Georgia Trail Riders Forum
MEMBERS DISCUSSION AREA => General Discussion => Topic started by: nwcj5 on August 12, 2008, 07:21:53 PM
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I have plans to get a lift for a 98 TJ, I'll be going with a 4 inch of some sort, my budget is no more the $1,000 and thats pushing it, I'd really like to get a kit that has steering components, but that may be asking too much with the budget, may have to go for that down the road...any suggestions on brands and/or kits in particular? I know steer clear of rough country
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If I were spending $1000 or so on a 4" TJ lift, I'd do the Full Traction 4in Flex Arm kit and a set of RE Montube shocks.
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I hadn't even given full traction a look, but I checked out that lift and it looks real good, a lot of parts for the money...good quality?
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I run a rubicon express 3.5" superflex. Just under the $ goal but you will need a new track bar. I love my lift and it works flawlessly on the trails.
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I have plans to get a lift for a 98 TJ, I'll be going with a 4 inch of some sort, my budget is no more the $1,000 and thats pushing it, I'd really like to get a kit that has steering components, but that may be asking too much with the budget, may have to go for that down the road...any suggestions on brands and/or kits in particular? I know steer clear of rough country
You've had a bad experience with rough country? I built my xj with RC stuff just because someone came to the shop talking smack about roughcountry, in my 5 or 6 years of dealing with roughcountry I havent had any problems other than people being cheap on shocks...the secret with rough country is to not get the cheap shocks...rides great with gas charged shocks. I'd steer clear of rustys...customer service was hit or miss last time I dealed with them...the only problem I've had with rubicon express is getting too much lift on 1 of the lifts I installed...wouldnt think it was a bad thing until unplanned lift related expenses started popping up. The full traction lifts were good if I recall, havent installed one of those in a little while.
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no I haven't had any experience with RC but it seems every time I see them talked about it's in a complaint, Krawler, did you get a driveshaft and SYE as soon as you got the lift?
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Sorry Travis in advance. ;D
My experience with RC lifts are as follows:
1. Shocks that come with the kits are HORRIBLE. They ride like a go kart.
2. The control arm quality is simply, ehhhh.............OK, and nothing more. Cheap looking. Welds werent impressive and thin metals are used on the bushing ends of the fixed length arms.
3. Powder coating chipped off arms and springs rather quickly..
4. Missing pieces to the kit. Had to complain and get new pieces mailed.
5. Control arm poly bushings all tore in less than 6 weeks and needed to be replaced. No biggie, just a hassle to take off all the arms and replace. I was sad.
Overall, RC is a "budget" style lift and some folks love it. Alot of folks like it for a first time lift, but in the end, you will probably be switching to a different kit. My theory is now to buy your second lift kit first and dont be awwed by saving $150 - $200 in advance for the RC kit. You will NOT go wrong with Full Traction or Rubicon Express. Will (Full Traction) and Ben's (KRAWLER00) Jeeps perform quite well as did my last TJ with Rubicon Express.
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no I haven't had any experience with RC but it seems every time I see them talked about it's in a complaint, Krawler, did you get a driveshaft and SYE as soon as you got the lift?
I did not. I used there 1" belly drop and got a 1" JKS ML and saved for my sye and driveshaft kit. Worked fine but you will need upper rear adjustable control arms. Here is what you will need to get, along with the stuff you buy to get it on the road and be right. But like Chris said... do it right the first time. With the 3.5" SF kit you'll need...
1. Adjustable front track bar. I use the RE version.
2. Rear upper adjustable control arms. I use JKS.
3. Shocks. I bought the Doestch Tech shocks. You can mount upside down in rear and get away from the spring perches.
After these parts you can save up for the sye kit and driveshaft. With my lift I gained around 4.25"-4" of lift. It was an easy install and parts have held up awesome. There control arms have taken some real good hits with no reprocusions. But whatever you do, do it right the first time. I have since replaced the front upper control arms with JKS ones and added a belly up skid. Other than that I am VERY pleased with the lift!
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do you think the jks control arms are a must immediately? like I said my budget is about 1,000 bucks before shocks, I could certainly swing the control arms down the road, and I could get a track bar immediately, which considering the kit doesn't come with one seems a little more necessary....Right now the Full Traction kit is looking like a better deal based on the parts it includes, Chris do you think there's anything else I would need other than shocks?
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http://www.tellico4x4.com/product_info.php/cPath/3601_3603_3606/products_id/32243
It's only been out a couple of months, but we've had good feedback on our kit so far. Includes gas shocks.
I would plan on an SYE and driveshaft sooner than later though. My YJ with 1.25" lift shackles had vibrations. I put the 4" kit on at the same time as the SYE and DS, and with the 5.25" and SYE it is way smoother than the 1.25" without the SYE.
