Jeep Wrangler Lift Kits by Generation: TJ, JK and JL Buying Guide

A Wrangler lift is three decisions in order: how much height you need for your tires, which method gets you there, and what else has to change once the Jeep sits higher. The answers differ by generation, and sometimes by door count.

Spacer vs coil vs long arm

All three Wrangler generations covered here use coil springs and solid axles at both ends, so the height comes from the same place on each: the coil, what sits on top of it, or the arms that locate the axle. A spacer is a block that sits with the factory spring and raises the Jeep without changing the spring. A coil lift replaces the spring with a taller one. Short arm kits add adjustable arms and track bars around those springs at the factory mounts. Long arm kits move the arm mounting points, so the arms run longer and change angle less for the same axle travel.

If you only want to fix the factory nose-down stance, you may not need a full lift. Leveling kit vs lift kit covers that decision.

How much lift do you need?

Vendors size kits around tires, so read the tire note first. The figures below come from Clayton Off Road's fitment notes and are guidelines, not guarantees. Clayton lists the Rubicon one tire size larger than the Sport or Sahara at each JL height.

For the TJ, Clayton lists 33-inch tires on stock fenders with its 4.0-inch short arm kit and 35s with its 5.5-inch long arm kit.

Advertised height is a starting point. Clayton says two-door models come out about an inch or more higher than advertised because they weigh less, and four-door gas JLs typically gain an extra half inch to an inch. Heavy bumpers, winches and gear pull the other way. Clayton offers optional heavy-duty rear coils on JL kits for anyone carrying more than 300 pounds of accessories.

TeraFlex sizes JK springs by body style: the same front coil spring kit is listed as 4 inches on a two-door and 3 inches on a four-door.

Lift kits by generation: TJ, JK and JL

TJ and LJ (1997 to 2006)

The TJ has a clear dividing line at 4 inches. TeraFlex's 2-inch spacer kit stacks on the factory rubber isolators, and those isolators must stay in place to reach the advertised height.

At 4 inches, TeraFlex states that a CV-style driveshaft and a slip yoke eliminator kit are required. Its 4-inch base kit also calls for caster correction, may need adjustable arms or an adjustable front track bar, and requires wheels with 4.5 inches of backspacing or less, or wheel adapters.

Clayton's 4.0-inch OVERLAND+ short arm kit bundles eight adjustable arms, track bars, coils, bump stop extensions, brake lines and sway bar disconnects, and Clayton describes it as fully bolt-on. Its 5.5-inch long arm kit is a bigger job: welding, drilling, custom exhaust, longer shocks, a slip yoke eliminator and a CV driveshaft are all listed as requirements. The 4.0-inch rear stretch version is titled at 5 inches, while its description says 4 to 5 inches of added wheelbase, so confirm on the product page. It calls for a new gas tank, a longer rear driveshaft and brake hardline extensions. The longer-wheelbase LJ Unlimited (2004 to 2006) needs arms sized for it, so confirm the kit names your model.

JK (2007 to 2018)

Year matters on a JK. Exhaust spacers come up repeatedly for driveshaft clearance on 2012 to 2018 models, and ReadyLIFT notes that a 2012-and-newer two-door may need a driveshaft with its 4-inch kit.

TeraFlex's 2.5-inch spacer kit needs wheels with 4.75 inches of backspacing or less, or adapters. ICON Alloys sells polyurethane spacers separately for each end: a 2-inch front kit and a .75-inch rear kit, both described as working within factory suspension parameters. Read up on wheel offset and backspacing before you order.

ReadyLIFT's 4-inch kit with Bilstein 5100 shocks includes caster correction brackets, an adjustable track bar and a rear track bar bracket, and ReadyLIFT estimates about 7 hours of install time. The springs-only version lists 35-inch tires, or 37s with flat fenders. ICON's 4.5-inch Stage 1 lists 35s without modification and 37s with aftermarket high-clearance fenders.

Clayton's JK long arm kits come in 2.5, 3.5 and 4.5 inches, for 33 to 34, 35 to 36 and 37-inch tires, with 4.5 to 4.75 inches of backspacing recommended. Clayton calls the standard kits bolt-on, but they require a loop delete and exhaust spacer, a front CV driveshaft on every model and a rear CV driveshaft on two-doors, where it is recommended on four-doors. Two-doors also need a rear adjustable track bar. Its Pro Series versions require welding and custom exhaust work. TeraFlex's Alpine long arm bracket kit takes the other route, with cutting and welding on the factory bracketry.

