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craigperth
06-09-2011, 11:43 PM
Ok I don't think I qualify for my own build sheet yet... But any change is part of a build, I am very limited in funds (why buy a jeep??) and have a champagne taste on a beer budget as they say... So what do I currently have?

Bought a 2010 feb build jku in June 2010, new. 45k for the 4 door sport with mygig, tow kit, mopar winch bar (no winch) mopar 2" lift kit and auto trans cooler. So not a bad deal... Of course I have both hard and soft tops and she is v6 auto with (I believe) 3.73 gearing.

Have done some minor changes, front bash plate (plastic one was doomed really)... Front tow/recovery points, tinting onto the windows.

So that's where she currently stands..

Now the mopar 2" lift, I call it a "military lift" she is hard and stiff, you feel everything but it gives the jeep character! However as so many people say and my wife experiences... You get sea sick when riding in it. She hates getting into the jeep, so when we both go out the jeep stays home... Not great...

So what to do? New lift? 2" or bigger, what brand? Everyone has "their favorite" sometimes cause they like the dealer selling the kit, sometimes because they use it... Heck sometimes people tell you to stay away from a kit purely cause try don't like the guy selling it! So how the heck do you work out what to buy?

So in doing this I have looked at about 5 or 6 brands, ppm/synergy, Tera flex, evo, rancho, old man emu, skyjacker... Then short arm or get the better more horizontal arms and therefore go long arm kit, remember the more horizontal the arms the better... But short arm is a bolt on, long arm requires welding etc...

So now I know lca is long control arms... Good I think I understand??

So what brand? Australia loves arb and thus loves old man emu, but te guys on here and Melbourne jeep club love ppm/synergy stuff... USA forums love evo and Tera flex... So that did not help any!! Evo and Tera don't seem to be talked about much here on ajor or the jeep world...

So at this stage I learn a very good lesson, the suppliers we have here in Australia, mainly vic at sbr offroad and bill (sorry manny never spoke to you) are very patient and understanding guys, they talk slow and in simple terms and spend how ever long you need them to on the phone answering the basic of basic questions (what's a control arm? Castor??) you get the idea... I thank them both very Much for the time they spent with a new guy trying to work out how to get a nice ride in the jeep.. Oh and now I hear about progressive springs... Some love them some don't... Bit like anything really you can get the answer you want off the net, there is enough people with enough opinions that you can from the answer you want, not the one you need.

To try and keep this short so you read past this line, I quickly realized there was two kits to choose from... Ultimately evo was the cream da la cream... The next step down was a Tera flex kit or a Polly/synergy setup... Tera from sbr offroad and ppm from dbor... Tera flex kit included everything the ppm kit but did not have the drag link flip adaptor, ppm kit also did not have the 8 adjustable arms but were basically the same price... But what about shocks? Ppm? Tera flex? Ellis twin tube or fox twin tube? Oh and by twin tube I mean ones with a resovoour .

Elka are the cream da la cream of the shock world (well put of the above ones, sure I could go kings or bilstielns)... Bit the next issue the elka's are tuned to teraflex spring rates as are the fox... But dbor sells fox for use with ppm so they must also be tuned for ppm spring rate... Ella give the best ride by far, intact on USA forums the Tera and Elka combo are "the closest thing you get to riding coil overs"

Neither sbr offroad and dbor "bagged" out each others product they were both very professional am very helpful while of course hoping I will order their product, both took the time to explain what I needed explaining, which is a great thing... But what I knew was I would buy either ppm kit or the Tera kit with Elka shocks... The USA forums defiantly sway to teraflex (if you search USA forums search synergy as well, same product I believe??)

Well it's late, going to bed... Will edit and update this post later :)



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WHHEMI
07-09-2011, 09:42 AM
I have the OME lift in mine (07 crd auto JKU) and it's been in for 4 years and 110,000k with no problems and no complaints. So not everyone is unhappy with OME, The only thing I would suggest is to work out what you want from your jeep and it's suspension and go from there, don't worry to much about what you hear on the US forums as they have different conditions than we do. Try and get a ride in a few jeeps with different kits fitted and make up your own mind, also a few more details about what the intended use is ie: touring, crawling DD etc would help people give you some ideas, but ultimatly what suits others may not suit you, even if it has a great name.

craigperth
07-09-2011, 09:52 AM
Yeah good point... I was tired last night (had been up since 4am) so crappy write up so far and missed heaps of details! Will "edit it" and add more info :)

But your right there is a lot of ome gear around ESP in non-jeeps and they love the gear!!


