SOA vs Suspension Lift..

[2nd Day]

Ok I knw this has been asked before, but im gonna ask again...SOA Lift or Suspension Lift kit? Whats all needed in an SOA Kit and where can they be bought or is thay just something you do? How hard is it to do?

the other option i am lookin at is the Rustys 4" Kit for FSJ...thanks for any info...

[desert_freak]

I would go into details but I would probably miss something, SO if you search on SOA you should find many posts. Riverbeast has responded to this question several times and has a detailed breakdown of the mods and pricing comparison.

BTW Riverbeast makes a kit to relocate the rear spings to level out the rig after you SOA the front (I have his kit in my garage :D )

P.J.

[tuck]

Depends what you want to do with the Jeep, and how much your time is worth to you.

To do SOA properly will probably cost more than lift springs. And it can be very time consuming, which is expensive if your time is worth a lot.

Lift springs are pretty easy to install, unbolt old, bolt in new, change pitman arm, replace or adjust brake lines wham, bam, thank you maam. The rear will be pretty easy too, either blocks, add-a-leafs, lift springs or a combination. Or RB's kit, which I know nothing about.

SOA will ride softer, flex more, replacement springs are cheaper if you bend a spring, ground clearance under the axle is increased.

But SOA axle will require you to weld new perches on top of the axle, plus do the steering and brake modifications to compensate for lift and wheel travel. Plus you need to find the means of lifting the rear.

If I were to do it again, I would do spring over again. I love how it rides, flexes, and my time isn't worth that much, so it wasn't too expensive. Plus, I can't really buy a "lift kit" for my '72 waggy.

[porkchop]

Brandon, give me a call when you get a chance and we can talk about it. I have an SOA on my wag and can answer any questions you have. That is if you don't mind talking to a Jarhead ;) . You still have my number?

[rockjeep44]

It's an easy decision. SOA=hardcore. Regular lift=occasional wheeling. It's all about how hard you want to wheel your Jeep.
-Andrew

[blt2krl]

SOA= hardcore, **** that hurts Andrew. I guess I'll have to bump up the Dana 60 front end option too this weekend. The wife may not like it but I refuse to beconsidered in occasional wheeling catagorie. :D

[jode]

LOL
"SOA=hardcore. Regular lift=occasional wheeling"
Them's were fighting words! :D

BTW
A SOA is a suspension lift ;) tongue.gif

[ November 24, 2002, 10:49 AM: Message edited by: jode ]

[rockjeep44]

lol, I thought you were SOA Blt2Crl. BTW, nice new avatar. I love that jeep.
-Andrew

[dnixon]

I am in the final stages of a SOA... Thing that is the bigest is how high you would lift it with the Spring/Block lift. If you were planning on going 6", which is the biggest kit that I have found, that is right around where you would end up with a SOA, which would give you about 7". Most of the problems I have found with the SOA are the same problems I would have had to face with the Spring/Block lift. That being, Driveshaft for front (possibly rear), shimming rear, brake lines (E-brake and regular), Bump steer (dual steering stabilizer masked that). So there a lot of things that I would for see having do in the spring lift anyways... If you can't weld you can do what I had to do and have someone weld your front perches on, I don't have a welder and none of my buddies do either. Things with the SOA that I don't think you would have to worry about with a Spring lift would be the routing of the Ebrake line if you do go with the RiverBeast shackle inversion like I have.
So for a better ride more flex and cheaper replacement parts I think a little more now will end up being worth it later... just my .02 good luck..

[blt2krl]

I will be by next year (SOA) Andrew. Just working on the funds.

[ColeTrickle]

posted November 23, 2002 11:51 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It's an easy decision. SOA=hardcore. Regular lift=occasional wheeling. It's all about how hard you want to wheel your Jeep.
-Andrew So what would be a spring lift and SOA be?

Hardcore occasional wheeler :D ?
or To much ;) ?

No really I'm serious.

[jode]

IMHO, too much.

whats the point? As has been proven by several (Rockjeep 44 comes to mind), you can fit 44" tires with out a ten mile lift...if its wheelin your after, quit lifting and start hackin, if it's lookin cooler than the chevy kids in your school, then lift away.
Just my $.02

[ColeTrickle]

LOL :D .
I agree completely. I've just seen a few chebbies around town that have both. You can tell these guys till your blue in the face....they still don't get it.
Guess it's a Jeep thing...they won't understand.

[83 WagDriver]

excuse my ignorance, but what the hell does SOA stand for?