JL (2018 and newer)

2018 is an overlap year for JK and JL, so confirm which body you have. Many JL kits split on trim and powertrain.

• Rubicon vs Sport and Sahara: ReadyLIFT sells separate 2.5-inch SST spacer kits, and lists tires up to 37x12.50 on a 0 offset wheel for the Rubicon and 35x12.50 for the Sahara and Sport. The Rubicon kit is not for the Rubicon 392.
• Factory 35-inch tire package: ReadyLIFT's JL kits state they do not lift Jeeps with this package.
• 4xe: Clayton's 4xe kits use heavy-duty rear coils to handle the battery pack.
• 392: Clayton says these Jeeps have factory lift already, so its 2.5-inch kit nets about 1.5 inches on an XR and about 1 inch on a standard 392.
• Diesel: Clayton's diesel kits use side-specific rear springs to account for the fuel tank.
• XR models: Clayton's OVERLAND+ and Premium notes call for shorter front bump stop extensions. Its long arm notes call for shorter extensions at both ends and XR rear brake lines.

ReadyLIFT's coil spring kits are not compatible with diesel, 392 or 4xe models. Clayton's gas-engine long arm kits at 2.5 and 3.5 inches are marked four-door only, confirmed on the 3.6 V6 and 2.0 four-cylinder, with weld-on brackets and no exhaust modification needed on those engines. Clayton's 4.5-inch JL long arm kit uses heavy-duty rear springs as standard, and its brackets are also weld-on.

Base kit, full system or staged package

The same height can mean very different boxes. TeraFlex is direct about this: its base kits carry only the basic lift components and do not drive like a full suspension system.

Clayton's JL and JK short arm kits come in three tiers. Ride Right is the entry level, with adjustable upper arms, track bars, sway bar links and coils; some listings include front upper arms only, so check yours. OVERLAND+ moves to eight adjustable arms with Giiro bushings. Premium adds greaseable, rebuildable Johnny joint adjusters. Shocks are not on the included lists.

ICON numbers its packages. Stage 1 for the JL includes dual rate coils, 2.0 Aluminum Series shocks, bump stop spacers and sway bar links. Stage 3 adds adjustable front upper links, tubular front lower links and adjustable track bars. By Stage 8, you have 2.5 Aluminum Series remote reservoir shocks with ICON's compression damping control. ICON says its 2.5-inch JL systems add over 30 percent wheel travel, about 3 inches in front and 2 inches in the rear.

What else changes with height

• Shocks: A lifted Jeep usually needs more shock length. Extensions reuse the factory shocks; longer shocks are the alternative.
• Bump stops: These keep tires out of the fenders at full compression. TeraFlex sizes parts such as its SpeedBump kit for 3-inch JK lifts by lift height.
• Sway bar links: Link length follows ride height, as with TeraFlex's 10-inch TJ quick disconnects for 3 to 6 inches.
• Track bars: Lifting moves the axle sideways and changes the bar angle, which adds body roll. An adjustable bar recenters the axle, and a part like TeraFlex's rear axle bracket for 3 to 6 inches addresses the angle.
• Control arms and caster: Clayton targets 5.5 degrees of caster, against about 4 from the factory, and warns that much less can leave steering light or vague. Some short arm setups need upgraded front lower arms to get there.
• Steering: From about 4 inches, many JK builds change steering geometry. TeraFlex's high steer knuckle pair for 4 to 6 inches needs a drag link flip kit, sold separately, and ICON's 4.5-inch front box kit includes a drag link with flip hardware.
• Driveshafts: Steeper angles can bring vibration and bind. ICON's double cardan front driveshaft covers 2012 to 2018 JK, 2018 to 2026 JL and 2020 to 2026 Gladiator with 0 to 6 inches of front lift.
• Brake lines: Extended lines or drop brackets appear in many taller kits.
• Wheels and gearing: Backspacing limits show up from mild lifts onward. Taller tires also change effective gearing, so many owners look at a regear.
• Alignment and legality: Plan on an alignment after any lift, and TeraFlex lists one as required for its LCG long arm brackets. State height rules and warranty coverage after a lift vary, so check yours.

