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Which 2.5" lift to get

4K views 39 replies 20 participants last post by  SeeJaySeven 
#1 ·
Just bought a 1995 YJ, came with new wheels and 31" tires but no lift to give the clearance needed. I've read the info on Rough Country ($450), BDS ($778), Rubicon Express ($780) and OME ($937)... what would you recommend and why. Thanks.
 
#2 ·
I have a 95 with 31's and it definitely needs a lift. I'm going with the Zone Offroad 2" lift as it will give about 3" over the settled out stock springs. The kit uses BDS springs which are as good as they get. Also, with the 2.5L you may be pushing it going anymore than 31's and they look kinda small on a 4" lift.
 
#3 ·
Old Man Emu, the best on the market and designed for your jeep to include spring packs and shocks.

I have owned YJ's since 1994 and tried various lifts, nothing rode as good, performed as well, or has the quality of OME and nobody will dispute that who has run one. Yes I have tried over 4 other manufacturers before the OME, and no will never change.
 
#4 ·
For a smaller lift you cant beat OME. If you're looking for a taller lift I'd go RE Extreme or BDS. I still prefer Bilstein shocks over all others.
 
#15 ·
If you want a very comfortable ride right from the start and you daily drive your Jeep, then OME is definitely worth the price. There is no break in period, the springs ride nice and smooth right from the start.

If having the Cadillac of 2.5" leaf spring suspension lift for a YJ isn't a priority, then there are other lift brands to consider. But friends don't let friends get a 2.5" Rough Country lift. Too many horror stories abound of leaf springs that don't even fit correctly right from the start. Springs that ride way too rough. Springs that sag way too soon.

The QA/QC for the Rough Country 2.5" springs just doesn't seem to be up to par with what RC puts into their 4" springs. I would guess the quality of the steel isn't consistent - sometimes too hard, sometimes too soft, sometimes just right. But Rough Country is certainly happy to let you get the crappy stuff and do the final QC test for them. Saves them a few bucks but if you happen to get the bad stuff you also get the hassle of doing an RMA and having your Jeep out of commission while getting a bad springs replaced.
 
#6 ·
You can't compare them by price, it depends on if having a nice ride with great articulation is worth it. If mony is the driving force I'd go Zone before RC, but that's based on my old RC problems and nothing but positive remarks about Zone.
 
#7 ·
You get what you pay for. The RC $400 is a budget lift. Therefore you'll get budget flex, and budget articulation.

The more expensive lifts are worth the couple extra months of saving if needed.
 
#8 ·
Depends on what you're going for. If you're just looking to clear the tires and save on the wallet, RC is your best bet, they've improved on their quality too. If you're going to wheel it REGULARLY and do a bunch of crawling over obstacles then spend the $$ and get an OME, Zone or RE kit. I currently have a RC 2.5" lift with 1/2" boomerang shackles and it rides fine and I have good flex too. My wallet was the deciding factor this time around and I'm pretty happy with the performance. So until I have an extra grand in the wallet, this is the setup I'm gonna run.
 
#11 ·
I've purchased a Rough Country, and a Sky Jacker for my first two YJs. My current YJ came with a Pro-comp lift already installed. It is 100 times better riding than the other two I've had.
Take a look at them before deciding.
 
#12 ·
Like Dukesilver said, I also installed the Zone 2" lift and got about 3" of lift compared to my old stock springs. I drive my Jeep everyday and I am very pleased with the Zone kit so far. The Zone kits are in the same price range as Rough Country (with in $100) and I haven't seen a bad review on them here yet. The RC's seem to get mixed reviews. Thats why I bought the Zone kit. Not bad mouthing any other kits, just throwing out what I did and how it turned out for me.
 
#17 ·
After reading what reviews I can find I'm strongly leaning toward the BDS lift, reviews indicate I'll need to invest another $100+ and get a 1" shackle lift to clear the frame so I'm looking at about $880 total... if I don't need brake line extensions...anyone believe I'm making the wrong decision? Thanks.
 
