Jeep Wrangler Forum banner

Zone 4.25" combo lift questions!!

42K views 150 replies 50 participants last post by  Ron505 
#1 ·
I've been doing a lot of research on lifts lately because the wife gave me permission to get a 4" lift on my TJ. As long as I get some side steps on it. Anyways. I've been looking at a lot of lifts and like almost everyone else out there I am on some what of a budget. I found this lift and like what it says, found a lot of threads on it and seems to get some really good reviews. On the other hand I have seen others say they "know someone" who has it and dont like it but never actually found anyone out there that doesnt like it. Also the site says that you dont need a transfer case lowering kit but there are people who dont have it saying you have to have one. Its back and forth and I'm guessing that I'll keep seeing that back and forth answer. But hoping to get some good and bad feedback on this lift so I can make a choice. I really dont want to spend more then $700-$800. And whats CYE? I see some posts saying you need to drop $600 on that and have know idea what it is..

But here's the ling to zone so if someone dont know what it is can look at whats in it and give me some feed back. Thanks guys. 4.25" TJ Combo Lift
 
#2 ·
I am on some what of a budget.
Here is the most important info you provided. The problem with most of these 4"+ kits is that it only addresses the suspension. They are many other things (costs) that go along with it...like steering, control arms, and brakes upgrades, SYE (as you mentioned), etc. So what appears to be a $1000 upgrade is actually going to be alot more (like 2X-3X) by the time you are done doing it right/safe.

Read this about the SYE: http://www.rockcrawler.com/techreports/jb_short_sye/index.asp
 
#6 ·
Here is the most important info you provided. The problem with most of these 4"+ kits is that it only addresses the suspension. They are many other things (costs) that go along with it...like steering, control arms, and brakes upgrades, SYE (as you mentioned), etc. So what appears to be a $1000 upgrade is actually going to be alot more (like 2X-3X) by the time you are done doing it right/safe.
Because this is not a 4" suspension lift, the sye and everything else you mentioned...wont come into play as a need.

The Zone 4.25" kit is a 3" suspension lift with 1" mml and 1.25" body lift which in most cases eliminates the need for a tcase drop or sye...

I currently have this kit...they originally didnt have it when i got my lift so i first got a 3" suspension lift with tcase drop...great. Has a nice ride on road, does great offroad, and is an overall very nice quality "budget" kit.

I recently added a 1" mml and the 1.25" body lift then removed my tcase drop...i have no vibes and it works great.

I love the kit and recommend it to anyone...

As far as adding stuff later...of course you can. I plan to add adjustable control arms and all that jazz so i can do a full tummy tuck in the near-ish future. You dont need the same brand either. I'll be going with a few different brands when doing my tummy tuck.

but, i love my kit and its been great...zero regrets buying it. Just do yourself a favor and dont put steps on. Get some grab handles and just tell her to pull herself in...steps get hung up on a lot of stuff and make it look lower than it is...

Send Allen a PM at AOR...he'll give you a discounted price on the kit
 
#3 ·
Dextreme said:
Here is the most important info you provided. The problem with most of these 4"+ kits is that it only addresses the suspension. They are many other things (costs) that go along with it...like steering, control arms, and brakes upgrades, SYE (as you mentioned), etc. So what appears to be a $1000 upgrade is actually going to be alot more (like 2X-3X) by the time you are done doing it right/safe.
Looking at the product description it's a 3inch suspension with a 1.25bl. Depending on what he uses his jeep for, this kit should be everything he needs to have a DD/ weekend warrior.

It's definitely not a top of the line kit that's gonna be an offroad beast, but for your DD/ hunting rig/ occasional trail rider it'll get the job done.
 
#4 ·
Ya, I should have stated what it will be used for.. I'm in South Dakota, the eastern part where there are no trails.. I will be using it for trail riding in the Black Hills which is a 6 hour drive to the west. Will not be "rock crawling" with it but dont mind some of the deep ruts and the mud holes and the nice rougher trails. So ya a weekend warrior will be a good way to put it, but more like a once every 2 month on trail riding. We can get some nasty winters so the higher clearance on the snow will be nice and for some hunting trips in the fall and mudding here and there.

But with a kit like this, can you add the control arms and what not later on? And do they have to be from the same manufacture you get the kit from?
 
#5 ·
I don't have the kit, but I have the kit if tht makes sense. I have the 3 inch suspension component. However my body lift is from rough country and is essentially the same thing. You more than likely will need the (small) tc drop that is provided. There are ways around that. Temporary is a mml. Eventually you'll want a sye/ cv. Do some more research on those.