Building a Gladiator instead? See the Jeep Gladiator lift kit guide. For armor, racks and recovery gear to go with the lift, see the Jeep Wrangler accessories guide.

What NVMOS carries

• TeraFlex 2" Performance Spacer Lift Kit & 9550 VSS Twin-Tube Shocks: TJ and Unlimited, spacers with shocks.
• TeraFlex 4" Coil Spring Base Lift Kit with Quick Disconnects & 9550 VSS: TJ base kit; geometry parts are extra.
• Clayton Jeep Wrangler 4.0" OVERLAND+ Short Arm Lift Kit: TJ and LJ, eight adjustable arms.
• Clayton Jeep Wrangler 5.5" Long Arm Lift Kit: TJ, designed around 35-inch tires.
• TeraFlex 2.5" Performance Spacer Lift Kit & 9550 VSS Twin-Tube: JK two-door and Unlimited.
• ICON Alloys JK 2" Front Coil Spacer Kit: polyurethane, front only.
• ReadyLIFT 4" Coil Spring Lift Kit with Bilstein Shocks: JK, with track bar and caster parts.
• ICON 2007-18 JK 4.5" Lift, Stage 1 Suspension System: includes high-steering components and track bar drop brackets.
• Clayton Jeep Wrangler 4.5" Long Arm Lift Kit: JK, designed for 37x12.5 tires.
• TeraFlex Alpine Long Control Arm & Bracket Kit, 8-Arm: JK at 3 to 6 inches, cut and weld install.
• ReadyLIFT 2.5" SST Lift Kit, JL Sahara/Sport: top-mount spacers that keep the factory coils.
• ReadyLIFT 2.5" Coil Spring Lift Kit With TeraFlex 9550 Shocks: JL, four linear rate coils and four shocks.
• ICON 2018-Up JL 2.5" Lift, Stage 1 Suspension System: dual rate coils and 2.0 shocks.
• Clayton Jeep Wrangler 3.5" OVERLAND+ Lift Kit: JL short arm, eight adjustable arms.
• Clayton Jeep Wrangler OVERLAND+ 3.5" Long Arm Lift Kit: JL four-door, weld-on brackets.

Browse by category: Jeep Wrangler lift kits, Jeep Wrangler parts, all lift kits, Fox for Jeep Wrangler, Bilstein for Jeep Wrangler, shop by vehicle, current lead times and vendor warranty policies.

Frequently asked questions

What size lift do I need for 35-inch tires on a Wrangler?

It depends on generation and trim. Clayton's notes put 35s at 1.5 inches on a JL Rubicon, 2.5 inches on a JL Sport or Sahara, and 2.5 to 3.5 inches on a JK. Wheel backspacing also affects clearance, so check both.

Is a spacer lift bad for a Jeep Wrangler?

Not by itself. A spacer keeps the factory spring rate, so it will not help with sag from heavy accessories, and shocks still need extensions or more length. It suits a mild lift on a Jeep without much added weight.

Do I need a long arm kit?

Most street-driven Wranglers on mild lifts do not. Long arms make more sense when you want more articulation or a taller, trail-focused build, and you are prepared for the extra install work. Many kits involve welding, and driveshaft or exhaust changes may also apply.

Will I need a new driveshaft after lifting my Wrangler?

It depends on height and generation. TeraFlex calls for a slip yoke eliminator and CV driveshaft on a TJ at 4 inches and up. Clayton requires a front CV driveshaft on its JK long arm kits. Check the install notes for your exact kit and year.

Can I use a kit for a JK on a JL?

No. Lift kits are built for one generation, and the listing names it. Both were sold for 2018, so confirm which one you have before you order.

Why do some kits exclude the 4xe, 392 or diesel?

These models carry different weight, and the 392 sits higher from the factory. Clayton sells separate listings for them, and ReadyLIFT's coil spring kits exclude them.

Do I need an alignment after a lift?

Plan on one. Height changes caster and toe, and a lift can also shift axle position. Have it checked after install and follow the vendor's instructions.

Not sure what fits your truck? Call a real person at (920) 249-7744 or send us a message, and we will help you sort it out.