MJ Lift Kit

[brandonmcnulty]

Found this 4.5 lift kit on rustys off road.com seems like it would work good. just wondering what yall thought about it. would like to run at least 32's with it

 

http://rustysoffroad.com/mm5/merchant.m ... sus_xj_kit

[FxRacing282]

i would suggest finding one with a SOA setup.

[rockhardzj]

Rusty's can shove it, I had terrible customer service, and they don't give you jam nuts for your LCA's, which IMHO is a stupid thing to do.

[beaterjeep]

I don't have any experience with any lift companies, but know well enough from being on here as long as I have, that I'll never order anything from Rusty's. If anything I'd end up going with TNT or Clayton's.

[rockhardzj]

I don't have any experience with any lift companies, but know well enough from being on here as long as I have, that I'll never order anything from Rusty's. If anything I'd end up going with TNT or Clayton's.

The only thing I can say from secondhand experience from Clayton's is they take 2 weeks more than they say they will. But their quality, and customer service is outstanding. They work on a personal level, and make happy customers. If it was in the budget, I'd send my MJ off to them, and have them build a custom suspension front and rear.

 

I haven't really heard any bad feedback on TNT, but I only know of 102 people that have used them...

[Rob S]

I've dealt with Rusty's several times, never any problem with the parts or service. I plan on buying some things from them for my current MJ. Until I actually have a bad experiance with them I will continue to use them. I know several of my friends have his lift parts and never a problem either, and yes they get wheeled hard. I do know of failures with the Rusty's products from the internet, just havent experianced it first hand. Also have seen pics of some top notch products that failed, that stuff happens. I would run Rustys over a Rough Country or other cheaper lifts. Its up to you if you want to run that lift or not, just saying don't totally discount it because of what folks on the internet say.

:cheers:

[89eliminator]

I've dealt with Rusty's several times, never any problem with the parts or service. I plan on buying some things from them for my current MJ. Until I actually have a bad experiance with them I will continue to use them. I know several of my friends have his lift parts and never a problem either, and yes they get wheeled hard. I do know of failures with the Rusty's products from the internet, just havent experianced it first hand. Also have seen pics of some top notch products that failed, that stuff happens. I would run Rustys over a Rough Country or other cheaper lifts. Its up to you if you want to run that lift or not, just saying don't totally discount it because of what folks on the internet say.

:cheers:

 

i'm with you on this one. i have 6.5in coils front and 4.5in leaf pack in the rear both from rustys and wouldn't talk bad about either part. i had great customer service, and the shipping date was always right on.

[rockhardzj]

I never said their parts were bad, but in the 3 different times I've spoken with them for any Customer Service, The service continually became worse. When I'm talking to a lift kit company that can't count all 6 sides on a Jam nut, then they just lost any future service from me.

 

I wouldn't say their products are as crappy as they once were, but their customer service is absolutely crap. I'd rather talk to one of those Indians at an overseas call center that you can't understand with all their broken english for my internet provider then do any more service with Rusty's.

[Renegade]

I've had bad luck with Rusty's as well, & I can't stand that you can't get your money back on returns. Just store credit.

 

BUT

 

I'm currently installing this very lift on my '89 longbed :oops:

I was looking for a cheaper kit that was mostly complete(shocks, adj trackbar,etc) & I wanted new leaf springs. My MJ is a 2wd & I won't be offroad so I didn't want to spend a pile.

I only have it partially installed(working on it when I have time & am in the mood) but I can tell you this much.

1)The LCA's are very beefy but don't expect much flex.

2)There are no bumpstop extensions. There should be.

3)The kit provides lowering brackets for the brake lines. This is shoddy IMO. I'm getting new longer brake lines.

Haven't tackled the rear yet so I can't comment on that.

 

I plan on running 32x11.50's. They better fit because they are leaning against the shop wall waiting to be bolted up :roll:

[Renegade]

Just a follow up on this lift. I finally got around to finishing it(mostly-still got a few loose ends to tie up) & I am not happy. The rear sits a full 2" higher than the front. It barely clears the 32's on front.

Then there is the big problem. The drivers side front corner sits at least an inch lower than the passenger side. I have double & triple checked the coils for proper positioning & made sure the isolators were OK. I haven't contacted Rusty's yet so I can't speak for them.

