I've Decided On a Lift...

[12guns]

2005 Sport 4x4 V8 w/ Xreas Looking at spacers for now...

Well, after lots of looking and reading....I think I'm going with 2" front and 1.5 rear. I like the rake look w/ the rear higher than the front slightly. I also don't want it to sag badly w/ a trailer or loaded down. Even after reading I don't know if "overextention" of the balljoints are a problem or not. Seems like while it's mentioned, nobody has reported having that problem. I will be wheeling from time to time, but nothing too hardcore.
I also want spacer but don't know wheather to get 1' or 1.25"??????
**What kit do I need?**
Will 265/70r17 be the larges tires I can fit w/ only 2" lift on the front?
Thanks and I'll have pics once I get in and install it!

 

[CJ3Flyr]

2005 Sport 4x4 V8 w/ Xreas Looking at spacers for now...

Well, after lots of looking and reading....I think I'm going with 2" front and 1.5 rear. I like the rake look w/ the rear higher than the front slightly. I also don't want it to sag badly w/ a trailer or loaded down. Even after reading I don't know if "overextention" of the balljoints are a problem or not. Seems like while it's mentioned, nobody has reported having that problem. I will be wheeling from time to time, but nothing too hardcore.
I also want spacer but don't know wheather to get 1' or 1.25"??????
**What kit do I need?**
Will 265/70r17 be the larges tires I can fit w/ only 2" lift on the front?
Thanks and I'll have pics once I get in and install it!

Nice choice... The overextended "problem" is as you've said... It's theoretically possible but 4th gens don't seem to have an issue within the lift range you're talking about. 275/70/17 or 255/75/17 are the tallest/biggest tires that'll work without lots of trimming. The 265/70/17 is a great choice too.

More on 255/75/17's

More on 275's

There so many posts on 265's you can find all kinds of pics and posts.
:cheers:

 

[12guns]

Thanks for the reply, I think I'll be sticking w/ 265/70r17 for a bit after I get my lift. That will allow me to see if they fill it out or not.
Also I'm quite sure MPG will decrease slightly w/ larger tires, although some would disagree I've been there done that and the larger tire = less MPG in other vehicles.
Which kit should I look at? Which ones offer the 2" 1.5" combo?

 

[mahabali]

I am running 265-70-17s on my STOCK 04 Sport with no problems... I would go 275 70 17 with that lift.

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

If you're worried about looks with the lift go with the 255/75's. They'll be ~32's versus the OEM's are ~30's. However, they're narrower and from what I've read you won't see a hit on your gas mileage. After talking with a couple guys running them, this will be the size I'm getting when the time comes.

 

[12guns]

I'll look into the 255's. My main worry would be as you said MPG, however I wonder w/ the V8 if the larger tire may not affect mpg as much? Only down side is my current tires are firestone street tires. I'm sure they're 4 ply so anything I get will be heavier, 6 ply.
Which spacers are cheapest? I'm wanting to go cheap in case I decide to go w/ a susp lift later. I would settle for 1" up front and .5 in the rear also. Just trying to keep cost down. Cause if all goes as planned and the mpg and ride isn't too bad, I'll be looking into suspension lifts later.
Any experience w/ the $100 airbag "leveling" kits? Seems cheap and easy. I might could get by w/ that if it would lift any at all. Thanks!

 

[progress4m]

....Which spacers are cheapest? I'm wanting to go cheap in case I decide to go w/ a susp lift later. I would settle for 1" up front and .5 in the rear also. Just trying to keep cost down. Cause if all goes as planned and the mpg and ride isn't too bad, I'll be looking into suspension lifts later.
.... Thanks!

Here is what I did, I do not think you can do lift cheaper than that:
I have purchased DS front leveling spacers (1 1/8 “thick) and DS 1.5” rear spacers, but I did not want to go that high, so I have machined DS parts to 0.8” for the front and 1” in the rear. That give me my customized DS lift (~1.4” front and 0.9” rear), which I like a lot. I did installation by myself. So total price for the lift was around $70.00 (got them on sale) for DS and $140.00 for lifetime alignment @ Firestone.

