Which will be a better ride-2.5" lift and 1" body lift or 3.5"/4" lift?

**Marauder_Pilot** · 09-22-2008, 09:58 AM

So, in my continuing quest that involves my Jeep running 33"s, and both looking good to the eye and feeling good to the a**, I'm trying to decide what lift will offer better on-road handling. All other things-namely, manufacturer-equal (I'm probably going Rubicon Express for the springs and assorted other parts, and OME or Skyjacker for the shocks), which will provide a better on-road ride-a 2.5" suspension lift with a 1" body lift, or a 3.5" or 4" suspension lift?

Comfort is a big thing for me, mainly because next June, I'm going to have to hook a U-Haul trailer up to it, load myself, 2 friends and 4 (Yes, 4) cats in the Jeep and drive it the 5000 KM back home to Whitehorse when I graduate. So, I'd like to get it riding in a manner such that I'll be able to feel my butt when I get back.

2005X · 09-22-2008, 10:00 AM

do a "4.5 rubicon express kit, switch the springs for "3.5, and call it a day

**mudb8** · 09-22-2008, 10:01 AM

OME 2.5" springs, shocks, 1.25" body lift and mml

on short arms the higher ya go the rougher the ride along with less stability.

Xlr8n · 09-22-2008, 10:15 AM

Generally speaking regarding spring height on a short arm lift, the shorter the springs- the more parallel to the ground the control arms will be, thus giving a more compliant ride. So all thing being equal quality-wise, a shorter spring lift with a BL will theoretically give a more compliant ride than a longer spring lift. But that being said, often times the difference of an inch is tough to feel in the seat of the pants, especially on SA lifts under 4". Anything over 4" on a SA and the ride becomes noticably stiffer as that is when the CA's really are pitched down acting more like struts and relaying road variables to the chassis instead of absorbing them through the springs/shocks.
Give BDS a look for springs and/or shocks. I'm running their 3" springs and shocks and the on-road ride is just as nice as the OME 2.5 kit they replaced. Both kits gave a very close to stock ride quality. The BDS kits are quite reasonable price-wise and have a lifetime guarrantee on everything but the shocks.

Kpat · 09-22-2008, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mudb8

OME 2.5" springs, shocks, 1.25" body lift and mml

on short arms the higher ya go the rougher the ride along with less stability.

X2 The higher lift with the SA the rougher the ride.

However 2.5" suspension on SA with OME's and a 1" BL would ride very good.

If you are thinking of LA try to keep your LCG low especially if you want to tow something.

jtice · 09-22-2008, 10:25 AM

Doing the BL is also lifting less of the weight into the air.
Instead of just a spring lift lifting the body along with everything else.
So that keeps you a bit more stable, even though you still got the body up high.

~John

**mudb8** · 09-22-2008, 10:29 AM

not to mention the sye, cv shaft or dropping the t-case ya likely wont need to do.

Xlr8n · 09-22-2008, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mudb8

not to mention the sye, cv shaft or dropping the t-case ya likely wont need to do.

^^^Excellent points to consider as well.

**Marauder_Pilot** · 09-22-2008, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mudb8

not to mention the sye, cv shaft or dropping the t-case ya likely wont need to do.

Yeah, that was another big factor. If I wanted to do a monster lift-IE, more then 4", bigger then 33"s, ect, I'd probably just sell my 2K and buy a newer used Rubicon anyways, since I can't justify spending as much on parts as I did on the Jeep itself...(Even if mine is in fantastic shape for its age-less then 61000 miles on a 2K)

So, yeah, I'm thinking I'll go for a 2.5" lift and 1" BL. It won't be any less rough then the comparable SL, but it'll cost so much less. Off-road performance probably won't be as much, but for the moment, my Jeep spends most of the time on pavement anyways.

**mudb8** · 09-22-2008, 10:56 AM

keepin it on the hwy ya can also skip out on replacing the lower control arms,

keep off them rocks!....

Chris_ · 09-22-2008, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mudb8

keepin it on the hwy ya can also skip out on replacing the lower control arms,

keep off them rocks!....

Just because you have stock control arms, you shouldn't go off road?

Kpat · 09-22-2008, 02:52 PM

Umm ya...

If those weren't stock CA i am pretty sure that they would be just as abused. If they were LA they would probably be wrecked.

There is nothing wrong with stock CA for just a 2.5" lift.

lupinsea · 09-23-2008, 02:03 PM

Annother benefit to a 1" BL / 2.5" lift is that because of the BL you can also trim your gas skid (or buy aftermarket) for more ground clearance. Plus many belly-up skids require a 1" BL for clearance issues if you decide to go that route (though, at any height other than stock, a belly-up skid conversion will require the SYE, CV driveshaft mods).

I've been running a 2" lift, 1" BL/MML and have greatly enjoyed this combiniation for offroading. On road things are pretty stable.

**mudb8** · 09-23-2008, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris_

Just because you have stock control arms, you shouldn't go off road?

no, let me clarify that... if ya play on big rocks..

mud, snow, dirt, trail riding... ya don't need new lower arms, thats what i was trying to show.. lol

**mudb8** · 09-23-2008, 02:44 PM

this is the stuff I play on alot and is what took out those stock arms..