I haven't ruled out I may have over-compressed the coil in my compressors when I put it in, but my RE coils compress completely on trails & always retain their ride height so I don't think that's it.

Both coils have the same # stamped on them, but the drivers side coil just looks like it is compressed down further. Weak coil maybe?

 

Anybody ever run into this?

[rockhardzj]

I haven't really heard any bad feedback on TNT, but I only know of 102 people that have used them...

Did I really say 102 people?

 

Wow... I feel like a dumb@$$... I meant 1 OR 2...

[DansGreyMj]

i wouldnt buy it unless it comes with that gator sticker

[Renegade]

The rear sits a full 2" higher. Then there is the big problem. The drivers side front corner sits at least an inch lower than the passenger side.

 

 

Started flipping through some catalogs last night & came up with the obvious fix. JKS "ACOS" adjustable coil spacers. 1 1/4" lift just installing them & infinite adjustability after that. Perfect. Just wish they were cheaper.

[FxRacing282]

id go to the hardware store and put washers in the coil bucket and put them under the current bushing. not worth paying big bucks for some plastic :nuts:

[rockhardzj]

id go to the hardware store and put washers in the coil bucket and put them under the current bushing. not worth paying big bucks for some plastic :nuts:

ACOS spacers are fully adjustable, i think to 3.5 or 4 inches, IIRC. they are made of aluminum and incorporate a poly bushing. but I've seen them on several rigs, and they are nice.

[FxRacing282]

steel washers from hardware store $4.96

fully adjustable poly spacers $too much (+ shipping & sales tax)

[offroader461]

i have ACOS and would never go back....using steel washers--->id pass

 

i bought my ACOS used for 75 bucks...thats the only reason i bought them..other than that id recommend polys..they are cheap

[Renegade]

I ordered the ACOS. If I had a frame lift I would play with poly bushings. I have several laying around, but it's a major job getting those coils in/out & I don't feel like screwing with it :roll:

[Renegade]

I just called Rusty's & was informed I "wasted my money" on the ACOS since the rear leafs will sag down to make the truck sit level after a bit of driving. Anydody experience this? I've never had leafs settle much until they get old.

[FxRacing282]

well you could get some lift shackles. if you can't find any online you can get universal shackles for under $40 at parts store

[HellCreek]

Hi, Renegade,

 

Rusty is correct in stating that the springs will settle. All new leaf springs settle about an inch within the first 1000 miles. This is not the same as sagging, which is what you are referring to on old springs.

 

Besides, pickups are supposed to sit a little higher in the rear so that when the bed is loaded the headlights don't point to the stars. In order to keep a dead-level truck from sagging in the rear when loaded, you would have to have some pretty heavy springs, which would make it ride really rough when empty.

 

We are working on a kit, and we intend to make the rear about 1 to 1-1/2 inches higher in the rear.

[Renegade]

Yeah all that stuff is fine, but I've swapped in dozens of leaf packs over the years & haven't had any settle that much, although they were all heavy packs for fullsize trucks. Plus now with the ACOS installed to their lowest setting(bottomed out) the rear STILL sits at least 1 1/2" higher. Hoping it will settle out to level.

The Rusty's guy kept telling me the front coils were tall enough to clear 33's. Bull. That's where the problem is. I BARELY clear the 32's. The website pic shows their truck TOWERING over 32's. My front is nowhere near that.

I absolutely HATE a lifted truck that has the rear jacked up higher. Looks stupid. I won't be hauling anything so level is what I'm after.

 

 

Sorry to sound like a jerk. I'm just completely fed up with this.

[HellCreek]

No sweat, Renegade. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. If you look at my Avitar, my Comanche has our 4-1/2" lift installed, and it is sitting 1-1/2" high in the rear. If you want a level truck, you need 4-1/2 inch coils in the front and 3 inch rear springs. We are using Rough Country coils on the front.

 

Thanks,

Tom

[Renegade]

I guess I'm being pretty rough on Rusty's. In all fairness it sat low in front from stock. I threw in 1 1/2" spacers to level it out before I lifted it. Now I just did the same thing with the ACOS after the lift.

I never gave it a thought, though. Most any kit you see advertised is altered to level a truck(6"front, 4" rear springs for example). Heck you can even buy "leveling kits" for new stock trucks.