Hey everyone… I have a 2006 TJ with the 4.0, and I’m looking to add a 2.5” lift kit along with new shocks. I was thinking about getting a steering stabilizer too. People keep telling me to stay away from Rough Country, but something about their all-in-one package seems appealing. It’s my daily driver, but I also take it off-road now and then. What kits would you guys recommend?
OME all the way… great quality.
Yep, OME is awesome. If you want the best ride quality, Old Man Emu (OME) is hard to beat. It’s a little pricey, but it’s solid. In Australia, they’re limited to only 2 inches of lift, so OME really focuses on ride quality. I’d definitely check it out.
@Max
Thanks! I’ll check them out. Rough Country’s kit does look tempting because it comes with adjustable track bars and everything in one package. Might have to mix and match from different brands.
If you’re just looking for a 2-inch lift, OME springs and shocks are solid. I use Metalcloak, but it’s a bit taller than 2 inches. I also like Bilstein shocks with good springs for my daily driver LJ. I agree with everyone on staying away from Rough Country. My buddy has a 2-inch lift on his TJ with BDS springs and is happy with it.
@Noe
Thanks for the input! I’m leaning toward a 2.5-inch lift so I can eventually run 33-inch tires. Thankfully, my fenders aren’t stock, so I’ve got some extra space to work with.
I’ve had good luck with Zone and BDS. OME is also a great option, as others have mentioned.
OME is great. For steering stabilizers, I’d stick to something close to stock. Going for a super strong or dual setup can wear out other parts faster. Honestly, if your steering system is set up right, you don’t really need one. I drove a while without one when my bolt got loose, and it was fine.
@Joss
Thanks for the advice! I was mainly thinking of a stabilizer to reduce some vibrations at higher speeds. It vibrates a bit over 80 km/h, but I know I need new bushings and boots, too. I’ll start with springs and shocks, then maybe look at adjustable track bars and sway bars.
If you’re lifting, look for something with rebuildable bushings or Johnnie joints; otherwise, you’ll end up needing new control arms when they wear out. I went with Metalcloak, but I’ve got RockJock/Currie on my LJ.
I was a big fan of my OME springs on my JKUR… nice ride.
I tried ordering OME, but the shocks were on back order with a possible 4-month wait, so I went with BDS instead.
Zone lift with Bilstein shocks… a good combo.
I lifted my ’97 TJ with the Teraflex 2.5” kit and OME shocks. I didn’t get the full OME kit because they didn’t have the heavier springs at the time, but the Teraflex kit worked well. I put 32s on mine, and 33s would have been too big for good articulation. Happy with it!