I know that on 4" lifts new driveshafts are required but what about the 2.5" lifts? I only plan on running stock size tires and am debating switching my 4" to a smaller one and saving some headache. After seeing pics it looks like I went too big.

 

I ripped my front driveshaft boot with a 2.5" lift. If you disconnect your swaybar you will most likely rip the front boot

 

X2 I also ripped off my front DS boot first time out.

 

So it sounds like replacement is needed for any lift? Did it happen when sway bar was disconnected or connected?

 

Disconnected

 

I should mention that mine is a 2-door automatic. Not looking to replace my 20K mile shafts if I don't have to

 

2 Dr. auto disconected you are going to tear the boot eventually with 2.5 " lift. Just takes one good flex.

 

If I stay connected is it still possible or just less likely?

 

Boot tearing is not from lift, its from droop which is first allowed by swaybar disconnect and then ultimately allowed by shocks. If you run long travel shocks, OME LT's or Bilsteins that go over 27" extended then your front ds will be into your exhaust on full droop. This is on manual tranny and I was able to correct this on mine with AEV LCA brackets which tilt the pinion and push the shaft up a bit to get clearance at about 28" extension. On auto its different and you have to worry about the front ds hitting the tranny pan before it hits exhaust.

To protect your front driveshaft the safest way to go is shorter shocks or stock shocks on extensions, which limits you to only about 25" length. Even swaybar disconnected a 25" shock is safe on manual. I'm not sure what length shock allows you to hit an auto tranny pan, but these measurements are solid for manual trannies.

Can't help you on the rear ds on a 2 door cause I have only researched 4 doors, but 2 and 4 door is the same up front. Seems like 2 doors are looking trouble with most any lift in the rear.

 

Just wanted to add that there is another thread on here now from a guy who has auto tranny and tore his front ds boot with stock shocks and tera extensions. Stock shocks are 22.0" extended and the tera extensions are 2.5", so it looks like if you are auto tranny and are running shocks over 24" long extended, or obviously the tera 2.5" extensions on stockers, then you may face issues on the auto front driveshaft.