Lift your TJ - installing a Rubicon Express 2" coil spacer kit

[TerryMason]

While my Wrangler was still at stock height I took it on a wheeling trip at a local fire access road. I was one of the few stock Jeeps, and while everyone trucked along merrily I scraped over what appeared to be small rocks. As soon as I returned home I begain researching lift kits. My 2005 TJ had about 60,000 miles on it, with a stock suspension. I narrowed my list of requirements down to the following:

1. Less than 3" of lift. This was my daily driver, and I didn't want anything too agressive
2. New shocks. With 60,000 on the originals, I wanted new shocks to improve the ride.
3. Handling as close to stock as possible. I didnt' want to be all over the road.
4. Cheap.

After some researching, I found the 2 inch Budget Boost by Rubicon Express (RE7030), which fit all of my requirements.

The idea of a coil spacer is that you use the existing coil suspension, and simply put a two inch spacer on top to give you a bit more height. Shocks are also replaced since the suspension will travel farther than the stock setup could. It is the cheapest suspension lift (short of making your own). A 2" lift should allow you to wheel with 31 inch tires, or run 33 inch tires on the road.

Overall the install wasn't too bad. I had never worked with coil springs before, and spent alot of time positioning the jack in wrong spots. The install took me two days, working from noon till 5 pm each day.

 

[TerryMason]

The kit - Rubicon Express budget boost

Here are the componets of the RE7030:

4 coil spacers
2 longer bumpstops and bolts to go in them
4 new shocks
some of the least helpful instructions I've ever read

It's a pretty short list. Here's a shot of the lift kit, and the directions

 

[TerryMason]

1 - Jack up and remove wheel

I decided to start with the easiest first, which means the rear wheels. I decided that I'd just do one wheel at a time, but if you've got some big boy pants, you could probably do both.

First, put some wheel chocks in front of and behind the front wheels. Now, place your jack under the rear axle and jack it up. I jacked the rear axle as high as my standard jack would go. Then put a jack stand under the side frame rail. I put a second jack under the rear axle, just to be on the safe side.

Once safely jacked up, remove your rear wheel.

 

[TerryMason]

2 - remove the shock

Now, we'll have to remove the rear shock. There are two bolts in the top of the shock (first photo), as well as a large bolt with a nut at the bottom. Finally, you can see the shock off the vehicle.

 

[TerryMason]

3 - Remove the rear sway bar

The rear sway bar reduces body roll when you're on the road, but right now it will prevent us from dropping the rear axle down, so it's gotta go.

Just remove the bolt that holds it on. You don't have to create socket wrench monstrosity like I did, but it doesn't hurt.

 

[TerryMason]

4 - Remove the bump stop

We are ready to work on the coil now, so the bump stop needs to be removed. It's a piece of rubber that sits inside of a cup. I found that a large pair of channel clamps allowed me to pull it out (It can be surprisingly hard to pull out - and don't get me started on putting it back in!)

 

[TerryMason]

5 - Remove bump stop cup

Now, remove the bolt that holds on the bump stop cup

 

[TerryMason]

6 - Remove the coil

It took me some time to find the right jack placement, and alas, it was after this photo was taken. The idea is to hold the frame up high, while dropping the axle down low. Jack your jeep up as high as your jack will go, and put jack stands under the frame, then lower the axle.

As you can see here, the axle is dropped far enough to allow me to pull out the spring.

 

[TerryMason]

7 - Reinstall the coil

Now, you'll need to sit the new coil spacer on top of the coil and put it back in place. Once everything is seated, put the new bump stop extension up through the coil, and bolt the cup in place with the new bolt supplied with the kit. Finally, push the rubber bump stop in place - I found that squirting some armor all on it made it go in place alot easier.

 

[TerryMason]

8 - Jack up the axle

Once you get the coil in place, you'll need to put your jack under the axle and jack it up far enough to reconnect the rear sway bar.

 

[TerryMason]

9 - Install the rear shocks

Now you'll need to install the rear shocks. I found it easier to install the metal mount by taking the rubber bushing out of the shock and pushing the mount through the bushing. Then to get the bushing back into the shock body, I found a socket that would allot the mount to slip inside, and press on the rubber bushing. I then pressed the bushing back in with my hands.

 

[TerryMason]

10 - Install your stickers

Finally, slap your sticker on, and get moving with the other side!

 

[TerryMason]

11 - Remove the front tie rod

Once I finished the rear wheels, I moved onto the front. Just jack up the front axle and remove the wheel.

Now, unbolt the front tie rod

 

[TerryMason]

12 - Remove shock

Now, remove the shock and position the jack stands

 

[TerryMason]

13 - Remove coil

Jack up the frame, and lower the axle. Once the axle is dropped, the coil will come right out.

 

[TerryMason]

14 - Install spacer

Now that the coil is out, just remove the cup and add the new 2 inch spacer

 

[TerryMason]

15 - Reinstall coil

Now, you can reinstall the coil. The coil may be a bit snug, I had to coax it back in.

 

[TerryMason]

16 - Finishing up

Once the coil is in place, you can raise the axle back up, and reattach the sway bar.

 

[TerryMason]

All done

After finishing a lift, you should always have an alignment done. I drove the jeep to a local tire shop and was surprised at how off the readings were. Here is the findings from the shop (note the red numbers)

 

[mercab18]

wow! great instructions!