2-2.5" Spacer Lift - What variables to consider when lifting?

[Sigz]

I've been pounding the JT/JL forums, google, and Youtube to research the best spacer lift for my Sport S.

I'm probably overthinking it, but I want a 2-2.5" lift for more "looks" verses function. I don't rock crawl, or do anything hardcore off road. The most I do is back country roads / odd logging roads/ hunting tracts here in WI.

With that said, I want my Jeep to sit taller with the probability of upgrading to 35" tires when my 33" wear out.

Each spacer lift and brand I have researched all seem to provide the basic pucks for the lifts - but some seem to be more incomplete than others.

Brands:

AEV Spacer Lift

Teraflex 2.5

ReadyLift SST 2.5

Iron Rock Offroad

Daystar (although it doesn't seem to be offered on their website anymore?)

Each of these kits comes with different options. Some include extended sway bars. Some included longer front lower control arms. Some recommend shock extensions. Some recommend NEW shocks.

From my research, lifting a JT 2-2.5" will shift the front and rear axel. Some people don't think it's a big deal, while others think it's quite noticeable and hurts the driving experience. To correct this, an adjustable front / rear trackbar should be installed.....

I guess, which option is the best way to go for basically my Sport S which is my DD that see's zero rock crawling?

I have a 1.5 TF level with front Bilstein 5100's. Should I order a pair for the rear, and just pick a spacer kit brand out of a hat?

The local 4x4 shop is advocating for the ReadyLift - But I'm pretty interested in the Teraflex 2.5 lift. But reading further on that lift, they also recommend new longer LCA's, and front/rear adjustable track bars, and falcon shocks.

Thanks.

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[Greg_L]

But I'm pretty interested in the Teraflex 2.5 lift.

My vote is a hard no on the Teraflex stuff. I'm but one measly person with one bad experience, but I say fuck them.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

I haven't looked up prices of what you're considering, but are you saving much money on a spacer lift plus adding parts vs. just getting an entry level lift kit that includes track bars and arms?

 

[Sigz]

My vote is a hard no on the Teraflex stuff. I'm but one measly person with one bad experience, but I say fuck them.

Why's that?

 

[Sigz]

I haven't looked up prices of what you're considering, but are you saving much money on a spacer lift plus adding parts vs. just getting an entry level lift kit that includes track bars and arms?

The Teraflex 2.5 lift plus front lower arms, front/rear trackbars is $1055 with their cyber sale.

Clayton does offer a 2.5 ride height kit for about $1500, but again is coming with different parts compared to Metacloak which is around $1700 and also different parts. Which gets me back to my main issue - for the function/use/look i"m going for.. do I need all those extra parts for a DD?

I don't want to drop thousands of dollars on a Jeep that is primarily pavement 80% of the time, and 20% with those back country roads/farms/etc.

 

[Greg_L]

Why's that?

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/extreme-terrain-teraflex-hell.87396/

 

[Greg_L]

I was like you....hey I just want a minor lift cuz it looks cool I'm mostly a pavement pounder. That's fair. I get it.

Now I got a nice lift and I can't wait to go driving over things.

My point is buy something good with good parts as a good complete functional system and have the peace of mind of having good stuff and know that you can run over shit if you want to. A basic spacer puck kit will work. But you can do so much better and it will set you up for the future if you do ever decide to offraod a little.

I vote for @Metalcloak

 

[KevinM60]

I've been pounding the JT/JL forums, google, and Youtube to research the best spacer lift for my Sport S.

I'm probably overthinking it, but I want a 2-2.5" lift for more "looks" verses function. I don't rock crawl, or do anything hardcore off road. The most I do is back country roads / odd logging roads/ hunting tracts here in WI.

With that said, I want my Jeep to sit taller with the probability of upgrading to 35" tires when my 33" wear out.

Each spacer lift and brand I have researched all seem to provide the basic pucks for the lifts - but some seem to be more incomplete than others.

Brands:

AEV Spacer Lift

Teraflex 2.5

ReadyLift SST 2.5

Iron Rock Offroad

Daystar (although it doesn't seem to be offered on their website anymore?)

Each of these kits comes with different options. Some include extended sway bars. Some included longer front lower control arms. Some recommend shock extensions. Some recommend NEW shocks.

From my research, lifting a JT 2-2.5" will shift the front and rear axel. Some people don't think it's a big deal, while others think it's quite noticeable and hurts the driving experience. To correct this, an adjustable front / rear trackbar should be installed.....

I guess, which option is the best way to go for basically my Sport S which is my DD that see's zero rock crawling?

I have a 1.5 TF level with front Bilstein 5100's. Should I order a pair for the rear, and just pick a spacer kit brand out of a hat?

The local 4x4 shop is advocating for the ReadyLift - But I'm pretty interested in the Teraflex 2.5 lift. But reading further on that lift, they also recommend new longer LCA's, and front/rear adjustable track bars, and falcon shocks.

