Trying to determine lift height

[PresTJ Worldwide]

Ok. New to the TJ scene. Purchased a 97 TJ and found out the driver rear spring was broken. I'm trying to determine the lift of the springs. Was told it was a 4" OME lift. However it appears it has a body lift as well. I followed the chart found on here, and my front springs, under load are right around 14". The rears how ever are just a bit over 8". 2" lift up front and stock in the rear? It doesn't make sense.

 

[IPerkWVU]

May have been attempting to level it, replacing the front springs...

 

[PresTJ Worldwide]

Doesn't make sense. It has a full size spare, warn bumper and tire carrier, with all that added weight you would think you'd need to raise the rear to compensate.

 

[bluescapegoat]

Historically it seems the 2" OME lift has always been really popular, and it sort of sounds like that's what you have. Most suspension lifts lift the front an inch or two higher than the rear to counter the factory rake. That's definitely a body lift, as well.

 

[PresTJ Worldwide]

That's what I'm thinking. When he said 4" lift I'm gonna assume it's 2" body and 2" spring?

Front and rear ride height of springs posted for clarification ...

 

[jjvw]

Measure the rear from above the axle tube to account for the normal slight bend in the spring. Either way, the rear looks low- less than stock.

 

[PresTJ Worldwide]

Measure the rear from above the axle tube to account for the normal slight bend in the spring. Either way, the rear looks low- less than stock.

I agree. Which is puzzling to me. Yes they're probably sagged out cuz they're old, but it's not making it easy to find replacements.

 

[jjvw]

Bottom line is that people do all kinds of weird things to their Jeeps. A lifted front and a sagged rear is fairly bland on the list of bizarre mods we see.

 

[PresTJ Worldwide]

Bottom line is that people do all kinds of weird things to their Jeeps. A lifted front and a sagged rear is fairly bland on the list of bizarre mods we see.

I have certainly seen my fair share of weird things done to cars. it certainly does not make it easy when trying to make things right. lol

 

[jjvw]

Start fresh. If you want stock height, get some stock height springs. If your tires are 31" or larger, start looking at lift springs.

 

[PresTJ Worldwide]

it has 33" tires on it already which is making this even more puzzling ...

 

[TurboTJ]

Doesn't make sense. It has a full size spare, warn bumper and tire carrier, with all that added weight you would think you'd need to raise the rear to compensate.

Measure the diameter of the rear coil spring wire. Assuming the springs are OME 2 inch lift, the diameter will be 15 mm if they are the 2941 light duty springs. It it is 15.5 mm they are the 2942 medium duty (sometimes called heavy duty) springs. I suspect you have the former. I did for awhile and got zero lift out of them with a bumper, tire carrier, hard top, etc.

 

[jjvw]

The body lift looks like a 1.25" JKS, which is almost certainly less than it pretends to be. If you can stick it with a screw driver, it is poly and likely JKS.

For 33s, you want springs close to 3" along with the body lift.

 

[jjvw]

it has 33" tires on it already which is making this even more puzzling ...

View attachment 141898

Most have no idea what they are doing. Simple as that.

We can help you put things where they should be.

 

[PresTJ Worldwide]

Measure the diameter of the rear coil spring wire. Assuming the springs are OME 2 inch lift, the diameter will be 15 mm if they are the 2941 light duty springs. It it is 15.5 mm they are the 2942 medium duty (sometimes called heavy duty) springs. I suspect you have the former. I did for awhile and got zero lift out of them with a bumper, tire carrier, hard top, etc.

kind of hard to accurately differentiate 0.5 mm on a spring that is pretty rusted

 

[PresTJ Worldwide]

Most have no idea what they are doing. Simple as that.

We can help you put things where they should be.

heres hoping. lol.

 

[TurboTJ]

kind of hard to accurately differentiate 0.5 mm on a spring that is pretty rusted

They don’t look that bad to me. Any decent calipers will be adequate.

 

[jjvw]

They don’t look that bad to me. Any decent calipers will be adequate.

It doesn't matter what they are if they aren't the right springs for the tire size.

 

[PresTJ Worldwide]

It doesn't matter what they are if they aren't the right springs for the tire size.

not just only the tire size, but the added weight. im not going to replace them with the same springs if the added weight of the hard top, bumper, and spare is going to make them sag to a "less then stock" ride height.

 

[jjvw]

not just only the tire size, but the added weight. im not going to replace them with the same springs if the added weight of the hard top, bumper, and spare is going to make them sag to a "less then stock" ride height.

The final ride height has everything to do with the actual weight of the Jeep. Advertised lift height is largely meaningless beyond a general guideline. For example, OME has several "2 inch" lift springs that range from slightly more than stock to almost 3". A good spring isn't going to sag much after the initial settling. The ride height is what it is as long as the weight doesn't change.