Topic: lifting an 06 TJ

[jeeptj]

I hope this is the right forum for this question. I would like to lift my 06 TJ approx. 2" so that I can fit 32's under it for mild trail riding. My question is this:

Has anyone had any experience with the budget boost kits of spacers and shocks only vs. the full coil kit with shocks and transfer case drop? I have had the latter on a couple of Jeep Sports but was looking for a more economical lift for my 4 banger. I am leary of spacers only, but a friend recommended them as a cheap alternative for more tire clearance. I am sure I will not get much additional suspension travel but this Jeep is not going to be used on hard core trails.

Thanks for any insite you all may have.

[oldjeep]

Nothing wrong with the spacer lift, it's a good first step.  A lot of guys in my club have used those with good results.  And if you decide to step up to a larger lift as most do, you havn't spent a lot of money on the intermediate step.

[chardrc]

we did the 2inch spacers on our 97 gc and they work good other than the fact that we got lazy on the front ones and cut them to slid over the spring perch instead of going under and then on.. and now they are seperating and coming out.. but thats our fault not the products.


we may have a set of 2 inch spacers for our 06 rubi that were not going to use.(my dad ordered them before he decided to get the 3.5 inch long arm kit lift.) i think we still have them siting around unused and i may be able to convince my dad to sell them for a deal...

[jeeptj]

Thanks guys, I will explore the Rubicon spacer lift with shocks included. I appreciate the input.

Since I want to do this next weekend due to the availability of a vehicle lift next Saturday I think I need to find something on the shelf down in Denver. If that changes I may be interested in chardrc's kit.

Thanks again.

[dunklervogel]

Just did the spacer lift a few weeks ago and am really happy with the results. It is a cheap upgrade but you aren't sacrificing quality. I also ordered some longer travel shocks with the spacers.  The ride is a lot more stiff but that was expected replacing shocks with almost 100k miles on them.  After putting on the new wheels/tires the ride seemed a bit softer than with my old tires.  Not sure if that is just the shocks breaking in after being drove a bit or if the bigger/wider tires would have something to do with it.

But back to the subject... I think the spacer lift is perfect for someone looking into 30-32 inch tires and wanting a little more clearance.  Also good for daily drivers, which my jeep happens to be :)

[Liljeepz]

I'm running a spacer lift, its more expensive of a spacer, There ACoS from JKS. So there adjustable from 1.25" to 3.5" I set mine at 2.25" and love them, the great thing is I will use them when I get another lift and they don't crush and crack over time. I have seen that a few times on other Jeeps.  But those  spacers are so cheep that it doesn't cost much to replace them. I Highly recommend a spacer lift for 2" of lift, and excpecially if your newer to off roading. There a very cheep mod that will let you grow and learn.

[jeeptj]

OK, spacer lift is installed and I really like it. The only thing I noticed is when I went for the first test drive I noticed driveline vibration at 25-30 MPH. I went back to the parts store and purchased a transfer case drop kit and installed that in about 1/2 hour. Very smooth riding after that. Alignment is now complete and I will be buying some used Grizzly wheels and 32" tires.

Thanks to all.

[oldjeep]

OK, spacer lift is installed and I really like it. The only thing I noticed is when I went for the first test drive I noticed driveline vibration at 25-30 MPH. I went back to the parts store and purchased a transfer case drop kit and installed that in about 1/2 hour. Very smooth riding after that. Alignment is now complete and I will be buying some used Grizzly wheels and 32" tires.

Thanks to all.

Next good mod to do would be to order a $189 Full SYE and get a cherokee front CV shaft shortened.  Then you can take out that skid drop and regain the ground clearance.

[jcsanders79]

Thread Hijack, what will an SYE do other than get rid of a TC drop kit?  I hear alot about them but 3/4" of clearance wouldn't help me for that kinda money.

[oldjeep]

Thread Hijack, what will an SYE do other than get rid of a TC drop kit?  I hear alot about them but 3/4" of clearance wouldn't help me for that kinda money.

Couple benefits
#1 if you break your rear shaft or u-joint you can actually drive the jeep home without all the fluid winding up on the ground
#2 eliminates the pesky seal leaks that develop from the junk that gets on your slip yoke ruining the t case seal
#3 If you go bigger than the 2" lift you're going to want to install one anyway.  Most folks seem to make the mistake of installing a big lift and then either complaining about all the vibrations or dropping the tcase even further.

[jcsanders79]

Ok, stupid question what fluid are you talking about?  I broke a driveshaft on a CJ once and just limped home with the front wheels, no fluid lost.  I run a 4 inch lift with a 3/4 inch TC drop with zero vibration and I don't seem to have a problem with flexing or drive shaft length. 

[oldjeep]

Ok, stupid question what fluid are you talking about?  I broke a driveshaft on a CJ once and just limped home with the front wheels, no fluid lost.  I run a 4 inch lift with a 3/4 inch TC drop with zero vibration and I don't seem to have a problem with flexing or drive shaft length. 

A cj has a fixed yoke on the rear of the transfercase.  The stock yoke on an np231 is a slip yoke and falls right out of the case if the driveshaft is not there.  Thus the term Slip Yoke Eliminator - which gets rid of the slip yoke on the tcase and replaces it with a fixed yoke.  The then requires a driveshaft with a slip yoke.

Rubicons come from the factory without a slip yoke on the tcase (but they don't have an np231 either)

[jcsanders79]

Gotcha, I now understand and I like it!  Not being able to leave the woods is bad.  I noticed that you recomended changing the drive shaft to a cherokee, is it stronger or what.

[oldjeep]

Gotcha, I now understand and I like it!  Not being able to leave the woods is bad.  I noticed that you recomended changing the drive shaft to a cherokee, is it stronger or what.

A cherokee front shaft is just a cheap source for a 1310 CV shaft.  You can get them for $20 or so at the junkyard and have someone shorten it to fit locally for around $60.  Rather than paying $200+ for a Tom woods or other shaft, which is pretty much the same thing.

[jcsanders79]

Cool.  I guess as soon as I finish up installing my D44 I will have a new project to start .  Thanks for the info.  Ya'll can go back to the budget boost topic, hijack over.