Lift Questions....101

[Seemer]

I am clearly new to this stuff, so please help me in understanding the variables associated with lift. Tread lightly on the Noob :)

First observation: Axle Height

When it comes to off-roading, it is your axles that limit clearance. The primary way to increase axle clearance is to increase rim and tire size....yes? Larger diameter rims / tires raise the axle which is the center point of the rim...give or take. The rim center point only gets higher via the above methods?

Second observation: Body Height

Body height can be lifted to allow for larger tire clearance and to also achieve a desired ride height. This can be achieved with 1) a suspension lift kit which includes alternative leaf springs (more of an arch?) for just the front with blocks in the rear or new springs in the front and rear + alternative socks, or 2) a body lift which usually involves adding blocks (1", 2", 3" etc.) to the body mount points or 3) a combination of suspension and body lift kits.

Have I got this right?

I may soon purchase a wagoneer and will immediately give it a modest lift...probably 3". I'm just trying to figure out how that happens.

Thanks.

[addicted]

You have displayed a very good grasp of how lifting a vehicle works and why. You may now go out and purchase the lift kit of your choice and budget. :thumbsup:

[Seemer]

Gosh - I feel so wicked Schmart....(new england accent)

[madmikeX3]

Why get bigger rims when you can just arch up your axles. Made by Atomic Axels.
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l221/mikehillis_2006/atomic.jpg
http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z160/stevetb03/SDC10078.jpg

[TK421]

[quote=madmikeX3]Why get bigger rims when you can just arch up your axles. Made by Atomic Axels.

DUUUUDE. Those are so cool...and probably so expensive! Made of Unobtainium even.

[billyj7175]

Wow...wow...yes, looks like some pretty pricey items there...

[Chief Gunner]

Have you ever looked at the price of those axles? They are in the 10 grand and higher area. A couple of things to keep in mind about lifting a wagoneer and why to lift them. Axle clearence is a big part of it, but also, you need to get the frame off the ground as well (at least here in Socal). Often times out here wheeling, the longer wheelbase of the FSJ will cause the frame to hit and possibly get stuck on a rock. So the lift allows for bigger tires, but also to get the frame up off and away from some of those rocks. If you are looking into lifts, I would suggest more of a suspension lift and less of a body lift. There are plenty of ways to lift our Jeeps from spring lifts to spring over axle lifts to even custom one off coil over lifts. Really, it boils down to your fab skills and/ or your pocket book. I think at a minimum, a 4" lift would be good. And if you want to spend a lot of time off road, then look into a little bit bigger lift. First things fist though, figure out where you want to dive your Jeep. How "hard core" do you want to get with it? From there, the lift question should almost answer itself. Hope that helps a little.

[j20brett]

You can get the atomic axles for ~$7500 without the third members. Not a bad price for having full 35 spline chromoly shafts front and rear. You provide the third members, gears and lockers of choice. You can easily have 3500 into a front dana 60 similarly setup with 7" less ground clearance.

http://www.atomicaxle.com/axles/builder.html

[madmikeX3]

Yeah i know the axles are hella expensive. But if you had the time and the fab skills to do it at home im sure you could do it all for less than a grand depending on if you reused old parts or not. But the design is good thinking on the designers part.