Spacer lift pros and cons
- Thread starter RyanMkTJ
- Start date
No matter which you do, you will need longer shocks for the increased ride height. So the cost savings aren't as much as one might think.
Due to coil bind, too much spacer lift will decrease up travel more than a spring lift will. I don't know at what point, but an 1.5" is not a small spacer.
Spacers have their place, but not when they create a compromise to the shock travel.
Due to coil bind, too much spacer lift will decrease up travel more than a spring lift will. I don't know at what point, but an 1.5" is not a small spacer.
Spacers have their place, but not when they create a compromise to the shock travel.
Shocks don't create coil bind. Thick spacers do. Coil bind reduces the otherwise normally available up travel because the spring and spacer become a solid mass before a longer lift spring would.
Would you say that a spacer lift actually reduces on trail capability because of the reduction of travel? Obviously spacers would lift the frame for more clearance but at what cost to articulation? I don’t want to put a lift on just for the look, I want to increase off-road ability without spending thousands on a lift and steering components.
All things being equal, a thick spacer reduces suspension travel compared to a spring lift IF the spacer causes coil bind where a lift spring wouldn't. I consider an unnecessary loss of up travel to be a loss of performance both on and off road.
All other requirements for steering, control arms, track bar, etc apply to the resulting increase in ride height. Spacer or no spacer won't change that.
Good to know you consider it a decrease in performance. My thinking on a 1.5inch lift is the stock steering components would still be able to handle that increase in lift. Everything I’ve read says that a 2” lift and higher steering components are necessary. Therefore a 1.5” lift wouldn’t require steering components.
Fughuert
TJ Enthusiast
With a 1.75” spacer and stock coil I had no bind with a hair under 6” up. With correct size shocks in stock location you shouldn’t have that much up, wouldn’t worry about bind.
I ran that because any higher would be a forward rake and I was happy where the front sat with a 2” coil.
It’s the same work to just put new springs in though so I’d just do that unless you don’t want more lift than the spacer provides.
I ran that because any higher would be a forward rake and I was happy where the front sat with a 2” coil.
It’s the same work to just put new springs in though so I’d just do that unless you don’t want more lift than the spacer provides.
Look its like this "so up to you" many many people put a 2" spacer lift on a TJ without changing stock length shocks and they are running around all over the place! you do not need to change shocks for a 1.5" spacer lift plain and simple unless you want to go down the wheeling mod rabbit hole! Is it ideal? No! is it acceptable? Yes! can you do it? yes! Your Choice 
MOTORCADE
Member
Thanks, that’s good to know. I don’t want to go fully down the wheeling rabbit hole with this build. Just a weekend warrior. I’m thinking spacer with new struts will be a good plan based on what I’m reading here.Look its like this "so up to you" many many people put a 2" spacer lift on a TJ without changing stock length shocks and they are running around all over the place! you do not need to change shocks for a 1.5" spacer lift plain and simple unless you want to go down the wheeling mod rabbit hole! Is it ideal? No! is it acceptable? Yes! can you do it? yes! Your Choice
MOTORCADE
Member
I just use my TJ for dogs , beach and just running around local etc, The RC lift kit was cheap and fitted very easy, I also fitted 1 inch spacers to wheels just to bring them out a bit, I am happy with the look and drive and that is all that matters, I live in Southern Spain so all the bits I buy have to come from the States and costs me double with taxes and post,
TheGanzman
TJ Enthusiast
I did a .75" spacer lift on mine with 31" tires and stock length springs with NO problems whatsoever. *I* think it looks "exactly right" with same:
You’re just the type of person I wanted to hear from. Glad it’s working out for you. I’ve been toying with doing the 3/4 or the 1.5”. Your Jeep is great reference for what the 3/4 look like.
Look its like this "so up to you" many many people put a 2" spacer lift on a TJ without changing stock length shocks and they are running around all over the place! you do not need to change shocks for a 1.5" spacer lift plain and simple unless you want to go down the wheeling mod rabbit hole! Is it ideal? No! is it acceptable? Yes! can you do it? yes! Your Choice
have you ever driven a TJ with only 2" of downtravel?
There are also plenty of people running around all over the place saying their TJ's drive like shit because of their lift. I bet that group has a lot of overlap with the one you described.
to be clear, it won't be any less uptravel than you have now, but it won't be as much as you could have with a new spring. So you still gain the advantages of ride height and tire clearance, you just may not get as much of the benefit in uptravel that you could get otherwise. I would still consider it a net positive, as long as you also get the appropriate length shocks.