Skyjacker 3.5in ADX 2.0 Kit - Reviews - G351KXLT

[MrClortho]

Inmates,

I am a long time Jeeper going back to CJ's, TJ's, XJ's, ZJ's, and JK's and have had many modified Jeeps, so this is coming from a place of experience. In my experience, Skyjacker has been junk, and I made the mistake a decade ago running a full 2.5" kit on a JKU...it rode terrible. I also had an XJ with a 3" SJ kit years ago and it was awful. With the new JT, I did not even consider SJ for a full kit. Just to bandaid and run 35's, I installed the SJ 2.5" level spacers because I liked the design of the under spring mount. It has been great for what it is and was cheap. After my last wheeling trip, I was convinced I needed to upgrade suspension after bottoming out the front and smacking the rear tires on the fenders. I immediately went to my goto Terraflex and Metalcloak kit with adjustable Falcons or Fox and almost peed myself at the price (it has been a few years since I priced this stuff for newer Jeeps).

My Jeep shop recommended the Skyjacker 3.5" G351KXLT with the ADX 2.0 dampers, saying that SJ had come a long way, and this was a good kit for the price. Veins in my forehead bulged, and I was thinking "Umm, heck no." He made some good arguments and knows his stuff, so I am considering it. The kit comes with front CA's, progressive springs matched to the corners, SB and bump extensions, track bar...the minimum components for any kit that height and of course the reservoir dampers. At that much height, I would expect rear CA's but willing to add parts as needed later.

I certainly do not expect the SJ kit to match TF or MC quality, but at this point, I think I am OK with that. I have no illusions the dampers are not Falcon or Fox adj worthy, but if they ride smooth for mild wheeling and road use, I would be happy. The JT will only see maybe 5k miles per year. I am building a long arm TJ to pound on the trails that is just about ready. The JT will be more for fire and forest roads and mild wheeling. I thought with just a level, it would be fine, but not quite.

All of this is to request some input from people running the ADX dampers or have had experience with them and how they like them...from a place of experience. If this is your first lift or maybe you do not wheel, please tell us so that we can judge opinions with that knowledge. This kit is less than half the price of MC or TF and that might have a place if one enters knowing its shortcomings and what the vehicle is being used for.

...see you on the trails

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[jjmstang]

I would go with MC, RK ..........buy once cry once !
Wouldn't trust SJ at all

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

Sorry, no experience with those.

But you've already had 2 bad experiences with SJ and you want to try again? Fool me once, fool me twice, is there a saying for fool me 3 times?

It doesn't seem to me the cost savings would be attractive enough to warrant considering this stuff.

 

[MrClortho]

After extensive research and talking to my Jeep club folks, I am not going to go with the SJ kit. I suppose I was trying to cut some cost but then you get what you pay for many times.

At any rate, probably going with the ReadyLift 3.5" with Falcons.

 

[MrClortho]

How things evolve, lol.

In the end, I went with a full 3.5" Clayton Overland kit with Fox 2.0 shocks.

 

[Pescatoral Pursuit]

What is your criteria for a "good" lift kit?
Decent CA bushing life?
Coil spring rate parameters?
Component strength and durability?
Even tire wear?
No death wobble?
Popular name brand forum cred?

Seems to me the critics of brands such as Skyjacker are more focused on the last criteria and never offer evidence for their pricier brands' supposed superiority based on the other more substantive ones.

 

[MrClortho]

What is your criteria for a "good" lift kit?
Decent CA bushing life?
Coil spring rate parameters?
Component strength and durability?
Even tire wear?
No death wobble?
Popular name brand forum cred?

Seems to me the critics of brands such as Skyjacker are more focused on the last criteria and never offer evidence for their pricier brands' supposed superiority based on the other more substantive ones.

I have had three Skyjacker lifts in my time. On a JKU, I had their full 2.5" kit with all the CA's on 33s, it rode like a dump truck, did not flex great, and did not drive well (two hands on the wheel at highway speeds and death wobble here in there). On a FJ, I had a 4" kit and I had to change to Rancho adjustable shocks just to keep fillings in my teeth. On the Gladiator, I had the 2.5" spacer and it worked out well but used the stock shocks.

