Jeep Wrangler TJ Performance PCM Tuning

Winter project: 2" (2" rear 3" front?) lift

matkal

matkal

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A quick search didn't find the threads/posts I was looking so here's another " help me with my lift " thread. LOL

Jeep is stock '04 with 31" tires and 1" spacers on the front springs. I want to keep the "stance" I have now with stock (saggy?) springs but increase overall lift by no more than 2" in the rear. Down the road I plan on a body lift and 33s. I have a narrowed stock bumper in front with a steel cabled winch and a rear bumper made of 2x4 rectangular tubing. I'm in the process of figuring out what I need as far as springs and other things like track bar(s) , etc.


What I "know" :
*Rancho shocks $200 range?
* $400-$500 budget for springs
* I know I'll need bump stops and I'll be replacing at least the rear jounce bumpers

I read somewhere on here that mixing 3" with 2" springs is a bad idea. Why? What's the difference between that and 2" springs with 1" spacers?
 
matkal said:
A quick search didn't find the threads/posts I was looking so here's another " help me with my lift " thread. LOL

Jeep is stock '04 with 31" tires and 1" spacers on the front springs. I want to keep the "stance" I have now with stock (saggy?) springs but increase overall lift by no more than 2" in the rear. Down the road I plan on a body lift and 33s. I have a narrowed stock bumper in front with a steel cabled winch and a rear bumper made of 2x4 rectangular tubing. I'm in the process of figuring out what I need as far as springs and other things like track bar(s) , etc.


What I "know" :
*Rancho shocks $200 range?
* $400-$500 budget for springs
* I know I'll need bump stops and I'll be replacing at least the rear jounce bumpers

I read somewhere on here that mixing 3" with 2" springs is a bad idea. Why? What's the difference between that and 2" springs with 1" spacers?
Click to expand...

Something similar.

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/a-recipe-for-an-affordable-but-quality-2-5-lift.41687/
 
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matkal said:
A quick search didn't find the threads/posts I was looking so here's another " help me with my lift " thread. LOL

Jeep is stock '04 with 31" tires and 1" spacers on the front springs. I want to keep the "stance" I have now with stock (saggy?) springs but increase overall lift by no more than 2" in the rear. Down the road I plan on a body lift and 33s. I have a narrowed stock bumper in front with a steel cabled winch and a rear bumper made of 2x4 rectangular tubing. I'm in the process of figuring out what I need as far as springs and other things like track bar(s) , etc.


What I "know" :
*Rancho shocks $200 range?
* $400-$500 budget for springs
* I know I'll need bump stops and I'll be replacing at least the rear jounce bumpers

I read somewhere on here that mixing 3" with 2" springs is a bad idea. Why? What's the difference between that and 2" springs with 1" spacers?
Click to expand...

I did exactly what you're talking about.

What I had was 33s on a 3 inch level lift comprised of 3 inch springs all around and a 1 inch spacer up front to level it out.

What I wanted was a 2 inch level lift. I pulled the old springs & spacer and replaced them with new 3 inch front/2 inch rear springs.

I ignored the conventional wisdom of 'needing' more lift for 33s.

It's been four issue-free years. I cycled the suspension and maintained a minimum 4 inches of up-travel. I documented it all in photos in my build thread if you want to look at it. I'm NOT claiming my setup is ideal for offroading, just that it works for my on road purposes, the suspension operates normally and there is zero contact between any components, tires, fenders, flares or otherwise.

The budget you have is fine, or at least it was a few years ago, I don't know current pricing on these items but I paid $600 for the whole thing, $200 for the Ranchos & $200 each for sets of front and rear Teraflex springs.

It looks great, it drives great, and is a tiny skosh easier to get in/out of. My next move if I make one will be to go 3 inches lower by downsizing the tires to 31s & eliminating the 2 inch lift. I'd probably go with H&R front springs that I understand yield a 1 inch lift for leveling purposes, and straight up stock rear springs. This will be a game day call next time I need tires.

IMG_2578.webp
 
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Westtown Willy said:
I did exactly what you're talking about.

What I had was 33s on a 3 inch level lift comprised of 3 inch springs all around and a 1 inch spacer up front to level it out.

