How much rake?

[freedom_in_4low]

Unloaded, my LJ sits as close to perfectly level front to rear as I could have ever achieved, though it wasn't through any specific intent, or effort on my part. The top of the tub behind the doors is about 1/16" lower than at the tail, so maybe total 1/8" of rake across the full length.

But it LOOKS like it's squatting. I would have sworn it was half to a full inch lower in the back but I can't argue with the tape.

I have some 3/4" spacers I can throw in, or I could buy the rear set of Rockjock springs to match the front. Curious what you guys shoot for that looks right to your calibrated eyeball, or what you typically end up with using springs from the same manufacturer at both ends instead of the mix and match thing I have going on.

I'm not messing with spring measurements because the curve of the rear makes it too weird to get directly comparable measurements.

 

[psrivats]

If you are happy with the ride height front and rear, and the springs are long enough for the shock travel you desire, why do brand of the springs matter?

You are really asking the question if people like to set up their TJs with intentionally a little more lift in the rear for appearance purposes.

 

[deadbeat son]

You are really asking the question if people like to set up their TJs with intentionally a little more lift in the rear for appearance purposes.

Is he? Or is he asking if people like to set up their TJs with equal lift front and rear to restore the factory rake?

@freedom_in_4low - after my recent lift, my frame measures the same height front and rear at the CA mounts, so it's level. This makes me feel like it's squatting in the rear. Aesthetically, I'm trying to get over it.

 

[chili_pepper]

Unloaded, my LJ sits as close to perfectly level front to rear as I could have ever achieved, though it wasn't through any specific intent, or effort on my part. The top of the tub behind the doors is about 1/16" lower than at the tail, so maybe total 1/8" of rake across the full length.

But it LOOKS like it's squatting. I would have sworn it was half to a full inch lower in the back but I can't argue with the tape.

I have no solutions but suffer from the same optical illusion. I post in solidarity.

 

[MountaineerTom]

I like a little bit of rake but not so noticeable that it stands out. Old Man Emu makes a small spacer for the rear thats 10mm thick. I would think 3/4” would be too much. If you‘re happy with the ride, I’d just add a thin spacer like that.

 

[AndyG]

I like some rake for cargo.

Also get in it and have someone take a pic- might surprise you that you need more.

1” is the max the handbook allows without applying for a hardship variance.

 

[freedom_in_4low]

If you are happy with the ride height front and rear, and the springs are long enough for the shock travel you desire, why do brand of the springs matter?

You are really asking the question if people like to set up their TJs with intentionally a little more lift in the rear for appearance purposes.

Brand itself doesn't matter, it would just be a quick, relatively fiddle free but more spendy route to whatever amount of rake Currie/Rockjock found appropriate when they developed them. I suspect they, and most lift manufacturers, keep a rake somewhere between stock and fully level. I just don't have any reference measurements for what Jeep used to begin with, or what Rockjock or anybody else designs in.

You are correct, I'm looking for what rake results in a natural appearance. It's somewhat bewildering to me but apparently my eye is trained to expect a certain rake and interprets that as "level".

Is he? Or is he asking if people like to set up their TJs with equal lift front and rear to restore the factory rake?

@freedom_in_4low - after my recent lift, my frame measures the same height front and rear at the CA mounts, so it's level. This makes me feel like it's squatting in the rear. Aesthetically, I'm trying to get over it.

Same, which is why I've left it alone for 2 years but I'm still not over it. I only made the tub measurement because I could get a little more resolution with more separation between measurements, but it just confirmed the virtually perfectly level frame.

 

[OldBuzzard]

I suspect a lot of us see a too-raked TJ, and decide we don't like any rake at all. Then we go to a lot of effort to get our TJ perfectly level, and even though we think it looks "squatty", we know the measurements don't lie.

I did that, and then got over it. Who cares about perfect level-ness if it looks squatty? I added a pair of StreetRays 1" aluminum spacers in the rear, turned down on a lathe to 3/4" on one side and 5/8" on the other side to level it side-to-side. This is an LJ, which might need a little different rake than a TJ. Now it looks right to my eye, no more squatty look.

 

[TheBoogieman]

Curious what you guys shoot for that looks right to your calibrated eyeball

It looked so much better after I leveled it.

 

[Rickyd]

Isn't the body set at a slight rake on the frame? That would make for different frames of reference when looking for "level".

I can't go check. Damn gf is off running around in the jeep again like its hers...

As to your question- i prefer some rake so my jeep doesn't look like a dog itching its b-hole on the ground when i haul stuff.which is often.

 

[freedom_in_4low]

Isn't the body set at a slight rake on the frame? That would make for different frames of reference when looking for "level".

I can't go check. Damn gf is off running around in the jeep again like its hers...

As to your question- i prefer some rake so my jeep doesn't look like a dog itching its b-hole on the ground when i haul stuff.which is often.

I might need to recheck my frame then, I haven't measured it in a year or so.

I'm probably 20% empty (unoccupied back seat), 50% with 100 pounds of backseat passenger, and 30% with backseat out and loaded with tools and gear that probably add up not too far off from backseat plus passengers.

On the non matching springs thing, not only are they not the same brand, I don't even know what lift they are supposed to be. It's entirely possible that they're 3" springs. Might even upgrade possible to "likely", because they came from a budget lift that was on the LJ when I bought it, with stock control arms, unmarked shocks and longer sway bar links.

 

[JMT]

I never got why people make such a big deal out of trying to get it level. 1” rake is good and normal.

 

[freedom_in_4low]

I never got why people make such a big deal out of trying to get it level. 1” rake is good and normal.

Same...I've never paid attention to it on anything I've owned. I mixed and matched springs that got me close enough to the same 5" of uptravel I had with the TJ and being perfectly level was purely accidental. I'm only thinking about it now because it's parked across the garage from the entry into the house so I can't help but notice it every time I walk in.

 

[KennethS]

Park in a different spot.

 

[PNW_LJ]

This is mine with Currie LJ springs, and 0.75” spacers in the front, and still has a minor rake when unloaded (rear seat in, no spare).

Like others, I like a bit of a rake for cargo and for better visibility.

 

[AndyG]

I never got why people make such a big deal out of trying to get it level. 1” rake is good and normal.

Americans are funny. Years back we added shackles and raised the rear ends, now the Carolina squat is here (lord help us) and we level, add rake , etc- it’s a wonder we don’t lift one side ….

 

[Rickyd]

Americans are funny. Years back we added shackles and raised the rear ends, now the Carolina squat is here (lord help us) and we level, add rake , etc- it’s a wonder we don’t lift one side ….

There are people who lower one side...

 

[AndyG]

There are people who lower one side...
View attachment 451188

See that makes a great case for lifting one side

 

[AndyG]

And reinforcing the roads …..

 

[SkylinesSuck]

There are people who lower one side...
View attachment 451188