Jeep JK Wrangler 2.5″ Budget Boost
Installation Write-Up

48 Comments

1. I was wondering what the difference was between the 2.5″ BB, and the 2.5″ lift that comes with new coils. Is that it, instead of spacers you just get longer coils? Which do you recommend? Great website too, thanks for the info.

2. yup, that’s it. one is cheaper and the other gives you new coils. if you can afford it, i would recommend getting the new coils.

3. What I didn’t understand are the relocation brackets.
   Why would you mount a rear one to recenter the rear axle, and not something for the front axle?
   How can you bring in perfect alignment both 2 axles with this 2,5″ kit?
   I have a 2008 sahara with 18″ stock wheels. TKS!

4. driving around with your axles not recentered is not so much of a problem but, in the rear, the axle shift is enough that depending on how wide your tires are, the driver side side wall can come into contact with the rear sway bar. better than a relocation bracket, i would recommend that you get an adjustable track bar both front and rear.

5. Eddie,
   Thanks for the site, where did you find the kit for $225 the cheapest I have seen it with adapters is $325.

6. the kit i had was one of the first and was offered with less parts. the new kits are more complete and that is what you are paying for.

7. thanks for the write up, i just bought the terraflex 2.5 spacer lift for my 07 x 2 door. my question is will this kit level the jeep or will i need a 3/4 spacer also, the jeep is completely stock now. the kit didnt come with shock ex. im planning on buying more shocks before i install the lift

8. “level” is completely subjective and what most people consider to be level, i think is nose high. having said that, if you want your front end to be nose high, no, this kit will not do that for you and the addition of a a 1/2″ or 3/4″ spacers is what you will need.

9. thanks for the info, i guess ill have to buy some spacers

10. Eddie, I have a JK Unlimited X and would like to buy the TeraFlex 2.5″ Budget Boost with shock extensions. My Jeep has manual transmission but I didn’t understand the part of the sway bar. Do I need to buy the package with sway bar or the other one? Also I have the ARB JK front bumper with a WARN XD9000I, and my other question is if it this lift kit would do it for a 285/70-R17 or 33 with factory wheels. Thanks!

11. i’m pretty sure they all come with the extended sway bar links now. as far as tires go, yes, they will fit but you may find it necessary to install a set of wheel spacers to help reduce your back spacing enough to clear your rear sway bar link ends.

12. I was wondering whats the best lift for a 2009 wrangler jk unlimited with stock rubicon tires on aftermarket XD rims. I dont want it to look silly, but also want to get the most lift possible.

    David

13. i guess that depends on how big of a tire you want to run.

14. I am going to use the stock tires for now. Do u think the 2.5 will be enough without alot of fender space.

15. you will not have any problems if you run stock tires.

16. Hello,

    Found your website and have a Question.

    I’m a Newbie @ owning a jeep. I just purchased a 2010 Jk sport Islander. It came with stock Rubicon “17 inch wheels & 255(31’s) MT BF Goodrich tires. I will not be “Off roading� hardcore, just want to beef my ride up a little. What is the best Budget lift to put on (2″ or 2.5″) so I can put 33/12.5/17 AT on it?

    PS: I was told I only had to put a 2″ spacer on front and I can run 33’s. Is this the case on this model? I want to be sure and buy the correct thing!!! Doesn’t need to be high dollar!!!!

    Other than the lift kit is there any other out of pocket part additions I will need to beaware of to run 33/12.5/17

    Thanks for any help!! Eric in Michigan

17. Hey guys! Loving all the advice and stories, they truly are helpful. I am in the process of building my first jeep ( ’10 JK 2 door) and I want to run either 33’s or 35’s. Just wondering what lift you guys would recommend? Something like this 2.5? or something a little bigger?

    Any feedback is useful especially from those who have lifted their own jeeps.

    Thank you

18. 2.5″ and a 1″ body lift will get you clearing 35’s no problem

19. Sick! thank you! and would i have to swap out anything else (axles, drive shafts) to run 35’s? I have a 2010 2 door sahara trail edition

    thanks

20. if you plan on running your factory wheels, you will need to install a set of wheel spacers.

21. Ok perfect, last question, any recommendations on tires? and is it really worth 35’s? or stick with 33’s?

    Thanks for everything

22. if you’re even considering it, yes, you’ll want 35’s. as far as what time to get goes – depends on what you need them to do.

23. this is probably a stupid question, is there a good ‘all-round’ tire?? for like, hardpack dirt, some sand, some crawling, a bit of mud? or does that not exist?

24. I am running a 2007 Sahara Unlimited. I was wanting to know what is the better lift for ride quality between the TeraFlex BB, TeraFlex 2.5″ suspension lift, or 3″ TeraFlex suspension lift. This is my daily driver. I also will be running 18×9 black XD 778 wheels and would like to know what size tire would look and handle the best? Tires I’ve been looking at are Nitto Mud Grappler, BFG KM2, Mickey Thompson MTZ, Procomp XTreme M/T. This Jeep is more for show and very little off-roading.

25. max, a good all around tire for the terrain you have stated would in my opinion be a set of toyo mt’s.

    andy, if your jeep is mostly for show, you should probably just get the BB with shock extensions as that will ultimately retain the ride you have now. the suspension lifts are nice but are designed more for the off roader and will provide a different ride than what you have now. some would say it’s better and some would not. as far as tire size goes, a set of 305’s might be the best fit but, you can probably get away with as much as 35’s.

26. Will need to make any modifications with the teraflex 3″ suspension lift and will 35s fit without rubbing?

27. if you don’t already have aftermarket wheels with 4.5″ of back spacing or less, you will need to get 1.5″ wheel spacers

28. Eddie,

    Will the stock tire carrier be able to hold a 35″ tire without any problems or will I need to get a tire carrier? Thanks for all the info the information is great!