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

Here's what I'm going to do. I'm gonna run the FJC OEM springs on the front to give ~.5-.75" of lift (can't do the rear because I have the rear air suspension). I'm also adding a Toytec topout spacer which will give another 1" of lift. So, I'll end up with a nice level stance, about 1.5" higher than stock, at a total cost of under $100. If you are patient, you can find some awesome deals on the FJC setup. I got mine for free, just had to pay shipping. The Toytec spacer runs about $60, plus they offer a discount to forum members.

 

[12guns]

Here's what I'm going to do. I'm gonna run the FJC OEM springs on the front to give ~.5-.75" of lift (can't do the rear because I have the rear air suspension). I'm also adding a Toytec topout spacer which will give another 1" of lift. So, I'll end up with a nice level stance, about 1.5" higher than stock, at a total cost of under $100. If you are patient, you can find some awesome deals on the FJC setup. I got mine for free, just had to pay shipping. The Toytec spacer runs about $60, plus they offer a discount to forum members.

Your spacer is .5" thick? I may go w/ 3/4" to get 1.5" lift on the front.
As for the rear, I want to add the air lift 1000 inside the coils for support, but don't really want any lift. MAYBE I will add .5 spacer under the rear coild if it is setting too low. I figure this is my best option w/ Xreas and not wanting to dish out much $$ right now. Spacer $60, rear air bags system $100. I can handle the install. I think I'll be happy w/ that and my 265/70r17 tires. If these tires don't look right, when they wear out I'll look into the 255's. Thanks

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

I'm not familar with the rear air bags (aftermarket anyway). I've got the OEM leveling suspension on mine and love it. I've not yet got my lift on, but I'm in the process of getting the parts. My springs came in this week, will be ordering the Toytec spacer in the next couple of weeks. The Toytech spacer is 1/2" thick. I wanted a little more than 1" of lift, so I'm combining that with the FJC springs. No company that I'm aware of makes a 3/4 inch spacer. That's what I wanted, but the only option is to have a custom Cornfed spacer made (costly) or modify the Daystar as mentioned above. By doing the Toytec and FJ springs, I'll have 1.5-1.75" of lift at a fraction of the cost of a custom spacer.

 

[progress4m]

Make sure you do alignment after lift.

 

[NCSCOTT]

Amazon.com: Daystar KT09115BK Comfort Ride 2.5" Strut and Coil Spring Spacer Kit: Automotive

Daystar 2.5 front and 1.5 back. $160 Shipped free, $100 alignment. $260 Total. Installed in your garage or driveway in an afternoon. No special tools required. Don't even have to break down the coils. I have been running this setup for 6 months/7000 miles with no problems. Ride is great. I also added Spidertrax 1"1/4" wheel spacers to completed the look with 265/70 Revo 2s on my 08. I have pics in the lift thread..

 

[Will_4R]

Amazon.com: Daystar KT09115BK Comfort Ride 2.5" Strut and Coil Spring Spacer Kit: Automotive

Daystar 2.5 front and 1.5 back. $160 Shipped free, $100 alignment. $260 Total. Installed in your garage or driveway in an afternoon. No special tools required. Don't even have to break down the coils. I have been running this setup for 6 months/7000 miles with no problems. Ride is great. I also added Spidertrax 1"1/4" wheel spacers to completed the look with 265/70 Revo 2s on my 08. I have pics in the lift thread..

Is it really that simple to install? The instruction download on Daystar's website says you need a coil compressor and ball joint puller, and it looks like you have to somewhat disasemble the strut. Maybe they are outdated instructions or something, becaues I thought, like you say, they are suppose to be really simple to install.

 

[Maz]

Is it really that simple to install? The instruction download on Daystar's website says you need a coil compressor and ball joint puller, and it looks like you have to somewhat disasemble the strut. Maybe they are outdated instructions or something, becaues I thought, like you say, they are suppose to be really simple to install.