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http://www.tellico4x4.com/product_info.php/cPath/3601_3603_3606/products_id/32243
It's only been out a couple of months, but we've had good feedback on our kit so far. Includes gas shocks.
I would plan on an SYE and driveshaft sooner than later though. My YJ with 1.25" lift shackles had vibrations. I put the 4" kit on at the same time as the SYE and DS, and with the 5.25" and SYE it is way smoother than the 1.25" without the SYE.
I will keep that in mind, it's probably only gonna be a few months before I can do the driveshaft and SYE
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Chris do you think there's anything else I would need other than shocks?
At 4" of lift, as others have stated, you will more than likely need an SYE, CV driveshaft and rear adjustable upper control arms to dial out the drivetrain vibes that come from lifting a TJ 4" or more. I am 97% sure you will get driveline vibes.
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Chris do you think there's anything else I would need other than shocks?
At 4" of lift, as others have stated, you will more than likely need an SYE, CV driveshaft and rear adjustable upper control arms to dial out the drivetrain vibes that come from lifting a TJ 4" or more. I am 97% sure you will get driveline vibes.
I would for sure get the rear control arms. You can lower the belly down with a 1" drop and use the motor lift as well to help. But you will need the control arms for sure first! I ran mine for awhile this way and had little to no vibes. But once I put the sye and driveshaft in it was like a caddy... on big tires. ;)
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Sorry Travis in advance. ;D
My experience with RC lifts are as follows:
1. Shocks that come with the kits are HORRIBLE. They ride like a go kart.
2. The control arm quality is simply, ehhhh.............OK, and nothing more. Cheap looking. Welds werent impressive and thin metals are used on the bushing ends of the fixed length arms.
3. Powder coating chipped off arms and springs rather quickly..
4. Missing pieces to the kit. Had to complain and get new pieces mailed.
5. Control arm poly bushings all tore in less than 6 weeks and needed to be replaced. No biggie, just a hassle to take off all the arms and replace. I was sad.
Overall, RC is a "budget" style lift and some folks love it. Alot of folks like it for a first time lift, but in the end, you will probably be switching to a different kit. My theory is now to buy your second lift kit first and dont be awwed by saving $150 - $200 in advance for the RC kit. You will NOT go wrong with Full Traction or Rubicon Express. Will (Full Traction) and Ben's (KRAWLER00) Jeeps perform quite well as did my last TJ with Rubicon Express.
:) Your kit must have been put together on a Friday afternoon :) The cheap shocks are bad. The gas shocks make the ride a lot better.
I've never gone back to check the powder coating on one though, or seen a metal failure, or had bushings go bad... I've seen a lot of web wheeler warnings about RC but most people who say "dont buy RC" havent used it. I've seen poly bushing failures in procomp and rustys. Superlift springs settle. Rustys shipped with two different springs for the rear. Rustys track bars shear off at the frame. Tom woods driveshafts with welds ground down to thin or shipped with out grease. Warn winch fall apart on the trail, Superwinch break in half.
I guess I've seen a lot. But I havent seen everything. :)
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just to clarify before I go ordering anything, I UPPER REAR adjustable correct?
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just to clarify before I go ordering anything, I UPPER REAR adjustable correct?
You really dont need rear adjustable uppers unless you do the SYE and CV shaft. If your just doing a lift, you dont really need adjustable uppers (unless the kit that you order comes with them).
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oh so really I can't do anything about the vibes I'm gonna get unless I do a CV and SYE, and if I do that I really need to do adjustables?
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oh so really I can't do anything about the vibes I'm gonna get unless I do a CV and SYE, and if I do that I really need to do adjustables?
It's hard to say. With 3-4" MOST folks can get a way with dropping their transfer case a little. But still most of those folks will add an SYE to get their clearance back.
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ok thanks a lot for the help guys, I think I'm just gonna give the transfer case drop a chance for a while and probably add the SYE and CV in a few months if it's bad...
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ok thanks a lot for the help guys, I think I'm just gonna give the transfer case drop a chance for a while and probably add the SYE and CV in a few months if it's bad...
10-4. See what happens when its all installed and then go from there.
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ok thanks a lot for the help guys, I think I'm just gonna give the transfer case drop a chance for a while and probably add the SYE and CV in a few months if it's bad...
Check www.performanceoffroadcenter.com for a price on that SYE, they were running a special..... cheap.
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What lift did you decide on?
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haven't made any orders yet, but I think I'm gonna go with the Full Traction kit, still trying to decide on shocks...
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holy smokes Doug, thanks a ton :o...
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Also look at Carolina Driveline, They sell a SYE and Drive shaft for around $320.