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double black offroad
07-09-2011, 10:57 AM
I am not selling the Elkas anymore as both Teraflex and Elka wont warranty the product.

craigperth
07-09-2011, 11:36 AM
I am not selling the Elkas anymore as both Teraflex and Elka wont warranty the product.

Really?? That's interesting and an issue for Tera flex suppliers!!


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Nemesis
07-09-2011, 11:38 AM
Craig come and have drive of my jeep if your in the area, mine is a hybrid of ppm aev and suspension stuff.

craigperth
13-09-2011, 11:31 AM
Thanks for all the comments guys :) Nemesis I will be needing your expert advice and help soon, hoping your available when I need your brain :)

where am I at? I have ordered a "customised" lift kit from SBR Offroad in Perth (www.sbroffroad.com.au) I say customised cause I have hassled the **** out of Vic to ensure I get what I need and want of course while spending the least amount of $$ LOL

What I am getting is 8 adjustable short arms, 3" lift kit (with brackets, spacers, braided brake lines for the front and rear brackets etc... JKS quick disco's and other bits and pieces)

AND YES Elka Shock's. 4 of them. I know what everyone is going to say in light of DBOR experience with Elka but I have spoken at length with Vic from SBR Offroad and his answer was, "its my issue not yours, its between me and the supplier and not you, any issues and I will solve it... you dont need to worry about any issues unless you damage the gear"... Tera flex do offer warranty on all products sold, but once again not my problem its SBR OFFROAD'S IF and I say IF I have a warranty claim...

Cant wait to get the gear, the shocks are on B/order as they have a few changes from the "old style" and the new ones have not hit the shelf yet in the USA... they are improved design (heat dissipation etc...)

Dan (Crawl3R) and I are looking to do most of the install ourself, with luck someone can help me "dial" in the arms to get caster and pinion right as I have no idea how to do that, they come at stock length so can be used right away...

Next on the wish list is a new tie rod, adjustable track bar and maybe some other toys :)

now I know a lot of people will say I am silly going Tera Flex, BUT on the USA forums Tera is one of the best kits and gets a massive good rap... its loved over there, yes ther conditions are different to ours but a JK is a JK...

Watch this space... I have a few more weeks to wait for the gear to arrive :( Bugger!!

craigperth
15-09-2011, 12:49 PM
Have ordered some replacement side steps from Blackjack Welding to replace the one I damaged in Harvey :) Insurance has paid for the replacement one

Watch this space...

crawl3r
15-09-2011, 01:06 PM
we want pics!!!!!!!

craigperth
15-09-2011, 01:24 PM
Take about 2 weeks... should be fitting around the 28th or so... dont worry will share Pics :)

craigperth
07-11-2011, 11:27 AM
Been a while guys,

just been fixing a few of the things that were not done correctly on the lift install... slow process but getting there... learnt a few things along the way which is good and some not so good... but i LOVE the teraflex lift... its an awesome bit of kit... 1 of the adjustable arms weighs as much as the old 8 jeep arms! and I have installed all 8 arms!

I have a few pics but the guy who has them all wont part with them to me :( long story (but lets say not all jeepers are the same) so cant share to many pics with you all... but anyone local is welcome to come and see the rig or the newly designed Elka's! they are amazing!!

Cheers

crawl3r
07-11-2011, 11:42 AM
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h108/real_mofo69/P1030439-1.jpg
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h108/real_mofo69/P1030468.jpg
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h108/real_mofo69/P1030466.jpg
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h108/real_mofo69/P1030467.jpg
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h108/real_mofo69/P1030442.jpg
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h108/real_mofo69/P1030440-1.jpg
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h108/real_mofo69/P1030441-1-1.png
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h108/real_mofo69/P1030446-1.png
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h108/real_mofo69/P1030447.jpg
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h108/real_mofo69/P1030451.jpg
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h108/real_mofo69/P1030449-1.png
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h108/real_mofo69/P1030465.jpg
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h108/real_mofo69/P1030460-1.png

make sure you have re-tightened all your bolts as recommend after a few hundred k's.

craigperth
07-11-2011, 12:18 PM
Thanks Dan...

craigperth
12-11-2011, 03:21 PM
Elka's yeah baby!! These things are amazing... Mount a square curb and your still wondering when you are going over it... Hit my curb and ontoy grass at about 15 and did not feel it... Amazing piece of engineering... Just amazing and I am so bloody happy!

Thanks Vic @ www.sbroffroad.com.au

http://img.tapatalk.com/7cb23c9a-1052-4eab.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/7cb23c9a-1061-beaa.jpg

Yup diff's need new covers... They are coming next year!


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craigperth
12-11-2011, 03:22 PM
http://img.tapatalk.com/7cb23c9a-109a-3724.jpg


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