You can buy control arms and anything else you think of after wards. And from anyone who makes them. All your buying is a set of springs and shocks and some pucks along with longer bolts and a few brackets and longer sway bar links to keep everything similar to stock.
 
#10 · (Edited)
Be careful...I HIGHLY recommend this kit for those on a budget. I have it, it's a great kit.

However, a decent chunk of Jeeps (mine included) have major vibes even with the tcase drop installed...some even have vibes with both the tcase drop and a motor mount lift installed. Mine has very minor vibes with both installed. Basically this means my only real option to 100% solve the problem is to install an SYE which means I'll also have to install adjustable control arms to set the pinion angle...buy a different trackbar bracket for the SYE apparently, and so on...

Basically what I'm saying is...make sure you can afford to swing the cost of an SYE and adjustable control arms (probably $1000+) just in case you end up with major vibes...I bought the MML so I wouldn't have to run the tcase drop. Luckily I did...because I needed the MML along WITH the tcase drop.

Also, I highly recommend purchasing an adjustable trackbar for the front...relocating the hole like Zone recommends will likely end up causing problems down the road due to the hole wallowing out either causing the trackbar to become loose (thus causing death wobble) or causing the entire hole to rip out of the mount (thus potentially causing a major accident when your axle goes one way while your Jeep is going the other). JKS is a good choice if on a budget...Currie is the way to go if you wanna do it the best you can and have a little extra cash to spend.

Also, I second PM'ing Allen (AOR) for your kit. He will give you a MUCH better price than ordering direct from Zone's website. He's a very nice guy and will get you taken care of.
 
#31 ·
Also, I highly recommend purchasing an adjustable trackbar for the front...relocating the hole like Zone recommends will likely end up causing problems down the road due to the hole wallowing out either causing the trackbar to become loose (thus causing death wobble) or causing the entire hole to rip out of the mount (thus potentially causing a major accident when your axle goes one way while your Jeep is going the other). JKS is a good choice if on a budget...Currie is the way to go if you wanna do it the best you can and have a little extra cash to spend.
So I got my kit ordered yesterday and was told it will be here mid next week. Great deal @ $499 including shipping. You have gotten me thinking with the above part of yuor quote. My questions are:
Have you done this yet?
If so how did you do it?
Did you use the bar relocation brackets for the front and rear trackarms?

I am looking at getting adjustable front and rear trackarms to eliminate having to drill a hole that will very well wear out over time and cause a bigger problem. Now I also have read that rear trackbar might hit the gas tank or other things. I know your Jeep is a 2000 and mine is a 98 and I really think there is no or not much difference. Did you run into this? (again if you have already replaced the trackbars)

I appreciate all your help.
 
#12 · (Edited)
There was a thread recently that mentioned when you install an SYE and adjustable control arms, you will also need some special bracket for the rear trackbar that's compatible with the SYE. When you set the pinion angle, you rotate the rear axle which means your trackbar is no longer going to mount properly in the standard bracket provided with the lift kit. You would need to either modify the trackbar (essentially heat it and twist it I think) or replace the bracket.

This was the first I'd ever heard anything about that...but those involved in the discussion were knowledgeable folks so if they said it, I'm inclined to believe it. I'll see if I can find the thread and I'll post it here.

Found it:
http://www.wranglerforum.com/f5/rear-trackbar-bracket-with-sye-enlighten-me-please-135720.html
 
#13 ·
s3nt3nc3d said:
There was a thread recently that mentioned when you install an SYE and adjustable control arms, you will also need some special bracket for the rear trackbar that's compatible with the SYE. When you set the pinion angle, you rotate the rear axle which means your trackbar is no longer going to mount properly in the standard bracket provided with the lift kit. You would need to either modify the trackbar (essentially heat it and twist it I think) or replace the bracket.

This was the first I'd ever heard anything about that...but those involved in the discussion were knowledgeable folks so if they said it, I'm inclined to believe it. I'll see if I can find the thread and I'll post it here.

Found it:
http://www.wranglerforum.com/f5/rear-trackbar-bracket-with-sye-enlighten-me-please-135720.html
Thanks for the link. Well my trackbar is already twisted. So maybe it'll be perfect after that :rofl: good to know. Something I needed to know for sure
 
#14 ·
O.k. another question about this lift.. First off, I'm not mechanically inclined so I'm looking for someone to put this on. Was talking to a mechanic and he was saying that doing a sus lift and body lift is unsafe? And for some reason was trying to talk me down to a 2in lift.. Ummm. thoughts?
 
