another lift question from a newbie....

[josh1984]

sorry to be a pain in the A$$ but i have another question about a lift for my 2003 liberty....

first thank you all for the feedback. i think i am going to steer away from the 2.5 inch daystar lift.. instead i am goin gto go with a coil lift.... however, i CAN NOT afford the OME/RANCHO lift.. i am stretching my budget thin as it is for this.. my question is which one has the better value....


1. Rustys 2.5" Suspension Kit... includes 2 fron springs, 2 rear springs, to
struts, and 2 rear shocks.... for $465.00 plus shipping...


2. 4Wheel Drive 2 Inch Suspension System
includes... 4 springs, 2 fron and 2 rear, 2 rear shocks.....
with this order, i also added 2 rancho rsx shocks 17505.... total is $654.9
However, i have a $100gift card to 4wd.com... so the new total would
be $554.99. This includes shipping as well. and a 20% off coupon which
expires tuesday


I know this is not the beloved OME/Rancho lift that it seems everyone is favorable to on this forum.. but it is all that i can afford.. i am stretching my budget as it is for this lift. lol.


again thanks for ALL the feed back guys.. if you could which is the better deal out of these 2 lifts.

 

[kjweston]

The Rusty's lift has the same spring rating as stock so they will sag down the road just as stock OEM coils would. As for the 4WD one, I dont know the spring rating so I wouldn't be able to tell ya. I know your probably sick of hearing it but trust us.. save the money and buy OME at least up front. Ill have spent $922 all together when I order my new parts and only have the front frankenlifted. Because I bought a spacer lift first and my coils were terribly sagged and it didn't look good. Guys on here are still running their OME/Rancho set-ups with 80,000 miles on them and still going strong. Cant get remotely close to that with stock or rusty's coils. If your gonna lift it do it right the first time.If not, It will cost you more in the long run.. I'm paying way more than I needed because I didn't do research and read the forums.

 

[ms5490renegade]

check the for sale forum. im selling my lift set up

 

[kjweston]

http://www.boulderbars.com/frankenlift.htm

 

[ShafferNY]

I understand what you're saying when it comes to being on a budget.

When I put my OME/Rancho lift in this past winter, it cost me +$750 for the springs, shocks, and rear bump stops from All J Products. Then another $45 for the Teraflex bumpstops.

Had I not had $300 given to me for my birthday, I wouldn't have done it. I would have went with a BDS lift, or something a bit cheaper.

As with everything, just do your research and go with what suits your needs and your budget. Just because the OME/Rancho is the most popular set up, doesn't mean it's the only one that works!

Is there anyone here that is running the 4Wheel Drive 2 Inch Suspension System?

 

[tommudd]

All depends on what you want and for how long you want the look. For me it is ride quality, how long it will last and then how it looks. OMEs win out everytime, due to the better ride, better handeling, better control and they last a long time. Break it down over years not months

 

[J-Thompson]

All depends on what you want and for how long you want the look. For me it is ride quality, how long it will last and then how it looks. OMEs win out everytime, due to the better ride, better handeling, better control and they last a long time. Break it down over years not months

X2
we did not put the OME suspension on the KJ for a lift we put it on for a better ride ,this is my wifes DD and she did NOT want a lift but it was riding like a$$ so we needed to do something
The best answer was OME
we did the med. coils because we do some light off roading in the KJ
and it thus has full skids and may 1 day have rock rails
we also often carry camping gear on "back roads" ,when we went camping
now with a 2 year old that is out
we have the TJ for the trails so it needs the mods the KJ needed the quality
not quantity

 

[STINGN]

i got the daystar and loved it until it sagged after 2 months, i got the front frankenlift and you can get OME springs for the rear off 4wd.com for $100 off and save some $$$ there

 

[chuckd76]

I understand what you're saying when it comes to being on a budget.

When I put my OME/Rancho lift in this past winter, it cost me +$750 for the springs, shocks, and rear bump stops from All J Products. Then another $45 for the Teraflex bumpstops.

Had I not had $300 given to me for my birthday, I wouldn't have done it. I would have went with a BDS lift, or something a bit cheaper.

As with everything, just do your research and go with what suits your needs and your budget. Just because the OME/Rancho is the most popular set up, doesn't mean it's the only one that works!

Is there anyone here that is running the 4Wheel Drive 2 Inch Suspension System?

