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Jk lifting guide

2K views 6 replies 3 participants last post by  Pressurized 
#1 ·
I keep reading about Jk's being lifted and then nothing but problems. If you lift a Jk do the following:
You need more than a lift. When you go UP the axles in front and back go opposite directions due to the track bars an geometry. I like adjustable track bars on front and back. I only added the track bar bracket on the front because you need the front track bar and drag link as parallel as possible. IF NOT YOU WILL get bad BUMP STEER and DEATH WOBBLE. The reason is the drag link and track bar are fighting one another. I added a smittybilt front stinger on my Jk and had sagging issues of 1.5 ". I then ordered 18" stock front springs and this leveled the front back out. I will be adding longer shocks in the future because they are pretty much maxed out in length. These basic things should help anyone that does it yourself as I do. I learned from reading, videos and just doing the work on my jeeps myself.
 
#3 ·
SC Jeeper, that information is not entirely accurate. The track bar bracket in front must be accompanied by a drag link flip kit or a drop pitman arm in order to keep geometry correct. If you do not have one of those 2, but do have a raised track bar bracket you will induce bump steer in to your system. You also only need to do those when lifting 4" or more on a JK.

As for the rear, you can use just an adjustable track bar, but the JK benefits from a raised rear track bar bracket that will increase the roll center which creates more desirable handling characteristics. Check virtually every major suspension designer and you will see that this is how they build their kits. AEV even exaggerates this concept by raising the rear bar by more than the amount of lift being added.

As kjeeper said above, death wobble is not connected to the track bar and drag link relationship... It is however typically related to a track bar bushing or mount problem.
 
#4 ·
I disagree. Too many people try and look at the most drastic issues before the obvious. I'm speaking from experience from owning a TJ and JK. I wouldn't just put this up without knowing what I'm talking about. I didn't do a drag link flip or drop pitman arm on my Jk. My jeep drives very nice. Prior to me adding the track bar bracket, my front track bar and drag link were at totally different angles. I had death wobble and bump steer. After getting them parallel all those issues went away.
 
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