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MK Lift Kit Available

71K views 285 replies 50 participants last post by  harv65 
#1 ·
#158 ·
Jim, All I wanted for lift was 1 1/2" - 2" so this was what I was looking for, going with more wasn't in my thought process when I was doing it. One of my friends has a Libby with a 3" lift that I'll be talking to. http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=484722

Everybody has their own reasons for how much they want to lift their Jeep but what are you going to do about tires? The limit is 29.9" until you hit the safety bar that's built on to the strut. Are you thinking about removing/relocating it or maybe wheel spacers to move the tires out? Just curious.
 
#159 · (Edited)
My long term goal for the Jeep honestly is to have in the neighborhood of 12-14" of ground clearance. I also like the looks of the Orange SEMA Patriot and would like build mine to look similar that one. It supposedly had a 2.5" lift and 31" tires which should have given it about 12-13" clearance. I got this by adding 2.5 from lift and 1.5 from the larger tires plus the 8-9” it started with.

Now all this may all change once I get my RRO lift (already ordered), new tires (still deciding on which ones), intake (already ordered), and eventually a new exhaust installed. However I also want to have enough faith in my 'Riot to attempt a Level 2.5 rated trail at any given moment.
The tire sizes I have looked at buying are 245/65/17's (that should be approximately 29.5") I have also thought about 225/70R17's (approximately 29.4") and 235/65/17's (approximately 29") or even some 225/75R16's which has some very aggressive tread patterns (approximately 29.25"). As you can see in my signature I am seriously thinking 245's which some of the more adventurous Patriot owners have reported they rub on the in side at full lock and some report they do not. I am sure this depends on the make of the tire. I would order a variety of wheel spacers from 7/32" to 1/2" or round about those measurements to counter act the possibility of rubbing.

I know I have mentioned relocating or possibly shaving the safety spring catch, but that is a last resort. I realize there are other options, especially since the SEMA Patriot supposedly used coil-over’s to achieve its lift. Now I have not seen a photo that proves this to be true or not. Regardless I have emailed several companies regarding such a system for the Patriot but none seem to be currently interested in "our market". My next thing is probably to contact OME to see if they would consider making new struts/shocks/springs for the "Riot.

Now to recap…
I guess in the end I want three things. First I want for people to quit accepting what they are told with out trying it themselves or proof. For example, when the Liberty came out they were told the same thing. Two inches of lift max. Now look at them. Some have 5-7” of lift and some probably higher. This was accomplished by people trying and not accepting what they were told by some fool who misunderstood what they were told or assumed something. Secondly I just one of those bad-*** Jeeps that when people see it they know I put work into it. Finally I want to gain some respect from the other Jeep owners.

Jeeps are built, not bought!
 
#160 ·
Jim, I'd be the last person to tell someone not to try. I get real tied of people saying that "it can't be done". Guess my sig says pretty much how I feel about it.

This is the emails I've had with my friend who has done several lifts on Libertys.

Shawn,

Any problems with the CV's on your 3" lift with short life or anything like that. We're trying to find the "theoretical" limit lifting an independent suspension before things start to die. Any idea?

Bob

Bob
If you go any higher than what I am you have to use special CV axles so in theory about 3.5" is the max before you will start to get problems. This will all vary depending on vehicle size and stock travel. I'm sure some larger SUVs or trucks can get more out of them. I know most IFS use a lower bracket to get past this lift wise, the vehicle is higher but travel is the same so you gain clearance but not articulation like with a long arm system on solid axles, you gain articulation as well as overall height. Hope that helps.

Shawn
 
#161 ·
Thanks Gramps appreciate the info. I looked at some spring isolators (spacer) online and they are pretty cheap. After I get the lift kit, which I called RRO again today and the bushings are still back ordered, and tires (yup ordered them today too) and get them installed. Thats when I'll know if I am going any higher or not.

The way it looks is I should have just under 12" ground clearance. Its starting at about 8.5 now plus 2.25 from the lift plus the .75 from the tires should be about 11.5" which seems pretty respectable to me anyway but we'll see how it looks. I have seen two guys running 245's and its hard to see exactly how it looks due to camera angles.

