Will 2" suspension lift on my 04' wrangler affect the ride, mpg, tranny, etc.?

Question

I want to get a 2" suspension lift on my 04' jeep wrangler X. I currently have 31x10.50 MT tires . Will the suspension lift affect my transmission (auto), ride, or mpg? Also, I will need to add into the equation that I may get 15x8 rims vs. 15x7.

Answer 1

A 2" suspension lift will not affect your mpg. The only effect on your transmission will be more work for your uni joints, which will wear out sooner, but not by much. Ride won't be affected, but handling will in that the centre of gravity of your vehicle will be raised which will mean a bit more body roll and it being a little more unstable.
Bigger width rims and wider tyres shouldn't make a lot of difference at all to anything apart from a bigger road footprint. This is good in normal driving but can be a problem in torrential rain, giving you slightly less grip and easier aquaplaning because of the larger x-section of tyre in contact with the road with accompanying less downward pressure/sq. inch. It'd only be minor with this width change.

Answer 2

The lift probably won't affect your transmission or you fuel economy however it noticeably affect your normal driving comfort. A raised suspension means a higher center of gravity which can make it easier to throw the vehicle off balance while cornering at higher speeds. The 15x8 rims should give it a wider stance which helps, though this might effect your milage since both the rims and tires will be heavier. It will also allow more wind to pass under car making it seem like it's lifting off at higher speeds. Also, in open valleys or areas with strong crosswinds you may be affected more than usual. Suspension lifts also mean more wheel travel which is great for off-roading or dirt roads. Oh, and stuff looks closer than it actually is. If you're getting the lift just to make your car look cool, I wouldn't. If you're getting it to actually have a purpose than go for it. Just remember to take turns slow until you get used to how it drives. My friend rolled his '97 ford ranger right after he got his lift kit installed.

Answer 3

You can usually go up to 3" of suspension lift with no trouble at all. Just be sure to have it aligned once the lift kit is installed as the lift will effect your front end alignment. Also, the 31X10.50 tires should not be mounted on anything less than an 8 inch wide rim.

Answer 4

it all depends on the drive line angles after the work is done. if you have standard universal joints, you have a limitation on how much you can lift it, but if you have constant velocity joints, you have more room to play with. with u joints, you want pretty close to a 4 degree angle in relation of the drive shaft to the transfer case and the differential inputs. if you go too extreme the drive shafts will develop issues trying to carry power through the joints them selves