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How should I lift my yj.

7K views 16 replies 9 participants last post by  Luckymac 
#1 ·
So I have a 1987 yj and I really want to be able to take it off road and put bigger tires on it and also have it look cooler. I was thinking of getting a 2 inch body lift because it's much cheaper than getting a suspension lift and it should allow for bigger tires. I don't have a lot of money so are there any other cheap ways to lift my jeep and should I do the body lift? Thanks in advance.
 
#2 ·
Body lifts are decent ways to clear larger tires without compromising suspension, but I would say 2" is the highest I'd be comfortable going.

Suspension lifts need to be done right, you can't cheap out on them or you'll be paying the price later.
 
#4 ·
If the jeep is rusty a body lift is probably a horrible idea you will end up cutting most of the bolts out of the body. and some of the body mounts might be to rusted to even bolt back together without a lot of body work.
 
#5 ·
Just me, but after going with a 3" body lift on a 88 Bronco I will never go more than 1" body lift, I never had a 2" but just some of the things like wiring and linkage trouble, never again.
Do some reading on here and do your homework and find the best lift for what You need to get You, where You need to be!
 
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#6 ·
I don't like body lifts either, i had to made drop brackets for my radiator with only a 1.25" body lift. I only installed it because i needed extra clearance to clear the NV4500 transmission i put in it. A suspension lift is always the best idea, messing with rusted out body mounts is a huge pain in the ass. I did it on a 93 YJ that spent it's life in chicago there wasn't much left to bolt back together.
 
#7 ·
You can fit 31s on aftermarket 8"wide wheels with 4" backspacing and a 2" body lift and have no clearance problems.
Read the above advice posts #2, 4 & 5. It's good advice.

Some issues to work around is the spacers that come with the body lift kit that go under the radiator support/grill panel need to be welded in place.
Also the kit should come with 4 little brackets to drop the radiator so that the fan will clear the shroud.
When I did my 2" body lift, I had to grind away the rear of the shifter opening so that I could shift into reverse. When you raise the body, the angle of the shifter makes the shifter hit the rear of the shifter opening. It doesn't require a lot of grinding, maybe 3/4".
I couldn't find longer fuel filler hoses, so I had to cut mine in the middle and section in a short length of pipe and secure them with radiator hose clamps.
A 1" body lift might clear 31s and not create the shifter clearance issue. Other posters should chime in here.

Start now by drilling a 1/8" hole in each body mount and stick the straw from a can of PB Blaster in the hole and give the blind nut a squirt once a day for the next couple of weeks.

Good Luck, L.M.
 
#9 ·
Have you done SOA (spring over axle)?... It's far from the best and cheapest. It requires setting up all of your suspension angles. If you can't afford a regular suspension lift, you can't afford SOA.

SOA is a good option for guys who want lots of lift. I myself did it for my axle swaps to clear 35s but I wouldn't recommend it for a newcomer.
 
#11 ·
I think one other question to ask yourself is if you really NEED a lift. Is your rig a daily, or is it a trail toy?

You can fit 30 x 9.5 x 15s on a stock YJ. I've got them on mine, and I just spent the weekend running heavily overgrown two-tracks and fire roads with some medium-easy trails and beach (sand) thrown in for giggles. I didn't have much of a problem. You don't need huge tires to take your YJ off road and have some fun in the dirt.

Would a lift and bigger (31s? 33s?) tires make my Jeep better on trails? Probably, but it would change the way it drives on the street, and that's where I use it most of the time. It's a trade off I'm more than willing to make.

As for the body lift, 2" is the absolute max I would go. Others have already pointed out the pros and cons of that path.

Another option is add-a-leafs, or something like this...

Bastard Pack S10 Springs on YJ Build Thread - JeepForum.com
 
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#13 ·
Thank you everyone for the advice, my main problem is money that's the only reason I wouldn't get a suspension lift. I only know about the add a leaf and body lift. Also another concern was all the rusted and stripped bolts I would be dealing with since my jeep is 30 years old. What's the max size tire I can get on my stock yj rim and suspension and will I need wheel spacers? Thank you
 
#15 ·
As I posted earlier, you can get 30 x 9.5 x 15s under a stock YJ. You could probably run 31s with some rubbing near lock, but there is something else to consider.

Bigger (taller) tires effectively change your gearing. If your YJ has the 2.5, don't be surprised if your tire swap means the old girl is more of a dog up hills or on the freeway. Personally, I would stick to a 30" diameter tire max.
 
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