BDS lift questions.

[ineedabouttreefiddy]

I played ball in highschool with a guy whos now a rep/salesmen for BDS and he just offered a hell of a deal on a 2" at $401 (about $120 in savings because hes going to drop it off in person to my door)

My questions were, do i need anything to complete this lift and do i need to change anything on my jeep prior to or after the lift. my KJ is a 2002 and i believe it came stock with what mopar calls the "up country package" which is a 2".
i say this because my measurements from center cap to bottom of fender flare are 19" front and 20" rear, so i assume they sagged seeing as in they should read closer to 18 (from what ive read on here) if it didnt have a lift at all due to normal sag
ive read Old Man Emu makes a good lift and comes with not just rear shocks but fronts to.
thanks in advance if you can help

 

[rockymountain]

No KJ ever came with an up country option. Your 2002, if stock, is just like any other KJ. are you sure you are measuring right? You may have a pre lowered 02. What's the build date? Either way, minus the springs and shocks you will be replacing, you are left with what everyone else has.

You will install the lift just like any KJ.

 

[rockymountain]

You'll be able to use the money you saved to get new front shocks too. Don't sell yourself short. It may ride like a boat if you don't get new fronts.

 

[ineedabouttreefiddy]

i took it to the dealer a few months ago to get a new key fob and a check up and the dealer said it had a stock package they called the "up country" and measured to find out. the fronts sit at 19" from mid centercap to bottom of fender flare and 20" on the rear mid centercap to bottom of fender flare. regardless it had to of had some kind of lift just maybe the name was different unless its just a super jeep that doesnt sag.

I was thinking bilstein HD for the front and leaving the BDS rear shocks that come with it, what do you think?

 

[rockymountain]

I think your dealer is a freaking idiot like all the rest.:freak3:
Jeep Grand Cherokee WJ - Up Country suspension
use a tape measure, and take pics. No pics, didn't happen.
Mine was about 18.5 in front before I lifted. If you are pre lowered it isn't too rare that you are still around 19 in front. I've seen 2002s that look lifted, just because of the pre lowered springs. Back in 03 when I was shopping there was an 03 next to an 02 pre-lowered. Looked like it towered over the 03, but really was only about 3/4 inches higher. Hate to burst your bubble, but if its stock you don't have anything special. Besides, no matter what you have now, its gonna get replaced when you install new springs and shocks.

I'm not sure what BDS uses for the rear shocks. But yeah the Bilstein shocks are the way to go for the most part.

 

[ineedabouttreefiddy]

BDS uses their shocks on the rear which come with a lifetime warranty on sagging so I figured I'd just keep those on there. I have no reason to lie on here but I'll post pictures tonight if I can remember how

 

[tommudd]

Up Country on a KJ
p:
Here we go again
Your dealer is full of horse sh**
Never was , never has been and never will be

Now onto your BDS
Their stock rear shocks are cheap ones if you upgrade to gas shocks they will be a lot better
Also Bilstein or OME front shocks
401 is not that great of a deal for 4 springs ( 4 OME is 280 ) plus two rear shocks at 140 is 420 so not that much difference
Sorry I'll stick with OME , BDS were jerks when I tried to get some info from them a few years ago

02 stock were about 19.75 new in the front so you are about average on the sagging as most later ones I see started at 19 and are now 18-18.25 so you have nothing special

 

[rockymountain]

BDS uses their shocks on the rear which come with a lifetime warranty on sagging so I figured I'd just keep those on there. I have no reason to lie on here but I'll post pictures tonight if I can remember how

Understood. shocks don't produce any lift therefore don't sag. Springs do.

I'd do what Tom said. Now that I think of it 400 for springs and crummy shocks isn't really that good of a deal. You could piece together a much better lift yourself. I guess the key is don't buy the kit. Buy the pieces yourself. There isn't any complicated parts in lifting a KJ, so a pre picked kit really isn't needed if you're scared you'll miss something.

 

[Marlon_JB2]

I see that you live down the street in Dexter.

1. Glad you survived the tornado
2. I seriously need to know what dealership you took your Jeep to so I can stay away from there.

BDS are a bunch of jerks. I contacted them a couple times (Phone and e-mail) about using my Jeep as a prototype for a KK lift, told them that front springs were no different, and they just... completely ignored me. They could have at least told me that they were not interested.

JCR Offroad doesn't do lifts, BUT they make some great armor and bumpers, and were much nicer to me. And they DID use my Libby.

 

[ineedabouttreefiddy]

Pinckney Chrysler and cuter, definitely stay away from both. I do my own work, I just send it to them if I need help diagnosing.
You're not talking about Old Man Emu are you? Ive heard that those lifts are super heavy duty due to the amount of weight they carry on the roof racks in Australia, plus they wanted $650 for the cheapest set with them.
And I thought there was a lifetime warranty on everything from bds covering sagging?

But thanks for the info guys! Much appreciated

 

[tommudd]

You've heard wrong
OME produces 4 different front springs for the KJ
OME 925s are rated at 350 lbs
OME 926s are rated at 375 lbs
OME 927s are rated at 400 lbs
OME 790s are rated at 500 lbs (FOR the CRD)

Stock Original Equipment front springs are rated at 310 lb
Most people choose the 927s for the ride/handling and lift they acheive with them Plus they last 2 to 3 times longer than stock

By the way do you know what the front BDS are rated at? I do

 

[Marlon_JB2]

Oh Geez.....

DON'T GET ME STARTED ON CUETER!!!!!!!

They can't even get an oil change right!

... and I almost bought a yellow JK from them! Glad I didn't!

 

[Ry' N Jen]

BDS' warranty is if something brakes, not if the springs bagged out!
I haven't seen too many coil springs "break"...
That's what they told me anyway.