If you put a set of Clayton CA's and springs next to any other brand, based on looks alone, you will understand the difference. I can run 80mph with 37s with one hand on the wheel, relaxed. It rides and handles better than stock and sits level with a bed full of gear and towing my travel trailer. It also flexes plenty for my use, no wobbles, perfect alignment, takes big hits plush...all the stuff you would want in a kit I suppose.

 

[Pescatoral Pursuit]

It's your money but youd've done well listening to your mechanic.

You've answered nothing I asked except with: "Just look at it! The control arms are square so it's got to be worth the extra coin!"

I'm going on 30k with my Skyjacker lift and everything is tight, plenty of flex, great ride, no broken components, uneven tire wear, death wobble... None of the problems that I've heard from owners of the brands worthy to put on your Jeep, complain about here and else where, and I run the trails plenty.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

What is your criteria for a "good" lift kit?
Decent CA bushing life?
Coil spring rate parameters?
Component strength and durability?
Even tire wear?
No death wobble?
Popular name brand forum cred?

Seems to me the critics of brands such as Skyjacker are more focused on the last criteria and never offer evidence for their pricier brands' supposed superiority based on the other more substantive ones.

My criteria for a good lift is adjustable parts where you need them. Good bushings/joints. A good reputation for knowing Jeeps.

Skyjacker uses fixed arms in nearly all of their kits.

It looks like Skyjacker is using "OEM-style" bushings now which is an improvement over the poly they formerly used.

Skyjacker has put out many subpar Jeep parts in the past and some they still do. They make a crappy long arm kit for TJs that uses short uppers and long lowers. They had 4" TJ short arm kits that came with drop pitman arms and no relocation for the track bar. They just don't seem to know Jeeps very well.

 

[Pescatoral Pursuit]

Skyjacker uses fixed arms in nearly all of their kits.

I was leary of the fixed arms at first but Skyjacker seems to have gotten the geometry right and that also means less components to fail and adjust. The front end is planted, and tire wear is even, and that's without an alignment after install! Bushings are nice and quiet and I run this thing with a bed full all week and on the trails roughly every other weekend. I even have gas springs on a diesel with a winch and the kit eats up every thing I throw it at.

What more could you want?

When I set about to choose a lift I asked several "prestigious" brand reps about the particulars of their products (spring rates, etc) and NO ONE would give one specific about what made their product better than the other. F that. I know my business and can get into the details and so should they. It was then my suspicion led me to consider other alternatives. The Skyjacker kit, while lacking track bars and rear control arms, seemed to have the best value, and the addition of a front track bar (the rear is still centered with stock) and driveshaft carrier spacer has made it complete, and the miles and places I've taken it have proven its worth.

 

[Rusty PW]

It's your money but youd've done well listening to your mechanic.

You've answered nothing I asked except with: "Just look at it! The control arms are square so it's got to be worth the extra coin!"

I'm going on 30k with my Skyjacker lift and everything is tight, plenty of flex, great ride, no broken components, uneven tire wear, death wobble... None of the problems that I've heard from owners of the brands worthy to put on your Jeep, complain about here and else where, and I run the trails plenty.

Poser..........LOL

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

I was leary of the fixed arms at first but Skyjacker seems to have gotten the geometry right and that also means less components to fail and adjust. The front end is planted, and tire wear is even, and that's without an alignment after install! Bushings are nice and quiet and I run this thing with a bed full all week and on the trails roughly every other weekend. I even have gas springs on a diesel with a winch and the kit eats up every thing I throw it at.

What more could you want?

When I set about to choose a lift I asked several "prestigious" brand reps about the particulars of their products (spring rates, etc) and NO ONE would give one specific about what made their product better than the other. F that. I know my business and can get into the details and so should they. It was then my suspicion led me to consider other alternatives. The Skyjacker kit, while lacking track bars and rear control arms, seemed to have the best value, and the addition of a front track bar (the rear is still centered with stock) and driveshaft carrier spacer has made it complete, and the miles and places I've taken it have proven its worth.

The problem I have with fixed length arms is you cannot compensate for differences between different Jeeps. Maybe you have a winch or a heavy front bumper. Or both. Or maybe you have neither, but you want to add coil spacers to level it out more. Skyjacker cannot get the arm length right for all these different scenarios.

