Hey all. In the coming few weeks I'll be having a mechanic buddy of mine install an OME 2.5" on my 2000 TJ. Earlier this year I upgraded to 31" A/T's in preparation for this lift, and decided that 2.5" and 31's is as far as I'm comfortable going, given my limited mechanical experience, use of the vehicle as a daily driver, and it not requiring many more upgrades or adjustments other than what's included in the kit to do it right.
I know the topic of the OME 2.5" kit has been covered time and again but that's the tricky thing with "just search it"--the more threads that are out there, the more differing opinions there are. So I have a couple questions that will hopefully get me covered as far as everything I need to know, as a relative newbie.
The height:
On Quadratec and other sites, the 2" kit doesn't come with spacers. Just want to confirm that I'll need to purchase these separately to achieve the often talked about 2.5 total inches of lift, and that I'd need a total of four spacers.
The kit:
In short--do I need it? Buying the whole OME kit in one go is appealing to me as someone unfamiliar with the ins and outs of suspension. But I've also seen talk of OME springs with rancho shocks, and so on. Might piecing together my lift be a good way to save some coin on the job while still getting a quality ride? If so, can anyone give me a list of everything I'd need to go 2.5" without spending the full grand on the OME kit?
The springs:
I've pretty much decided on HD. But am open to suggestions as to why I should go light.
The plan:
My buddy is an experienced mechanic and builder with all the tools and equipment I could possibly need for this task and then some. Ironically he's never actually done a lift, but plenty of suspension work. I'm beyond confident that he's up for it but if there are any quirks specific to the TJ or things to look out for when taking this on, I'd love to know (and so would he). I'm not sure if a detailed step-by-step is included with the kit (doubt it) but if someone has one handy and would be willing to link or post, that'd be immensely helpful.
The preparation:
is there anything I ought to do to prepare for the install? Consumables to purchase and use (penetrating oil and the like) on specific parts prior to the job, and so on?
The shakedown:
How do I know it worked? I'll be driving to my hometown 1.5 hours away for a long weekend to have this lift done, and would hate for something to go wrong when I'm halfway through my return trip. What conditions should I cover to make sure everything's in order once the lift is on--make sure I hit highway speed, sharp turns, etc? I'm assuming engaging 4H and 4L is irrelevant.
While we're under there:
Any other components, upgrades, or preventative maintenance I ought to do while the jeep is jacked up and I have access to an expert? Kill two birds with one stone? Sway bar discos?
I think that about covers it. Any help you guys can offer would be massively appreciated. This is probably one of the few chances I'll have to do it affordably for the cost of parts and a case of beer (or two), so I want to make sure I do it right. Obligatory photo of the vehicle in question below, at stock height on 31's.
I know the topic of the OME 2.5" kit has been covered time and again but that's the tricky thing with "just search it"--the more threads that are out there, the more differing opinions there are. So I have a couple questions that will hopefully get me covered as far as everything I need to know, as a relative newbie.
The height:
On Quadratec and other sites, the 2" kit doesn't come with spacers. Just want to confirm that I'll need to purchase these separately to achieve the often talked about 2.5 total inches of lift, and that I'd need a total of four spacers.
The kit:
In short--do I need it? Buying the whole OME kit in one go is appealing to me as someone unfamiliar with the ins and outs of suspension. But I've also seen talk of OME springs with rancho shocks, and so on. Might piecing together my lift be a good way to save some coin on the job while still getting a quality ride? If so, can anyone give me a list of everything I'd need to go 2.5" without spending the full grand on the OME kit?
The springs:
I've pretty much decided on HD. But am open to suggestions as to why I should go light.
The plan:
My buddy is an experienced mechanic and builder with all the tools and equipment I could possibly need for this task and then some. Ironically he's never actually done a lift, but plenty of suspension work. I'm beyond confident that he's up for it but if there are any quirks specific to the TJ or things to look out for when taking this on, I'd love to know (and so would he). I'm not sure if a detailed step-by-step is included with the kit (doubt it) but if someone has one handy and would be willing to link or post, that'd be immensely helpful.
The preparation:
is there anything I ought to do to prepare for the install? Consumables to purchase and use (penetrating oil and the like) on specific parts prior to the job, and so on?
The shakedown:
How do I know it worked? I'll be driving to my hometown 1.5 hours away for a long weekend to have this lift done, and would hate for something to go wrong when I'm halfway through my return trip. What conditions should I cover to make sure everything's in order once the lift is on--make sure I hit highway speed, sharp turns, etc? I'm assuming engaging 4H and 4L is irrelevant.
While we're under there:
Any other components, upgrades, or preventative maintenance I ought to do while the jeep is jacked up and I have access to an expert? Kill two birds with one stone? Sway bar discos?
I think that about covers it. Any help you guys can offer would be massively appreciated. This is probably one of the few chances I'll have to do it affordably for the cost of parts and a case of beer (or two), so I want to make sure I do it right. Obligatory photo of the vehicle in question below, at stock height on 31's.
