Suspension advice

[Chris]

The Savvy mid-arm lift is hands down the best lift kit out there for TJs and LJs, especially when paired with outboard shocks. It ain't cheap though to install it and do it right. Figure around $3500 for the lift and $5000 for an install which includes outboarding the shocks. Factor in another $400 to $1200 for long travel shocks as well. Trust me, it isn't cheap.

However, I don't think there's a single other lift kit out there that gets the suspension geometry perfect, and has been thoroughly designed, tried, and tested down in Johnson Valley and King of the Hammers.

Do you need it? More than likely not.

 

[LukesfirstJeep]

My LJ is not a daily driver, but I use it on camping trips, forestry road, and local jeep trails. It needs to be off road worthy, but not a rock crawler.

I installed a 3" Zone lift, with their transfer case drop. I have no vibration up to 80-85 MPH (the fastest I've driven it). I'm running 32" tires (255/75-17). With my auto transmission, I need to regear. That is scheduled for mid-February.

 

[pagrey]

Most of Colorado can be done on 31s, lockers and a good driver.

Same is true almost everywhere, especially when you are talking about roads that lead to campsites.

If it were my Jeep I'd learn how to check the front end. Research death wobble, not because you have it but because it will teach you how to check the front suspension parts. Replace everything that is worn with stock parts except maybe a ZJ tie rod. Replace all the control arm bushings with stock replacements. Some do the arms and some do just the bushings, at your Jeeps age they are shot. Replace the shocks with rancho 5000x shocks. Get some really good all-terrain tires like General ATX or KO2s or even Goodyear Duratracs. Get a compressor and learn what pressure to run you tires on road and off. After you wear out a set of tires in a year or two revisit the question. You probably wont have to ask the internet what you need to do.

 

[nugaluga]

Same is true almost everywhere, especially when you are talking about roads that lead to campsites.

If it were my Jeep I'd learn how to check the front end. Research death wobble, not because you have it but because it will teach you how to check the front suspension parts. Replace everything that is worn with stock parts except maybe a ZJ tie rod. Replace all the control arm bushings with stock replacements. Some do the arms and some do just the bushings, at your Jeeps age they are shot. Replace the shocks with rancho 5000x shocks. Get some really good all-terrain tires like General ATX or KO2s or even Goodyear Duratracs. Get a compressor and learn what pressure to run you tires on road and off. After you wear out a set of tires in a year or two revisit the question. You probably wont have to ask the internet what you need to do.

i actually do have a bit of death wobble as well.. getting that looked at early next week.

 

[pagrey]

i actually do have a bit of death wobble as well.. getting that looked at early next week.

Looks great by the way. My paint hasn't looked that good in years! I did a similar rattle can job on my wheels with graphite instead of black. I think the 04 LJ had a factory option, "death wobble" you'll get it sorted out.

 

[jjvw]

I very well thought out kit, but you better find someone who is familiar with setting up such a system. A shop that says they can install lifts and weld doesn't necessarily know how to setup the shocks and such. @jjvw runs this kit and daily's his jeep. He will have more real world input on that kit.
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The mid arm is the finest upgrade "kit" available. But it is something you do after the tummy tuck and after the shock outboard and the short arms are still holding you back and you understand why they are holding you back. Consider those a gate keeper. Everything leading up to mid arms will have more benefit to more people.

As far as LCoG is concerned, it's a wasted effort full of questionable compromises. The center of gravity is a non issue on a reasonable build. Stability and balance come from many other places than simply keeping the lift height low.