Need help with lift.
01-29-2012 | 02:50 PM
#1
Thread Starter
JK Newbie
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: chino hills, ca
Need help with lift.
So this weekend we went out to arrowhead and big bear and hit some pretty hard trail and pretty much pushed our jeep pretty hard. As of right now we have a 3' terra flex lift with 35s. i would like some more clearance and articulation i was thinking of getting a 4-4.5 lift with 37, what are the pros and cons of a short arm and long arm, also would lifting it this high cause any other complications with the car. this car is used to drive on the road and i would like to keep it drivable
Thank you
Thank you
01-29-2012 | 02:58 PM
#2
JK-Forum Founder
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 36,534
Likes: 16
From: Laguna Niguel, CA
LOL!! first off, you drive a "jeep" and not a car 
having said that, i didn't think there was anything up in big bear that 3" of lift and 35's couldn't do with ease but, if you're just looking for bigger and better, you would need at least 4" of lift to clear 37's. at that height, a long arm would help to correct your suspension geometry and that would make your ON PAVEMENT ride and handling much nicer. the biggest down side to long arms is cost. in addition to have more parts and just being more expensive, the installation of it is way more involved and will come at a much bigger price tag. at 4", you can get away with a short arm kit just fine especially being that a JK already has long factory arms. this is definitely the more affordable way to go and, is something that most people can install themselves in their own drive way. regardless of what you go with, if you have a 2-door and if you don't have them already, you will need a new rear drive shaft. if you have an automatic, a new front drive shaft as well. if you have a 6-speed, you'll need a new front sooner than later.
having said that, i didn't think there was anything up in big bear that 3" of lift and 35's couldn't do with ease but, if you're just looking for bigger and better, you would need at least 4" of lift to clear 37's. at that height, a long arm would help to correct your suspension geometry and that would make your ON PAVEMENT ride and handling much nicer. the biggest down side to long arms is cost. in addition to have more parts and just being more expensive, the installation of it is way more involved and will come at a much bigger price tag. at 4", you can get away with a short arm kit just fine especially being that a JK already has long factory arms. this is definitely the more affordable way to go and, is something that most people can install themselves in their own drive way. regardless of what you go with, if you have a 2-door and if you don't have them already, you will need a new rear drive shaft. if you have an automatic, a new front drive shaft as well. if you have a 6-speed, you'll need a new front sooner than later.
Last edited by wayoflife; 01-29-2012 at 03:00 PM.
01-29-2012 | 10:54 PM
#4
JK-Forum Founder
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 36,534
Likes: 16
From: Laguna Niguel, CA
nope and, even if you could, it wouldn't do you any good. the problem isn't a matter of length but rather, the diameter of the shaft and type of joint that are used. the factory front shaft is very wide in diameter and that caused the slip shaft boot to catch on the automatic transmission pan. also, rzeppa joints are used and the sever angle they get put in after a lift causes the boots to be in a constant state of pinch and this leads to premature failure of the boot and joint. being that you have a 4-door, you can probably make your rear shaft last a while but, if you have an auto, the front needs to get swapped.