I was looking into doing a lift, nothing super big, about 3" or 3.5" lift to clear 31" tires. I was looking into either rough country (cheapest name brand lift i could find) and Rubicon Express, anyone else got some other economical brands?

Also the kits i was looking at come with add-a-leafs, having never installed a lift, how do these get put on? and i also heard to stay away from the short add-a-leafs is this true?

Anyone with a nice 3-3.5" setup some pictures would be greatly appreicated!
Thanks!

 

Also i have the factory 16" rims, that i think really look great so i was hoping to put the 31" tires on them, but was wondering what size tires i would need for them to be equal to 31" (i was told 265/70/16 or 265/75/16)?
Thanks!

 

Short AAL's are not good. They are very stressful on the spring pack.

An AAL install is not that difficult. The very basics are... Drop the axle loose from the leaf spring packs. seperate the springs, install the AAL, put the spring pack back together and re-install the axle. Yes, there are more steps that that but its not a tough process at all.

I have a Rubicon Express 3.5" Super-Ride system. VERY easy to install, all the components were of great quality. The only add-on I had to purchase seperately was the trac-bar. Beware of cheap lifts, many times they are missing pieces that you need to use them, to keep the prices low.

I used 33" tires rather than 31", but I cut my fenders significantly and still have a touch of rubbing at full steering lock

 

the 265/70r16 is a 31 " tire and 285 is 32" and so on when your on a sixteen " rim.

heres a good link for figuring out tire hight and gear ratios everyone will use it at least once.

http://www.ringpinion.com/Calc_RPM.aspx

 

On a lift I would definitely look at something that's more complete like the RE 3.5 kits...The RC 3" kit is a good kit and the RC springs are good springs.. My only issue which kept me from it since I wanted to stay under that 4" range was lack of things like extended sway bar end link and longer LCA's...IMHO anything over 2" needs longer sway bar end links, longer LCA's and longer rear brake lines..That's just me and I know plenty will argue otherwise. So my opinion something like the RE 3.5 kit is what you need to look for.Do it right the first time and you won't have to redo it trust me there..I did 2" at first knowing I wanted more and well wasted money on shocks and lift parts I used for say 2000 miles..

 

i will agree with okc about re kit is nicer. im running a rc 3" right now and all it comes with is just the springs, shocks, and ubolts. so now i am having to go back and get new lca's and adj. tracbar.

 

Yeah I thought about the RC 3" kit...but by the time I bought it then the track bar and lca's I would have spend about what I did on the RE 3.5, track bar and shocks...and I end up with a bit more lift and IMHO better quality parts..

 

What is your budget you have for a lift? I got a 3.5" RE Super Ride kit with full leaf packs and the RE hack and tap SYE (go ahead and budget for an SYE at 3-3.5"...you'll more than likely need it) for $625 shipped to my door two months ago.

X2 on looking for a kit as well. I did what started off as a cheap 3" lift of spacers, longer shackles, and blocks for my first lift....and it quickly got expensive having to replace other things such as trac bar and what not. In the end I wound up spending about what I spent the 2nd time around with the RE kit. Not to mention that after a year the blocks and longer shackles wore out my stock suspension and I began to have a lot of problems fighting axle wrap (not fun!)

Went the RE route and havent looked back. Very solid kits for the DD/occasional wheeler.

 

i guess i dont really have a price range for quality, and having a COMPLETE lift, i was looking more into the rough country and saw there were no LCA's and now im probably gonna go with the Rubicon Express.
Thanks for the help!

UNCC where did you order your lift from? cause that is a great price!

 

You don't need LCA's for a RC 3in lift. The current ones you have will be sufficient.

Check out my build for a 3in RC lift

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f40/my-waggie-build-3065/

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f46/pics-my-2nd-jeep-project-1222/

Both Jeeps have the 3in Rough Country Lift.

Any questions feel free to ask

 

With the Rough Country, you do need new longer brake lines correct?
Being 17 and this my only car, i want to get everything i need at once.
Thanks!

 

They are not required because you can "adjust" your current hard line but they can be replaced with longer YJ lines if you like. Not sure which way Stryker went on his two Jeeps.

 

I would definitly pick up a rear one. It is really tight with out it. The front well I have found the stock ones are fine right were they are.

 

If you do go RE give Wayne at ALL Jeep a call.. Tell him okcjeeper from L4J sent ya and he'll make you a good deal. Well worth at the very least to get a quote and compare it to the price of the RC 3" with new leaf packs.

On LCA's as to whether ya need em or not it's just my opinion no hard cold facts to support just an opinion.. It also depends on the current condition of your lower control arms..Mine were shot so I knew I needed new anyways and didn't want to simply replace with OEM style..

Also one last suggestion and I think it was mentioned already...Get new rear leaf packs and no Add A Leaf...It will last longer and IMHO ride better...

 

i was looking into possibly getting this one i found on ebay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...m=260273449947
what do you think?