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Spacers or coils???

2K views 7 replies 8 participants last post by  Ob1ofwis 
#1 ·
Looking to lift my 2012 JK 2 inches to allow for 33" tires. I dont want any rubbing. Not planning on heavy off roading. I am also replacing front and rear bumper with something more substantial. My kids use the Jeep so i want to preserve ride quality.

My questions:
1- Is there any advantage to replacing coils as opposed to just installing spacers?
2-Will increased weight of bumpers (200lbs) effect either type of lift?
3-Does one type of lift preserve ride quality better than the other?
4-In either case are there any other components that i should replace/upgrade?
 
#2 ·
#3 ·
Most people including myself will recommend coils if adding a lot of weight.

Ideally you want enough lift to clear your tires and have room for them to travel up and down.

That's a nice setup above. That or maybe a 1.5 coil leveling kit. Teraflex makes one. Rock Krawler had a 1.5 but their coils are rated for a 4 door (2 door = 2.5")

2.5+ you really should be looking at caster angle and maybe raising the rear track bar.
3-4 caster, pinion angles, possible steering angles, roll centers, etc
 
#5 ·
I think you can fit 33"s without any lift if you go with rim spacers or new rims. I'm going with new rims.

I was looking into lifting but am just turned off by all the talk and so many different scenarios. What complicates things for me is that i don't want to "level" out my jeep. If I had to choose between the front being lower most times and then level when loaded, versus level most times and then sagging in the back when loaded, I choose to leave the front lower. I see to many jeeps on the road with the back sagging. And to many of the lifts kits are levelling kits, I'd prefer they just sell me the same spacers or coils to lift 1" or 2" front and back.

Further, my kids are driving this and I want to keep it as safe as possible. I'm not adding weight. I really don't want to change ride quality or handling. I went way out of my way to make sure to get one with side air bags.

This is what I've determined so far assuming it's right.

1) Body lift kit, nothing changes, car handles the same, only component that has angle change is steering, but it's not affected. I'm assuming the engine is now lower inside the engine bay?

2) Next level is coil spacers, this is the first stage of lifting everything. If you don't change anything else, you are effectively removing that amount of suspension travel since your stock shocks will now be stretched out a little further.

3) Lift kits. What's confusing here is the variety and what they don't include. For 2-2.5" lifts, some are just coils, some include shocks, some include arms, it's all over the place. You'll find people saying such and such is not needed, but then there will be others saying you do.

3.A) If you just do coils, it's still same issue as #2 above, with stock shocks you're loosing suspension travel since they now are stretched out some for the add'l lift. I'm not worried about articulation and will not be offroading, so is this really an issue for me that will just be driving on roads, or at most nice "dirt" roads?

3.B) So now you add new aftermarket shocks and you've got back your full range of motion. Of course, how does the jeep now drive? I've heard of some issues with some aftermarket shocks and worse ride quality. I really don't want to give up ride quality.

3.C) Regardless, if just coil spacers, coils, or coils and new shocks, you are lifting the suspension and some geometry is now changing. The axles are slightly rotating and pulling in? Most seem to say that with under 2.5" lift, the changes are minimal and don't need to be addressed. But then I read posts of people saying how it does drive a little different or they hit a dip and experienced DW, etc, so it seems there are still issues, just I guess most people that don't want to spend the money for new arms accept it. So now we get into new arms to put everything back where it was. And of course, other little things like does the exhuast rub etc. I find some kits that are incomplete, for example, they say they'll lift 2", but an exhaust kit is also needed, ugghh.
 
#6 ·
I would also suggest longer/higher rate springs if you're going to be adding weight. The Teraflex Spring Leveling Kit is a good option. Shocks will have the biggest impact on ride so changing them out can help keep it comfortable. A small lift/leveling kit like this doesn't require other parts to work properly. You can change out the shocks if you want to, but that's up to you!

Please let me know if you have any specific questions or would like a quote!

-Ryan
 
#8 ·
Adding my winch and bumper and skids caused the front to sag a lot. I added front spacers, but it was bottoming out over speed bumps. I replaced the front coils with OME 2" heavy coils and couldn't be happier. No more bottoming out and ride is great. Only thing I had to do was adjust the drag link to straighten the steering wheel.
 
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