#19 ·
Just be aware that the 1" shackles will change your caster in the front, and it may not track as straight.

Rubicon Express has a half military wrap, which would work with your stock shackles. I run RE 2.5" springs and am happy with them. I almost went for BDS, but didn't because of the lift shackle required.
 
#18 ·
I have the rubicon express 2.5 and im quite satisfied with the ride quality. At least after both trac bars and sway bar removed. At full flex the brake lines worry me a little. I would like to get shackles and will need to relocate or extend brake lines. The relocation kits look like they can be made at home vs 60 bucks for RC ext. lines.
 
#21 ·
I recommend RE lifts. I have rode on the cheap springs that sag within MONTHS... made my jeep look like crap and sucked off road. Even with 90% asphalt driving, having quality springs and shocks are worth it IMO. Getting bounced around while driving just sucks.
 
#24 ·
Just looked up the part numbers on the springs. It is in fact the Explorer Pro Comp 2.5" lift. Kit # K3061B . It has the half military wrap, diamond cut (tapered end?) springs with little pads in them to smooth out the action.

It comes with all the stuff you need.

Summit Racing and even amazon carries it.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/exp-k3061b

Even though it looks like its been on a while, it rides better than any others ive had new and is not sagging at all. And that's with a winch and hard top.





 
#25 ·
Rough Country is the budget lift, Old Man Emu is the high-end, price-no-object lift and from I've read and researched they'll both deliver what you'll pay for.

I got the Rubicon Express 2.5" last year and I couldn't be happier. For about $780 it's a great midpoint lift kit from a company and product with a good reputation. It rides a tad softer than stock on the road, and the few times I took it off road, it works great. I considered BDS as well but the nice thing about the RE lift is that it's a complete kit, which includes the springs, u-bolts, transfer case drop, a few other knick knacks, and shocks.
 
#27 ·
I believe I've narrowed down to the Rubicon Express and Rough Country, leaning strongly toward the Rubicon. I have no first hand knowledge but from what I've gleaned from reading I'm guessing the RC would give me the lift I need and about the same, maybe a hair better, ride than what I have with the stock, I'm speculating that the Rubicon would give me a somewhat better ride on road...at this time I'm thinking the extra bucks would be worth it...would like to hear the thoughts of others.
 
#28 ·
Rough Country

I am sporting the Rough Country 2.5" lift and couldn't be happier with it. Basic kit, yes, but for the price, well worth it. I did have to extend my brake lines and I had a mild vibration which was fixed with a transfercase drop kit.
I got about 4" of lift, been driving for several months now and it hasn't settled any. I also have 1" longer shackles and am running 31" tires.
I guess not all of these kits turn out bad - have seen the stories, but I am a happy customer!
 

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#29 ·
I am sporting the Rough Country 2.5" lift and couldn't be happier with it. Basic kit, yes, but for the price, well worth it. I did have to extend my brake lines and I had a mild vibration which was fixed with a transfercase drop kit.
I got about 4" of lift, been driving for several months now and it hasn't settled any. I also have 1" longer shackles and am running 31" tires.
I guess not all of these kits turn out bad - have seen the stories, but I am a happy customer!
Is that 4in with the 1 inch lift shackles? Or 5 total w/ shackles?
 
#32 ·
I have the 6" BDS kit and I can tell you I personally like the quality of BDS, I was never a Rough Country fan but that's me, the BDS is made from quality components and it comes with everything you will need, and your right, you don't have to extend brake lines for 2.5, I had bad experience with rough country lift years ago and never bought since but I think there are good and bad with any product it's all in what you expect to get out of it. I say BDS, my .02.
 
#37 ·
If I keep vacillating back and forth on which lift to get I'm going to need some Vaseline...it's now between the Rubicon Express and BDS...wish I knew how much adding the shackles with the BDS would change the caster, I'm guessing it would not be that noticeable...but I don't know that.
 
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