I've searched stickies and threads but have yet to find a good article breaking down lift kits and what each component does (track bar, control arm, adjustable control arm, geometry correction, etc), in which applications and lift heights each are needed/designed for, and what terrain (highway, offload, mud, rock) they are designed for.

The reason I ask is I'd like to understand each part so I can pick a kit or put a custom mix together for my driving and off road needs.

Please reply if you know of a sticky, article, or stream of consciousness ramble that puts it all together. Thanks.

 

you can find a lot of the answers you are looking for here:

https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/modi...bie-has-18617/

you can find others here:

Project-JK.com - Jeep JK Wrangler Resource » Basic Do-it-Yourself Jeep JK Wrangler Front End Alignment

if you have other questions, please let me know and i'll help answer what i can.

 

Thanks way of life. I read through everything there. I have a few questions. First, my application for a lift will be a daily driver 4 dr jku 2009 with 3.73 gears which I plan to wheel moderately (hopefully 2 weekends a month) in Houston Texas. Safety on road and highway are of great importance. Will do lots of camping, but hope to tackle moderate trails. No current plan to change out the front d30 or regear until I prove to myself I want to do more serious wheeling.
The plan is to get 33" tires and a lift that can articulate enough for mild to moderate trails. (I'm guessing 2-2.5" lift). As an aside I plan on installing the Ripp supercharger too.

I've read a lot of manufacturer's literature, but of course I realize that can be skewed. Though I would like to save money, cost is not a huge issue as I will pay for exactly what I want.

For correcting caster angle, will the aev geometry correction bracket do this in lieu of adjustable control arms? Are there any other advantages of adjustable control arms? I tend to believe aev when they say there is nothing wrong with the well made control arms that come with the JK, am I wrong in this for a lift with minimal effect on drivability?

Will I need brake line extenders for the OME 2" or AEV 2.5 dual sport kits? People are reporting 3-3.5" actual lift from these on this forum.

Also for the OME 2", there are no adjustable control arms and no geometry correction brackets. Is this because the 2" lift (which some report as 3") does not cause enough change in caster angle?

How about adjustable track bars for these two systems. Is this something I need to buy separately or will there be no adjustment needed for the relatively low lift?

Do you or anyone else recommend any other lift kit or combo? I plan on installing it all with my girlfriend's dad who is a shade tree mechanic who built every car for his daughters and will be helping me install the ripp supercharger too.

 

Bump to the top...

I have some of the same questions. I just installed an OME 2" HD lift and GY DT 325 65 R18 tires with new track bars front and back and got about 3" of lift and 33.5" on the tires. i am having no troubles at this time, except for simply getting used to the way it feels, but am wondering if a few other small changes may help with drivability.

Will the AEV correction brackets help if i install them. The guys at northridge say it is mostly for the AEV lift but i have to assume that it works either way.

I didn't replace the rear swaybar links with longer ones, should I.

My brakelines are good for now but should i maybe look at getting some drop brackets just to give it a little more play.

Lastly, i put in new bumpstops front and back and have noticed that i sometimes am hitting on the back where in the past i never had a problem. i am concerned that when loaded for camping i'm going to be riding on the rears a lot. is it safe to just put the old ones back in and go from there. clearance looks good to me.