Lift faq: Read before asking questions!

[tommudd]

About two years ago, I swapped a 2.5" lift (vintage 2012ish) from an '05 gasser into my '05 CRD. For awhile now the front has been painfully stiff so I'm looking at replacing gear all around.
Here & LJ, lift posts & recomendations date as far back as '05, so the CURRENTLY recommended OME PN's are a bit confusing. I'd greatly appreciate clarification from the brain trust (TomMudd?).

For a 2.5" lifted 2005 CRD with an ARB bumper w/12k winch:
Front: Struts, either # NS131 or 9009 ???; Coils #2790.
Rear: Shocks # N132L; Coils # 2948.

As I'm looking at committing pronto, confirmations much appreciated.

Also, given plans to tow regularly (w/ occasional tractor-grade local duty), I'm looking at installing the Airlift #60844 airbag setup to provide dialable rear load control. Thoughts appreciated.

My current setup, all OME:
Front= NS131 struts, E927 coils.
Rear= 379001 coils; shocks are OME but I can't find the #.
If anyone's interested, this other stuff will be available after my upgrade swap. Imho, the 927's are still fine = STIFF! Conversely, the 131's on front seem unforgivingly stiff, which I interpret as failure. For "normal" use the rear gear seems fine, but my load plans require a heavier rating.
Thanks

CRD came stock with 410 lb spring
you then went down by installing the 927s which are rated at 400 lb
reason for stiffness is too much weight
790s is what I have installed on CRDs and work great they are rated at 500 lb
For front shocks go OME , they work the best overall on a CRD

 

[CRDMX]

Thanks for reply!
I'll upgrade to the 790 springs, but I'm still unclear WHICH ome struts I should install up front.
The N131's to replace the current 131's?
Is it possible that my current 131's are okay & just need the help of the HD springs???
What about the OME 9009's vs their N131's?
Thanks

 

[tommudd]

Thanks for reply!
I'll upgrade to the 790 springs, but I'm still unclear WHICH ome struts I should install up front.
The N131's to replace the current 131's?
Is it possible that my current 131's are okay & just need the help of the HD springs???
What about the OME 9009's vs their N131's?
Thanks

90009 front shocks
rear shocks 132Ls
Thats what I have had the best luck with

do not reuse the front shocks, already worn some so best to upgrade it all

 

[CRDMX]

All clear now.
Current (2019) OME PN's for 2.5" lifted CRD:
FRONT = 90009 Struts/2790 Springs.
REAR = N132L Shocks/2948 Springs.

Many, many thanks!

 

[CRDMX]

$875 total, BST 4x4 @ San Diego.
Ordering Monday, delivered next day!
I'll report on ride post-install.

Thanks again, Tom!

 

[tommy2399]

$875 total, BST 4x4 @ San Diego.
Ordering Monday, delivered next day!
I'll report on ride post-install.

Thanks again, Tom!

Could you provide a link to them

@CRDMX

 

[tommudd]

Could you provide a link to them

@CRDMX

www.jeepinbyal.comis where I buy 99% of my OME parts

 

[Brendon Holt]

Been reading through the forum and have seen some conflicting part #'s for the correct Bilstein's for the rear. This sticky shows a couple different part #'s for Wrangler shocks, I see 185660 being thrown around which is another Wrangler shock. If I understand correctly all of those require spacers/washers to fit the Liberty properly.

Now, current consensus seems to be shocks for the 99-02 Dakota Club Cab 4x4. Do these not require spacers/washers to fit on the Liberty? I'm assuming all of them will work but if the Dakota shocks don't need spacers to fit right in the Libby that's a plus.

 

[tommudd]

OME 132Ls right length for lift and bolt right on no spacers needed
conflicting parts numbers LOL
on the 03 with 2.5 inch lift I run the Bilstein 24-185660s with no issues just to confuse even more

 

[Brendon Holt]

OME 132Ls right length for lift and bolt right on no spacers needed
conflicting parts numbers LOL
on the 03 with 2.5 inch lift I run the Bilstein 24-185660s with no issues just to confuse even more

OME would be ideal, really. The price difference between the Bilsteins and the OMEs for the rear isn't too much either. I think I was remembering the bigger price difference between Bilstein and OME for the fronts so just didn't even bother considering going the OME route if Bilsteins could work.

