I am trying to decide on the best lift for me. I had previously decided on the Teraflex 2.5 inch suspension lift with shocks, and I plan on 35 inch tires. After lots of reading, I started to doubt the ability of my 4 Door sahara with 3.73's to chug along with the 35's.

Here's what I was thinking. My jeep will be a daily driver with very infrequent chances to get into the mud. I'll never rock crawl.

Would I do better saving and getting the Teraflex 2.5 inch budget boost and regearing?

I don't know if I would notice the sluggish performance of the 3.73 or if a cheaper lift would feel sloppy. I can't afford a nicer lift AND regearing.

Anyone have any input? I thought I saw the gears for about $325 plus labor. Sound right?

 

I think the BB and a regear woud be the better choice
Check with Gerry @ Screaming Lizards, he was running a special on the regear and adding the C gussetts

 

Gearing is generally in the $1100-1600 range, parts & labor for both axles, out the door.

Since money is a concern - Go for a Spacer lift or Levelling kit, shock extensions, 35's, gears. (regear if you have an auto. If you have a manual, try it with 35's and then decide on gears...) Since you won't be flexing it, a spacer lift should be fine, and the ride should be unchanged. Then in 6 months or a year, slap on a coil kit...

 

I'm very happy with my budget boost, but I will still be buying a real suspension system before I regear. It's just too much money for me that could be put into other stuff. It does suck, but 35's and 3.73 is doable, I've been running it for about a year and will probably still run that way a year from now.

 

we are talking 35s here. Run them for a bit before you drop loot into regearing If money is a concern wait till you have more of it

 

Was trying to get a ball-park idea myself how much it would cost to regear a Sahara and a quick internet search showed the following. No idea on labor or any additional stuff. nthinuf would have a better idea than I would that's for sure Added a locker $ in for good measure.

Detroit Locker For 30 Spline Dana 44 with 3.92 and Numerically Higher Gear Ratio $667.99

Gear Ring and Pinion for 07-09 Jeep® Wrangler & Wrangler Unlimited JK with Dana 30 Front Axle $189.99

Gear Ring and Pinion for 07-09 Jeep® Wrangler & Wrangler Unlimited JK with Dana 44 Rear Axle $169.99

Ring & Pinion Overhaul Kit for 07-09 Jeep® Wrangler & Wrangler Unlimited JK with Dana Model 30 Front Axle $169.99 Install Time: 3-6 Hours

Ring & Pinion Install Kit for 07-09 Jeep® Wrangler & Wrangler Unlimited JK with Dana Model 44 Rear Axle $109.99

 

Like everyone else said: You need to go with the budget boost and definitely regear. No way I would run 35's on a 4 door auto with 3.73's. It will be a real turd for a daily driver. If the regearing is too expensive at this point, I wouldn't go bigger than 33's with those gears but that is just me. If you do run 35's anyway, I would at least make sure they were a lighter A/T tire.

Budget Boost will be fine for someone that doesn't wheel much. Regearing with parts and labor will cost you atleast 12-$1500 at a shop.

 

I would have to disagree completely. My budget boost has been great, I've run the Rubicon and wheel hard at least once a month. It is an excellent lift for someone, like the OP, who is trying to make his money stretch the farthest with the most effect.

And I run with 35's on a 4 door auto with 3.73. It works fine for a daily driver. It sucks sometimes, but not worth the $1,500 or so it would cost to regear.

The OP is asking whether to regear or get a coil lift... in my earlier post, I suggested to get the coil lift and regear later. But by no means is the budget boost crippling.

If there's other things you are considering, like a rear bumper so a big spare doesn't wreck your tailgate, or sliders so rocks don't wreck your body, that's where I'd put my money.

A well protected JK with a 2.5" BB on 35's can get you almost anywhere.

 

I agree 100% with this post...
I have 4:10 gears on SUPER heavy rim/tire combo 125lb's each one and I do FINE actually better then fine... I barely noticed the difference... I drive 95% on road 5% off road and I wouldnt regear if someone offered to pay half for me... some things to look out for....

I doubted all the posts about having to get a rear tire carrier when you up to 35's and I was dead wrong to do so... after 3 weeks I was seeing damage to the tailgate and I go lucky to grab a bumper off of another JK member.

if you want to get 35's on her then be aware you may need a new rear bumper tire carrier or you may need to run with out a rear spare mounted (just leave it in the bed) also you can clear 35's with some minor trimming of rubi rails and front plastic splashguard with just 2.5'' coils and extensions from TF...

The TF kits are solid... but I would sugest that you go with
2.5'' budget boost and shock extensions (pick up rubi shocks if you dont have a rubi or buy the kit with the TF shocks and budget boost pucks....
Put on your 35's and trim what you need to...
shortly after get a tire carrier
you can put together something pretty damn cheap all said and done...

Do not regear untill you actually drive it first and think you hate it or laugh and say its the exact same...

who ever said you def need to regear is just plain silly.

 

So.....what is the functional difference, from an off-road perspective, between a 2.5 bb and a 2.5 coil lift?

Don't want to hijack the thread but if somone could briefly comment?