Help Choosing a lift
 

Hi I know everyone asks this question sorry in advance.
I really need help choosing a lift.
I don't want to break the bank but I always want a decent lift kit.
The jeep is a daily driver and goes light offroading 1 or twice a year.

2014 Jeep JKU
33" tires on a 4.5" backspaced rim
looking at the

Teraflex 1251000 2.5" Lift Kit with Shocks for 07-18 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited JK 4 Door

https://www.quadratec.com/products/16190_2500_07.htm

or a 3" kit maybe i'll upgrade to 35"s.
When I see the 2.5" lift it almost seems like its not lifted or hard to tell its lifted.
if I go up to a 3" kit do I have to replace more parts? or Can i just buy the 3" version of the lift kit from teraflex with shocks.

Do you guys recommend getting a adjustable track bar?

Do you guys recommend something less expensive since its mostly a daily driver? (also fear the death wobble when f*cking with suspension)
Thanks for the Help!

You don't 'have' to add anything more than the coils or spacers, regardless of lift height. But it should make sense that the higher you go, the more you will probably 'want' to add more components. A cheap 2.5" spacer lift works perfectly fine. With coils, you may end up a bit higher, depending on Mfg. If you add 35's later, chop the flares or move to flats. 3" coils, again, probably end up a bit higher, depending. And as noted, the higher you go, the more components most people choose to add. Not mandatory, choice.

What you want to think about is: What is the function of all of the additional parts?

As lift height increases, Caster decreases, and the steering gets flightier. At what point will YOU decide the caster is too low? (there is no standard answer for this, it is subjective. No caster correction with that kit)

As lift height increases, both axles offset further to opposite sides. At what point will YOU decide you want them centered? (that kit comes with a raised rear bracket, so you only need to think about a front adjustable trackbar)

As lift height increases, both swaybars are angled further down. (that kit comes with rear links, you swap the stock rear links to the front)

As lift height increases, all brakelines are stretched tighter. (that kit comes with relocation brackets.)

As lift height increases, the front trackbar and draglink run at steeper angles. (Generally around 3.5" of actual measured lift height, people add Flips / HighSteers. Can 3" coils get you there? Certainly. Some 2.5" coils can...)

As lift height increases, driveshafts run at steeper angles. (Generally, the joint at the t-case end of the front shaft is the problem. Watch for grease splatter as part of normal maintenance)

Caster and axle offset are considerations for the 100% of the time you drive onroad, nothing to do with offroad ability. Swaybars angled down, mostly offroad, but there have been a few reports of swaybars flipping around while on a lift at the shop, but again, doesn't affect this particular kit. Front driveshaft, people have posted that they lost them at 2.5", but more likely with taller lifts and heavier offroad use.

Deathwobble immediately after a lift is generally an issue with the installer, not the lift. Go back and check the torque on everything, but start with the front trackbar!

On top of what Nthinuf said since your jeep is a daily driver the less amount of lift you put on it the better you will be on daily drive. With 33's you really don't need to lift and lifting really won't do much for you but make the on road driving worse. Some flat fenders or maybe a small 3/4"-1" coil spacer with 1" bump stop extensions will give you more then enough room for the 33" tire. For 35's you can do 2" on the front and 1" on the rear. with some 2" bump stop extensions. You may also want to use some relocation brackets for 2" of lift on the front. The flat fenders will give you the look of about a 4" lift and look good with 35" tires while giving you a good LCOG for better ride both on road and off. Remember the higher you go with a lift the more things you have to replace and the cost goes up quite a bit.

Thanks appreciate the detailed response!!!!

I've narrowed it down to a 2.5" RC Suspension lift.
https://www.tdotperformance.ca/rough...ft-system.html
with the adjustable trackbar
https://www.amazon.com/Rough-Country-Suspension-1179-AdjustableTrack/dp/B01MFD4UCK/ref=au_as_r?_encoding=UTF8&Make=Jeep%7C42&Model=Wrangler%7C356&Year=2014%7C2014&ie=UTF8&n=15684181&newVehicle=1&s=automotive&vehicleId=1&vehicleType=automotive
I have some nitto trail grapplers with some tread left on them. But they are Horrible in the cold/rain. So the Jeep stock wheels go on as winters.
Will that be a problem? rubbing issues since backspacing is quite high?
I see on their website

• Wheel Backspacing (Inches): 4.5

Not sure why

They say that because people generally are installing bigger fatter tires when they lift. Lift and back spacing really have nothing to do with each other.

If I read it right, your summer 33" tires are on 4.5" backspace rims, and for the winter you run the smaller 'stock' tires on 'stock' rims that are 6.25" backspace, correct? The clearance problem would be putting your summer tires on the stock rims, not running the stock tires with stock rims.

On another note - there's generally not a lot of love around here for RC coil lifts. Quite a few coil sag issues have been reported over the years, though from what I understand, their warranty is great. Just means you have to pull the old coils and swap for new ones if you run into that.

And then there is the part about nothing coming with those coils. So do your research on caster correction and swaybar angles.

Hi Thanks for the response.
I have my summers on XD's with 4.5 backspacing.
I was just worried about the stocks with winter

Hi Nthinuf
do you have another recommendation for the lift and things to buy for the caster correction and swaybar angles
I want minimum 2.5" lift with shocks
Thanks

This is what I would recommend and you can always add to it in the future. @ 2.5" o flit it is everything you are going to need and is top quality.
https://metalcloak.com/jeep-jk-wrang...t-edition.html

Hey Thanks for the recommendation.
But a little on the high $$ side. As again I just do very light offroading. This is my daily driver.