Help upgrading my Rockfather 1 lift

[nwood1976]

Hey guys,
I'm a bit of a noob with the lifted Liberty stuff, so I thought it would be best to ask the people who have experience with all these different parts. I'm more of a sports car guy, I drive a 2002 Subaru WRX with lots of mods, but the wife has a 2005 Liberty 4x4 that we both love. A few months back we put on the Rockfather 1 lift, which consists of OME front springs, OTT spacers for the front struts, spacers for the rear springs & two rear shocks.
The lift feels pretty good & aligned to the stock specs with no problem. The main issue I've noticed is the clunking noise that comes from the front end when we go over speed bumps & other such terrain. I've read around the threads a bit & it sounds like the normal issues that come from this setup.
So here's my question, I would like to re-do the front end setup by taking off the OTT spacers, replacing the stock struts with Ranchos & getting new OME springs that will compensate for not having the OTT spacers+being stiff enough to support a ARB front bumper we want to add....Which spring part #'s would work best & which Rancho struts should I be looking at? I've had no issues with the rear setup, but I would appreciate any feedback regarding that as well.
It is basically a DD, but we live in AZ so there is always the possibillity of some off road fun!!! I just want it to be solid, functional & to retain the height it is currently sitting at. The lift is a 2.5, so thats what I'm wanting to keep it at.
I appreciate your help with this question guys, take it easy on the FNG allright!!(bowdown)

 

[liv42dy]

RRO Lift Kit, absolutly a NO NO, Im not going into detail but I know someone that will. we will wait and see if TOMMUD will chimes in here, he will probably give us a 2 page essay on why not, and trust me if he does take it to heart
FYI: Daystar and Franki...Rancho shocks, OME HD ect, ect
thats it for me

 

[nwood1976]

Hmm, shame you plunged your money into this RRO kit. I know, I know, their website made me believe it too at first.

Anyway, here's the way to go:

OME 927 springs ( if you have a 2.8 CRD go OME 790 )
OME NS131 struts or Rancho RSX 17505's...

While you're at it I'd loose the rear spacers and put on some OME 948 springs and Rancho RSX 17004 shocks.

This is exactly the kind of info I was looking for!! Thanks guys, this helps alot. I know I should have done more research before buying, but at least I'm trying to remedy a bad setup. Are you guys ordering your parts online or going into a 4x4 store. We have some desert rat & various other off-road shops here in Phoenix. Probably cheaper online though......Can you guys recomend a reputable site??

 

[incommando]

The biggest issue with RRO, IMHO, is their customer service.

For the money, the rockfather one is OK. It is NOT the OTT kit that destroys your suspension. There are better options but they cost more, too.

I personally am a bit surprised that the most popular kit is being sold with Rancho struts ( unless upgraded ) when, according to the provider, the struts are only expected to last 25,000-30,000 miles or about 2 years. Why not remove the Rancho option & go with the OME struts to begin with, if you are doing it "right?"

 

[tommudd]

nothing much to add
Ranchos great don't care what anyone says.....over 75000 and no problems at all, do like Tony said

 

[KJ04]

Hey guys,
I'm a bit of a noob with the lifted Liberty stuff, so I thought it would be best to ask the people who have experience with all these different parts. I'm more of a sports car guy, I drive a 2002 Subaru WRX with lots of mods, but the wife has a 2005 Liberty 4x4 that we both love. A few months back we put on the Rockfather 1 lift, which consists of OME front springs, OTT spacers for the front struts, spacers for the rear springs & two rear shocks.
The lift feels pretty good & aligned to the stock specs with no problem. The main issue I've noticed is the clunking noise that comes from the front end when we go over speed bumps & other such terrain. I've read around the threads a bit & it sounds like the normal issues that come from this setup.
So here's my question, I would like to re-do the front end setup by taking off the OTT spacers, replacing the stock struts with Ranchos & getting new OME springs that will compensate for not having the OTT spacers+being stiff enough to support a ARB front bumper we want to add....Which spring part #'s would work best & which Rancho struts should I be looking at? I've had no issues with the rear setup, but I would appreciate any feedback regarding that as well.
It is basically a DD, but we live in AZ so there is always the possibillity of some off road fun!!! I just want it to be solid, functional & to retain the height it is currently sitting at. The lift is a 2.5, so thats what I'm wanting to keep it at.
I appreciate your help with this question guys, take it easy on the FNG allright!!(bowdown)

Before you go changing out springs and front shocks, try replacing the front bump stops with the extended Teraflex ones and see if that helps. You need to extend the bumps stops anytime you lift.

http://www.trailquest.com/teraflex/images/001903200_Liberty_bumpstops.jpg

 

[maddawg]

i'm looking at a OME kit but it's $705 and $400 bucks to get installed...i'm like damn every one elses kit is around 3-5

 

[tommudd]

i'm looking at a OME kit but it's $705 and $400 bucks to get installed...i'm like damn every one elses kit is around 3-5

If you only lived closer , you would not have to worry about that 400 for install,

but you get what you pay for, take a break and look at lifts for other 4 wheel drives, any lift worth anything is in the 2000/ 3000 range, for 650/700 thats cheap in my book for the KJs . You don't ride around in a 400 dollar car do ya?? buy the best the he&& with the rest.

Bure aghali....Swahili proverb meaning cheap is expensive, think about it for a little bit

 

[tommudd]

OH and the Rockfather 1 does have OME springs find out what they are if they are the 927s then keep them , bumpstop it and see how its does, no use reinventing the wheel if you are still rolling down the road

 

[nwood1976]

Again, thanks for all the help guys!! I ended up just replacing the stock front struts with the Rancho's. I left the springs alone since they were already OME. I also added the Teraflex bumpstops. As soon as I started driving it I could tell it felt better. The handling with these struts is much better & the awefull noise I would hear when the suspension would drop down after speed bumps and similiar terrain is now completely gone!! I'm thinking that maybe the stock struts were fully extending when the springs would decompress and that was the bad sound i was hearing from the front end....Whatever it was, its gone now & it feels MUCH better on the road. I haven't taken it on the trails yet, but at least now I won't be afraid I had something ready to break....

 

[tommudd]

good deal nwood glad it all worked out for you

 

[nwood1976]

We need pics!

You're right, its time to post up some pics of the Wifes Liberty. I will try to get some up here in the next couple of days....

 

[tbaldridge]

You're right, its time to post up some pics of the Wifes Liberty. I will try to get some up here in the next couple of days....

Let's see the modded subbie as well!

 

[nwood1976]

Here's the Jeep & Subaru pics

I'm finally posting some pics of our rides. The Jeep is a 2005 Liberty sport 4x4 & the Subaru is a 2002 WRX Wagon. Enjoy

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