Hello
i tried to make myself familiar with the installation of this kit and what it means for the driving experience and tires. I'm not a mechanic and i'm not entriely familiar with english words for car parts (nor do i know them all in german)...

My questions...

What else besides for the parts of the leveling kit needs to be changed?
Why do make the stock tire sizes problems and my need a wheel spacers?
In the installation instructions from the Teraflex homepage it says something about a "drivers warning" sticker. Is this just a general warning not to overdo it or in other words how much does the driving differ with and without the TF leveling kit?
What does it mean to realign the vehicle before driving?
Is it not neccessarya at all to replace the stock springs or would it be better to do it anyway?
For a pro mechanic how difficult is it really to properly install this leveling kit, alignment and how long would it take?

Sorry if it's to many questions but i'm trying to understand what i'm doing...

 

A leveling kit is simply a 2" spacer above your front coils, and a 1" spacer above the rear coils. (or a spacer on your front coils, and no spacer in back. Depending on the kit I guess)

The instructions will have a list of tools needed for the job. If you had those tools, you could do it yourself in 3-4 hours. (if you have never done a lift before). A competent mechanic, with air tools and a lift, no more than 2 hours.

Wheel spacers are used to push the tires/rims further out. This keeps your new 'wider' tires from rubbing anything inside the wheel well. If you are adding new rear swaybar links, these may also rub on the stock rim if you do not use spacers. (instead of wheel spacers, you could look at aftermarket rims with a backspace of 4.5 or so)

The warning is just a general caution you will see with anything that changes the driving characteristics. In this case, you are lifting the vehicle, so they want you to be aware that your JK will handle differently than it did stock.

Using new coils, or using spacers on your stock coils, is a preference. If you have a lot of extra weight from new bumpers, winch, tire carriers, armor, etc, coils would be a better option. If you are mostly stock, a spacer lift will be just fine.

For the realignment, when you lift it, you change the steering geometries, and the handling may suffer. An alignment gets everything back to stock-like handling. At 2", your handling will not be all that much different than stock. Your steering wheel may be off-center. The handling a bit more touchy. But not bad at all.
Here is a do-it-yourself write-up that will explain the process.
http://project-jk.com/jeep-jk-write-...-end-alignment

(**Drive it after the lift and see what you think. **
Other than re-centering the steering wheel, you probably will not need an alignment. The Caster can not be changed with the stock control arms on your JK, so there is nothing the mechanic can do to it. You will be paying him to recenter your steering wheel, which you can do yourself in 5 minutes...)

 

Hello ! thank's a lot for your helpful explanations.

I think the next step will be to talk to the mechanic, a generalist but with 40 years experience... translate the Teraflex and your instructions and see if he will do it and what he thinks will be possible according to the motor laws here.

There is a few tuning garages/shops here in Switzerland and they will do almost everything to change the vehicle incl. selling and using imported parts but they really charge a lot...

 

Welcome to the forum!

 

Sounds like you may be better off buying the tools/jack/jack stands/etc and doing it yourself. Crank the heaters up in your garage, invite a few buddies over, and spend a day learning to work on your JK. Then spend the install money on another upgrade.

There are plenty of write-ups to go along with the instructions. Even if there is not one specifically for the lift you are doing, they are all pretty much the same - just look at the steps that relate to what you are doing. (it is the same steps regardless of what spacer or coil you are installing, you do the same things for all of them)
https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/show...7&postcount=10

And there is always someone here that will answer questions if you get stuck on any part of the install. Also, I don't know if you have noticed, but TeraFlex is a sponsor here, and they post and answer questions all the time, or you can email, or send a private message through this site. Very helpful people here...

..
And see there, TF posted while I was writing this...

 

The Teraflex leveling kit is super easy to install. I did it myspef with a floor jack and jack stands in about 2 1/2 hours. No alignment required if you follow the directions. The sticker is just a warning that there is an increased rollover risk due to the taller height. You should not need wheel spacers either. With my stock wheels and tires on my Rubi I had no rubbing at all.

 

Hello again and thank's again for everything.

I beleive that i have the capacity to learn "the how to's", even to understand them and time is not really an issue but i'm in the unfortunate position of not owning a garage... nor do i have any professional tools. That's why i have to rely on the theorethical aspects of tuning up my Jeep and professional help from a mechanic.

Trial and error is out of the question because 1 hour worktime in any garage will be minimum 100$/hour and imported parts do cost at least 2x what they do in the US.

Then again i may go and rent a place but like so many things here in Switzerland this will be costly and the pain factor for this is always there

Still, i love to look at all the tuned up JK's here... dreaming a bit as well.