Do all lifts ride stiff?

[JZLAJeep]

We don't have a lot of experience with lifts, but we have now owned two XJs that are lifted and both ride/rode noticeably worse than stock suspension. Do all lifts ride stiff? In principle I guess it makes sense that to make the vehicle higher the suspension components need to be taller and stiffer, but if all lifts are as stiff as what we've experienced, then no thanks, we'll pass. I once saw a James May clip where he said car modifications are stupid and always make the car worse (can't find the clip right now) and I'm starting to believe him.

 

One had spacers in the front and taller leaves in the back. Front rode OK. Back rode stiff.

 

Our current lifted XJ (see link below) has a Rough Country lift kit, which I know don't have the best reputation, but I'm surprised at how stiff it rides. I'm actively communicating with a couple guys about buying or trading for their stock suspension take-offs to put it back to stock.

If we were to lift anything it would be the Comanche. I don't know if it's because it's longer or because it has the single row of seats, but it just "feels" low even though I know it's the same height as the stock XJs (I measured). For whatever reason it "feels" like an El Camino rather than a pickup. We'll probably never lift it, but if we were, that's the Jeep we'd lift.

[89 MJ]

Shocks are a huge factor. The amount of lift and angle of the control arms are factors too. But the biggest part will come down to quality of the springs and quality of the shocks. 

[derf]

Spring rate and shocks make the most difference.  Different springs can be softer or stiffer.  Same with shocks.

 

Above about 3-4", the short arms of the XJ/MJ get too steep and ride quality suffers.

[Htchevyii]

In my experience, 3" or more lift on short arms rides terrible. The control arms get low in their arc and must actually move ahead to go upward which creates a harsh ride.  Long arms or drop brackets are the only cure. Our truck was built before all of the fancy long arm stuff came out and has drop brackets. It works so well that I have no reason to change it. The ride difference before and after the drop brackets was incredible.

[ghetdjc320]

Shocks. Grab some OME and enjoy the ride 

[DesertRat1991]

There isn't really a direct relationship between "lifted" and "stiff."

 

Suspension requires tuning just like every other automotive system.  It's just a math problem that needs solving. That said, it took hundreds of engineers and millions of dollars to ensure a well-balanced and comfortable ride as delivered from the factory. 

 

In the aftermarket, few people actually tune their suspension.  They just bolt stuff on and expect peak performance. If you want a really nice ride, take it to a shop that understands weights, measures and geometry to get it sorted out.  An offroad chasis builder might have someone who knows what they are doing.

[derf]

1 hour ago, DesertRat1991 said:

There isn't really a direct relationship between "lifted" and "stiff."

 

Suspension requires tuning just like every other automotive system.  It's just a math problem that needs solving. That said, it took hundreds of engineers and millions of dollars to ensure a well-balanced and comfortable ride as delivered from the factory. 

 

In the aftermarket, few people actually tune their suspension.  They just bolt stuff on and expect peak performance. If you want a really nice ride, take it to a shop that understands weights, measures and geometry to get it sorted out.  An offroad chasis builder might have someone who knows what they are doing.

That's the thing about OME.  They didn't sell kits.  They sold parts you could pick and choose from and tune.

[JZLAJeep]

1 hour ago, DesertRat1991 said:

That said, it took hundreds of engineers and millions of dollars to ensure a well-balanced and comfortable ride as delivered from the factory. 

 

In the aftermarket, few people actually tune their suspension.  They just bolt stuff on and expect peak performance. If you want a really nice ride, take it to a shop that understands weights, measures and geometry to get it sorted out.  An offroad chasis builder might have someone who knows what they are doing.

 

 Amen.

 

We are family friends with the owner of the main 4x4 shop in town. I'm sure his shop could do a good job tuning suspension. He'll build a $200K Jeep if you want him to, but we are at the far other end of the spectrum... 

 

[Tex06]

Too bad you're not closer. I'd let you go for a ride in my Comanche.... it does in fact ride better than stock at this point. I put a lot of time and effort into getting it this way though. 

[dasbulliwagen]

I built mine to ride good with lift. I did spring over in the rear on my 2wd springs with longer shackles and Bilstein 5100's. The front I went with 5.5" Rubicon Express springs, RRO drop brackets, and adjustable Core4x4 control arms and track bar with Bilstein 5100's. It rides almost as good as stock. The Bilsteins are a touch firm so that is probably part of it, but it really isn't bad. I'd rather it be firm than too soft and wallowy. The control arm angles are a huge part of ride feel especially if the angles aren't corrected with drop brackets or the use of a long arm setup. Shocks are a close second, and Rough Country has a bad rep for their terrible shocks. If I were you, I'd change shocks first, see how it does, and if you're still not happy, save up for drop brackets or long arms. Good luck. 

[watchamakalit]

Mine doesn't ride like stick but not like a log wagon either. I would describe mine as being somewhere in-between a 1\2 and 3\4 ton truck ride. Not painfully stiff but not a caddy either. 

[EUREKA]

On 9/22/2025 at 4:06 PM, Tex06 said:

Too bad you're not closer. I'd let you go for a ride in my Comanche.... it does in fact ride better than stock at this point. I put a lot of time and effort into getting it this way though. 

You have a 3 link right?