The bad news is the way my schedule at work is even if I had all the stuff in hand today I wouldn't have time to install it for another 31 days anyway. I am instructor in the Army and we pick up a new class tomorrow. SO I'll be back to the grind working 7 days a week for 31 days. Good news though is I'll have a plenty of time before my next class to get this stuff installed and properly tested out. :D
 
#165 ·
After seeing these pictures I am DEFINITELY getting a lift kit for my Compass. My question, though, is whether or not it will look stupid to keep the original tires for awhile. I can't afford to "upgrade" everything at once. I have a Limited version so the wheels are bigger and so maybe it won't look silly... :)
 
#166 ·
Hey all - I am interested in purchasing this lift as well. What skill level would you say is needed to successfully install this kit?

Also - I would like to keep the rims from my patriot limited and just get new rubber, can you guys recommend a tire that is primarily for highway, will give me some height, and wont rub?

thank you!
 
#168 ·
The skill level has more to do with having the right tools than anything else. If you can twist a wrench you can probably do it. Check out the instructions if you haven't already MK Lift Kit Installation.

Picking out tires is really a personal choice. Go over to the Optional Tires/Wheels for MK's and at the top of page 6 you'll find the sizes that you need to look at and then compare the reviews at the Tire Rack (the link is on the page). All of the tires listed will fit without rubbing but I'll make a recommendation to stay close to a 28" tire so that you can maintain speedometer accuracy, mpg and low end performance, but that is only my opinion.
 
#173 ·
Well it looks like I have 8.5" from the ground to the bottom of the sideskirts but looking under the Jeep - there's part of the frame (I think) that sticks down slightly farther (only about 7" of clearance under that)
 
#174 ·
Not a clue to what could be hanging down but the lift kit would definitely get you up there. 8.4 was what my Compass Limited FD I start at but it's a clean sweep under it.
 
#175 ·
I think it might be the rear passenger footwell or something? but it sounds like I only lost 1/2" due to the Rallye kit...hmmm maybe something to look at after I've owned the Jeep for a while (it's only a week old)
 
#177 ·
That's good info, thanks! I don't know if I can warrant any special deals from the parts department but the Service guys are keeping an eye out for the Patriot wheels and I'll have them watch for the Avenger/Sebring ones, too.

I'm looking at either 225/70-16 Pirelli Scorpion ATR's or 235/70-16 Firestone Destination A/T's. I just put some of the Firestone's in a 245/70-16 on the wife's GC and is she ever happy. We had more snow and ice this week and she said that they were night and day difference from the GY Wrangler SR-A's that were on it. She's happy, I'm happy! :thumbsup:
 
#179 ·
should i go with the 16" steels, i'm getting the 225/75R16 or 245/70R16 BFG All-Terrains. i had the BFG's on my Unlimited and i was REALLY impressed with the ride, traction and well, they just look good! i've already told them at the retail/mechanics counter that if someone 'upgrades' to alloys, then the takeoffs are MINE! :thumbsup:
 
#181 ·
Axle angles for Jim.
Fronts in previous post.
Rear, drivers side, passenger side.
 

Attachments

#182 ·
Thanks Gramps, I appreciate the photos to me that doesn't look that sharp of an angle, but I am not an engineer either..

My good news is I got my lift kit in the mail yesterday. My bad news is I do not have any days off scheduled for another two weeks so it will be a while before I get a chance to install the lift and mount the tires. The part I hate the most is the fact that now I'll see that lift kit box everyday for another two weeks and its just begging to be installed.
 
#183 ·
Thanks Gramps, I appreciate the photos to me that doesn't look that sharp of an angle, but I am not an engineer either..

