Hello fellow JKr's.

As mentioned in the registry, I was a virgin to Jeeps and have recently "popped" my Jeep cherry on Saturday, by purchasing my absolute first Jeep. It's a 2010 Stone White Unlimited Sport.

I have several goals and ambitions. I all ready know the setup I would like to run and all the parts I want to get to transform this into my own personal trail/uav. I am going to Intake/Exhaust/Power Program it, Flat Fenders (possibly Poison Spyder Flat Tubes), Bumpers, 35x12.50-17's, and 4" "Rise" to the heavens.

The purpose of this is for someone to assist me in finding the perfect lift for my actual needs. I googled the internet and found a million companies. I searched this forum and found several loyalists for specific brands. I've heard good things and bad things about almost every brand. Please, please, please.....is there anyone out there???? who would like to take this young eagle beneath their wings by helping him with his needs and personal aspirations.

1. I am a family man. I need this to have as close to stock behavior traits when the rubber meets the cement, as this vehicle will be shared equally among the wife and I; taking the kiddies back and forth to day care, etc.

2. I am a rookie to trailing. I've never krawled. I would like to have a good setup that will allow me to get busy on the trails, and have a decent amount of "Flex" if I decide to step into the world of actually needing a spotter.

3. I want to spend as close to $1000 as possible. I can go up to $1250. But as everyone else would probably say, I would like to save whatever I can to put it towards one of the other mods on my wish list.

Can someone please help an American Veteran out? Can someone help point my passion and excitement in the right direction so I can continue on for a long-happy-life-time of "wheeling"?

I appreciate your time and help.

thank you for reading......

 

Welcome. I have the same jeep! Since you're trying to save money, and it's a more or less a family vehicle, I would go with a leveling kit as your lift. It's subtle, but it will raise it a little less than 2", if you get bigger tires, it will definately be more noticeable too. I have 33"s and a Teraflex leveling kit, and it's a great height.

 

I don't think a leveling kit will assist me with my goals or aspirations. I appreciate your suggestion, but I don't think you read the rest of my post.

1. I'm going to run 35x12.50-17's.

2. I need a good 3.5" to 4.5" lift

3. when I'm not driving the family around town, I would like to take this one the trails, and partial rock krawling adventures with my friends.

Again, thank you for your suggestions. I need a little more than that. Have a great day sir. Still, I need your help JK-Foums.......please plese please. Thank you.

 

With a 4" lift and flat fenders you'll need at least 37's to fill the gap and look proportional. That means at least 500$ in axle mods to make it stronger. I'd look at the old man emu lt kit from northridge 4x4. Flexes like crazy, and rides really nice. And stay on 35's, just lower the lift height you want or keep the factory flares. The hd coils net about 3.25" after sag.

I'm at about 4.5" with bushwhacker flats and 35's and I think it looks ok, but will be perfect on my 37's this summer. I'll post pics when I get to a wifi spot tomorrow. It takes forever on edge coverage

 

What about the AEV/Nth 3.5" Suspension with Bilstein Shocks? Is that good for my goals and ambitions? Is there anyone on here with that lift kit? How do you like it?

Again, all help is greatly appreciated.

 

Have you found the FAQ's yet? (stickied to the top of this modified area) That should be the very first thing you do!! Plenty of good info on lifting, wheel backspacing, gearing, etc.

Some points to ponder:
- this is a JK, not an older jeep version. Huge wheel wells. You can run 35's with flat flares and NO lift.
- get an idea of what 'all' of the different components do. Be aware of the difference between brackets and adjustables. Know what the various options for caster correction are (brackets, fixed, adjustables, the drawbacks of Cam Bolts)
- as you lift higher, you are looking at more and more components to not only bring you back to a 'stock-like' ride, but to fix the issues you created by lifting in the first place.
- at some point, generally around 3", you will start having driveshaft issues. (lots of factors involved, just depends...) But, as you go higher and get more flexy, expect to swap out the driveshafts.
- if/when you swap out driveshafts, you will need a set of adjustable control arms to set the pinion for each.
- as you lift higher, your caster gets lower. This causes flighty handling. At 4", caster correction is a must. Don't skimp on this, you won't like the results!!
- as you lift higher, the axles get further and further offset. (one tire sticking out a few inches, the other tucked back inside the wheel well). There are issues with some brackets. Get 'good' brackets, or get adjustable trackbars.
- many lifts/coils out there give far more actual height than advertised. Do some research so you do not get a big surprise!
- you have a front D30 axle. Consider some upgrades to it. When you re-gear for the 35's would be a good time to have gussets welded in. Sleeves wouldn't be a terrible idea either. (unless you are planning to upgrade to a D44 at some point?)

Concerning your bullet points:
1. That isn't close to the budget for doing a 4" lift 'right'. You can go cheap, but (my opinion here), you won't get what you are looking for. Drop down to a 2.5-3" lift, as it requires less components, will have a good ride, and still be flexy enough for the rocks.
2/3. You might check out the OME HD Long Travel kit at northridge. Over 3" actual height, long travel shocks, plenty of flex, and it has all of the components you'll want/need. Whatever lift you pick, as noted above, 'know' what all of the components do!! Know what else you are likely to want to add to any kit you get. Know what issues are likely to arise from any kit and/or at any particular height...

 

You can get a Teraflex 3" lift with shocks for $1000, but you would still have to purchase front lower adjustable control arms and rear upper adjustable control arms in order to correct alignment in the front and pinion angle in the rear. The 3" kit ends up giving you almost 4" anyways depending on hard or soft top, cargo ect. Additionally, Teraflex makes an awesome product!

The AEV kit has one (in my opinion) factor that would make me not want to buy it... It uses the stock control arms and cam bolts to adjust pinion angle and alignment. Now there may be some folks on here that will chime in and say that this works fine and is awesome on the trail and road alike, but I would be willing to bet that most would say no bueno.

Correct me if Im wrong here guys but dosent the use of cam bolt necessitate the cutting of the control arm mounts... well, not cutting exactly but boring out the mounting holes to enable the cam bolt to shift when adjusting? Oh and 35's look pretty awesome under a 2.5-3 inch lift. Anyhow just my two cents. Good luck with the build and remember Jeep sands for Just Empty Every Pocket

 

AEV has gone to a 'lowering bracket' instead of cams. Completely non-adjustable for any height changes, lowers clearance, and though I haven't actually read anything negative, it is a bracket, and likely adds stress like any other bracket.

And yes, Cams do require you to notch out a hole to install them. Moving from cams to an adjustable would require some welding work to close them back up. And when off-road, they have been known to slip. How big of an issue that is, I don't know...

 

I didnt know they moved to brackets... Oh well, at least I was half right. Thanks nthinuf, you brought up some good points for the OP.

 

Love it, I remember when I heard that for the first time. Good luck Jeeper! Nice color too. Besides my "Oh so Marine" Jeep Green, I think the stone white is the next best color.