| Why lift your Jeep? More height means more | | | | assessing the costs of your various options. |
| clearance for dealing with obstacles while | | | | |
| offroading. It allows you to run larger | | | | With Body Lift Kits you basically unbolt the |
| tires, which also helps with conquering | | | | body from the frame, and place manufactured |
| offroad challenges. Still another reason is | | | | blocks between the Jeep's body and the |
| that many folks just feel that a lifted Jeep | | | | rolling chassis. This raises the body of your |
| with larger tires looks better, and I | | | | Jeep but doesn't directly increase the |
| certainly agree with them. The added height | | | | clearance of your undercarriage. The body |
| and larger tires just give a Jeep a better | | | | lift does allow you to run larger tires, |
| more pronounced profile | | | | which will increase your Jeep's clearance. |
| | | | |
| No matter the reason for lifting your Jeep, | | | | Suspension lift kits will directly increase |
| there are a number of ways to go about it. | | | | the clearance of a Jeep. They call for |
| Before you pick which one is right for you, | | | | installing taller suspension components |
| youll need to make some decisions along the | | | | (higher lift springs and longer recoil |
| way. First, you'll need to decide on what | | | | shocks). These systems deliver lift, better |
| youre looking to accomplish with the lift. Is | | | | articulation, and better offroad handling. |
| it simply for show, or is it for go? Serious | | | | Unfortunately, they are the most expensive of |
| rock crawling anyone? Second, determine just | | | | the lift options, but they deliver the best |
| how high you want to go. Looking for a little | | | | handling performance. |
| height for some mild wheeling or are you | | | | |
| really serious about this height thing? | | | | When it comes down to choosing a lift, youll |
| Third, youll need to select the type of lift | | | | need to determine why youre lifting the |
| to use. Finally, install the lift or have it | | | | vehicle, and how much youre willing to pay |
| installed. | | | | for it. If youre only looking to add a couple |
| | | | of inches and you want the lift just for |
| The basic methods for lifting a Jeep are | | | | looks, a body kit, coil-spring-spacers or |
| Suspension Lift Kits, Body Lifts Kits, | | | | lift shackles may be just what the doctor |
| Shackle Lifts, Spring-Over-Axle Conversions, | | | | ordered. If youre looking to build a Jeep |
| and Coil Spring Spacers. Jeep shackle lifts | | | | that is more offroad capable then you should |
| and coil spring spacers typically result in a | | | | look at suspension lift systems. |
| maximum increase of 2 inches. Coil spring | | | | |
| spacers are just what they say: spacers that | | | | Many serious offroaders combine the |
| are inserted under the base of the coil | | | | suspension lift with a body lift for |
| spring, resulting in lifting the springs | | | | additional height. Installation of any of |
| higher. Shackle lifts are comprised of leaf | | | | these lifting methods will usually change the |
| spring shackles that are longer and lift the | | | | handling of a vehicle. They all raise the |
| frame higher from the leafs. Both of these | | | | center of gravity and will, therefore, affect |
| kits are rather inexpensive methods, but if | | | | side-to-side handling and cornering. This can |
| youre looking for more than a couple of | | | | be addressed by adding wider tires along with |
| inches, youll need to look elsewhere. | | | | the lift. Depending on the type and size of |
| | | | kit you install and the model of your Jeep, |
| Spring-Over-Axle conversion kits allow you to | | | | you may need to install a dropped Pitman arm, |
| change the location of the leaf spring from | | | | longer control arms, longer brake hoses, a |
| beneath the axle to sit on top of it. Theyll | | | | transfer case drop, and/or a CV drive shaft |
| usually result in a lift of 4 inches or more. | | | | and slip yoke eliminator kit (due to a change |
| This can be increased by the size of springs | | | | of the angle of the drive train on TJs and |
| you use with the over axle kit. Use of these | | | | some Cherokees). Its important to not cut |
| can cause cantering, and steering linkage and | | | | corners when lifting your Jeep. Why spend the |
| driveline issues which must be addressed. It | | | | money on a lift just to compromise the |
| can become a little complicated for the less | | | | handling performance and face potentially |
| mechanically inclined among us (Im one of | | | | serious wear and tear issues with key |
| them!). It will definitely change the | | | | components? Do it right the first time and it |
| handling of the rig. While the | | | | will serve you in the long run. |
| spring-over-axle conversion kits are rather | | | | |
| inexpensive when compared to suspensions | | | | Whatever system you select, the one thing for |
| lifts, there is a good bit of time and money | | | | sure is that the added height will help give |
| spent on fixing the issues it creates, which | | | | your Jeep that rugged tough look most of us |
| needs to be taken into consideration when | | | | seem to prefer. |