My good news is I got my lift kit in the mail yesterday. My bad news is I do not have any days off scheduled for another two weeks so it will be a while before I get a chance to install the lift and mount the tires. The part I hate the most is the fact that now I'll see that lift kit box everyday for another two weeks and its just begging to be installed.
well, at least you're a couple steps ahead of ME. i have my skid plates, but no lift kit or tires yet. i may just wait until i'm due for my next oil change (next month) and do all that at the same time while in the shop, up on the lift.

even working at a dealership, it's hard to find the time and space (lifts are at a premium) to get anything done myself....you'll still probably beat ME! :(
 
#185 ·
Bigger tires + lifted body = more stress on the drive train......

What happens to the lifetime powertrain warranty? I might consider lifting mine (4x4 FDI Limited Patriot )(but I'm going to wait until it is older and I might buy a second car while I do it.....) but it would suck to have the warranty be cancled by this... I'm sure this plagues the other jeep owners who mod their Jeeps so someone should know.... I'd hope....
 
#187 ·
Well I went and installed my lift today... but ran into a dilema. The shop didn't have a wrench that would fit in the tight area to remove the rear upper control arms so I could use the RRO ones. So the lift is installed minus the upper control arms. I have an appointment to get it aligned next Wed. (its the soonest available). But here are the photos:





So do you think I'll issues using the stock rear upper control arms?
 
#191 ·
Yeah I read that post before but I guess I didn't take it to heart. I have no good reason to lift it but I think it looks really nice lifted. I wish I could pull off the 29"s too but not if the sped is off... See any pictures showing the stock alloys with the lift and either 28"s or 29s? I thnk the pictures on RR have ugly tires....
 
#197 ·
The sway bar bracket on the lift broke.
As english is a foreign language to me, and some technical terms are strange to me even in my own language :D,
could someone make a little photo and a big red arrow pointing the detail that broke :)
 
#194 ·
***RRO Lift: MUST READ...POTENTIAL DANGER****

I wanted to pass this along, because I'm not sure if the original poster is a member at this forum.

Hey guys, its been ages since I've been around here but I figured that you all should know about this.

Tuesday night I made a U-turn in my '07 Sport w/ the RRO Lift. Heard something snap then a clicking noise. I pulled over and found that the extension bracket for the Sway Bar linkage arm on the passengers side had snapped in half between the two bolt holes.

Now luckily I had a friend with AAA and a truck I could borrow for the day yesterday but this could have been an extremely costly issue for me (cost me the better part of a day at work as well). The linkage arm bent and is only a $55 (canadian) part but what if the now jagged edge of the bracket had gone through the sidewall of my tire if I was going faster? The linkage fell between the strut tower and the tire and rubbed the raised lettering off of my new BFG A/T's.

This is a major safety issue as far as I am concerned and I was quite shocked to find out that RRO must know about this issue as they have re-designed these parts and are now sending me two replacements. As far as customer service goes I was more than a little disapointed. I called yesterday morning and was told all they needed was my order number (stored in my work email) I came into work, a 30 minute drive, and called them back with it only to be told that I needed to send in a digital picture of the broken part in order to recieve a warranty replacement. I had to drive back home to get the picture. I was expecting some high turn around on this item so I could have my truck back on the road. I requested overnight delivery and was told that is not possible and it would be sent UPS (not comforting because UPS lost my first lift kit and the replacement for it took over a month and a half to get to me). I don't know yet if there will be any duty charges on these warranty parts.

Overall I am glad that I am getting parts for both sides since the other side is bent and has sever stress cracks in it already. This part is grossly underdesigned and they must have realised that to re-design it. I strongly suggest that anyone with the RRO lift kit have a very close look at these brackets and start registering your complaints with Rocky Road if they are bent at all. Get your replacement parts now because it sure doesn't seem like they are going to recall them.

For now (since I can't borrow the old man's brand new Chev for too long) I took some 1/4" thick (the RRO part is only 3/16") Stainless Steel Flatbar (its what we had at work) and made my own brackets. My Riot is back on the road but its unlikely I will be buying anything designed by Rocky Road again considering these parts broke under normal driving conditions, what quality is there behind their parts that get tortured off road?

Long post and a bit of a vent, but you all should know so this doesn't happen to you. Check those brackets!!!
-Originally posted by quiff69 at another forum.
 
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