So I've been reading a lot here for a few weeks and I'm looking to get a JK soon. I have a question related to lifts.


I see some people are running a 3" or 4" lift and then also running a spacer on top of the springs for an extra inch of lift. Similar to a lift + BB in one...

Does adding this spacer affect anything else with the suspension? I ask because I've read in a few threads that anything over 4" of lift you start needing to address additional components. Would that be true by adding a 1" spacer along with a 4" kit?

If I wanted a 5" lift, am I better off going with a 4" lift + 1" body lift vs. 4" lift + 1" spacer? ...and by better off, I mean as far as keeping things a little cheaper on the wallet.



Thank you

 

You seem to be confusing different lift and spacer types up with each other, and their effects.

As far as your drive train goes...its all about the angle from the power, down to the diffs.

So - the taller your SUSPENSION LIFT, the more acute that angle will be...and, the more likley that you need longer shafts, etc.

If your suspension lift is one giant 5" coil spacer, as far as your drive train is concerned, its the same a a 5" ride height coil lift., same for a 2.5" Spacer with a 2.5" coil, etc...its all 5" as far as the way it raises the engine and t-case/frame...relative to the differentials.

IE: Coil spacers and longer coils all do the same thing as far as suspension lift and your drivetrain.

A body lift doesn't change anything to do with your suspension, or drivetrain...it merely raises the BODY higher off of the frame, to make room for larger tires.



IE: To ease the burden on your wallet, assuming you have a tire size increase in mind...a SL up to, but not past, the point where you'd need to upgrade your drivetrain, combined with a BL, to get you the extra room for the larger tires, would be the way to go.

A 1" BL gives room for a 2" larger diameter tire. (The JK's can fit 33's, stock, for offroading, and 35's for street work. A 2.5" BB allows most to use 35's off road. A 1" BL gives ~ the same clearance increase as a 2" SL, as the full stuffage point doesn't move, etc.)

A SL gives ride height tire clearance, but, the tire still stuffs up like it did before...and if it was going to hit without a SL, it will also hit WITH an SL...It just has further to travel upwards before it hits the same spot.


A BL gives true clearance for tire uptravel, as the tire has to ultimately go up higher to hit anything...that spot is higher than it was.

So, as the difference in coils prices are not much....less than a coil spacer typically, just get the tallest coil that would NOT require driveline mods....not a shorter coil with a coil spacer. (Adding a spacer to a coil lift is typically done to correct rake, or account for a winch/bumper weight, etc...not to get a lift height per se...)

By the same token, if also GETTING more weight, and EXPECTING sag...get the next taller coil for the same reason, etc.



Then, get the BL to make the next 2" of tire fit too....and call it a day.

 

Sounds like I'm sticking to the 4" Superlift + adj rear track bar & a 1" body lift.