lift using old parts?

[brkj]

Can you a lift a kj using new OME front coils and rear springs while reusing old front shocks and rear shocks. I know its not the most ideal situation but i need new tires and would like to go bigger. Wont have the money for lift, tires, front shock assemble and alignment. Cutting out new front and rear shocks is the only place i could think of saving some money.

Shocks are an easy fix later right? Front shocks I'm thinking not an easy fix later.

When replacing front and rear shocks for a lift are they the same spec's as originals?

Is it hard to assemble your own front shocks, I've heard its tough?

Do you need to have the front end realigned right away?

Maybe i wont lift and just get rims and tires. I know a 16x7 rim with 4" BS will work on a lifted Kj but will it work on a non lifted Kj and stock tire size?

 

[tommudd]

Can you a lift a kj using new OME front coils and rear springs while reusing old front struts and rear shocks. I know its not the most ideal situation but i need new tires and would like to go bigger. Wont have the money for lift, tires, strut assemble and alignment. Cutting out new struts and shocks is the only place i could think of saving some money.

Shocks are an easy fix later right? Struts I'm thinking not an easy fix later.

When replacing struts and shocks for a lift are they the same spec's as originals?

Is it hard to assemble your own struts, I've heard its tough?

Do you need to have the front end realigned right away?

Maybe i wont lift and just get rims and tires. I know a 16x7 rim with 4" BS will work on a lifted Kj but will it work on a non lifted Kj and stock tire size?

Well of course you could use the old ones but more than likely they are worn out, plus using old shocks on new springs will wear the springs out much faster since the shocks are not doing their job.
NOW next thing is you have to disassemble everything so you'd have to redo it all to install new shocks some day.
Rear shocks MUST be replaced since you need longer ones when lifted
YES you have to get an alignment done right away and then again after everything settles in
16 X 7 will not work well on a non lifted KJ esp. one that has a sagged out suspension to begin with

 

[brkj]

Ok thank you that is the info that I needed.

 

[brkj]

Is it hard to assemble the front shocks? does it require special tools?

 

[tommudd]

Is it hard to assemble the front shocks? does it require special tools?

Requires a special tool to compress the springs
can be done but hard to do
I haven't done any since my buddys face got messed up years ago
I take them all to a shop and they do it on a air over hydraulic compressor way easier

 

[Thelt]

I have messed with coil spring compressors and will never do so again. They are dangerous and the difficulty level is up there with parallel parking the titanic.

 

[hectikart]

also remember that things don't always go perfectly. do the lift/tires when you have the money and some extra. Who knows what else will be worn and require replacement once you get things apart...not to mention the alignments after. that can take multiple efforts to get right. Last thing you want is a half apart jeep and no money left.