Lift kit for SUV help. Need advice please

[ryangrieder]

So, I am 100% new to lift kits. I know nothing about it. Nothing... Been doing some reading recently on them and I decided I want to go with a 2-3.5 inch lift. It's a 2005 grand Cherokee hemi limited. Stock wheels and stock tires. I have people that can install the lift, I just want to know what everything I need is. I been reading ALOT on jeep forum.com and found 2 ideas I liked because of the price. I'm just so confused. Some lift kits come with A lot, and over $1000, and then they sell just spacers or whatever, and it's a couple hundred... Like I said, I'm new to it, so I really don't know alot. But, here were my choices...

First choice is the rock krawlers 3.5 inch x factor. I see it sells for 300-350. That's in my price range and is the largest lift I can find for that price range. That kit includes...

http://www.emsoffroad.com/store/ind...ct_info&cPath=149_151_159_167&products_id=492

(2) precision welded strut forks made from 1/4 thick laser cut steel, (2) poly spring spacers, hardware, and detailed instructions.

Do I need anything else? I read about maybe springs are recommended because they are streached to max? If so, which do I need? I know nothing about shocks as well...


My second choice is from 4xguard. It's a 2 inch lift. Cheap, around 150 bucks. It's a daystar 2 inch spacer lift. It includes...

http://www.4xguard.com/Product/LiftKit_Daystar.html

Packaged kit: Front coil spacer and upper strut lowering plate, and rear coil spacer.

Again, do I need anything else?


And my last choice is.... What ever you would recommend! Are both of these garbage? What do you recommend for 350 and under price for a kit. I want the best size for the best price that I can install with friends, not brought to a shop to do...

Thanks everyone...

 

[motortrendz]

all depends on what ur doing, body lift.. spacers... crap...

suspension lift with springs new control arms with adjustments for pinion angles and the location arms ofr centyering the axles again.. taller shocks and longer swaybar links should all be part of a good kit.. if they come with a new or better steering stabilizer (damper) the better the kit is.. mopar makes a lift kit right from the factory.. or you can get one from skyjacker..just some ideas and what ive done at the dealership(i work for jeep)

 

[ryangrieder]

all depends on what ur doing, body lift.. spacers... crap...

suspension lift with springs new control arms with adjustments for pinion angles and the location arms ofr centyering the axles again.. taller shocks and longer swaybar links should all be part of a good kit.. if they come with a new or better steering stabilizer (damper) the better the kit is.. mopar makes a lift kit right from the factory.. or you can get one from skyjacker..just some ideas and what ive done at the dealership(i work for jeep)

Thanks motor. Mopar makes one? What size lift? I have a few friends that work for jeep also, parts department. Wonder what that goes for...

So, your saying those kits I posted are garbage and would not work?

 

[ryangrieder]

I was also just reccomended this simple kit...

http://roughcountry.com/jeep_wk_2.html

 

[lfsmarineguy]

I've never dabbled in trucks and lift kits but if there is one thing to know about cars it's not to buy something because it's cheap. More often than not the more expensive options are pricier for good reason and include the right parts. It's ok to have a budget but don't force something into the budget just to get it on the car you'll just end up unhappy you didn't wait.

 

[ryangrieder]

I've never dabbled in trucks and lift kits but if there is one thing to know about cars it's not to buy something because it's cheap. More often than not the more expensive options are pricier for good reason and include the right parts. It's ok to have a budget but don't force something into the budget just to get it on the car you'll just end up unhappy you didn't wait.

Completely agree, and understandable. Only issue I had was alot of jeepers do use just spacers and all love them and say they work great, but shocks would improve ride quality...

 

[albano]

Lift kit for SUV help. Need advice please

FOR WHAT? If this is your 'everyday' car, you're just gonna mess up the ride and handling! If it's your 2nd/weekend car then do what you want, BUT you're still gonna mess up your ride and handling!
BTW, besides messing up your ride and handling, the vehicle will be unsafe...don't bother telling me that you're a 'SAFE' driver...you had a WRX!!!!!

