Long Arm Suspension Lifts on WJ Grand Cherokees

bobtheboulder

Been looking at the Yank mags and eyeing up the long arm lift kits - has anyone fitted one yet and wot are they like?

Worried that fitting one would totally wreck the on road handling of a well balanced machine, but it would be cool to have better off road performance.

Luke Bailey · Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 7:42 pm Post subject:

mates got On on his TJ it flexes awesome and road handling isn't as good as a normal but as with any offtroad mod if its a set of mts or a 10 inch lift or somthing ure gonna notice the differance.... he said its very easyily driveablle as a daily driver.

bobtheboulder · Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2006 7:37 am Post subject:

Ive started off with a 2" OME lift all round, on road handling has improved.
the res a set of 265/75x16 MTs going on next week. In the new year I'm off to Arizona on holiday so I hope to get a deal sorted for a long arm kit while I'm there

- looks like the kids might have some excess baggage Laughing

isle_of_man · Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2006 1:11 pm Post subject:

have a look here.............. http://www.claytonoffroad.com/

peter henry

bobtheboulder · Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2006 6:52 pm Post subject:

thanks for that, lots of cool stuff there Cool

Mike WJUK · Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 9:08 am Post subject:

bobtheboulder- 265/75x16 will give you some serious rubbing issues if you plan to use it offroad.
You need to go to a 4" lift min. for that size of tyre and will still have some trimming of bumpers etc. to deal with, plus the tyres will rub on the Old Man Emu shocks.
I run 245/75x16 BFGoodrich Mud Terrains on a 2" lift - rubs a bit on full articulation both front and rear, especially with the antiroll bar disconnected but nothing too bad, although i pulled the lip out on my wheelarch on this route as you can see. Had to knock it back sharpish when i got home before the missus spotted it! Rolling Eyes

bobtheboulder · Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 1:16 pm Post subject:

are you using spacers?

Mike WJUK · Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 1:19 am Post subject:

No, its a BDS lift with +2" springs.

I've since added extended bumpstops to limit upward travel.

Will be going up to 4" by adding budget boost 2" spacers and longer shocks when money permits. Then 265/75x16s. Smile

bobtheboulder · Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 7:38 am Post subject:

Preview
that's pretty much the route I'm going, I'm running 245/65x17 BFG long trail at the moment, Ive got a set of 265/75x16 BFG MT's coming off my LR 110 which are in good nick i was going to put them on a set of 5 star 16" rims I have and see what rubs then modify to suit. Are you using wheel spacers to kick the wheels out? If you put the 2" BB in are you dropping the transfer case?

Mike WJUK · Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 12:51 pm Post subject:

If you've already got the bigger tyres you've got nothing to lose by trying them eh Smile

I'm not running spacers but i've got a set of black American Racing steel rims with less backspacing that i'm gonna fit when i get round to it, they'll give me more clearance for the bigger tyres when they come.

Contrary to opinions over here you can usually get away without a transfer case drop at 4". Most people in the states try 'em without first & if theres no vibes , leave it. I'm more concerned about the front prop which on mine is a cv type and doesn't really like it when flexing even now. I'm planning on having to go for a double cardan type sooner or later.

If you haven't already done so, check out JeepForum.com
They all do this stuff all the time and know what does and doesn't work.

bobtheboulder · Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 4:43 pm Post subject:

I'll have a wee look at the JeepForum site, I was beginning to feel like the only gay in the village there, not may folk using WJ's off road or lifting them in the UK yet Rolling Eyes

bobtheboulder · Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 8:13 am Post subject:

just emailed to Glenn at Rocky Road in the US, thinking of using there Trailblazer kit which is designed for use with OME kit, that'll give me 3.5" of lift, nearer 4" in reality since I gained 2" with the OME springs

then I can get the 265's on Very Happy

Mike WJUK · Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2007 4:40 am Post subject:

Been away from here for a while - have you made any progress on the "fit 32's on a grand" mission? Very Happy

Dave Hunter · Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2007 4:58 pm Post subject:

Id steer clear of the RR kits as they dont get that much praise in the states. RE is the way to SPAM you can afford it.

32s should fit with a 2" lift Id have thought, im running 31s on a 2" lift with wheel spacers on my ZJ and they have smaller wheel wells. Did need to trim the bumper mind.

-Dave

Mike WJUK · Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2007 4:37 am Post subject: