I need post-lift info please

[Aceofspades]

in my 2002 I used brand new everything from the lower ball joint up.
OME shock / springs
JBA upper arms lifted
1/4” top plate spacer
1/4” clevis spacer
And measured today from the center of my center cap to the bottom of the fender is 21 to about 21 1/4”.

Same thing on my 2003 except for the OME front shock I used bilstein. And it’s almost 2” taller.

Soo. Jeeping by al doesn’t sell anymore parts.
Can I add another 1/4” clevis spacer ?
For the top plate - since it’s 1/4” already I would need 1/8” or 0.125” (3mm)washers to make it 3/8”
Would using washers under the frame but ontop of the plate be an issue. Will this get me back to my “as close to 4” lift” as possible

I’m askinf the experts cause I’m lost here on what to do next.
Thanks

 

[Aceofspades]

Well I’m going to figure this out by , well, adding more spacers until it’s at what - 23.75”?
I haven’t touched the existing spring isolators in the rear. So if I add 2 to each side up to (3 total) that should be a good start.

Then I’ll add that extra 1/4” clevis ring spacer.

See what it comes out to let ya know

 

[tommudd]

Well I’m going to figure this out by , well, adding more spacers until it’s at what - 23.75”?
I haven’t touched the existing spring isolators in the rear. So if I add 2 to each side up to (3 total) that should be a good start.

Then I’ll add that extra 1/4” clevis ring spacer.

See what it comes out to let ya know

23.75 WHAT ??? That is over 4.75 inches of lift, good luck running it , CVs maxed out, sorry to be blunt but stupid idea

 

[tommudd]

in my 2002 I used brand new everything from the lower ball joint up.
OME shock / springs
JBA upper arms lifted
1/4” top plate spacer
1/4” clevis spacer
And measured today from the center of my center cap to the bottom of the fender is 21 to about 21 1/4”.

Same thing on my 2003 except for the OME front shock I used bilstein. And it’s almost 2” taller.

Soo. Jeeping by al doesn’t sell anymore parts.
Can I add another 1/4” clevis spacer ?
For the top plate - since it’s 1/4” already I would need 1/8” or 0.125” (3mm)washers to make it 3/8”
Would using washers under the frame but ontop of the plate be an issue. Will this get me back to my “as close to 4” lift” as possible

I’m askinf the experts cause I’m lost here on what to do next.
Thanks

Not knowing which springs you used, if you have JBA UCAs, if you do were they installed with full weight on them, many thing can make one sit differently
NO on using washers under the frame, dang .........................
You CAN NOT add another 1/4 inch spacer, or you should not if you want to drive it

 

[tommudd]

IF,.............you used 927/ 948 springs you will be at 21.5 with nothing else added
but you may have gotten some weaker springs, been known to happen
throwing extra parts, like washers on it is not going to do you much good in the end

 

[Aceofspades]

Literally all the ideas I presented are from searchibg here
For example
https://www.jeepkj.com/threads/maximum-lift-kit-with-ifs.55937/

Yeah I used those springs and I sit at that height with the (1) 1/4” clevis spacer and (1) 1/4” top plate

Both jeeps I let the jeep sit on full weight and tighten the upper arm and lower endlinks

The idea was the get the max lift before cv axles needed work which I read was 4” or 23.75 from center to top (I don’t know what stock height measurement is so the 23.75 doesn’t mean anything to me but a reference”


And I know i read here or possible on lost , using washers along with with the top plate

 

[JasonJ]

Literally all the ideas I presented are from searchibg here
For example
https://www.jeepkj.com/threads/maximum-lift-kit-with-ifs.55937/

Yeah I used those springs and I sit at that height with the (1) 1/4” clevis spacer and (1) 1/4” top plate

Both jeeps I let the jeep sit on full weight and tighten the upper arm and lower endlinks

The idea was the get the max lift before cv axles needed work which I read was 4” or 23.75 from center to top (I don’t know what stock height measurement is so the 23.75 doesn’t mean anything to me but a reference”


And I know i read here or possible on lost , using washers along with with the top plate

Stock was 19" from center of wheel hub to outer most edge of wheel flare. Given differences in measuring accuracy, some people's figures reported could be off by probably no more than 1/8" or so. So it's close enough. If we could all park on perfectly level ground, measuring form the ground to the bottom of the pinch weld (if not pounded over or modified) would be more consistently accurate.

The point is, 23.75" is 4 3/4" ABOVE stock height. Excessive for OE cv joints and axle lengths.

 

[Aceofspades]

Ok perfect info. I was parked on a cement pad, reading about 21.25”
Which just boggles my mind. So I wanted to get the most lift out of my jeep that I can with the parts I’ve invested in.

