Level

gmckinney_usmc · May 24, 2022

Hey yall. I have a 2003 jeep liberty renegade. I'd like to level it while also replacing worn suspension components. Don't need or want a full on lift. Was wondering if anybody could give me any insight as to what may be out there for leveling?

duderz7 · May 25, 2022

Clevis lift... Look at the bottom of your front shock, loosen that clamp and slide it down 3/8 inch (with the weight of the wheels of course) and retorque. There you go free 3/4 inch lift up front. Come back and do some reading/research when you are ready for a proper lift.

gmckinney_usmc · May 25, 2022

I'm also wanting to replace worn suspension parts. I was wondering if I could replace the front suspension components with lift but keep the rear at OE height. Thus, leveling the vehicle out. I dont need a full lift. If I wanted to drive something fully lifted I'd drive my Ram.

duderz7 · May 25, 2022

Measure from from center of front left wheel to bottom edge of plastic fender flare. Stock is roughly 19 inches, good chance you're sagged much lower. Replacement with Stock rated suspension will give you lift, but you'll be back to where you started before long as they'll sag again. The light duty OME spring will give minimal lift and last much longer.

gmckinney_usmc · May 25, 2022

Sweet. Thanks for the input.

tommudd · May 25, 2022

Oh dear me,
Your suspension is shot, springs stacked ,shocks and springs are worn out , FRONT AND REAR
You need to replace front and rear
Do you only buy one new shoe
Thats what it would be like replacing one end and not the other

gmckinney_usmc · May 25, 2022

I'm not saying to not replace rear. I'm saying replacing rear with stock height coils and only lifting front.

tommudd · May 26, 2022

gmckinney_usmc said:
I'm not saying to not replace rear. I'm saying replacing rear with stock height coils and only lifting front.

You could use OME 925s up front and stock in the rear
BUT same thing, have great suspension in front and weak suspension in rear upsetting handling
Been doing suspension work since 1973 , lifting, lowering , upgrading suspensions on many makes and models

gmckinney_usmc · May 27, 2022

is there a OME coil for the rear that is stock height? that would give me the stock height in the rear with an upgraded spring rate, correct?

tommudd · May 27, 2022

I think you are getting confused on " stock height "
The KJs came stock, brand new off the line with a nose down height, front was and also looked lower than the rear
So do you want a level "look " ?
Or do you want stock " look" ?

gmckinney_usmc · May 27, 2022

im after a leveled look. im used to trucks, where you can either put in a front coil spacer or replace with extended front coils to level out the truck. i noticed that the front coil spacers made for the KJ is not particularly well built, referring to daystars poly spacers. im wondering if the same thing can be done on the KJ. replace rear coils with upgraded coils but maintaining stock height, and replace front coils with an upgraded coil that levels out the jeep.

tommudd · May 27, 2022

Well spacer lifts are a bad word here
If you use a 947 rear spring and 926 front you should be close to level
with 927 front and 948 rear you are completley level but also 2.5 inches of lift
the 926/947 will give you about 1.75 lift after settling in
There are no springs that are stronger ( more lbs ) that are stock height
926s are rated at 375 lb where as stock are 310

Plus either OME or bilstein shocks

gmckinney_usmc · May 27, 2022

i figured that the coil spacer was probably the worst possible direction to go after seeing they were made from poly. ok, so the 926/947 combo will lift both front and rear, but only about 1.75", and get me close to level, correct? would i need to change any components to make this work properly? im trying to build a semi mpg conscientious daily, while also doubling as my hunting rig.

tommudd · May 27, 2022

No nothing else unless parts are worn out already
As far as building a semi mpg daily , i had my 04 as a daily for over 12 years , lifted 4.5 inches, 32 inch tall tires, 4.10 gears, aftermarket roof rack, sliders, skids, front and rear bumpers etc and got 21-22 easily on the highway at 75 mph plus
My daily now, my 03 , is lifted 2.5 inches, 31s, 4.10 gearing , lockers etc and get similar mileage driving over 90 miles a day
Its all in how you build them

gmckinney_usmc · May 30, 2022

so i know everyone on here recommends OME lifts, but does anyone have any experience with the BDS lift? i know their quality with their truck lifts, but how are they for the KJ?

tommudd · May 30, 2022

gmckinney_usmc said:
so i know everyone on here recommends OME lifts, but does anyone have any experience with the BDS lift? i know their quality with their truck lifts, but how are they for the KJ?

OK so BDS lifts
You are basically buying 4 springs
does not come with front shocks and rears are CHEAP
Ive installed two BDS lifts
one guy wanted to use the rear shocks, 2 days after install told me to order correct Bilsteins
Other guy we just went ahead and installed bilsteins from the get go
OME springs are cheaper and better
I know the BDS owners have been up to their place, talked to them
Their response when asked why they didn't provide front shocks or better rears was " there is not a big enough market to have us do that "

vlad588 · Jun 17, 2022

tommudd said:
OK so BDS lifts
You are basically buying 4 springs
does not come with front shocks and rears are CHEAP
Ive installed two BDS lifts
one guy wanted to use the rear shocks, 2 days after install told me to order correct Bilsteins
Other guy we just went ahead and installed bilsteins from the get go
OME springs are cheaper and better
I know the BDS owners have been up to their place, talked to them
Their response when asked why they didn't provide front shocks or better rears was " there is not a big enough market to have us do that "

On the topic of BDS springs. I’ve been running BDS lift for 4 years now and rear shocks are definitely junk. Springs have been relatively ok. At this point front springs seems to fine be while rear springs have sagged and rusted so I’m going to be replacing them with OME 948s along with iron rock A-arm. So right now I’m contemplating if i should replace front springs as well because i’m not sure how they will pair up with OMEs in the back. From what I understand BDS have the same spring rate as the OME 948 so I’m hoping they will work well together. Any thoughts?

tommudd · Jun 17, 2022

vlad588 said:
On the topic of BDS springs. I’ve been running BDS lift for 4 years now and rear shocks are definitely junk. Springs have been relatively ok. At this point front springs seems to fine be while rear springs have sagged and rusted so I’m going to be replacing them with OME 948s along with iron rock A-arm. So right now I’m contemplating if i should replace front springs as well because i’m not sure how they will pair up with OMEs in the back. From what I understand BDS have the same spring rate as the OME 948 so I’m hoping they will work well together. Any thoughts?

Would you wear your old shoe that you have worn for 4 years on your right foot, while wearing a brand new shoe on the left foot ?
Just curious

vlad588 · Jun 17, 2022

Well if the old shoe does it’s job exactly as the new shoe would then I don’t see why not. In more concerned if two different spring sets will make the jeep handle poorly

tommudd · Jun 17, 2022

vlad588 said:
Well if the old shoe does it’s job exactly as the new shoe would then I don’t see why not. In more concerned if two different spring sets will make the jeep handle poorly

LOL oh dear
You're not understanding but.................................

Plus being 4 years old

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