 

[NYreefNoob]

lmk what type of vehicle it is, being a redneck from the country ive been around a few 4x4's lol mudding was our weekend fun, seeing there wasnt much else to do

 

[ryangrieder]

Haha, albano, you are correct... But incorrect. You are correct, messing with an every day car is dumb, and will make it a tad bit unsafe, and right now this is just a future one day idea. ... . but I am a safe driver, and I did not own a WRX.... It was an evo lol:tongue1:. I use to say knock on wood before this, but don't have to anymore cause it's gone, but I never got pulled over, a ticket, accident, raced, or even played catch up while owning the evo. If I can do that with an evo, I think I'm good. Plus, it's 2 inches. A 2 inch lift on an 05 grand Cherokee hemi is hardly a noticeable lift. Anyone who owns a jeep says 4 inches and up is considered a lift, requires time and effort and money, and is considered a lifted GC. 2 inch lift is for someone who wants to make it an off roader aggressive look, but never goes wheeling and does it mainly to stand out a bit. I probably will never do crazy off road tire, because that's annoying and uncomfortable ride. I want to just do simple things. Paint the rims black, interior black, muffler only, not a whole cat back exhaust, just to have a little growl seeing it's a hemi, a bull bar, black nerf bars. Little things to get it aggressive looking and stand out. But you are correct. And that's why the lift idea... Is the last idea. I'm just trying to figure it out because I'm so new to SUVs...

And Rick, haha, it's a 2005 white grand Cherokee limited hemi...

 

[albano]

Haha, albano, you are correct... But incorrect...I did not own a WRX.... It was an evo.
A 2 inch lift on an 05 grand Cherokee hemi is hardly a noticeable lift.... Little things to get it aggressive looking and stand out.

W R X...E V O...you say potato...

if the 2" lift is hardly noticeable...why spend the $$$$$$????
IMO lowering a car/truck, makes it more aggresive looking!

 

[lfsmarineguy]

But lowering has it's own headaches and considerations too (even though I agree, it does look better).

If you want it to growl open up the intake end with a cold air kit. It's cheaper than a new can and you'll only hear the difference when you step on the gas so it won't get annoying after awhile. Maybe over gap the plugs a tiny bit too. With a good intake you'll at least realize noticeable gains you can feel.

 

[albano]

But lowering has it's own headaches and considerations too (even though I agree, it does look better).

I wasn't actually suggesting that he lower it, just saying I think it would be better than 'lifting' it.

The other problem with these mods, are the fact that they usually cost much way more than you think, once you factor in the depreciation to the vehicle itself! ...that's right kids...the car is worth LESS, when you modify it!
(*to be fair, I modified many of my own cars, but I was aware of the consequences!)

BTW...will your insurance co. hold YOU liable for damages caused by /or to your vehicle with modified bumper height?

 

[NYreefNoob]

if only doing a 2" lift then do a body lift only once you get into true lifts of suspension and ect alot of stuff changes, including not being able to get a true alignment, cold air intake doesnt do crap other then let you hear the air being sucked in. exhuast will just give you some sound, with newer cars you dont wantto try and further the gap on the plugs as the comp reads the spark and adj to it, personally if you really want the car to stand out add a set of nice azz rims and maybe get a muffler wit ha little more sound, all the basic mods air intake- muffler ect will add a wopping 5hp for a $1000 not worth it, a chip would be best bet if ur after performance gains

 

[lfsmarineguy]

gains would depend on the car and what else has been done.

 

[ryangrieder]

Yeah I'm not going crazy for performance wise. I got a 50 series flowmaster muffler, not cat back. Don't want it too loud, but then again I want people to know it's a hemi ya know. Intake I bought of, but nothing beats hearing the sound of a turbo under the hood, so I'm probably not going to touch anytng under the hood. I don't want to do to much engine work, I'm happy with performance, and every time I do serious work, is when problems start. Not going crazy. Exterior yes. Not under hood.

So is spacers considered just lifting the body?

 

[NYreefNoob]

you can get the body spacers, but why raise it 2" you wont really notice it and if any thing i would aim more towards the SRT but honestly i would go too some nice rims

 

[mbg75]

Magnaflow would be a better muffler choice IMO. Much cleaner sound and less drone.

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[ryangrieder]

Yes, I do want some nice wheels. Tires would be nice, but I hate the noise off them. And the ride gets uncomfortable. Personally this is one of my favorite jeeps...

 

[ryangrieder]

I was originally going to go with magnaflow, but I just bought today, on eBay, a guy had a flowmaster, with already welded pipes on them to just throw it right on the truck. Stock muffler is around 30 inches long. This is 18 inches I believe. So I would have had to get a muffler shop to weld on a long pipe on both sides. This guy was selling one done. I won it for 75 bucks only... Can't beat that

 

[mbg75]

What year Hemi? The newer ones that drop 4 cyl on highway can sound funny with certain exhaust

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