lift review...

[gdog]

First. What a great site! Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

Wife wants a better riding dd. 99% hwy.

Specs:
2004 Liberty Limited 4X2 44,000 mi.
all original, recalls completed
245/70R16, keeping wheels and tires
Height: rear-18.75" front-18.625"

Setup1: complete Ironman kit
According to Marlin - front coils-#Jeep015B
rear " -#Jeep014B
front shocks- what are the correct #---?
rear " - " " " #---?
Can't tell from his site.
Can anyone confirm the correct numbers for this setup?

Setup2: Ironman coils frt. and rear.
front shocks- bilstein #24-139168
rear " - " #24-185660 + bushing kit

Teraflex bump stops--front
Hockey Pucks --2- ea. side rear
JBA UCA's Gen4.5 ?

Is setup 1 ultimately better than setup2 ?
Any suggestions/comments greatly appreciated!

Thanks

 

[tommudd]

First. What a great site! Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

Wife wants a better riding dd. 99% hwy.

Specs:
2004 Liberty Limited 4X2 44,000 mi.
all original, recalls completed
245/70R16, keeping wheels and tires
Height: rear-18.75" front-18.625"

Setup1: complete Ironman kit
According to Marlin - front coils-#Jeep015B
rear " -#Jeep014B
front shocks- what are the correct #---?
rear " - " " " #---?
Can't tell from his site.
Can anyone confirm the correct numbers for this setup?

Setup2: Ironman coils frt. and rear.
front shocks- bilstein #24-139168
rear " - " #24-185660 + bushing kit

Teraflex bump stops--front
Hockey Pucks --2- ea. side rear
JBA UCA's Gen4.5 ?

Is setup 1 ultimately better than setup2 ?
Any suggestions/comments greatly appreciated!

Thanks

My first suggestion is to go with the full kit, I've had the Ironman spring/ shock setup on mine testing it out and the ride was great. One thing is that the springs and shocks are a matched setup, shocks valved to the springs where as the Bilstein would be valved a little differently.
While the Bilsteins ride good mixed with the Ironman springs ( have also installed that setup) I'd go Ironman all the way

OF course,..... if you have never ridden with either setup then you may never notice anything. I've had so many setups I notice every little difference in ride, handling, overall control etc

 

[dude1116]

Only problem is you can't get the Ironman fronts anymore, no?

 

[gdog]

Thanks tommudd.

Any idea as to the correct part numbers?
Is Gen 4.5 the correct UCA for this setup?

Thanks

 

[tlrtucker]

If you're just going with the basic 2" lift up front the UCA's aren't necessary. If you need to replace the stock UCA's anyways then go for it. You dont need the JBA's until you're around 2.75-3" of lift

 

[gdog]

Yes, UCA's need replacing. Thought I'd do it all at once.
Any suggestions other than JBA's?

 

[tommudd]

Yes, UCA's need replacing. Thought I'd do it all at once.
Any suggestions other than JBA's?

No matter what some will say go JBAs UCAs , better product, better customer service (MUCH MUCH better)

 

[gdog]

Thanks. For stock or lifted? Marlin shows both.
Any numbers on the Ironman shocks?

 

[tlrtucker]

They make different sizes of UCA's - smaller ones for non-lifted KJ's and bigger ones for lifted KJ's. Even if you dont lift your KJ go with the JBA's if you're planning to keep the jeep for an extended period of time. They are just as expensive as OEM stock UCA's but they are rebuildable (OEM UCA's are not rebuildable).

If you're going to lift your KJ get the JBA UCA's for lifted KJ's. They wont work for a non-lifted jeep tho

 

[gdog]

Thanks Tucker

I'll go with the lifted. Eventually I'll do more off road. Just can't
do very much in Florida, mostly trails.

The only thing that I'm still wanting to be sure of is the right
Ironman rear shocks as far as correct length. Hard to determine
from JBA's site.

 

[tlrtucker]

The only thing that I'm still wanting to be sure of is the right
Ironman rear shocks as far as correct length. Hard to determine
from JBA's site.

I'm lifted about 3" in the rear and have the shorter length shocks and they bottom out with minimal flex (i.e. pulling into parking lots at an angle). If I did any off roading and really flexed it out I'm sure I would blow them out pretty easily. Eventually I'll get the longer shocks, but for daily city driving they are fine. I believe they are the same length as stock shocks. If you're more than I'd say 2.5 of lift (what the Ironman rear springs will give you) I'd recommend going with the longer Ironman shocks. I bought my lift kit off Craigslist at it had the shorter shocks otherwise I would have gone with the longer shocks.

 

[tommudd]

Thanks Tucker

I'll go with the lifted. Eventually I'll do more off road. Just can't
do very much in Florida, mostly trails.

The only thing that I'm still wanting to be sure of is the right
Ironman rear shocks as far as correct length. Hard to determine
from JBA's site.

Not sure what you mean about hard to determine which rear shocks, there are two available, stock length and then ones for up to 4 inches of lift that are
(as seen on JBA site )

Rear Long Shocks, fits 3.0" lift plus on a KJ, KK, KA, order 2 for a set

27.50" extended, 16.50" compressed, center line of bolt.

• Exceptional performance for both standard and raised height 4x4's
• Superior ride control and comfort both on and off road
• Improve stability when towing or carrying a load
• Ironman 2 year / 40,000km Iron Clad Warranty.

 

[gdog]

I thought there was something in between. So, if I'm doing all Ironman
with no additions, then I use stock length?

If so, do I still use Teraflex stops front and 2 hockey puck per side rear?

Just trying to get it right before I order.

 

[rcjohnson]

If your lifting it above stock height get the longer ones

 

[tommudd]

I thought there was something in between. So, if I'm doing all Ironman
with no additions, then I use stock length?

If so, do I still use Teraflex stops front and 2 hockey puck per side rear?

Just trying to get it right before I order.

Stock height is what it came stock, not with aftermarket springs so use the extended rear shocks.
Yes on the bumpstops

 

[Snail Farmer]

I'll second the longer rear shocks.. when I did my ironman lift they didn't have the longer shocks yet so I went with the stock length.. they didn't last long.

 

[gdog]

Thanks everyone! That clears it up. Putting my order in and suffering
through the wait. Good time to do other maintenance.

I'll post an update after the install.