[blt2krl]

SOA = springs over axle

[83 WagDriver]

oh

lol

[Rent-A-Cop]

hey hey hey. im a chevy man here, but i do recognize that jeeps make for better 4x4s, i had a cevy 4x4 once and had a ton of problems out of it, thats why i now go chevy cars and jeep 4x4s. im planing on doing the SOA myself this winter, if anyone has some pics of the process im sure 2nd Day and myself would greatly appreciate it

[rockjeep44]

I guess I technically used lift springs for my SOA. I had Alcan 1.5in packs made for the front and 4.5in packs made for the rear. Long flat springs flex the best. My frontend is rediculous. It'll still bind my 1410 yokes and run the 9012s out of travel.
-Andrew

[scotty]

Originally posted by rockjeep44:
It's an easy decision. SOA=hardcore. Regular lift=occasional wheeling. It's all about how hard you want to wheel your Jeep.
-Andrewhey now,i like to think of the the wheeling i do as hardcore ;) my jeep is not even driven on the street anymore,its for trails only.

i do agree it will depend on awhat you want to do with your jeep. however there are many ways to skin the cat smile.gif

i kept mine SUA cause i frequently find myself in rediculously off camber situations,and wanted to keep the center of gravity as low as possible. i wanted just alittle more room,but didnt want the 6+ inches a SOA would have given

im running 6" chevy lift springs(wich net about 3-4 inches of lift in a fsj), a 3" body lift,and alot of fender cutting to fit my 38" tires.

the chevy springs also move the front axle forward 1 inch,wich helped quite a bit with rear wheel well "full stuff while turning" clearance issues.

obviously the quality of a SUA lift will depend on the manufaturer. i run tuff country springs,wich give me as much articulation as i had before with my stock flat springs.some aftermarekt lift springs,however,will be stiff and get an unpleasant ride.

the bottom line is if you need the amt of lift a SOA provides,and have the time and resources to do it properly,you will hav a near stock ride,and very flexible suspension,for way less $$. in order for a SUA lift spring to provide the same lift AND same articulation as a SOA setup,you will have to pay a very hefty price tag,as generally speaking SUA lift prings with that much arch are not going to provide as much wheel travel as a SOA with flat springs.

if you are going to stay SUA,ask around,get opinion,ride in different peoples rigs,get as much info as you can before purchasing. if you want to stay with a "designed for fsj" spring(tuff country doesnt make one) i would go with rustys,or skyjacker softrides,from what ive read in various posts here.

my $.02 anyway smile.gif

also,here a thread on JU that actually has some good info about the mechaincs and leverages present in a SUA vs SOA:
http://jeepsunlimited.com/forums/showthread.php?s=1884d53c70482a8 11c9ceb51854f2e60&postid=2670043#post2670043 (http://jeepsunlimited.com/forums/showthread.php?s=1884d53c70482a811c9ceb51854f2e60&postid=2670043#post2670043)

[ November 25, 2002, 09:04 AM: Message edited by: scotty ]

[scotty]

Originally posted by jode:
IMHO, too much.

whats the point? As has been proven by several (Rockjeep 44 comes to mind), you can fit 44" tires with out a ten mile lift...if its wheelin your after, quit lifting and start hackin, if it's lookin cooler than the chevy kids in your school, then lift away.
Just my $.02dont let riverbeast or mark(above the law) hear ya say that ;) they are both running at least 4" lift springs on top of their SOAs...

many ways to skin the cat. smile.gif

[2nd Day]

lol, thanks for all the great info...well as i know jack about the lifting process in general and this will be my first ever wheeler...i think ill wait for that tax return in the spring and go with rustys 4" lift...then ill just have to locate some 35's around that time too...SOA=not for a newbie like me...

Porkchop...how would you feel about helpin me install my lift and 35's when i get them next spring? are you still shippin out this winter, ya jarhead? lol, what does that make me if im in the air force?

[bigwillys]

run the 9012s out of travel.
I think Rancho has longer shocks now, 9036 and 5036 i think...they're like 4 inches more travel. if your driveline yokes are binding, might not matter, though

[rockjeep44]

Yea, I don't need any more flex. That's for sure. Another thing with the SOA. I wouldn't do it unless I was either WT or full width. SOA on a NT Jeep would not be a good idea.
-Andrew

[Rent-A-Cop]

why isnt an SOA conversion a good idea for NT jeeps?

[porkchop]

Porkchop...how would you feel about helpin me install my lift and 35's when i get them next spring? are you still shippin out this winter, ya jarhead? lol, what does that make me if im in the air force?
Sure bring it on down!! :D . That is if I am not gone. If the guy at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave says we go then I will be leaving, but for now I still have no idea.

You in the air force are known as "flyboy" "civilian's in uniform" "zoomies" this is to name a few of the nice one's ;) .

[J10Truken]

I'm lookin at liftin a 75 cheif and I think the soa is going to be the ticket after reading everything here. Question is, what do I do in the rear? Someone asked me about rear post mounts? Don't know what that is. BTW, Semper Fi and almost Happy B-day Porkchop.