MEASURING LIFT HEIGHT AFTER INSTALLATION OF KIT

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Date: Mar 10, 2008

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I received a set of front coil springs as a donation by a friend who grounded his jeep. I have since installed the springs which have lifted the 96 XJ. Since the springs had previously been installed in another vehicle i cannot tell the exact lift height they were intended to gain. I have the following questions: 1. How do i measure the lift height gained considering that i never took any measurements before installing the springs? Which particular points do i need to take measurements between? 2. Do i have to install other items that usually come in as a kit e.g. front links, control arms, track bar etc.... If yes, what is the damage that can be caused by failure to install the other items thus having only the hi-lift springs with the factory suspension components? 3. Once i determine the lift height achieved at the front should i lift the vehicle similar height at the rear? 4. Which points should i take measuerements at the rear to determine the height gain before/after lifting 5. I intend to gain lift height at the rear by adding a leaf (or leaves) from similar factory leaf springs. What is the average height one gets after adding one extra leaf spring, 2 leaves etc..... 6. The add a leaf (AAL) method with factory leaf means that the added leaf will have the same length as similar leaf in the leaf set. Why are leaf springs of different lengths and whats the effect of having one or 2 spings of similar length next to each other. Should i cut off a portion of the additional leaf on both ends to achieve different length and whats the effect of doing so. Thanking you in advance. __________________ 96 XJ COUNTRY (RHD)

choppergar

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I really hope that someone can answer this, I'm in the same position. __________________ Gar Pratt

89eliminator

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well, i can answer a few question for you.

for measuring how much lift you gained, i usually measure from the ground to the middle of each flare.

and for installing control arms and trac-bars and all that, it all depends on the height it was lifted. if its a smalll lift (1-3in) you can usually get by without lower control arms and longer sway bar links. if its higher than that, you will want to put on longer control arms, trac-bar, and sway bar links.

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LEAD_NOT_FOLLOW

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1. How do i measure the lift height gained considering that i never took any measurements before installing the springs? Which particular points do i need to take measurements between?

You can measure at various locations across the Jeep. Most measure flares but since many tend to take the flares off or trim I like to measure from the rockers to the ground. 84-88 will be 21" than 89-01 will be 20". So if you have a '90 and it measures 24" you have 4" of lift.

2. Do i have to install other items that usually come in as a kit e.g. front links, control arms, track bar etc.... If yes, what is the damage that can be caused by failure to install the other items thus having only the hi-lift springs with the factory suspension components?

This varies a lot depending on what height you have. If you have 3" of lift or less than you can typically get away without using new lower control arms. A new adjustable tracbar is recomended on anything over 2" of lift.

If you have 4.5" of lift or more you typically need new lower control arms as well as new upper control arms, a tracbar, longer swaybar links, longer brake lines, and longer shocks.

3. Once i determine the lift height achieved at the front should i lift the vehicle similar height at the rear?

Once again it depends on the front lift height. It also will depend greatly on the condition of your stock rear leaf packs.

4. Which points should i take measuerements at the rear to determine the height gain before/after lifting

Use the above measurement I gave you.

5. I intend to gain lift height at the rear by adding a leaf (or leaves) from similar factory leaf springs. What is the average height one gets after adding one extra leaf spring, 2 leaves etc.....

Thier is no majic forumula for doing an AAL. If you are adding leafs to your existing packs use long leafs as the shorter one's will wear your packs out much faster. It is kind of trial and error. If you let us know how much lift your wanting to get we can probally tell you what to use based on our experience. I know several of us here have made our own packs before.

6. The add a leaf (AAL) method with factory leaf means that the added leaf will have the same length as similar leaf in the leaf set. Why are leaf springs of different lengths and whats the effect of having one or 2 spings of similar length next to each other. Should i cut off a portion of the additional leaf on both ends to achieve different length and whats the effect of doing so.

This is somewhat of a techinical question so I'll give you a technical answer. For coils in the front a taller coil sitting outside the Jeep (say in the box) does not always mean that it's a higher lift coil. Coils are rated in spring rates and many factors go into this. For instance a Rubicon Express 3.5" XJ coil and a Rubicon Express 4.5" XJ coil is only 1/8" difference in height last I measured; however the 4.5" coil lifts the XJ over 1" in height over the 3.5" coil.

The same goes for rear leaf springs. It's a little bit different but the same concept plays into affect. The more arch an AAL has does not always mean it will lift more. Also the length plays a role in this as well. A short AAL that has a lot of arch does not mean it will lift more than a long AAL that has less arch. Typically you want the leafs staggerd as much as possiable so that the long one is at the top and the shorter one's are towards the bottom. I WOULD NOT cut your existing leafs, I'd cut the one's you adding if your going to do that.

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LEAD_NOT_FOLLOW wrote:

1. How do i measure the lift height gained considering that i never took any measurements before installing the springs? Which particular points do i need to take measurements between?

You can measure at various locations across the Jeep. Most measure flares but since many tend to take the flares off or trim I like to measure from the rockers to the ground. 84-88 will be 21" than 89-01 will be 20". So if you have a '90 and it measures 24" you have 4" of lift.

Thanks for the responses.

If i take measurements from whatever point (say from rockers) to the ground, will the height not be affected by the size of the tyres? maybe even the the state of inflation in respect of the tire.

I have also noted that my xj (its a rhd) appears to be sitting slightly higher from the ground on the left front side as compared to the right side. Thus if i take measurements i will get different values from either side. i have no idea why one side appears to be higher than the other.

Do also please let me know what damage or bad handling that may be caused if i dont replace the factory suspension components in the event the the lift is higher than 3 inches. my own estimation even before i take actual measurements is that the front coils lifted the jeep about 4 inches. can i get similar lift at the back by adding 2 leaves on each side. both the vehicle leaf springs and the extra leafs to be added have roughly the same arc.....

confused

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Topic: MEASURING LIFT HEIGHT AFTER INSTALLATION OF KIT