New to me Rubicon; need some help

[B.B.]

Greetings all; I'm an old Jeep guy who has been without one for awhile now. My first was a CJ-5 back in the '80's, and my last Jeep was a black/tan 2001 Sahara TJ I bought new, lifted it and ended up selling it a couple years later. I always regretted that, so finally decided to look for another TJ. I found an '06 Rubicon that needs some work, and I'm hoping I can get some good advice and knowledge here.

What I'm dealing with is what looks like a black diamond lift, probably 3", its hard to tell. Up front the former owner installed a set of JKS ACOS adjustable coil spring spacers; I'm not sure why, maybe he was trying to compensate for sag due to the body armor bumper and 9500lb winch on the front. Anyway, its now sitting higher in the front and low in the back. So, I'm considering three options here:

1. Replace the springs (and maybe the ACOS) with better springs that will give me about the same height all around as the front end is now, I think its 4", again hard to tell. If I keep the ACOS I'll get 2.5" lift springs in front and 4" in the back, I think, not sure on how to deal with the ACOS.
2. Install a spring spacer on the rear springs to level out the jeep and leave it.

So, my first question is do I need to worry about anything by lifting the back end up to what looks like a 3.5-4" lift? I was under the impression that the Rubi does not have driveline angle issues so I wont need to lower the transfer case. Any reason not to swap out with 4" Currie or OME springs?

The thing rides horribly, it needs ball joints, ends and shocks. For shocks, I was going to go with Rancho RS5000X all around. The front Bilsteins are new but too stiff for my taste.

What is the preferred ball joint? Dana Spicer, or is there a longer lasting ball joint out there that I should consider?

Here's the front suspension

Rear

 

[cliffish]

Yes on those shocks and yes on spicer ball joints. I went with H & R springs but will let others chime in on their opinions as well.

 

[LONGJP2]

I think 4" might be too much, even for a Rubicon stock shaft. Maybe if it was an LJ.
Looks like the Acos is at its minimum setting, so it's just a fancy spacer. If you decide to replace them with new springs, you'll need bumpstops.

 

[RubiconRic]

Are the control arms adjustable? Going over 3" on a TJR will require a new rear DS and adjustable arms in the rear. If it were me I'd decide on the lift height you want, ie 3" or 4", then replace the shocks, ball joints, etc., first.

 

[B.B.]

Yeah I was just looking at the driveshaft it’s real short. I think I would need a CV type drive shaft. Already have adjustable control arms.

 

[Rubicon88]

Ok...let's begin.

Let's talk tires first and foremost.

Are they good condition? As in no dry rotting, good tread remaining...rotated properly...track down the road properly?

Ok...

Next question...
Are they the size you'd like?

The #1 reason (not the only one) people install lifts is for clearance for larger tires...for more axle clearance.

Sure some just want a look...some want function although the factory TJ suspension set up is extremely capable in stock form. Add some sway bar disconnects and that's a nice off road stock suspension.

Back to the tires.

If they are the size you want to run...or whatever size you want to run...then that should be your threshold of reworking the suspension.

IMO I don't like any rake. What's worse is you've got reverse rake. You definitely don't want that.
So something has to change here.

What size tires do you wish to run or using the current tires..what size are they?

 

[1904-06LJR]

Ditch the ACOS and buy the appropriate sized spacer that will level the TJ out (these are sometimes pretty cheap on Amazon/eBay) along with the shocks you want. Spend the rest of your money on starting from scratch. Begin with the important stuff first like all new ball joints, maybe a new steering setup or at least replace the ends and don't forget the track bars. While doing this, I'd start considering a whole new lift at the height you are after. Everyone here will recommend the Rock Jock or Savvy 4" and for good reason, they are proven for sure. But when planning, just keep in mind what you're in for if you steer away from those two options.

If you think about it, all that will give you a new "ground zero" since you know exactly what and when something was replaced. I started my XJ with parts from here and other parts from there and ended up scrapping all of it for a complete lift system. You wind up just chasing your tail because you're matching new stuff with old stuff and one problem will just lead to another. It's just some advice for you man, these things will drain your wallet, but once they are all setup you're golden!

 

[AndyG]

All good posts.

Your stock height cup to cup is 8" in the rear and 12" in the front, whatever distance you have beyond that is lift height.

I'd drop it down to 2 1/2- 3" with Rock Crawler Springs or an OME lift, get quality arms and track bars and do a ZJ steering upgrade and new ball joints, and based on what I hear, you probably need unit bearings and front axle joints and the drive shafts rebuilt, fluids, belt, hoses, and plugs. With 31-32" tires stock gears will work and a Rubicon is wickedly effective off road. It will eat a regular TJ alive.



I've basically been through most a of this ....typical used TJ - a lifted mess.

Get your mind around this -

The control arms have 16 bushings

Sway bars and links 12

Rear shocks 2, front shocks 6

Track bars 4

That's 40 bushings plus your body mounts.

Then you have the upper front right control arm bracket that can be suspect

Not sure everything that's going on, but bushings are the connections...so however you work this out they are key .

These no short cut, stay on here, ask questions with pics and we will help you get divorced and go completely broke. Sometimes it doesn't go that way, we help you go broke, then you get divorced.

 

[Goatman]

As said, figure out what tire you want to run first. Everything else depends on this. Unless you want a mall crawler just to look a certain way. Nothing wrong with that. Your Jeep, your way.
But once you know what tire size then all the other parts will begin to fall in place.
As for the "bushing list" that is also important to remember. Get the best quality parts you can afford. But be aware that they will all be likley to need replacement.
Tire size can tell you how much spring you will want. Spring size will tell you how big a shock you can run, etc.

 

[B.B.]

It’s got 295/70R17 cooper M/T tires on wheels with too much backspace; they rub the control arms nearing full lock. They have to go, I like A/Ts anyway. The height though is what I want; between 33 and 35 inches. Thinking Toyo OC AT3s on 17x8” wheels with 3.75” backspace.
so I think I need to approach this as fix the stuff that needs fixing, while correcting the leveling. I just don’t know if I can do that; I think I’m going to have to change the DS to CV if I raise the back end. If I’m in there putting in a spacer, might as well just change the springs to the height I want instead right?

 

[Goatman]

Do it once is the smart (and cheap) way to get your TJ the way you want it to be in the end. Just be aware that as we build we often change our idea of what we want. Building for 33's with a spring lift can let you grow to 35's someday with the addition of a body lift and little else. So if you are on the fence about it that's how I'd do it.