Thanks.

I have the AEV 2" spacer lift and it works pretty good. Since I have the Mojave I used the one specifically for the Mojave but you would use their standard version. With a spacer lift you'll be adding extensions instead of new shocks and springs which will save you a lot of money. You'll want to add the geometry correction brackets to get your steering working like it was before.

Something I'm thinking is that if you're going for looks you're going to want to add the tires too. With the lift alone you're going to have empty wheel wells that you may or may not like.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

The Teraflex 2.5 lift plus front lower arms, front/rear trackbars is $1055 with their cyber sale.

Clayton does offer a 2.5 ride height kit for about $1500, but again is coming with different parts compared to Metacloak which is around $1700 and also different parts. Which gets me back to my main issue - for the function/use/look i"m going for.. do I need all those extra parts for a DD?

I don't want to drop thousands of dollars on a Jeep that is primarily pavement 80% of the time, and 20% with those back country roads/farms/etc.

That is cheaper than I expected for the Tera with arms and track bars. I won't mess with Teraflex suspension links. Too many problems in the past.

I have the Clayton 2.5" Ride Right on mine. I have about 50k miles on it and it's been a great setup. I got a great deal on it, but it was also 3.5 years ago. Just under $1,600 for the lift and Bilstein 5100 shocks.

The Clayton 2.5" Ride Right is the minimum parts you need to run the lift. There is nothing extra. It includes coils, front uppers, front and rear track bars, and front and rear sway bar links.

 

[Tx Trail Runner]

I went with Mammoth 2.5” spacer front leveling kit for $110.
didn’t jack with the rear axle, just front.
torque your nutz down correctly!!

 

[yoda13]

You could also look a at something from Rusty’s. I ran one of their lifts on my JK one time…it wasn’t bad…

 

[GI Grandpa]

I've been pounding the JT/JL forums, google, and Youtube to research the best spacer lift for my Sport S.

I'm probably overthinking it, but I want a 2-2.5" lift for more "looks" verses function. I don't rock crawl, or do anything hardcore off road. The most I do is back country roads / odd logging roads/ hunting tracts here in WI.

With that said, I want my Jeep to sit taller with the probability of upgrading to 35" tires when my 33" wear out.

Each spacer lift and brand I have researched all seem to provide the basic pucks for the lifts - but some seem to be more incomplete than others.

Brands:

AEV Spacer Lift

Teraflex 2.5

ReadyLift SST 2.5

Iron Rock Offroad

Daystar (although it doesn't seem to be offered on their website anymore?)

Each of these kits comes with different options. Some include extended sway bars. Some included longer front lower control arms. Some recommend shock extensions. Some recommend NEW shocks.

From my research, lifting a JT 2-2.5" will shift the front and rear axel. Some people don't think it's a big deal, while others think it's quite noticeable and hurts the driving experience. To correct this, an adjustable front / rear trackbar should be installed.....

I guess, which option is the best way to go for basically my Sport S which is my DD that see's zero rock crawling?

I have a 1.5 TF level with front Bilstein 5100's. Should I order a pair for the rear, and just pick a spacer kit brand out of a hat?

The local 4x4 shop is advocating for the ReadyLift - But I'm pretty interested in the Teraflex 2.5 lift. But reading further on that lift, they also recommend new longer LCA's, and front/rear adjustable track bars, and falcon shocks.

Thanks.

I have the AEV spacer on my 21 Mojave and I am very happy with it and it comes with the shock relocation brackets and their ProCal programmer which I swapped out for a Tazer Mini.

 

[Sigz]

Got a quote today for the Teraflex install. Hmmmm.

 

[Okie Gladiator]

My 2 cents - Before I went to Metalcloak on mine I ran a spacer lift and it was perfectly good for daily driver - I even did some moderate rock crawling and it performed fine. Only reason I changed it up was because I always planned to make more extensive modifications in the future but didn’t want to wait for those before getting a better ride height, look, etc.

I ran the Skyjacker 2.5 inch front and 1 inch rear kit and kept factory shocks. In doing so all the parts needed come in the kit and all you need to do is bolt it all together….i assume you have wheels and tires covered. Parts in kit listed below. Was like $400 or so for the kit and a good shop should install it under $500.

• 2 Front Metal Coil Spacers
• 2 Rear Metal Coil Spacers
• 2 Front Shock Extension Brackets
• 2 Front Bump Stop Extensions
• 2 Sway Bar End Links

 

[KevinM60]

Got a quote today for the Teraflex install. Hmmmm.

Half of that is labor.
It’s a bit of work but if you’re able to do it yourself you’ll save over a grand.
I did mine over two days and learned quite a bit about the Jeep in the process.
I also had to upgrade some of my toolbox for the heavy duty hardware but those tools I’ll have forever.

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