#16 ·
O.k. another question about this lift.. First off, I'm not mechanically inclined so I'm looking for someone to put this on. Was talking to a mechanic and he was saying that doing a sus lift and body lift is unsafe? And for some reason was trying to talk me down to a 2in lift.. Ummm. thoughts?
Thats a stupid comment...

running a suspension lift paired with a 1 or 1.25 body lift is completely safe...having the body lift also allows for you to do a tummy tuck down the line when you do your adjustable arms and whatnot...
 
#15 ·
My neighbor and I just put this kit on at the end of Dec during the holiday. Do your self a favor and get the adjustable front trackbar from JKS and a steering stabilizer ... adding these made a world of difference.
If you want someone to install the kit for you make sure you go with someone who knows how to properly install it. The install instructions from Zone are good enough even a rookie could do it with the proper tools. You mentioned a budget so realize the labor is going to be expensive but also if you try to do it yourself the needed tools are also an additional cost.
You didn't mention your tire size, if your going to a 33x12.50 and sticking with your stock rims then your backspacing will be an issue. So you will either need new rims ($130 each) or spacers ($200 for 2 sets).
 
#18 ·
s3nt3nc3d said:
Um...no. A HUGE lift will raise the center of gravity, but a 3" lift won't raise it that much...and a small body lift will only slightly raise it compared to a suspension lift.

If you did like a short arm 6" lift...that would probably make it a bit more dangerous.

I can tell you based on real world experience, my Jeep is much more stable and comfortable now at 80mph on the interstate with the 4.25" combo, Cragar Soft 8 wheels, and 33x12.5 tires than it was stock with 31x10.5 tires. Stock, it was almost scary...
X2. And suspension raises everything except axles higher. Body lift only raises the tub. So a body lift raises the cog a lot less.
 
#20 ·
You'll be fine, you wont look "too" outta place

I'm currently running 32x11.5's on mine but will run 33x12.5's once these are shot...i also have flat fenders up front and flat flares in the rear (as of this weekend, anyway) so i've got a ton of room with the 32's and will still have a ton with the 33's

As for the step...i agree with the idea mentioned above, get some sliders with a built in step instead of getting the factory ugly bars that get hung up on rocks...i mean factory side steps
 
#21 ·
Well after doing some reading and stuff I think I'm going to go with the 4" zone suspension kit. Seems to have everything I want/need with room to add some upgrade here and there. Thanks for the input, but it does seem like zone is the way to go on a budget. Plus its made by BDS just dont have the warranty. Just have to wait for march to get it installed. :)
 
#22 ·
With that 4" kit...there's a much higher possibility of needing control arms, sye, etc. I haven't heard any complaints with that kit...but just be aware that the likelihood of additional parts to prevent vibes and such will be much higher with a 4" kit over a 3" kit.
 
#26 ·
^^^^

Like it has been said above, I am running the 4.25 combo, not really all Zone because my body lift was all ready on before 3" suspension lift. I think you will be well pleased with the set-up.
 
#27 ·
O.k. I'll probably do the 3in to start then go from there.. I'll do the body later if i beside to go that route. Biggest issue is finding someone here to install a body without charging an arm and a leg and to find a place that will do one period.. Most places I checked here refuse to do body lifts. The place I'm going to get one installed is an authorized zone dealer just doesnt recommend doing it. Im sure I can convince them to, but I think he said it will cost a lot more to do it or something like that.
 
#28 ·
Heck man, I did my on body lift and I am no mechanic. It's the simpliest thing you can do. I did it all by myself with one jack. It took me a little over an hour to do the whole thing. Just spray down your bolts weeks in advance with some PB blaster and you will be fine.

I also recommend the mml. It;s not hard to do either and you want have to mess with lining the radiator back up. Grab wrench have fun:thumb:
 
#30 ·
My linkage was all messed up...it worked, but I had problems getting in and out of 4lo...I replaced the entire piece of junk setup with a Novak cable shifter. One of the best mods I ever did.
 
#32 ·
The hole only wears out if you still it like they tell you. Get the right sized bolt and drill the corrected sized hole and it works fine. It still weakens the plate however so anything over 33s I would weld up some extra plate to back it. Thts what I'm doing when I'm workin on my next proj.
 
#35 ·
Yeah man, I'm not sure if the bushing is worn or the bolt is just slightly wrong. I had shifting like you at one point. But torqued it back down hard and never had a problem again. it doesn't make sense that one hole works and another wouldn't, so it has to be some piece of hardware or something failing. Bushing bolt etc. I agree with you about the adj being nice but I'm gona plate the back of the braket with 1/4 in steel and drill tht as well I shouldn't have any issues then :)
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top