Saving pennies - doing it myself.

[Hipee]

Well, I've decided on a lift/tire size. I called my nearest 4 wheel drive shop to get a quote on buying it and having them install it - WAY too much money.

So the question is, how difficult would it be for me to install a 4" lift on my 2003 TJ?

Keep in mind, my automotive repair skills are in the level of changing my oil, brake job, belts/hoses, and just basic maintenance. I was particularly looking at the RE 3.5" SuperFlex lift. Any welding involved?

Thanks.

[IndyXJ]

Personally, I'd advise hooking up with a local club and having a wrench party. Dig in and learn what you can under the watchful eye of the more experienced.
I don't the threshold where an SYE is needed for TJ's. But that should be addressed as well.

[Landon]

Hey there Hippee...I agree with Indy. Forst off, no welding should be involved. Micah and I installed my lift, and I had never done anything like before. Micah had only done it twice before. As indy said, a small "wrench party" can be the ticket. Jeepers love to work Jeeps, and you will learn alot by installing your own lift with the help of others. Hope this helps. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tu.gif

[Paul E]

I am not the most mechanically inclined, but I was able to install my basic 2.5" lift by myself. If you lift is just the shocks/springs and adj trackbars, you should not have too much problem.

If you are doing a drop pitman, longer control arms, and/or a SYE, having somebody there who knows what it is going on (and to provide another set of hands!) would be great!

A lift is not complex - you just need to go through it SLOWLY and be sure to think things through AND make sure that any bolt you undo, you will need to redo. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[kevin]

hippee.
You shouldnt have any problems installing your lift. Just get a bunch of people together for a wrench party. I intalled my superlift 4 inch a few weeks ago with a buddy of mine. We could use the garige my friend worked at so we had accesss to air tools and one of those car jacks that will lift the jeep several feet off the ground. I installed my lift fairly successfully, except a few broacken bolts here and there. Putting a new suspention on seems like a big deal but it is really much easier than you would think.
kevin

pic of my install
http://www.itsajeep.org/PhotoPost/showphoto.php/photo/9306/cat/15394

[Dave Taylor]

You can do it.
I'm not a wrench specialist by any long shot; but have been able to install body spring and body lifts; newer springs, axles, etc....you just gotta take your time.

One of the best peices of advice I can give is this:

For whatever upgrade you're going to do; spend several hours surfing the web, looking for write-ups and articles that other Jeepers have written talking about doing the same upgrade. Store them off in a favorites folder; then we you have 5 or 6 good articles by several folks talking about the same upgrade; print them out; and go to your lazyboy recliner with a big coke and start reading.

Read all of them; paying attention to the things the all do the same; etc...and especially any warning comments or steps that seem important that someone may not have mentioned in one of the articles. Read them through a couple times; and you should kinda get familiar with what you are going to do; before you do it....

This will make it so much easier before you begin. It will be like you have done it before anyway.

Then, if you still have questions or issues; you can post questions around on here and other boards; to get that final bit of confidence.

p.s. If you have an air-compressor and air-tools with an impact hammer, it will really speed things up; and help getting your swaybar detached.

p.s.s. Rent a Coil Spring Compresser from Autozone. Yeah, you can remove and install coilsprings without them by playing see-saw games with the axle position; but it is much less of a headache with the compressers.

[Hipee]

Thank you all for the great replies. My dad is a mechanic and owns a large air compressor and tools. Maybe I can convience him to lend me a hand.

As far as a wrench party with a local 4x4 club....we don't have any around here. Atleast not in this county.

Thanks again all. I'll keep you all posted.

[Marlon_JBT]

I hate to hijack your thread, Hipee, but how much does Autozone charge for the spring compressor? I think I'd much rather give the front struts to a shop, but if it's a little bit cheaper... then... hey. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[kevin]

a spring compressor from autozone at least the one i went to was a loner. YOu pay $40 as a deposit. if you return it you get your money back.. And there is no due date.

kevin

[Rit]

I helped on a new Rubi and we never used a compressor. I don't know much about TJs but I've been told you won't need one. I've done leafs 3X (including mine) and they can be brutal because of road salt here. I don't remember what year you have but hopefully it's not too rusty. It was an RE with new springs and arms, all new stuff, quality kit.

2 good floor jacks can make things easier for moving the axles around (2 on each axle).

Good luck,