Guidance requested: lift questions

sgmartz

sgmartz

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Mar 22, 2021
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Hi TJ Forum,

Couple of questions as I am planning out some upgrades to my 04 Rubicon. My ultimate goal is fit 35s under her. I am contemplating two paths, 1)high line fenders, 2)body lift. Jeep already has an unknown lift of some brand and height.

  1. Is there a way to determine how much lift is on the jeep from the existing springs? I know it is lift but not by how much. Currently run 33s (measured 31) without rubbing on stock fenders.
  2. I am hoping/guessing I have 2.5-3" of lift thus to get 35s I understand a body lift is the easiest path forward.
    1. If I do the body lift, I understand a motor mount lift is not necessary so long as I move the fan shroud and make new holes ~1" above the existing ones?
    2. If I do the body lift, are the drive shafts still long enough? I am less concerned about the front but I am not sure about the rear or if I would need to order a new one.
Thanks!
 
If you really want to do 35’s you’ll have a lot more questions and be out a lot more $$$$ than a body lift.

For current lift measure the front springs + any spacer. Stock height is 12”. Rear stock height is 8”. Anything over that is your lift height (e.g. 15”-12” = 3” lift in front). Don’t assume front and rear are the same.

You need 5” total lift to run 35’s. Hilining with less lift has undesirable up travel limitations.

There are lots of threads on 35’s, so search the forum.

Body lifts are unrelated to driveshaft angles and lengths.
 
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JMT said:
If you really want to do 35’s you’ll have a lot more questions and be out a lot more $$$$ than a body lift.

For current lift measure the front springs + any spacer. Stock height is 12”. Rear stock height is 8”. Anything over that is your lift height (e.g. 15”-12” = 3” lift in front). Don’t assume front and rear are the same.

You need 5” total lift to run 35’s. Hilining with less lift has undesirable up travel limitations.

There are lots of threads on 35’s, so search the forum.

Body lifts are unrelated to driveshaft angles and lengths.
Click to expand...

I am not concerned about the brake, gearing impacts of going to 35s.

With high lines, what are the travel limitations?
 
Rickyd said:
1 measure your springs on flat ground. 12" front,8" rear is stock so anything more is lift
2 highlines are much more expensive than a body, lift you decide
2-1 yes
2-2 body lift doesn't affect drivelines.

Heres some material to study-
https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/so-you-want-to-run-35-tires-on-your-tj.2428/
Click to expand...

Also, a body lift can be installed within a couple hours and under $200. I'm several weeks into my highline and always at the halfway point. I don't want to add up how much this continual nickel and dime project is costing.
 
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jjvw said:
Also, a body lift can be installed within a couple hours and under $200. I'm several weeks into my highline and always at the halfway point. I don't want to add up how much this continual nickel and dime project is costing.
Click to expand...

hahaha - yeah kind of my concern as well, just looking at all options
 
sgmartz said:
I am not concerned about the brake, gearing impacts of going to 35s.
Click to expand...
You WILL be. You can get your upgraded brakes and BL at the same place.
BM decal .jpeg
 
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sgmartz said:
I am not concerned about the brake, gearing impacts of going to 35s.
Click to expand...

Neither one is good if you don't do anything.

sgmartz said:
With high lines, what are the travel limitations?
Click to expand...

Highlines will create about 3" of new clearance above the original factory hood line. This means you can physically stuff a larger tire into the front with no other suspension changes. However, the only way to increase suspension travel is to increase the ride height to allow for a longer travel shock. The same is true for a body lift, except that the clearance increases are different amounts and a body lift affects the rear as much as the front.
 
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sgmartz said:
hahaha - yeah kind of my concern as well, just looking at all options
Click to expand...

No one ever tells you this. Highlines are not a simple project, even when everything is hacked and crammed together in a weekend. I'm trying to do a decent job and it never ends if the basic goal is to have things look like they belong on the Jeep.
 
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