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2" lift pros and cons. Help

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Old 10-17-2012, 01:14 PM
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Default 2" lift pros and cons. Help

Hi, I am thinking of lifting my xj 2". Are there any cons? Do I have to do a tc drop?
Old 10-17-2012, 01:36 PM
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cons? it's a lot of work for almost no lift
shocks might need replaced

I doubt you will need a t case drop, even if you do it takes like 30 mins
Old 10-17-2012, 01:51 PM
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It depends on what kind of lift you do. Spacers I've heard produce more body roll than full springs (correct me if I'm wrong).

Pros would be fitting 30"/31" tires, if it's a street machine you can keep stock shocks, alignment specs stay stock.

Cons, well it depends on what kind of kit you get.

I have a 2.5" lift and 31s and it works for me. I've never hit the rocks so I couldn't tell you how good it is there, but it's got a decent amount of flex.
Old 10-17-2012, 02:47 PM
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well it depends on what kind of lift, DO NOT get lift blocks for the rear. do you plan on wheeling the jeep
Old 10-17-2012, 05:01 PM
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I'm at 2 inches now. I like it. Did a bastard pack/shackle combo in the rear to net 2.5 inches. That way when its loaded up it doesn't sag. Plus 2 inch coil spacers front. Made my own tcase drop...1 inch. All was very easy to do. Also 4 shocks off a new wrangler. They are good for 2-4 inches I guess. Worked out perfect. I spent $15 on tcase drop, $30 on spacers, $60 on shocks. Bastard pack I got for free. But well worth it. Just for the simple reason it looks better. I thought mine looked too low before....stock height just didnt seem right to me. So that's the reason I bumped up. Looks great. Also threw some 265s on as well. Handles like a jeep. No problems yet. I don't wheel it though. Just a dd right now.

2" lift pros and cons. Help-forumrunner_20121017_175924.jpg
Old 10-17-2012, 05:05 PM
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pros=cheap


cons= too short and you will want to go higher
will ride rough unless you get new shocks
a lot of work for a 2" lift
Old 10-17-2012, 05:17 PM
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Originally Posted by NorCalJeep
pros=cheap

cons= too short and you will want to go higher
will ride rough unless you get new shocks
a lot of work for a 2" lift
Will agree here. I'm already wanting a 3 inch lift....only been a few months now. I don't wheel it so no biggie. And it was a good bit of work for just 2 inches. But I thought it was worth it.
Old 10-17-2012, 07:37 PM
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I am happy with my 2" lift, but my Jeep will never see more than occasional snow or light offroad use. I love the stance and the "look", especially with the larger tires, and the on-road driving characteristics are virtually unchanged from stock. It all depends in what you are looking for, but if you want a bigger lift, I'd wait and do it right. Lots of good advice on this forum, you just need to view it in light of what you ultimately want. Good luck!
Old 10-17-2012, 07:53 PM
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Been running the set up below for 5+ years, has very good on road manners and is very capable offroad with some decent tread. With skid plates and a locker it'll go just about anywhere you'd want to take a DD.
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Old 10-17-2012, 08:06 PM
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Originally Posted by Borgli
Hi, I am thinking of lifting my xj 2". Are there any cons? Do I have to do a tc drop?
I am at 2.5 and no cons. It rides pretty much like stock. No vibrations.

well the only con is make certain you align your steering back up, and have a front end alignment. I did not and my front tires wear a lot more than the rear is.
Old 10-17-2012, 08:07 PM
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I like my 2in spacer front aal rear. Perfect for daily and light off road.
Old 10-17-2012, 08:08 PM
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It can be done for so cheap it's worth it, especially if you can get your hands on full springs for the front. Sets you up for more lift later without spending as much. New shocks aren't necessary and neither is a TC drop.

And no, it's not difficult at all. Front end you can simply unbolt the bottom of the shocks, sway bar links, track bar, and LCAs (one side at a time), jack up one side and you can slide the springs/spacers in and out without a coil compressor. Did my front end in less than 30 minutes, though I do work at a dealership and had a lift to put my Jeep on.

Only thing that's a pain in the *** is if the rear shackle bolts are seized in the bushings, but even then you can just cut through the shackle and torch the bushings to remove the bolts. Have to do that myself this weekend. You can still get replacement bolts from a Jeep dealer. I just paid $10 for new upper shackle bolts.

If you're unsure about getting into off roading, just want a boost, a little extra ride height, better visibility, ect it's definitely worth doing and won't break the bank for it. Also worth it if you're after a low CoG build, lift height isn't everything and I've seen some cheap low CoG rigs out wheel the hell more cliche XJs in situations where their ride height was hurting them.
Old 10-17-2012, 11:22 PM
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Thanks for the replies.
I am getting new shocks, springs, ball joints, tie rod ends and a complete set of bushings. So I was thinking of trowing on a coil spacer and rear shackles.

Found a set on ebay for 55$, is this an ok price?
Old 10-17-2012, 11:26 PM
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Originally Posted by NorCalJeep
pros=cheap


cons= too short and you will want to go higher
will ride rough unless you get new shocks
a lot of work for a 2" lift
X2... for me at least I would not ever be happy at 2". If thats what you want, go for it!
Old 10-17-2012, 11:38 PM
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I ran a budget boost for over a year 1.5 in lift from rustys wheeled it at Rausch all day and it out flexed my friends jk with a 4 in if u dd it's worth it the budget boost from rustys is the way to go
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