So I'm piecing out a DD/ light duty lift for my dad as a gift. So far I got.
3.5" BDS springs
Bilstien 5100 shocks
Rough Country Track Bar bracket
RC drop pitman arm
JKS Telescoping Track Bar
Goodridge Brake Lines
Daystar Transfer Case drop.
Rough Country Sway Bar Disco's
u-bolts
shims
Superwinch lp8500
General Red Letter Grabbers
RE .5" Boomerang shackles front and rear.
Bumpers are still undecided. Am I missing anything? Looking to get this done this weekend and will be pulling a 3" body lift off in the process.
So I'm piecing out a DD/ light duty lift for my dad as a gift. So far I got.
3.5" BDS springs
Bilstien 5100 shocks NO! Rough Country Track Bar bracket
RC drop pitman arm NO! JKS Telescoping Track Bar MAYBE! Goodridge Brake Lines - you get about 4" extra for free by moving your stock lines to the bottom of the frame.
Daystar Transfer Case drop. NO! Rough Country Sway Bar Disco's
u-bolts
shims
Superwinch lp8500
General Red Letter Grabbers
RE .5" Boomerang shackles front and rear.
Bumpers are still undecided. Am I missing anything? Looking to get this done this weekend and will be pulling a 3" body lift off in the process.
While I will agree that the track bar is unnecessary, it does add some stability to the Jeep at highway speeds/lane changes. I rode around in my previous Jeep without them forever (5" BDS 8.8 37s...). However, my dads only requests were a) better ride than stock, b) 33s on least amount of lift without trimming, and c) tight steering. That being said I wanted an option that would yield the best of both worlds. I choose the Rough Country track bar bracket because it was the only one I could find that wasn't just a "L" shape bracket without any lateral support. It requires an extra hole to be drilled in the webbing for the orig. track bar bracket allowing for an additional mounting point.
I knew the track bar/sway bar opinions would be flying before I posted. With that being said, I cannot agree with the idea of removing a sway bar completely. I have driven YJs from stock height up to my previous with 5" SUA with and without sway bars. There is no way that you could tell me you don't feel any difference in handling without the sway bar attached. You are doing a disservice to yourself and those around you by removing it. Granted it may handle fine under normal circumstances, but what happens when someone pulls out in front of you, and you have to swerve to miss them. It'd be a shame to total a Jeep you've invested so much time and money into because you wanted to save a couple bucks.
Anyways, if your looking for sway bar discos, look at Rough Country. They came with new spring plates and a mount to secure them when up. The parts look solid and the finish seems nice, plus they were pretty cheap. We'll have to see how well the fit is.
I don't see new spring bushings in your bill of materials.
Oh, and on the track bar - sway bar keep/ditch statement. On my first YJ, the sway bar was absolutely necessary. Wandered like a 4 year old child in a candy store. On my current YJ, I felt no, none, absolutely positively zero, difference on road by ditching the sway bar. Now granted, the current YJ has good tie rod ends, new steering gear box, properly adjusted drank link, good steering stabilizer and, IMHO, the best 2.5" lift springs on the market - OME.
Spring bushings were ordered with the leaf springs as well as the shims. And like I said, one of the goals with this lift is to provide the best/tightest handling possible which is why track/sway bars will be retained. Mind you, the rear is going to the scrap yard.
Also settled on the JCR full front bumper with one hoop. Just waiting one everything to show up. I'll try to document the install with before/after pics and measurements. But Ill prob. lose track of time and forget to take pics along the way. Til then, here are some teaser pics of the vehicle in question first with a 3in body lift and 31s then with the booms installed and 33s.
i have my sway bar still. its toooo windy where i live to drive without one. track bars i tossed because they fight the leaf springs in terms of the ways they both move. leafs move up and down and trac-bars move in an arc so unless they are in the exact same spot with no movement, they are fighting each other and making a super rough ride, an arc and a straight line only cross at one point.
but, thats a good looking jeep as it sits so it should stay a good looking jeep with a better lift. your dad should be very happy
track bars i tossed because they fight the leaf springs in terms of the ways they both move. leafs move up and down and trac-bars move in an arc so unless they are in the exact same spot with no movement, they are fighting each other and making a super rough ride, an arc and a straight line only cross at one point.
Bentvalves,
You might want to consider boomerang shackles, not sure if the BDS springs have a military wrap as in the second leaf wrapping around the top leaf. The original shackles are too short to accommodate this setup. As to the Trackbars, I removed mine, but I am still using the swaybar. I have not noticed any sway side to side, but it did improve the ride. If your Dad has a bad back you might want to look into suspension seats with the lower side pollsters (easier to get in and out).
Teflon paint..... after your Dad sees all of the improvements, he might take into a mudpit.:2thumbsup::2thumbsup:
Ended up getting the lift installed. Still have a few things to button up, but here was the end result. Also started a build thread with more pics.
Rides like a Caddy compared to the old/siezed stuff. I think he'll be happy.
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