Tink
11-09-05, 03:06 PM
Please Note: This information is to be used as a reference tool only as it seems that every vehicle is a little different from the next. It lists a variety of options for lifting; always find more information and testimonials on any modification before proceeding.
No lift or Torsion Bar tweak
Torsion bar tweaking can gain you 1-1.5 inches. If you get more it means your torsion bars were sagging or low from the factory (typical with the Sport package).
205's (standard tire size)
235's (optional tire size)
30's should clear all but the ones with sagging torsion bars
31's should fit with minor trimming/reshaping, anything larger needs lift...
Body lifts, come in 2" or 3" Made by several supplies (Performance Accessories, Superlift, Skyjacker) These kits raise your truck's body off of its frame with nylon lift blocks and include such components as a gas filler pipe extension, bumper brackets, and zinc plated grade 5 hardware to complete the installation. Although not recommended, Some people have made their own home-made body lift using hockey pucks (1 hockey puck per inch of lift). Any kind of black rubber or poly can be used to cover the lift gaps.
Note: Body lifts are prone to collapse. The mounting plates on the body itself bend upwards, throwing off the shift linkage and the gap between the fenders and doors. The best way to compensate and/or correct this problem is to take a 1/4" thick piece of steel that has a 90 degree angle and weld it to the floor and the inside of the rockers before putting the blocks in.
Superlift 2" lift This kit comes with new torsion bar adjuster keys that attach to the rear end of the torsion bars. These load the torsion bars and determine vehicle ride height. Replacement tubular, upper control arms make realignment possible. For rear lift, the options are add-a-leafs and/or shackles.
Rough Country 2" lift - This kit is very similar to the Superlift 2" lift. It also comes with new torsion bar adjuster keys to lift the front and new upper control arms. For rear lift it provides shackles. Also included are front shock relocation brackets and polyurethane bushings.
Note: These 2" lifts are known to cause premature wear of CV boots, ball joints, idler arms and pitman arms due to the more severe angles created by the upper a-arms and t-bar crank. Although 2 inches can be achieved using this lift, that is the maximum and will increase wear.
Tire Size with 2-3" of lift
31's should fit, if using stock wheels expect the tires to rub on the frame and sway bar at full lock
32's should fit with minor trimming
33's should fit with massive trimming
Trailmaster 5" lift This kit comes with differential drop brackets which help maintain factory C.V. joint angles. It includes new steering center link tie-rod extensions and shocks. However, because it utilizes stock upper a-arms, you need to cut them for shock clearance. Rear lift is achieved by relocating the leaf springs from bottom to top of axle.
Note: This lift is also not without problems, in some trucks there doesn't seem to be enough camber adjustment, which causes the insides of both front tires to wear VERY badly due to the tops of the tires are still laid in about 2.5 degree's. This is caused by the way in which drop brackets are mounted. If they are a fraction of an inch off it could cause this problem. The best correction is adding the upper control arms from the Superlift 2" or Rough Country 2" lift. Depending on the amount you go off-road, you will see premature wear of idler arms, pitman arms and halfshafts. If you use the kit with stock, cut upper control arms they may break.
BDS 5" lift This kit also uses differential drop brackets. However, instead of tie-rod extensions, a dropped center steering link is supplied as well as new upper control arms for appropriate shock clearance. Also included are brake line relocation brackets and one-piece front & rear cross members that increase frame rigidity and are locked together with a differential skid plate. Rear lift is achieved by rear spring over axle conversion.
Superlift 6" lift - This kit comes with brackets that lower the factory upper & lower control arms 6". Both front & rear of each upper control arm are captured by a single bracket then additionally strengthened with cross members. Rigidity is further increased by a unique belly-pan that connects the two lower control arm cross members. A new "dropped" centerlink and Centerlink Stabilizing System to support the centerlink, prevent premature pitman and idler arm wear. Front CV axle angles are addressed by lowering the differential 5 1/2". Rear lift is achieved by relocating the leaf springs from bottom to top of axle.
Tire sizes with 5-6" of lift
32's should easily clear, if using stock wheels expect the tires to rub on the frame and sway bar at full lock
33's should fit with minor trimming
35's may fit with massive trimming
For more lift, you can add a 2" body lift.
Tire sizes with 7-8" of lift
33's should fit easy
35's should require minor trimming with 8 inch wheels, more if 10 inch wheels are used
36's would require massive trimming to be done...
For even more lift you will need to do a solid axle swap. Most people opt to fabricate their own SAS. There is one place that provides somewhat of a SAS Kit, Fabritech Motorsports.
FABRITECH SAS (Solid Axle Swap) for 9" of lift. They can providea Dynatrac Dana 44 that is setup externally like a Dana 30 Cherokee front end. For the rear, the kit includes nothing, as they recommend a spring over relocation and lift blocks. The front coils, steering, and brake lines come with the kit. You will have supply the front shocks, housing, and all the rear suspension components. The kit includes the following: Driver's and Passenger's Coil towers w/ bump stop assys., Adj. trac bar and adjuster, Coil tower support bar, Upper and Lower 4 link bars, Rear 4-link mounting brackets, Rear trans. x-member, Upper 4-link mounts, Coil retaining hooks, Front coils and brake lines, Pitman arm, Tie rod assy., Drag link assy., Bushings and Hardware. FYI-They DO NOT sell to individuals, only to 4wd/speed shops.
