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Lift Response from Shop.....

Canuck33

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Got a surprising response from a local shop about 2-2.5" lift kits....

"...I just really don’t recommend the 2.5” kits I’m seeing because they aren’t complete suspension upgrades which will affect how the Jeep handles..."

I'm a little suprised. I'm only looking for about a 2-2.5" lift on mine to go with 35x17*12.5 wheels & rims.
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MarineHawk

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I agree with the shop. I have a 3" lift with a completely-replaced fully-adjustable RK suspension, and it drives way better than stock.

I did a cheap lift on my 2012 JKUR, and it sucked. Bad. I immediately began replacing the arms, bars, links, etc. … with fully-adjustable ones, and it was a completely different vehicle. Drove like a Lincoln Town Car.
 

Renegade

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Got a surprising response from a local shop about 2-2.5" lift kits....

"...I just really don’t recommend the 2.5” kits I’m seeing because they aren’t complete suspension upgrades which will affect how the Jeep handles..."

I'm a little suprised. I'm only looking for about a 2-2.5" lift on mine to go with 35x17*12.5 wheels & rims.
Find a shop that will do what YOU want. Not everyone needs a high-dollar lift. There will be more stuff out in time if what’s available now doesn’t meet your immediate need.
 
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Canuck33

Canuck33

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I'm not thinking of doing a cheap lift, but something reasonable and what I want. Seems odd given many others have done a 2" lift...if it was that bad...
 

noside85

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Leave money on the table and tell him it better be gone and the lift on by the time you get back....or else.
 

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ShadowsPapa

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Got a surprising response from a local shop about 2-2.5" lift kits....

"...I just really don’t recommend the 2.5” kits I’m seeing because they aren’t complete suspension upgrades which will affect how the Jeep handles..."

I'm a little suprised. I'm only looking for about a 2-2.5" lift on mine to go with 35x17*12.5 wheels & rims.
Could it be because they were thinking you can get by with a 2" lift and not really change caster and such so much you need different arms or track bar, but do more than 2" and you need to be changing lower arms to adjust caster and a track bar to get the axle back in place?
There's a spot where you have to get things back to kosher and a spot where up to that point you can "get by" and be ok.
Talking 2 to 2.5 you are in that spot where you are getting outside of "ok" if you don't think about caster and a track bar.
Sometimes looking for a fast lift isn't smart - maybe they know something?
Just because "other guys.......... " doesn't always mean you "should"
 

12BNNT

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Could it be because they were thinking you can get by with a 2" lift and not really change caster and such so much you need different arms or track bar, but do more than 2" and you need to be changing lower arms to adjust caster and a track bar to get the axle back in place?
There's a spot where you have to get things back to kosher and a spot where up to that point you can "get by" and be ok.
Talking 2 to 2.5 you are in that spot where you are getting outside of "ok" if you don't think about caster and a track bar.
Sometimes looking for a fast lift isn't smart - maybe they know something?
Just because "other guys.......... " doesn't always mean you "should"
what he said...
Not every lift is the same. The 2.5” one you were talking to them about may not have had the extra parts needed to work correctly for you truck. Any time you lift, you start changing the geometry in the suspension and as others have said, you get to a break point where you can go to “here” without changing much but at “this” point you have lots of other stuff that won’t work anymore and will need changed also.

That’s why I did just a 3/4” spacer lift front and rear. (1.5” front plus the heavy winch and bumper got me about 3/4 front) it gives me enough to clear 35’s disconnected better off road without costing much or having to change anything else.
I did 3” springs on the JK. But anything more and I would have had to start changing front shaft, control arms and so on just to gain another inch.

so is going from 2 to 2.5” really worth all the extras? Are you gonna notice the extra 1/2”? Shop might have done a few of the “this is what I want, do it” lifts and learned what that break point is where the headaches start to add up and where a lot more work is needed for only a short gain.
 

Hootbro

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Yeah, I am with @ShadowsPapa in that your lift guy may actually know what he is talking about with lifts in the 2"-2.5" range being incomplete a lot of times and on the edge of "OK" . There is a lot range in this area of what certain companies offer or do not offer to get you there. 3" and above, they are pretty much forced to make it a more complete kit.
 

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Moe_Fugga

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Im kind of in the same boat as you. I’m just looking for a 2 inch level myself to run a little bit taller tires and get the rake out. Not looking for 35s due to price. I’ve been looking at the BDS 2 inch level that comes with front coils, hardware, and four shocks. There is no track bar. Metalcloak has the same complete kit as BDS, but the MC is 2.5 inch and comes with a track bar. I reached out to BDS for their thoughts on a track bar, but haven’t heard back yet. My local shop said the BDS is a good kit and they have installed several. He didn’t mention anything about a track bar being needed, but I didn't ask. Maybe that 2 to 2.5 jump is where you need to start adding parts like the others have said. I’ll let you know what BDS says.
 

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Got a response back from BDS. He said it a track bar is not required with their 2 inch level. He said most folks won’t notice any issues with a lift less than 3 inches. That’s the point he recommended doing one. This is straight from Quadratec’s site:

“A general rule-of-thumb is if you're not planning on a lift kit greater than 2.5", then the factory-style track bar is fine. However, if you are installing a lift 3" or taller, then you should definitely look into a longer, more heavy-duty track bar.”

I’m on the fence if I’ll “just get it done” or leave it alone. Hope that helps!
 

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This is what I’m considering. Not cheap but not outrageous and has key components you need for 2.5” to keep the ride nice and center the axle and some room to expand in the future if you want. Wish they had a 2.5” rear dual rate coil option. I get this takes the rake out in f the stock setup. I always install my own lifts and the lifts for all my friends and family. Had Generally decent luck with 2-2.5” lifts of all kinds over the years on CJs, YJs, TJs, ZJ, JKs and a JL. Lots of. I’ve yet to do a JT. Good luck.
 

highoctane

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There are 2.5" suspension kits out there that include everything you need. Evo Mfg sells 2.5" kits with 4 different stages, each stage also being available in the "plus" option which includes track bars. Some other brands out there have complete kits with 2.5" springs as well.
 

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Put $40 spacers on the front of mine. 2" lift is what I got. Everything still within spec and it handles and drives great. No sense in replacing expensive parts that aren't necessary.
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