Also I just realized the second Bilstein shock listed in the sticky is the Dakota shock... Whoops. I thought I remembered them both being for a YJ.

All in all I now know slightly more than when I first posted, hahaha. Thanks, Tom!

 

[Soules3]

OME 132Ls right length for lift and bolt right on no spacers needed
conflicting parts numbers LOL
on the 03 with 2.5 inch lift I run the Bilstein 24-185660s with no issues just to confuse even more

Do you need a adapter to make them work? Or do they bolt on?

 

[tommudd]

Do you need a adapter to make them work? Or do they bolt on?

Adapter no, well you do need a sleeve on some on one end which JBA used to have
The OME 132Ls bot right on, made for the KJs/KKs with lift

 

[Reef]

When replacing the rear shocks with the Dakota bilstiens it’s been mentioned you need to replace the bushings. What’s the issue? Too wide/ narrow or the steel sleeve the wrong length/diameter?

 

[tommudd]

rubber bushing wrong diameter
jeepinbyal did sell the sleeves , he may still have some
Dakota Club Cab 4x4 , there is a huge difference

 

[mercdudecbr600]

What is the difference between a spacer and a coil lift?
Spacer lifts retain the stock parts. You fit polyurethane (or sometimes metal) spacers to the stock components. It does require dis-assembly of the front strut assemblies.
Daystar is the better spacer lift out there, but new lift coils and shocks is the best option.
What is the best lift out there?
Most prefer OME Springs (Medium duty or Heavy Duty) and Rancho (which are discontinued), Bilstein, or OME shocks.

Other solid option, which gives you about 1" of lift, and for near $100, is the "WesWay" lift. Best of all, you can reuse all the components from it (shims, clevis lift, rear isolators)
http://www.jeepkj.com/forum/showthread.php?t=43781

Part #'s:
Coils:
Front:
OME 925 rated at 350 lbs just about stock
OME926 rated at 375 lbs
OME927 rated at400lbs
OME 790s for CRD applications or for someone with heavy front bumper and winch rated at 500lbs

Rear:
OME 948 rear spring rate: 200 lbs/inch

An update: not sure ARB/OME changed their production from when this posted a few years back but here is the information straight from ARB on current (2021) OME products for the KJ:

Front
0. Stock spring - 320#/in
1. Light spring - 375#/in 385mm height
2. Medium spring - 375#/in 392mm height
3. Heavy spring - 400#/in 394mm height, thicker coils

Rear
0. stock spring - 150#/in
1. light spring - 170#/in, 340mm height
2. Medium spring - 200#/in, 340mm height, thicker coils

 

[tommudd]

OH DEAR

 

[mercdudecbr600]

More information on available KJ lift kits.

BDS Suspension lift kit has an unique method of lifting that I find interesting. For the fronts they use a combination of taller/longer upper strut mount and a lift spring. Supposedly the longer mount preloads (compresses) the spring and gives the strut a more neutral travel position for better down/up travel. The preload also would effectively increase the spring rate as well.

Front spring:
Height 15" or 381mm
rate# 435

Rear spring:
length 12.75" or 324mm
rate# 210

Note: the front spring rate is much higher than even the OME 927 or heavy springs, and then gets greater compression as well to effectively increase it's stiffness.

 

[lfhoward]

^^^ A 3 inch spacer on the front suspension would jack you up to 6 inches of lift, which would be a seriously jacked up situation on a KJ.

Edit: oops, I’m responding to something posted in 2011…
The forum hid several pages of posts and that post looked like it was 3 from the end. Got to get used to the new format.

 

[BeerStop]

new to the 2003 kj mine appears to be stock, even though theres a rough country sticker on the back.
157,000 miles and the front struts are toast .
i was thinking a 1" lift all the way around , anyone have any thoughts on what i need to get to do the front , and what is the purpose of the different weight setups i have seen here?

 

[tommudd]

new to the 2003 kj mine appears to be stock, even though theres a rough country sticker on the back.
157,000 miles and the front struts are toast .
i was thinking a 1" lift all the way around , anyone have any thoughts on what i need to get to do the front , and what is the purpose of the different weight setups i have seen here?

One inch lift OME 925 front if you can find them, if not 926s and bilstein front shocks, rear 947 OME springs and again bilstein shocks
Different weights for extra weight plus more lift