What I wanted was a 2 inch level lift. I pulled the old springs & spacer and replaced them with new 3 inch front/2 inch rear springs.

I ignored the conventional wisdom of 'needing' more lift for 33s.

It's been four issue-free years. I cycled the suspension and maintained a minimum 4 inches of up-travel. I documented it all in photos in my build thread if you want to look at it. I'm NOT claiming my setup is ideal for offroading, just that it works for my on road purposes, the suspension operates normally and there is zero contact between any components, tires, fenders, flares or otherwise.

The budget you have is fine, or at least it was a few years ago, I don't know current pricing on these items but I paid $600 for the whole thing, $200 for the Ranchos & $200 each for sets of front and rear Teraflex springs.

It looks great, it drives great, and is a tiny skosh easier to get in/out of. My next move if I make one will be to go 3 inches lower by downsizing the tires to 31s & eliminating the 2 inch lift. I'd probably go with H&R front springs that I understand yield a 1 inch lift for leveling purposes, and straight up stock rear springs. This will be a game day call next time I need tires.

View attachment 485149
Click to expand...

I like your proportions, Willy.
 
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Mike_H said:
You can mix springs. No issue at all. I think your budget for springs may be a bit high, but it’s been a while since I bought a set new.
Click to expand...

I was forgetting that they came as a pair 🤦‍♂️ and I was adding a bit for inflation as I haven’t priced springs in about 6 months.
 
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Westtown Willy said:
I did exactly what you're talking about.

What I had was 33s on a 3 inch level lift comprised of 3 inch springs all around and a 1 inch spacer up front to level it out.

What I wanted was a 2 inch level lift. I pulled the old springs & spacer and replaced them with new 3 inch front/2 inch rear springs.

I ignored the conventional wisdom of 'needing' more lift for 33s.

It's been four issue-free years. I cycled the suspension and maintained a minimum 4 inches of up-travel. I documented it all in photos in my build thread if you want to look at it. I'm NOT claiming my setup is ideal for offroading, just that it works for my on road purposes, the suspension operates normally and there is zero contact between any components, tires, fenders, flares or otherwise.

The budget you have is fine, or at least it was a few years ago, I don't know current pricing on these items but I paid $600 for the whole thing, $200 for the Ranchos & $200 each for sets of front and rear Teraflex springs.

It looks great, it drives great, and is a tiny skosh easier to get in/out of. My next move if I make one will be to go 3 inches lower by downsizing the tires to 31s & eliminating the 2 inch lift. I'd probably go with H&R front springs that I understand yield a 1 inch lift for leveling purposes, and straight up stock rear springs. This will be a game day call next time I need tires.

View attachment 485149
Click to expand...

Nice! Did you do anything about track bars?
 
matkal said:
What have y’all done about track bars?
Click to expand...

When I did my first two inch lift (with OME springs) I did an adjustable track bar. I didn’t like the idea of redrilling the mount to center the axle. From what I know of the auto industry, that hole is located with the minimum amount of material around it to be “safe.” Redrilling the mount means that hole is closer to the edge of the material, which makes it more likely to pull out.

Will it ever happen? Hell, I don’t know. All I know is that the OEM doesn’t generally include more material than necessary, so they can minimize their cost.
 
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Mike_H said:
When I did my first two inch lift (with OME springs) I did an adjustable track bar. I didn’t like the idea of redrilling the mount to center the axle. From what I know of the auto industry, that hole is located with the minimum amount of material around it to be “safe.” Redrilling the mount means that hole is closer to the edge of the material, which makes it more likely to pull out.

Will it ever happen? Hell, I don’t know. All I know is that the OEM doesn’t generally include more material than necessary, so they can minimize their cost.
Click to expand...

Rear I assume?
 
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Welp, I ended my procrastination and over thinking and ordered my springs today, 3" BDS for the front and 2" BDS for the rear. I also found a deal on marketplace, a new/unused RC adjustable front track bar for $50.

Hopefully get the springs on this weekend and start figuring out which shocks (probably Rancho 5000's) and bump stops and all that mysterious shit.......
 
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