Need help with OME lift

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rmack

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Hello everyone,

I just purchased an all stock 2005 KJ Sport with 38,000 miles, the first order of business is to get it up in the air and install new tires & wheels.

So after extensive research (mostly on this site/forum of course) I ordered the OME lift kit from Quadratec, and proceeded to have it installed at the local Big O shop. The shop called to tell me that the lift was installed, but the new 245/75R16 tires were rubbing the fender wells, so they recommended installing the same tire in a 70 series. When I went to pick up my Jeep, the first thing that the shop owner said to me is that he was surprised at the "rake" (nose down) of the Jeep.

Well, all of my research on the OME lift told me that the 245/75R16 tires would fit just fine (up to 31 inches), and that the Jeep would basically sit level. The kit came with 927 springs, and 90009 struts/shocks, for the front end. The mechanic told me that the OME struts were the same length as the stock ones, and that when he installed them he really had to compress the spring hard to get it to fit. And he believes that it is the shock that is keeping the front end down.

I forgot to take before measurements, but the after are: 21" front & 22" rear. Again, my research told me that the front should be 22.5".

I am hoping that Tom Mudd (or anyone else) can give me his thoughts as to what happened.
 

duderz7

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Did they also do an alignment? Can you post a picture of the front shock assembly? Did you add anything extra in either spring assembly? There are a few bushing pivot points that should not be tightened until vehicle is back on its own weight and been bounced a bit. UCA's, sway bar links, and lower clevis in front and lower control arms in rear. You could try loosening these and bouncing on rear bumper and shaking jeep. Then you'll likely need another alignment.
 

tommudd

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Where do we start
First the front shocks are correct and you should get 21.5 inches in front after alinments etc
22.5 would 22.5 would be 3.5 inches of lift
NOW next if you bought the whole OME kit rear shocks are only good for about 1.5 inches of lift or so
Been posted on here 1000s of times that you need longer shocks for the rear
 

Liberty1

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Check out https://www.rocky-road.com/kjsus.html They have great helpline and instructions on there lift kits. Yes longer rear shocks are a must.
Old man Emu rear shocks with the Rockfather 2 is a great kit. They also have other info on there site about the parts. I have installed the Rockfather 2 on my KK and the 245/75 R16 Cooper AT3 Load range E with Nitrogen 50psi and drives great. 19mpg New engine 3 weeks ago after original engine 228K dropped a valve seat.
Jasper engine from Oreilly auto parts was the only place that could get the 3.7 in the time I needed it.
 

rmack

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I did
Where do we start
First the front shocks are correct and you should get 21.5 inches in front after alinments etc
22.5 would 22.5 would be 3.5 inches of lift
NOW next if you bought the whole OME kit rear shocks are only good for about 1.5 inches of lift or so
Been posted on here 1000s of times that you need longer shocks for the rear
I realize that I am beating a dead horse to death with this topic, but I did purchase the whole OME lift, the back height seems fine. It’s the front end that doesn’t seem high enough, and the 245/75R16 tires rub. And the rake is terrible.
 

rmack

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Check out https://www.rocky-road.com/kjsus.html They have great helpline and instructions on there lift kits. Yes longer rear shocks are a must.
Old man Emu rear shocks with the Rockfather 2 is a great kit. They also have other info on there site about the parts. I have installed the Rockfather 2 on my KK and the 245/75 R16 Cooper AT3 Load range E with Nitrogen 50psi and drives great. 19mpg New engine 3 weeks ago after original engine 228K dropped a valve seat.
Jasper engine from Oreilly auto parts was the only place that could get the 3.7 in the time I needed it.
Thank you.
 

rmack

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I just spoke to the owner of the Big O that installed the lift, he said they have NOT done the alignment, and he doesn’t believe that it will fix the problem. Can someone please tell me how to respond to him?
 

tommudd

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Check out https://www.rocky-road.com/kjsus.html They have great helpline and instructions on there lift kits. Yes longer rear shocks are a must.
Old man Emu rear shocks with the Rockfather 2 is a great kit. They also have other info on there site about the parts. I have installed the Rockfather 2 on my KK and the 245/75 R16 Cooper AT3 Load range E with Nitrogen 50psi and drives great. 19mpg New engine 3 weeks ago after original engine 228K dropped a valve seat.
Jasper engine from Oreilly auto parts was the only place that could get the 3.7 in the time I needed it.
NO NO NO on rockjunk
 

tommudd

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I did

I realize that I am beating a dead horse to death with this topic, but I did purchase the whole OME lift, the back height seems fine. It’s the front end that doesn’t seem high enough, and the 245/75R16 tires rub. And the rake is terrible.
The height is not the issue in back, shocks are too short
What does the front measure now ? Middle of the wheel ( hub ) to bottom of the flare left front , level ground

I have installed 58-59 OME 2927/2948 lifts and all came out dead level
either they sent you 2926 springs for the front ( weaker springs 375 compared to 927 400 lb ) or something was done wrong when installed

Sounds like BIG O's person does not know a thing about lifting KJs
 

rmack

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The height is not the issue in back, shocks are too short
What does the front measure now ? Middle of the wheel ( hub ) to bottom of the flare left front , level ground

I have installed 58-59 OME 2927/2948 lifts and all came out dead level
either they sent you 2926 springs for the front ( weaker springs 375 compared to 927 400 lb ) or something was done wrong when installed

Sounds like BIG O's person does not know a thing about lifting KJs
Which shocks are too short? The front shocks are the 90009, and the front coil springs are the heavy 927’s. OME does not include instructions, and like you said, the Big O person doesn’t know a thing about lifting KJ’s.