I don't view adjustable arms as a failure point or a nuisance to setup, but rather a necessity if you want the ability to setup your suspension and steering exactly how you want it.

 

[MrClortho]

In the end, the proof is in the puddin' as they say. There is so much information and miss-information out there, how can someone decide? Take vast differences in price into account and how does one really know if they are getting what they are paying for, or if they are paying way too much? Just because one kit cost twice as much as another, is it twice as good? Is a kit "bad" because it is cheaper?

Experience and reputation.

My personal experience with Jeep and other vehicle lifts is somewhat deep I suppose over 30 years of doing this thing (CJ7, TJ, XJ, KJ, JKU X2, JT, FS Bronco, FJ-40 LC, FJ-80 LC, RAM 1500, Tacoma, F-150). If I were to rank the kits I have run from best to worst simply based on ride quality, how they performed, and how they "felt". Take it for what it is worth from an aging wheeler.

Best of the best:
1. Clayton Overland / Fox - So far, best I have experienced in every way, but I have not had the opportunity to flex it out all the way
2. Old Man Emu (these are typically small lifts so maybe not fair) excellent ride and variable spring rates, top notch quality

Pretty good:
3. Rock Krawler (long arm) - Flex for days, quality is darn good, road manors are acceptable but not awesome
4. Ready Lift - Maybe the best bang for the buck out there right now, good quality and acceptable performance for most folks
6. Rancho (Adjustable) - Depending on the kit, I have had pretty good luck with these, but flex isn't the best, and it is fairly light duty components, great for smaller and leveling kits on a budget.

I would not spend money on these again:
7. Pro Comp - OK I suppose, did not have a problem just not great quality, ride or flex
8. Skyjacker - Had full kits on two rigs and they were awful, hated them both, practically ruined the driving experience, and had failures in sway bar disco's, shocks leaking, rusting problems, death wobble, driveline vibes, on and on...but that was 10 years ago and hoping there has been big improvement.

 

[Pescatoral Pursuit]

I don't view adjustable arms as a failure point or a nuisance to setup, but rather a necessity if you want the ability to setup your suspension and steering exactly how you want it.

Fair enough. I'm fixin to add an inch to front in the form of a spacers and am a bit curious how it will affect the ride quality which I'm currently very happy with.

 

[lildev1972]

In the end, the proof is in the puddin' as they say. There is so much information and miss-information out there, how can someone decide? Take vast differences in price into account and how does one really know if they are getting what they are paying for, or if they are paying way too much? Just because one kit cost twice as much as another, is it twice as good? Is a kit "bad" because it is cheaper?

Experience and reputation.

My personal experience with Jeep and other vehicle lifts is somewhat deep I suppose over 30 years of doing this thing (CJ7, TJ, XJ, KJ, JKU X2, JT, FS Bronco, FJ-40 LC, FJ-80 LC, RAM 1500, Tacoma, F-150). If I were to rank the kits I have run from best to worst simply based on ride quality, how they performed, and how they "felt". Take it for what it is worth from an aging wheeler.

Best of the best:
1. Clayton Overland / Fox - So far, best I have experienced in every way, but I have not had the opportunity to flex it out all the way
2. Old Man Emu (these are typically small lifts so maybe not fair) excellent ride and variable spring rates, top notch quality

Pretty good:
3. Rock Krawler (long arm) - Flex for days, quality is darn good, road manors are acceptable but not awesome
4. Ready Lift - Maybe the best bang for the buck out there right now, good quality and acceptable performance for most folks
6. Rancho (Adjustable) - Depending on the kit, I have had pretty good luck with these, but flex isn't the best, and it is fairly light duty components, great for smaller and leveling kits on a budget.

I would not spend money on these again:
7. Pro Comp - OK I suppose, did not have a problem just not great quality, ride or flex
8. Skyjacker - Had full kits on two rigs and they were awful, hated them both, practically ruined the driving experience, and had failures in sway bar disco's, shocks leaking, rusting problems, death wobble, driveline vibes, on and on...but that was 10 years ago and hoping there has been big improvement.

did you go with the stock springs or the HD springs from clayton?

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