9" lift (SAS)
37" tires should fit easy
38.5" tires may fit with a body lift or trimming
No lift or Torsion Bar tweak
Torsion bar tweaking can gain you 1-1.5 inches. If you get more it means your torsion bars were sagging or low from the factory (typical with the Sport package).
205's (standard tire size)
235's (optional tire size)
30's should clear all but the ones with sagging torsion bars
31's should fit with minor trimming/reshaping, anything larger needs lift...
Body lifts, come in 2" or 3" Made by several supplies (Performance Accessories, Superlift, Skyjacker) These kits raise your truck's body off of its frame with nylon lift blocks and include such components as a gas filler pipe extension, bumper brackets, and zinc plated grade 5 hardware to complete the installation. Although not recommended, Some people have made their own home-made body lift using hockey pucks (1 hockey puck per inch of lift). Any kind of black rubber or poly can be used to cover the lift gaps.
Note: Body lifts are prone to collapse. The mounting plates on the body itself bend upwards, throwing off the shift linkage and the gap between the fenders and doors. The best way to compensate and/or correct this problem is to take a 1/4" thick piece of steel that has a 90 degree angle and weld it to the floor and the inside of the rockers before putting the blocks in.
Superlift 2" lift This kit comes with new torsion bar adjuster keys that attach to the rear end of the torsion bars. These load the torsion bars and determine vehicle ride height. Replacement tubular, upper control arms make realignment possible. For rear lift, the options are add-a-leafs and/or shackles.
Rough Country 2" lift - This kit is very similar to the Superlift 2" lift. It also comes with new torsion bar adjuster keys to lift the front and new upper control arms. For rear lift it provides shackles. Also included are front shock relocation brackets and polyurethane bushings.
Note: These 2" lifts are known to cause premature wear of CV boots, ball joints, idler arms and pitman arms due to the more severe angles created by the upper a-arms and t-bar crank. Although 2 inches can be achieved using this lift, that is the maximum and will increase wear.
Tire Size with 2-3" of lift
31's should fit, if using stock wheels expect the tires to rub on the frame and sway bar at full lock
32's should fit with minor trimming
33's should fit with massive trimming
Trailmaster 5" lift This kit comes with differential drop brackets which help maintain factory C.V. joint angles. It includes new steering center link tie-rod extensions and shocks. However, because it utilizes stock upper a-arms, you need to cut them for shock clearance. Rear lift is achieved by relocating the leaf springs from bottom to top of axle.
Note: This lift is also not without problems, in some trucks there doesn't seem to be enough camber adjustment, which causes the insides of both front tires to wear VERY badly due to the tops of the tires are still laid in about 2.5 degree's. This is caused by the way in which drop brackets are mounted. If they are a fraction of an inch off it could cause this problem. The best correction is adding the upper control arms from the Superlift 2" or Rough Country 2" lift. Depending on the amount you go off-road, you will see premature wear of idler arms, pitman arms and halfshafts. If you use the kit with stock, cut upper control arms they may break.
BDS 5" lift This kit also uses differential drop brackets. However, instead of tie-rod extensions, a dropped center steering link is supplied as well as new upper control arms for appropriate shock clearance. Also included are brake line relocation brackets and one-piece front & rear cross members that increase frame rigidity and are locked together with a differential skid plate. Rear lift is achieved by rear spring over axle conversion.
Superlift 6" lift - This kit comes with brackets that lower the factory upper & lower control arms 6". Both front & rear of each upper control arm are captured by a single bracket then additionally strengthened with cross members. Rigidity is further increased by a unique belly-pan that connects the two lower control arm cross members. A new "dropped" centerlink and Centerlink Stabilizing System to support the centerlink, prevent premature pitman and idler arm wear. Front CV axle angles are addressed by lowering the differential 5 1/2". Rear lift is achieved by relocating the leaf springs from bottom to top of axle.
Tire sizes with 5-6" of lift
32's should easily clear, if using stock wheels expect the tires to rub on the frame and sway bar at full lock
33's should fit with minor trimming
35's may fit with massive trimming
For more lift, you can add a 2" body lift.
Tire sizes with 7-8" of lift
33's should fit easy
35's should require minor trimming with 8 inch wheels, more if 10 inch wheels are used
36's would require massive trimming to be done...
For even more lift you will need to do a solid axle swap. Most people opt to fabricate their own SAS. There is one place that provides somewhat of a SAS Kit, Fabritech Motorsports.
FABRITECH SAS (Solid Axle Swap) for 9" of lift. They can providea Dynatrac Dana 44 that is setup externally like a Dana 30 Cherokee front end. For the rear, the kit includes nothing, as they recommend a spring over relocation and lift blocks. The front coils, steering, and brake lines come with the kit. You will have supply the front shocks, housing, and all the rear suspension components. The kit includes the following: Driver's and Passenger's Coil towers w/ bump stop assys., Adj. trac bar and adjuster, Coil tower support bar, Upper and Lower 4 link bars, Rear 4-link mounting brackets, Rear trans. x-member, Upper 4-link mounts, Coil retaining hooks, Front coils and brake lines, Pitman arm, Tie rod assy., Drag link assy., Bushings and Hardware. FYI-They DO NOT sell to individuals, only to 4wd/speed shops.
9" lift (SAS)
37" tires should fit easy
38.5" tires may fit with a body lift or trimming