Suspension lift after body lift

[Slickwillie74]

My first post!!! I have a 1990 Wrangler YJ, my very first jeep. I have had it about 6 months. I bought it with a 3 inch body lift so now I want to put a 2 inch suspension lift on it. How do I go about doing that? Meaning, if I want to put a 2 inch susp. lift do I have to buy shocks and springs for a 5 inch lift since it already has a 3 inch lift or do I just buy shocks and springs for a 2 inch lift. Also what brand, model, ect... should I buy. Links to the exact product would be great.

[wranglerboy93]

First replace the 3 in body lift with a 1 inch and then throw on a 3.5 inch BDS lift and run 33's no problem.Much safer this way also. 3 in body lifts are just scary.

[Slickwillie74]

Thanks for the info. I am not taking the body lift off. I have 33's right now. I just want a little more height. How do I go about adding a susp. lift?

FYI - I do not do crawling. I live in North Florida. I do mostly sand and mud.

Why are 3 inch body lifts scary?

[wranglerboy93]

Because that 3 in or longer bolt is the only thing keeping the body attached to the frame. Much easier to shear a bolt that long than one closer to the body and frame of the jeep. It's up to you how you want to run it especially in florida seeing as you only do sand and mud. Personally I wouldn't want it higher because then you start running the risk of rolling over being so top heavy. I would just run a search on here and get lots of input from other people that have asked it.

[Kirksjeep]

I have to agree with ditching the 3" body lift. Most will tell you 1" is the tallest body lift to stay safe. You can cut the pucks down to 1" and buy new grade 8 hardware. The better way is to go with a Daystar 1" body lift/mount set up.

When you buy the suspension kit you do not need to account for the body lift. For example, if you buy a 3.5" lift, get shocks for a 3.5" lift.

How big of a tire are you going to run?

[Jeff Dodgen]

Why are 3 inch body lifts scary?

I have heard of accidents where the body completely sheared off the frame. I agree in taking it off and adding most suspension and a 1" BL.

Besides...3" BLs just look like $hit.

[bandhmo]

Whether you remove the 3" body lift or not check that your shifters, radiator to fan clearance, clutch linkage if you have a mechanical clutch (I can't remember if the 90 YJ's are mechanical or not) and brake lines and gas filler line and vent lines between the body and frame okay. The body lifts that tall can make problems in these areas in addition to safety if they are not addressed. If they where taken care of then going to a lower body lift may require partially undoing the changes made.

I agree with others a 3" body lift is rather scary and is best reduced. I actually like a 1" body lift as it makes it easier to clean the mud out between body and frame.

[drwall]

as everyone has said you need to get rid of the 3in body lift.

If you stay with the body lift you have and just want to add the 2in suspension lift then you wont have to account for the body lift because the body lift has nothing to do with your suspension. Just buy a complete kit and everything will be good.

As for body lifts they can be beneficial in many ways like allowing for larger tires for very little denaro. but anything over 1in your are drastically raising your center of gravity making the likely hood of a roll over much more likely. Not only are they more prone to roll overs but they are also dangerous in other ways like the bolts being more likely to break. If you dont understand why they bolts are more likely to break then go out to you backyard and find a stick that is about 7 inches long (this accounts for the width of the frame) and try to break it. Then get another stick that is similar that is 4 inches long and try to break it. You are going to find that the shorter stick is much harder to break. This is the same for your jeep. There are tons of horror stories out there of buys running huge body lifts just look around and you will find them. ON top of all of that huge body lifts also look down right dumb!

Hopefully you understand why you should consider changing out your body lift.