Just thought I'd chime in with my two cents. I'm a newb in terms of the KJ lifts also but I did have a '98 XJ with the 3" 4WD lift. After about three years of running their kit I didn't notice any sag issues. The XJ didn't have the best ride to begin with but with the lift and 31" BFGs it didn't get any worse. I also had a few concerns with them, mostly just a case of Rubicon Express/Skyjacker envy but once I had the kit on I loved it. If I had to choose between the two options I would definitely go with the 4WD lift again, and probably will once I get my ducats in order.

 

[Uncle Krusty]

I'm going to vote for the OME as well. I just picked my parts up Saturday ...after waiting a good year saving my change. Truth is, it really wasn't that expensive.

I looked on-line, and with shipping and such, I found my best deal was at a local shop (4 Wheel Parts)

Rancho RSX17505 front struts
$93.99 ea.
Rancho RSX17004 rear shocks (Dakota)
$62.99 ea.
OME 926 (medium) front springs
$74.99 ea
OME 948 (medium) rear springs
$74.99 ea

With tax and a $20.00 shipping charge, I was out the door for just under $685

Why do I say $700 isn't that expensive?

With 60,000 miles, even my wife was commenting on how terrible the shocks and struts were getting on her Libby. So the price for these I consider a wash. True, I could have found some stock replacements that were cheaper, but it's been my experience money spent on a quality product pays you back in the long run...

Take off the shocks/struts (more expensive than the springs) and my lift cost me $300 and change for the tax. I spent that much 20 years ago just to level the front (2" lift) of my Nissan 4x4 pick-up. Not to raise it, just leveling it.

I spent some time here (the forum) and read all the stories about lifting, then re-lifting, then addressing it yet again. Can't say I ever read too many people that re-did their OME susspention (other than those hwo are'n't happy with anything less than 4" - even then, most of them use the OME springs in conjunction with some type of spacer).

So, parts are in the garage, tool box is calling to me, and I'm giddy as a school girl. Looking forward to scrapping some knuckles this week, but first the before pictures and measurements...

Let the fun begin! (partysmile)

 

[tjkj2002]

$700 for a 2"-2.5" lift that includes new struts/shocks and better coils is a steal compared to other vehicle lift prices(not comparing BB lifts either).

 

[Uncle Krusty]

I spent $375 for a 3-1/2" front lift (1-1/2" blocks for the rear) of my '99 Dodge Ram about 2 years ago. I used a spindle lift from Fab-tech as the truck is only 2WD. It was time for ball joints, tie rods, shocks, etc... so while I had it apart...

Best part is the ride is still comprable to stock, uses standard length shocks, and keeps (for the most part) the standard front end geometry. (No expensive re-alignment or extra parts)

Like anything, shop around, explore ALL your options, and find what works best for you, and the vehicle. If it sounds/looks too good, it probably is...

 

[josh1984]

Just thought I'd chime in with my two cents. I'm a newb in terms of the KJ lifts also but I did have a '98 XJ with the 3" 4WD lift. After about three years of running their kit I didn't notice any sag issues. The XJ didn't have the best ride to begin with but with the lift and 31" BFGs it didn't get any worse. I also had a few concerns with them, mostly just a case of Rubicon Express/Skyjacker envy but once I had the kit on I loved it. If I had to choose between the two options I would definitely go with the 4WD lift again, and probably will once I get my ducats in order.

i just got off the phone with 4wd.com... they said their suspension system was a BDS setup... the sprin rate for the coils they said were rated for 435lbs.. i have heard of BDS suspension.. and have not heard any bad reviews with them.

i appriciate all your feed back guys. i know this setup is not the belovedf OME/Rancho.. but it does fit my budget. also, it can not be worse than what i have now..... afterall i havce a stock suspension on a 2003 kj.... everything is original. so this new set up will most likely at least 90% better.

thanks again guys for all your help....

 

[kj924]

i just got off the phone with 4wd.com... they said their suspension system was a BDS setup... the sprin rate for the coils they said were rated for 435lbs.. i have heard of BDS suspension.. and have not heard any bad reviews with them.

i appriciate all your feed back guys. i know this setup is not the belovedf OME/Rancho.. but it does fit my budget. also, it can not be worse than what i have now..... afterall i havce a stock suspension on a 2003 kj.... everything is original. so this new set up will most likely at least 90% better.

thanks again guys for all your help....

Good deal, especially with the gift card.

Be sure and post up the results. It will be interesting to see how it holds up on the long haul.

 

[josh1984]

Good deal, especially with the gift card.

Be sure and post up the results. It will be interesting to see how it holds up on the long haul.

has to be better than what iu have now...lol

 

[kj924]

has to be better than what iu have now...lol

Anything is better that "stock"