2007 lift recommendation help

[Will_K]

It became apparent to me that I need to do something about my sagging suspension. I bought my 2007 3+ years ago as a first car for my son, and since then he's proceeded to not yet get his license. In the meantime I've been using it as a backup vehicle while I've had other daily drivers out of service. I didn't really pay much attention, but I've apparently put a few miles on the vehicle.

I bought new tires, and now the inside edge of the front tires have noticeably worn down the tread. Ya see... I put on a set o skid plates, a harbor freight winch and mounting plate plus a brush guard I picked up from a late 90's Cherokee. Apparently, between the springs sagging and the extra weight, I've been driving with my front coils nearly at a state where the coils bind. I noticed this recently when I started thinking to myself "ya know... I don't know how many miles exactly I've put on this thing, but it's been a while - I oughta change the oil. Where's that drain plug at"

So I'd like to be set up with a little bit of lift so it can be used for some off-road stuff. Nothing that drives me into changing more parts, and I'd rather keep it inexpensive... I have a slightly used set of original struts, so if I gotta get out the spring compressor I can handle that just fine. Can I reasonably find something under or around $200? As I mentioned, I've got a lot of other daily driver projects so I don't want this to turn into a $500 or $1000 project, but at this point it's become apparent it's not really something I can put off...

 

[KJowner]

H&R springs are reasonably priced and good quality, check all the ball joints and bushes while it's in bits and it will need an alignment once you've finished.

 

[HoosierJeeper]

Honestly, the stock suspension is trash - I took mine off at 79k miles back in 2010 when the KJ was 5 years old, I can't imagine how it'd be now especially with the extra weight of the winch thrown in. It was already sagged 1.5" at that point. OME will make you love the KJ - still one of the best riding/handing vehicles I've driven, and for probably $1500 all in (lift and new UCAs), it'll handle on and off road amazing.

But for $200? I don't know where I'd start. Probably at a bare minimum get new stock springs and shocks, but you'll still won't even be at new stock height because of the weight of the winch. You maybe could only do it up front and leave the rear with spacers, but then you'll have a loose rear with a relatively stiffer front which doesn't help with articulation. Adding spacers will only preload it more and wear stuff out more, and ride even worse, you'll be back to this spot in 10k miles or less. Only way out is stiffer springs. I'd probably just take the winch and brush guard off to save weight (maybe get a receiver for the front and stick the winch in only when you need it).

 

[u2slow]

The diesel coils have a touch more beef to them. That's what I put in.

 

[Will_K]

The diesel coils have a touch more beef to them. That's what I put in.

Actually that's a solid point with respect to trying to do this on the cheap. One of the local yards has. Crd vehicle even.

 

[u2slow]

Actually that's a solid point with respect to trying to do this on the cheap. One of the local yards has. Crd vehicle even.

Even new (rockauto) they didn't cost that much.

 

[KJowner]

Old CRD springs will be dead, they were under rated for the weight of the diesel, mine had sagged so much it was almost on the bumpstops all the time at 140,000 miles. A new set would be good on a light V6 and you could grab the rear upper isolators from the yard to add to the rear end so it matches the front.

 

[mercdudecbr600]

Having a warn steel wire winch on my KJ as well, I can tell you anything less than OME CRD springs will sag. The OME springs are something like $300.

 

[Puddle Jumper 2.0]

I recently did a complete rebuild on the suspension on my 07 and I use Monroe quick struts which come loaded and ready to just slide into place and return the front end to original ride height, maybe just a touch of lift as the coil spring is slightly larger in diameter. In the back I replaced the springs with MOOG direct replacement which were noticeably larger diameter coils. I also added high density 1 inch rubber spacers underneath of the rear springs and that leveled the rig out nicely. if you wanted to, you could slip a spacer on the bottom of the front struts after loosening the mounting yolk and add about a 3/8 inch space and re-clamp it. That should generate about an inch of lift to the front once translated through the geometry of the control arms). It will lock down more than tight enough on the lower portion of the front strut to hold everything in place unless you’re jumping your vehicle like the Dukes of hazard and that should give you enough lift to put on slightly larger tires And still maintain your stock ride. not too terribly expensive but definitely a little bit more than $200 but significantly less than old man emu lift kit just don’t lift too high because then you’re looking at swapping out your upper and lower control arms as you start to put everything into a geometrical bind And your CV shaft and your front/rear drive line you joints will start to wear out rapidly if you go too high, the short wheelbase on the KJ‘s makes them pretty formidable for off Roading even stock so a minor lift should give you enough clearance to be a little bit more adventurous as long as you’re not gonna do any serious rock crawling type activities!!!