Lift Kit Advice

Hello All,

Firstly, thanks for such a kind welcome to BigJimny!

I am currently researching lift kits, and after lots of looking around on here and other websites I am still a little unsure.

The one I have had my eye on is the Jimnybits 2" lift, but I have read some people on here saying it is probably too good to be true (too cheap)

So what is everyones advice, anyone installed the Jimnybits kit? If not what have you installed, and what would you recommend?

Also, any ideas what additional items are necessary for the install? Do I need:

- Castor correction bushes?
- Rear shop reposition brackets?
- Extended brake hoses?
- Need to remove the anti roll bars?
- Anything else I have missed?

The car is a 2003 '53 hard top, and I am planning to run 215/75/15 MT's

It will not be used on the road much at all, other than driving to / from green lanes and pay n plays

I look forward to your help 

Thanks,
Chris.

 

2-inch lift springs with black raptor shocks. I've had 2 pro comp 2-inch lifts and sorry they weren't black raptor shocks, much nicer ride and more than adequate for the job.
Shouldn't have to extend brake lines.
Do vent your diffs and gearbox and transfer box if you intend to go swimming.
Change the two front bushes on the castor arms with adjusted bushes huge difference in how the steering behaves.
Waxoil your chassis and all the inside body panels.
Axel oil seals at the junction of cv and half shafts (Hubs)
 
Enjoy the process
 

wrote:

2-inch lift springs with black raptor shocks. I've had 2 pro comp 2-inch lifts and sorry they weren't black raptor shocks, much nicer ride and more than adequate for the job.
Shouldn't have to extend brake lines.
Do vent your diffs and gearbox and transfer box if you intend to go swimming.
Change the two front bushes on the castor arms with adjusted bushes huge difference in how the steering behaves.
Waxoil your chassis and all the inside body panels.
Axel oil seals at the junction of cv and half shafts (Hubs)
 

Enjoy the process


Thanks for the advice, nice to see a thumbs up for the black raptor kit!

Seems like I need to research a bit more into venting diffs, transfer box etc. Not sure how deep I will need to go yet though!

Did you also remove the anti roll bars to improve articulation, or was this not necessary for you?

 

On this build, I'm leaving them off (CAUTION) You're doing to have to adjust your driving style and every car you have driven up to this point will have had antiroll and you will have become attuned to the handling characteristics. In a nutshell drive slower and no sudden direction changes.
The previous owner of this Jimny didn't and diff breathers oil was grey /green emulsified swap soup. Combination of damaged diff vent and badly looked after hubs. Easy mod and protects your diffs .
www.jimnybits.com/jimny-2-50mm-black-raptor-lift-kit.html
Just my take on it and not telling you

Your Jimny is going to need a suspension refresh definitely given its age. If, and it's a very big IF, I were inclined towards a lift kit I would go for something like the trailmaster as it's a vehicle specific system designed to work sympathetically with itself on a Jimny. Some of the cheaper kits available simply use parts that fit so you can end up with a lift but the springs are that hard you have no more flexibility than standard or the dampers don't control the axles properly and it rides horribly. On my last Jimny I had trailmaster dampers in their stiffer sport offering and they were awesome for what I was doing at the time being towing and going round corners quickly yet at the same time allowing more movement off road thus negating many of the obvious reasons for a lift. It's also worth bearing in mind that with a 215 tyre you don't actually need the lift for clearance of the tyre against the vehicle and the increase in tyre size will on its own give a useful increase in the approach, ramp and departure angles as well as more air under the differentials. While a lift will also help with the angles it won't of itself give any more air under the differentials and it will also raise the centre of gravity which without a corresponding increase in the base of support, ie the distance of the road springs from the centre of the axles, is going to make for less stability in corners and side slopes. Suzuki spent a lot of time and effort on making the Jimny as capable as it is.

wrote:

Your Jimny is going to need a suspension refresh definitely given its age. If, and it's a very big IF, I were inclined towards a lift kit I would go for something like the trailmaster as it's a vehicle specific system designed to work sympathetically with itself on a Jimny. Some of the cheaper kits available simply use parts that fit so you can end up with a lift but the springs are that hard you have no more flexibility than standard or the dampers don't control the axles properly and it rides horribly. On my last Jimny I had trailmaster dampers in their stiffer sport offering and they were awesome for what I was doing at the time being towing and going round corners quickly yet at the same time allowing more movement off road thus negating many of the obvious reasons for a lift. It's also worth bearing in mind that with a 215 tyre you don't actually need the lift for clearance of the tyre against the vehicle and the increase in tyre size will on its own give a useful increase in the approach, ramp and departure angles as well as more air under the differentials. While a lift will also help with the angles it won't of itself give any more air under the differentials and it will also raise the centre of gravity which without a corresponding increase in the base of support, ie the distance of the road springs from the centre of the axles, is going to make for less stability in corners and side slopes. Suzuki spent a lot of time and effort on making the Jimny as capable as it is.


Thanks, that is great advice!

I understand that the lift kit doesn’t lift the axles, and also that on road it will not be as good. So maybe the best route to go is to start with some tyres and see how I get on.

My local mechanic is going to give it a full check all over in a week or so, so I will get a report on the suspension components, then I guess I have to decide if I buy standard components or go for a lift kit at the point it needs changing.

Interesting the mixed reviews here on the budget lift kits, I am looking forward to more suggestions. 

Thanks,
Chris.