    Thanks,
    Andy

29. you can do it so long as you install an adapter or wheel spacer to give the tire some clearance. you will also need to install some rubber isolator extensions to insure the side wall of your spare is making full contact with them. if you do not, your spare will jiggle and that can cause your tire carrier to break over time. also, the added weight as a whole will eventually cause stress to your tailgate and it’s hinges. personally, i would recommend a bumper tire carrier.

30. Eddie,
    Should be my last question before I get everything ordered and put on. I am ordering my wheels tomorrow and there are two that are little bit different in a few of the numbers and was wondering if you could give me a little help on which one I need. This will be going on a 2007 unlimited sahara with a 3″ lift and running 35’s.

    One: 18×9, 5×5.0/135 offset: -12mm center: 87.1mm BKSP: 4.53″

    Two: 18×9, 5×5.0/5.5 offset: -12mm center: 78.1mm BKSP: 4.53″

    Need to know the one that would fit the best that is if either one would fit at all. The wheels are the XD Monster. Again thanks a lot for all the input.

    Thanks,
    Andy

31. I am stuck and need help! I am trying to decide if I should get a Teraflex budget boost with springs and shock adaptors or just spend the money and get the full Teraflex 2.5 lift suspension system. What would you recommend?

    and if i do go with just the BB with springs and adaptors, will my front end sag if i throw a bumper/winch combo on??

    Thanks a ton!

    Max

32. andy, both wheels are very similar and you should be fine with either.

    max, if you plan on wheeling your jeep a lot and if you can afford it, i would get the coils. if you just want to have the lift and/or are on a tight budget, the BB will be just fine. a heavy bumper and winch will cause a little sag on anything.

33. I had this exact lift put on last week and it looks great. I know you said no alignment was necessary but I hear it is at the same time, so Im not sure. But I went to the shop to get an alignment (prior to reading this write up) and they were just flat out…”no we cant do it, everything is messed up” they wanted me to buy cam bolts and take it back to my guy who installed the lift and have him re install it. My rear thrust angle was at 0.47 and should be at .25 In addition other than the death wobble that I have experienced in the past few days, I have a constant wobble that wasn’t there before. The shop only adjusted my Toe in but thats all.

    How do I go about getting rid of that wobble and will that rear thrust angle ever be at .25 or not with a lift installed? Someone said they put spacers on their wheels..does this help? I just dont feel comfortable with that unsteady shake constantly.

34. martin, i say that no alignment is necessary because there is nothing you can align. because your tie rod is connected to the knuckles instead of the drag link, your toe will not have changed. also, because you do not have adjustable control arms, you cannot set your caster. because you have a solid front axle, there is no camber adjustment that can be made. if you take your jeep to an alignment shop, the only thing they can do and will charge you for is to recenter your steering wheel. of course, this is something you can do yourself with a 15mm wrench and 1 minute of your time.

    regarding death wobble, i just want to make sure that what you are experiencing is a uncontrolable extremely violent shaking of your whole jeep and to the point that the only thing that will stop it is bringing your jeep to a stop. anything less than that is just a bad shimmy and NOT the same thing. now, if you really have death wobble, an alignment WILL NOT fix it. more than likely, you have a front track bar with bolts that are not tightend to 125 ft. lbs. of torque. any other constant “wobble” you might have is most likely being caused by your tires not being balanced properly.

35. I have a 2010 4dr sahara and I want to install this budget lift. I will be leaving the rest of this jeep stock except for tire size. My question is will this lift also level the jeep and get rid of the raked stance. I cant stand how the front looks lower than the front and I really want the front and back to be even.

36. I have a 2009 JK 2 door and I am wanting to run 35″ inch tires. Would I be able to clear those with this 2.5 inch BB or would I need a 1 inch body lift as well? Are you running a body lift or just the BB in this write-up? Thanks

37. the kit will just lift your jeep evenly. if you want to level out your jeep, you need the leveling kit.

38. I have a 2009 JK 2 door and I am wanting to run 35″ inch tires. Would I be able to clear those with this 2.5 inch BB or would I need a 1 inch body lift as well? Are you running a body lift or just the BB in this write-up? Thanks

39. depending on the 35, you may see minor rubbing when flexing on the trail. a 1″ BL will help eliminate this problem.

40. Hey Eddie

    I am about to install my Teraflex Budget boost..

    I also have the spidertrax spacers – at what point in the Teraflex lift install should I install the spacers??

    Thanks

    Pete

41. just before you reinstall your wheels.

42. If I just got the 2.5″ BB with out the optional shock adaptors, can we still install it?

43. Just ordered the extensions!!!

44. This is to Wayoflife. I did a Rough Country 2.5 inch budget lift on my JK. I had no problems with it at all. I also have Rough Country Quick Disconnects. Now my problem is due to my wife being real short and now pregnant, I took the lift off. Then I took it somewhere to have it re-aligned and to have my new toyo’s mounted and balanced, since then I have been hearing loud clanking noise’s when I go over rough road. I have done some research and some people say maybe the shocks are loose, or maybe the tierods need tighten… I want to know what you think the issue could be… thanks

45. What would cause the rear to feel loose? For example whenever I go over a speed bump I get a loose feeling sway. As if the body was not tightened to the frame. All is tight though. I do hear a rattle sound like a loose washer but can not find it anywhere.

    thanks for any info.

46. This only started after the 2.5 BB was installed.

47. when you say all is tight, are you sure the track bar is torqued to 125 ft bls?

48. Yep, I checked that to make sure it was torqued properly.