Weren't Daystar's front parts originally preload spacers that required the coil to be compressed?? I'm no expert on the subject, however I thought they had changed their design so that both the front and back parts are now top out spacers. If so the coil compressor and ball joint puller requirement would be obsolete.

 

[BlairB]

Just an FYI, 255/75/17 KM's have been discontinued, so what you see at tirerack and other tire stores are all that are left.

The KM2's are not available in this size.

 

[progress4m]

Is it really that simple to install? The instruction download on Daystar's website says you need a coil compressor and ball joint puller...

Just FYI: disassembling struts and compressing coils is actually very simple and straight forward (using rented tools from Autozone). It may add 20-25 minutes per side for the whole lift job.
I would not pick one lift over the other just because you do not have to compress coils.

 

[NCSCOTT]

Is it really that simple to install? The instruction download on Daystar's website says you need a coil compressor and ball joint puller, and it looks like you have to somewhat disasemble the strut. Maybe they are outdated instructions or something, becaues I thought, like you say, they are suppose to be really simple to install.

Yes It is that easy. A pitman arm puller can help to put pressure on the upper ball joint and then smack it with a hammer and it will pop free. The new kit is topout only. No need to disassemble the coil/strut asy. You saw the instructions for the original kit. The factory bottle jack can be helpful to put pressure where you need it and to push the axle down away from the frame in the back to help make it easier to put the rear spacer it and reassemble the frontend. A large pry bar and a friend is a great help also and a complete set of racheting open end metric wrenches.

 

[camdz]

Just FYI: disassembling struts and compressing coils is actually very simple and straight forward (using rented tools from Autozone). It may add 20-25 minutes per side for the whole lift job.
I would not pick one lift over the other just because you do not have to compress coils.

I was thinking my install would be able to skip this step as well, because my FJ struts came fully assembled. However, I forgot that I needed to add the longer studs in the top plate to compensate for the spacer. It really didnt add much time, but it is a bit more work. I still had to break the top nut loose, compress the spring down far enough to remove the plate, hammer out the old studs, hammer the new ones in, then put it all back together.

I did that part sitting in front of the TV though, so it was less like work.

 

[camdz]

Yes It is that easy. A pitman arm puller can help to put pressure on the upper ball joint and then smack it with a hammer and it will pop free. The new kit is topout only. No need to disassemble the coil/strut asy. You saw the instructions for the original kit. The factory bottle jack can be helpful to put pressure where you need it and to push the axle down away from the frame in the back to help make it easier to put the rear spacer it and reassemble the frontend. A large pry bar and a friend is a great help also and a complete set of racheting open end metric wrenches.

Sorry for the double post, but I missed this one. These will help A LOT. I didnt have any, and the back nut on the front struts took forever to get off at an 1/8 of a turn at a time. Same with the rear shock.

All in all its not near as bad as some make it out to be.

 

[12guns]

NCSCOTT,
what size are the tires in the first pics? My only concern is my 265/70r17's not filling out the wheel well enough for my likeing.
Does daystar offer a 2"/1" easy install kit? I'll go look now. I'm pretty sure that's what I want although you ride does look nice, I'm just trying to keep it close to stock w/ just a touch of lift. The 2/1 would also allow me to run 255/70r17. I like the idea of the skinnier tire and I've read that MPG doesn't get affected much if any w/ the 255.
I take that back. I want only .5" difference between the front and back. I'm worried that unless I beef up the rear w/ airbags or FJ coils, it will sag when loaded. I drive all the time w/ it loaded and or with a trailer. I want to keep about .5" of rake. Let me know if anybody knows where I can customize a kit w/ the easy install and that'll be what I get. If not, I'm tempted to go w/ 1" spacer on front (2" lift) and airbag 1000 on the rear to maintain the ride height while loaded. I've also been told I can add a spacer in the rear ontop of the airbag and actually get an inch or so lift whe it's inflated. Just another thought