lift, no rubbing....

​

 

[AngryRedBird]

Great info AZ.. we are looking forward to doing the Daystar 1 3/4 coil spacers (which actually measure 2 inches).. But my concern and several have suggested that I could do it this way or that I shouldn't do it this way.. meaning I wasn't in the realm of 2 inch lifts.. more like 1 or less..

Because we've acquired the budget boost from Daystar.. I was wondering if one can remove the factory spacers and just rely on the 2 inch poly spacers from Daystar.. Again my thinking is that by removing the factory spacers will drop the jeep slightly, but adding back the 2 inch Daystars would/could give us a left of approx 1 inch (give or take) Unless Daystar mislabeled the box and we ended up with 2 inch spacers instead of the 1 3/4 spacers.

I think I'm just concerned and wanting a slight boost and nothing more.

 

[smarttony]

I am planning to install a leveling lift on my Jeep but I am quite hesitant to do it. By the way where did you buy your coil spacer lift?

 

[goliver9]

Teraflex is a good leveling kit and will not change the ride quality of your JK.