4" Rough Country Lift require longer brake lines?

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WestSlopeCruiser

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I found a good deal on a 4" lift kit for my 1972 fj40.... $620 delivered to my door. My truck is 100% stock and I want to minimize problems I might have installing this kit as I'm trying to install myself w/ my brother in law who has done a couple of heeps, but never worked on a cruiser. I'm a newbie owner and mechanic of limited skill.

I don't want to get into problems with extending and bleeding brake lines, and/or modifying driveline lengths. When I called the tech line for Rough Country they said no modifications would be needed. When I talked to Man a Fre, they said a 4" lift kit would probably require longer brake lines... 2 in front and 2 in rear, but these aren't included with the Rough Country kit. The company who is selling the rough country kit gave my their tech service line when i asked about the fitment issues.

If the 4" kit requires much more advanced skills to install, I may go with new 2 1/2" shackles, new bushings, new shocks and add a leafs in the rear, just to level my sagging rear end. If I do that, should a get new U bolts or re-use the old ones?

Part of me is saying if I go to the labor to tear it all apart, I might as well be putting a new kit in rather than have to repeat when the add a leafs play out. Your advice is appreciated. Like many I am on a budget and I paid $2800 for the cruiser with 125K miles late last summer. I don't want to do gnarly rock climbing at this point, just beginner to moderate trails.

Add a leaf vs. new 4" kit?
Need to lengthen brake lines, difficulty in bleeding caliper brakes?
New or re-use U bolts?

Thanks to all!
 
Pretty straight accross swap. Make sure you have jack stands in the right place. Do one axle at a time. and yes I believe you will need longer brake lines. I shouldnt be too bad.
 
the prob is wen the suspension droops thats wen the brake lines will be maxed out, install the 4 incher and see how the lines work. if you install the lift the brakes will be like a walk in the park to upgrade. the kit is just a bolt on should be easy enough. plan on 6 or so hours if you have not the supa skillz.
 
It's a good opportunity to get new lines anyways. My Safari 4" kit came with 2 new steel braided lines but the fittings wouldn't work on my '67 (9mm), thanks Man a Fre. If the '72 has 10mm fittings / lines you can have them.
 
I have that same lift....... I put new lines in... longer ones..........
 
From my research into the same issue, you will definitely need new brake line (I believe 4" is appropriate). Sounds like fireflyr has a set for you at a great price (free!!!).

You will also need to be aware that with a 4" lift you will likely run into camber issues as well. This can be corrected with shims (angle depends on how much your camber needs correcting). The use of shims will require longer leaf pins. Shims and pins can be had from many sources. Make sure that if you have to get shims, get steel shims and not aluminum.

Since it is a 4" lift, there may also be issues with the length of your drive shafts if you go off road and flex it. My understanding is that the drive shafts, under some conditions, may get to where there is very little overlap and in extreme cases, may come apart. If you are going to stick to on road travel, probably not something to worry about. If not, then you may want to worry about it. You could always drop your bump stops down to make sure you don't flex too much.

Good luck!
 
LXCRSR said:
You could always drop your bump stops down to make sure you don't flex too much.
Good luck!
Click to expand...

Dropping your bump stops will only limit your up travel. That is not where the problem with your driveshaft is going to be found. When you drop a wheel below it's normal height- and away from the transfercase- is where issues with driveshaft length are going to be found. This is called droop. I think that some guys on here may be running thier stock driveshafts, but you will need to just put your lift on and then see whether you need to lengthen yours or not....

I would highly recommend just going ahead and doing a 4" lift now... It'll save you from doing it twice when you decide you want more clearance... And just change your brake lines. It easy to do (as is bleeding them) and it is probably a good safety measure anyway. (Those old lines on there now are just that... old!)
 
twoturtlesracing,

Thanks for clarifying the drive shaft length with respect to droop. I was bein dumb.
 
$620 is not necessarily the killer deal of the season, although there are even more expensive kits on the market. We use 28" brake line with our 4" springs, BUT we also plumb them differently than stock. PM me if you want more info on alternative plumbing.
 
LXCRSR said:
twoturtlesracing,

Thanks for clarifying the drive shaft length with respect to droop. I was bein dumb.
Click to expand...

No worries... :)
 
I mailed the stainless lines to you on Friday, so you should have them in a couple days. Jim from Downey Offroad really helped me out with brakelines when I was installing my kit. I can't tell you how much I appreciated that guidance. Hope these are correct and work out for you. You can never tell with Man A Fre.:frown:
 
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