TJ Lift Kit Options — Coil vs. Long Arm

The TJ runs a coil-sprung suspension at all four corners, which makes lift kits cleaner than the leaf-sprung XJ. The catch is the short factory control arms: when you lift the body, the axle pivots forward through an arc, caster drops, and the driveshaft angles steepen. Coil spacers ignore all of that and push the body up. New taller coils with matched shocks address ride height correctly. Adjustable control arms fix axle position and caster. Long arms fix the geometry by moving the control arm pivot rearward, which flattens the arm angle and brings the suspension closer to factory geometry at full lift height.

Tiers worth knowing about: a budget coil spacer kit from Rough Country runs about $250 and gives 2 to 2.5 inches — fine for a daily driver clearing 31s, terrible if you want to actually flex on a trail. A mid-range new-coil kit (Old Man Emu Heavy 2.5", Rubicon Express Super-Flex 3.5", Metalcloak Game-Changer 3.5") sits in the $1,200 to $1,800 range with shocks and adjustable arms — this is the sweet spot for the vast majority of TJ builds. A long arm upgrade from Clayton, Savvy, or Currie runs $2,500 to $3,500 plus install, requires welding new frame brackets onto the unibody, and only makes sense if you're building for 35-inch tires, 4.5+ inches of lift, or daily rock crawling. Rough Country's long arm kits are cheaper but cut corners on bushings and brackets — many TJ owners report squeaks and premature wear.

The single most important add-on at any lift height is the slip yoke eliminator (SYE) plus a CV rear driveshaft. At 3 inches and up, the stock NP231 transfer case output is at an angle the slip yoke can't handle, and you get vibration that no amount of u-joint cycling will fix. Budget another $700 to $1,000 for the SYE and driveshaft on top of the lift itself. A 3.5-inch short arm kit, slip yoke eliminator, adjustable track bars, and an alignment is the most common "complete" mid-range TJ build.

Don't lift higher than you need. Each inch of lift pushes the center of gravity up, hurts on-road manners, and forces another bracket of compromises (adjustable track bar, longer brake lines, longer sway bar end links, possibly re-gearing). A 3-inch TJ on 33s is a more capable trail rig than a 6-inch TJ on 35s for most people.

Steps

1. Decide tire size first. Lift exists to clear the tires you want — not the other way around.
2. Pick a lift height: 2 to 2.5" clears 31s and 32s, 3 to 3.5" clears 33s, 4"+ for 35s.
3. At 3" and up, plan for: adjustable track bars (or relocation brackets), SYE and CV rear driveshaft, longer brake lines, longer sway bar links.
4. Pick coil spring rates appropriate to your weight — front winch bumper and rear tire carrier require heavy springs.
5. Install kit per manufacturer instructions. Torque all suspension bolts at ride height, not at droop.
6. Get a four-wheel alignment after install. Caster should land between 4 and 6 degrees.
7. Re-check torque after the first 100 miles on the trail.

Why it works

• Coil suspension means lifts are usually bolt-in up to 3.5"
• Mid-range short arm kits give 95% of the long arm benefit at half the cost
• TJ aftermarket support is deep — every brand makes a kit
• Adjustable arms recover caster without welding

Trade-offs

• Cheap coil spacer kits ride harshly and don't add wheel travel
• Long arm kits require welding and frame fabrication
• Any lift over 3" needs SYE plus CV driveshaft, adding $700–$1,000
• Lift adds rollover risk if you stack lift on lift on tires

Tools required

• floor jack
• jack stands
• spring compressor (or coil pull method)
• metric sockets
• torque wrench
• welder (long arm only)

Parts

Sources

• Choosing the Right Jeep Lift Kit: Long vs. Short Arm Lift Kits
• Long arm vs adjustable short arm worth the $$$?
• Metalcloak TJ Long Travel Short Arm Lift Kit

Related

• Short-Arm vs Long-Arm: Which TJ Lift You Actually Need
• TJ Front Coil Spring Replacement
• All Jeep Wrangler TJ guides & tools
• Browse the full DIY database

Written and maintained by an AZ wheeler and driveway wrencher. How we source guides. Always cross-reference your factory service manual — modifications affect vehicle safety and warranty. Work at your own risk.