 

[duderz7]

Stock was 19" from center of wheel hub to outer most edge of wheel flare. Given differences in measuring accuracy, some people's figures reported could be off by probably no more than 1/8" or so. So it's close enough. If we could all park on perfectly level ground, measuring form the ground to the bottom of the pinch weld (if not pounded over or modified) would be more consistently accurate.

The point is, 23.75" is 4 3/4" ABOVE stock height. Excessive for OE cv joints and axle lengths.

Measuring from a point on the truck to another point on the truck (hub to flair) takes the different tire sizes and pressures or of the equation.

 

[JasonJ]

Measuring from a point on the truck to another point on the truck (hub to flair) takes the different tire sizes and pressures or of the equation.

That's true, didn't think about that.

One thing about measuring to the edge of the flare though, it's rounded.. it's not a sharp cut off, nor is it a hard point that is definite. The wheel flare and most of the KJ is rounded, so there is still going to be a degree of fudge factor involved. I know on measuring and re-measuring my own, I have to make a small mark on my fender flare to be sure to measure to the same point every time. Otherwise it could be off 1/8" or so.

 

[Aceofspades]

Well I guess I’ll stsrt messing with things this weekend. Can’t believe I’m using a plate and washer and still at “stock” OME Lift height

 

[profdlp]

I've probably gotten myself confused again, but weren't 2002's an inch higher stock?

 

[Aceofspades]

I thought that was the 2002 original spring / shock setup

 

[profdlp]

That's what I meant, but I guess replacing everything doesn't add an extra four inches in that case, just three.

(Told you I had gotten myself confused again.)

 

[tommudd]

I've probably gotten myself confused again, but weren't 2002's an inch higher stock?

Up to April 12, 200s they were 3/4 inch taller is all

 

[tommudd]

Well I guess I’ll stsrt messing with things this weekend. Can’t believe I’m using a plate and washer and still at “stock” OME Lift height

If you stick washers in there you will be sorry, trust me.
Back 12-14 years ago we tried many things, even kitchen cutting boards, most did not work, repeat DID NOT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have done them all and when I tell you something does not work, it means I have or someone that was a regualr in my garage did it and it did not work! PERIOD!
Get over 4 inches, well you can not really now since JBA stopped producing the coilovers.
But at 3.25 -to 3.5 inches you will have UCA-spring contact going over bumps and rail road tracks , and that is with JBA UCAs
But hell what do I know, go ahead and add all kinds of crazy crap to it and come back and cry in a few weeks about it being broke down LOL

I'm done, just bought a fifth wheel camper so KJs maybe come a thing of the past , need a real truck now
going to travel and find hookers along the way!

 

[Aceofspades]

If you stick washers in there you will be sorry, trust me.
Back 12-14 years ago we tried many things, even kitchen cutting boards, most did not work, repeat DID NOT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have done them all and when I tell you something does not work, it means I have or someone that was a regualr in my garage did it and it did not work! PERIOD!
Get over 4 inches, well you can not really now since JBA stopped producing the coilovers.
But at 3.25 -to 3.5 inches you will have UCA-spring contact going over bumps and rail road tracks , and that is with JBA UCAs
But hell what do I know, go ahead and add all kinds of crazy crap to it and come back and cry in a few weeks about it being broke down LOL

I'm done, just bought a fifth wheel camper so KJs maybe come a thing of the past , need a real truck now
going to travel and find hookers along the way!

Hey man no worries. When I bought both of my jeeps , I’ve already been reading up on threads to get an actual lift kit not a spacer kit. That led me here.
I purchased each piece Merlin when available.
For some reason I thought I was able to reach to 4” lift safely using my components - just by adding spacers ontop or below the shock or longer clevis fork.
So what I did was , both jeeps got the 1/4” top plate and clevis spacer.
When the 03 sat higher then the 02 , I assumed I could stuff 1/8” washers on the strut mount bolts under the top plate to get to the 3/8” mark.
Researching the forums had me believing just the springs , shocks and longer arms would net me 2.5” and the spacers I’m using would bump me to 3.5”-4”. My apologies
I’m not in any way purposely going against your advice. Hell you’ve probably preached the same advice soo many times till your blue in the face. I get it. Been there with my other platforms.
I’m just curious about this lift kit and what I thought it was capable of, what it is currently and how the exact same components on the 03 is sitting higher.

That’s why I was asking how much more spacers , washers , whatever- I can add to get back some height I’ve lost or get to the max lift point of the set up safely.


Thanks Tom