I measured the front at 21”, but it has not been aligned, and it is far from level. What can be “done wrong” on the installation? Thanks for your patience, this is frustrating for me.
 

rmack

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The height is not the issue in back, shocks are too short
What does the front measure now ? Middle of the wheel ( hub ) to bottom of the flare left front , level ground

I have installed 58-59 OME 2927/2948 lifts and all came out dead level
either they sent you 2926 springs for the front ( weaker springs 375 compared to 927 400 lb ) or something was done wrong when installed

Sounds like BIG O's person does not know a thing about lifting KJs
Which shocks are too short? The front shocks are the 90009, and the front coil springs are the heavy 927’s. OME does not include instructions, and like you said, the Big O person doesn’t know a thing about lifting KJ’s.

I measured the front at 21”, but it has not been aligned, and it is far from level. What can be “done wrong” on the installation? Thanks for your patience, this is frustrating for me.
 

tommudd

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Which shocks are too short? The front shocks are the 90009, and the front coil springs are the heavy 927’s. OME does not include instructions, and like you said, the Big O person doesn’t know a thing about lifting KJ’s.

I measured the front at 21”, but it has not been aligned, and it is far from level. What can be “done wrong” on the installation? Thanks for your patience, this is frustrating for me.
POST NUMBER 3
rear shocks ,
what they provide in the kit are shocks for a 1.5 or so lift, 132Ls are the correct rear shocks for 2.5 inches and above
did they add anything to the rear?
Can you see 927s stamped on the front coils ?
You should be at 21.5 after alignment if they are 927s
 

rmack

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The rear shocks are too short? I’m confused, because as I stated previously the rear height appears to be fine. It is the front that didn’t come up, we verified that the shocks are the 90009, and the coil springs are 127 (OME put a sticker on them). As someone mentioned in an earlier post could it be that they tightened things up before dropping in on its own weight? Will an alignment make that big of a difference? Bottom line I should be able to run 245/75R16 tires but cannot.
 

rmack

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The height is not the issue in back, shocks are too short
What does the front measure now ? Middle of the wheel ( hub ) to bottom of the flare left front , level ground

I have installed 58-59 OME 2927/2948 lifts and all came out dead level
either they sent you 2926 springs for the front ( weaker springs 375 compared to 927 400 lb ) or something was done wrong when installed

Sounds like BIG O's person does not know a thing about lifting KJs


To make things even more confusing, I contacted ARB and their tech guy sent me this:

"Most of our suspension kits do not level the vehicle. In this particular case, it is a 1.5" lift to the front and the rear equally - which maintains the factory rake of the vehicle."


Thank you,

Jerad
ARB Tech Department
 

tommudd

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Oh wow, do whatever you want
I have only installed about 60 OME lifts on KJs
They ALL gave 2.5 inches of lift and were completely level when done
They advertise 1.5 inches etc for insurance purposes
But since you do not believe us, nor that the rear shocks are too short
Good luck
 

rmack

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Oh wow, do whatever you want
I have only installed about 60 OME lifts on KJs
They ALL gave 2.5 inches of lift and were completely level when done
They advertise 1.5 inches etc for insurance purposes
But since you do not believe us, nor that the rear shocks are too short
Good luck

I am not questioning you Tom, I am passing along what I am being told. But I don’t understand why you think the back shocks are too short, can you please explain that to me?
 

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tommudd

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I am not questioning you Tom, I am passing along what I am being told. But I don’t understand why you think the back shocks are too short, can you please explain that to me?
I have explained it, the rear shocks that come with the kit are for a 1.5 inch lift
NOT a 2.5 and above that you get when using 927/948 combo
We use the 132L rear shocks that were designed for a lift on a KJ that size
ARB/OME will only say so much since that is what the main company allows them to say

When shocks are too short they will sit fine, drive fine even on level road, but if off camber they will top out

PLUS shocks have nothing at all to do with height, only springs do , shocks control bounce
 

rmack

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I have explained it, the rear shocks that come with the kit are for a 1.5 inch lift
NOT a 2.5 and above that you get when using 927/948 combo
We use the 132L rear shocks that were designed for a lift on a KJ that size
ARB/OME will only say so much since that is what the main company allows them to say

When shocks are too short they will sit fine, drive fine even on level road, but if off camber they will top out

PLUS shocks have nothing at all to do with height, only springs do , shocks control bounce

Got it, thank you!
 

tommudd

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ALLJs did have some
or contact your friend at ARB
We need them all the time
And right in their main catalog , it states the OME 132Ls are for lifts of 2.5 inches and above
 

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