6" Lift Kits for the FJ Cruiser

[Spektrum]

I've seen lots of discussion on 3" lifts and a coule threads discussing the difference in lift sizes, but haven't seen any threads devoted to discussing the newer 6" lift kits out there for the FJ. I'm seriously considering a 6" lift kit, and as far as I know there are three out there at the moment. Pro Comp's stage 1 and 2 lifts, and Fabtech has one with a few options as well. Rough Country has a new one too, but I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with a 6" lift and could recommend one.

So far, the Fabtech with Dirt Logic looks the best for me, since they don't require any cutting of the crossmember, but that's just speculation on my part. I also like Pro Comp's lift, as it is .5" lower, which means lower center of gravity (a bit). Please discuss.

 

[oilsandsfj]

I was also been thinking about purchasing the 6" lift. I was looking at the pro comp myself, as you could get the upgraded shocks with the stage two lift. I asked a few shops, a month or two ago, they told me that the pro comp kits were starting at $3000 (cnd funds). On top of that, I think for all the 6" lifts you need 18" as 16 or 17s will not fit the new spindles, so new you'll need new rims, and with that new rubber too.
So factoring everything in (depending how much you wanna spend on rims/tires and your location) It would probably be somewhere in the neighbor hood of $6000, and since you got the drop braket in the front the only clearance your gaining is 1 or 2 (depending on your current setup)" from running 35s.
Im already running AP coilovers up front and spacers in the rear. I can't at the time (or maybe ever) justify spending that much cash for the 6" lift, and then beating the piss out of it. So unless I win the lottery, or get a huge raise, Im still leaning to getting the donahoe stage two lift, cutting the frame rails out of the front wheel well and running 35s. I am pretty satisfied with the my current set up running 33s, but Im not too big a fan of the AP coilovers, as it seems there is just to much weight on the front end with the bumper and winch now.
Oh and im not sure what kinds of warrenty issues could be had with the cutting of the cross member but it soulds like something you probably dont want to figure out the hard way....

 

[Ratfink1970]

well i alread preordered and prepaid a 6 inch from rough country and they said that i should try my idea i am going to run the rough country 6 in with my all pro coilovers so i can have a coil system with the system they offer at only 1269 not cheap but well worth it and sturdy if you watch there videos on there site i am awaiting and they are being shiped on the 6th of this month i will post up install with the all pro coilovers asap also there isnt any cutting with the rough country thats why i chose it

 

[oilsandsfj]

well i alread preordered and prepaid a 6 inch from rough country and they said that i should try my idea i am going to run the rough country 6 in with my all pro coilovers so i can have a coil system with the system they offer at only 1269 not cheap but well worth it and sturdy if you watch there videos on there site i am awaiting and they are being shiped on the 6th of this month i will post up install with the all pro coilovers asap also there isnt any cutting with the rough country thats why i chose it

Cool, keep us posted, and pics too, I haven't seen anyone good ones of what the clearance looks like.

 

[three%hero]

The pro comp requires minimum 18" wheels. Fabtech and Rough Country do not. Both Rough Country and Fabtech require no cutting of the cross member. I just ordered the Rough Country 6" about fifteen minutes ago after almost a year of following the development of all three 6" lifts (pro comp's is technically only 5.5").

The main reason I went with RC is because after watching videos and reading reviews, this kit seemed to handle just as well as the other two (and it seems to articulate better). And it's only $1279. I think Fabtech with Dirt Logic would be the best set up but it's over $3000 out the foor. The pro comp kit is a bling kit. They rushed through it and IMO they could have built it a lot better.

 

[Lemony]

procomp "6" lift

I installed the stage II procomp lift on my fj, the stock aluminum wheels fit nicely on the rear and I used 1.5" wheel spacers I got from allpro so the front ones would fit. the 1.5 was a blind guess because the original instructions said stock wheels would work but while I was waitning for the second part of the kit to show up they emailed me the new instructions and I needed bigger wheels to clear the calipers and back spacing specs were crazy cuz the wheels they had in all there literature wouldnt have fit but they were running them???

I need to look at fabtec's install instructions to see how the front drive shaft fits without cutting the crossmember.

 

[Yotachick]

I am assuming that Rough Country got all the bugs worked out of this lift. I have a friend that was going to get a free lift from them for advertising purposes but he backed out because the lift was causing the CV joints to blow. I love the looks of the 6" lift I'm just afraid of the CV joint issues

 

[Lemony]

"6" lift

I just looked it up, Fabtech you have to cut out the entire crossmember, on my pro comp I think it was 7" inches of it. I have pictures at home, 2,200 miles on it and there was no way I'd pay someone else to have all the fun but I still like my chain saw's better than the sawzall.

when the FJ goes up the driveshaft comes down, the only way to leave the crossmember intact is leave off the front drive shaft..... my instructions said to skip the cutting part if you had a 2wd.

Do they have the Manual trans vibration's figured out yet? back in Feb the full time 4wd was shakin at about 70mph. I'm old and lazy so I got the fancy shift by itself option and its smart enought to know at 70 I dont need 4wd.

 

[three%hero]

Interesting... I had heard that fabtech didn't require cutting. I talked to Ben at Rough Country and he confirmed that their kit requires no cross member cutting. Not sure how yet. We'll see when my kit gets here.

 

[DigitalPunk]

I had the 6" RC lift on my FJ, installed it in my garage and didn't need to do any cutting (Sept for making room for the tires). Never had an issue with it. After its installed it needs a MAJOR alignment as you wont even be able to drive it until thats done. Parts where stout.

Also, I was able to use the stock FJ wheels too. They claim and everyone claims you need a larger wheel but that is not true. I did however run spidertrax wheel spacers but pretty sure it would have been fine without them even.