liftin a jimmy

austin9372 · 11-02-2009, 02:46 PM

I've got a 97 GMC Jimmy 2wd 2 door that i'd like to lift 3 to 4 inches so I can fit a bigger tire. It's bone stock now. I'd like the ride to be somewhat like it is now and for it not to destroy my mpgs. Any reccomendations would be appreciated cause I'm a complete noob to most of this.

alarm_the_alarm · 11-02-2009, 03:18 PM

3 inch lift spindles up front and 2 inch lift shackles out back will get you sitting quite a bit higher and have the same ride as stock.

you can get spindles off ebay. AIM spindles for around $240 and shackles off ebay for around $50.

Hope this helps

austin9372 · 11-02-2009, 03:39 PM

alright, thanks man. About how difficult would this be?

992drjimmy · 11-02-2009, 07:40 PM

Spindles are fairly easy.
I find the shackles being the PITA. i always have a hard time getting the bolts out.
DO NOT DO A LIFT SPRING if you want it to ride good. Do the spindles and a 31x10.50 or adda 3" BL to that and a light trim for some 33x10.50's.

Deaths Shadow · 11-02-2009, 07:40 PM

its not difficult, for the spindles you just take off the nuts that hold the ball joints in to the spindle, take off the tie rod that is connected to the spindle and the spindle comes out, then put the new one in. For the shackles there is a bolt that goes through the frame that connects the shackle to the frame, with this bolt be sure to use a lots of PB Blast, and just pound the bolt out. Then unbolt the bolt going through the leaf spring, and put the new shackle in its place.

***What?*** · 11-03-2009, 07:55 PM

Ditto, lift spindle(you're lucky it's a pre 97 because s10 lift spindle fits on pre-97). Shackle in rear, lift the front then measure the rear how you want it to lift, prerunner, level or rake. Whatever you measure the difference is the lift you need but UP to 3"

alarm_the_alarm · 11-03-2009, 11:02 PM

true. shackles can be a PITA. when i did mine i needed a air hammer and a cut off wheel to get um out. try not to wreak the bolts i had to buy 4 new bolts and they were 28 bucks for the bolt with overnight shipping

that was from a local fastnal to.

as for the spindles all you realy need is a ball joint seperator(u can rent from any auto part store)

*READ* MAKE SURE YOU CUT YOUR CALIPER STOPS OFF WHEN DOING THE LIFT SPINDLES THERES A HOW TO FOR AS A STICK IN THE 2WD SECTION

twistedsmily · 11-04-2009, 12:01 PM

Im goin to be doing my 95 2dr 2wd after the first of the year.

Dont forget extended front break lines!,

austin9372 · 11-04-2009, 09:19 PM

alright thanks guys. I'm guessin its fairly easy for someone who know what the f**k they're doin. I'm broke as hell now so it'll be a while before I can do anything anyways. I'll try to get my dad in on this one lol

***What?*** · 11-06-2009, 08:37 PM

You don't have to use balljoint seperator, it's too much hassle.

This is what I do all the time. You loosen the balljoint nut couple threads then take jack off(make suretruck is on jackstand) then you pound the spindle(down and up) then with coil force will push it out to nut where its couple threads up. Jack it up to where force isn't onto the nut then you can remove it and pull it out and swap. This IS quickiest, less headache. You need to use 4lb sledghammer and DON'T be a pussy, it takes me 1, sometime 2 whacks and its loose.

Brake line mount to be removed to help free up brake line length along with removing caliper stop. Its ideal to have longer brake line but also good time to upgrade to stainless steel lines.

11-02-2009, 02:46 PM	#1
austin9372 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 8 Location: Georgia User is: OffLine	liftin a jimmy I've got a 97 GMC Jimmy 2wd 2 door that i'd like to lift 3 to 4 inches so I can fit a bigger tire. It's bone stock now. I'd like the ride to be somewhat like it is now and for it not to destroy my mpgs. Any reccomendations would be appreciated cause I'm a complete noob to most of this.
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-02-2009, 03:18 PM	#2
alarm_the_alarm '00 Dime Age: 19 Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 376 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: liftin a jimmy 3 inch lift spindles up front and 2 inch lift shackles out back will get you sitting quite a bit higher and have the same ride as stock. you can get spindles off ebay. AIM spindles for around $240 and shackles off ebay for around $50. Hope this helps
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-02-2009, 03:39 PM	#3
austin9372 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 8 Location: Georgia User is: OffLine	Re: liftin a jimmy alright, thanks man. About how difficult would this be?
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-02-2009, 07:40 PM	#4
992drjimmy Registered User Age: 38 Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,155 Location: Decatur INDIANA User is: OffLine	Re: liftin a jimmy Spindles are fairly easy. I find the shackles being the PITA. i always have a hard time getting the bolts out. DO NOT DO A LIFT SPRING if you want it to ride good. Do the spindles and a 31x10.50 or adda 3" BL to that and a light trim for some 33x10.50's.
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-02-2009, 07:40 PM	#5
Deaths Shadow Registered User Age: 25 Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 156 Location: lowell, MI User is: OffLine	Re: liftin a jimmy its not difficult, for the spindles you just take off the nuts that hold the ball joints in to the spindle, take off the tie rod that is connected to the spindle and the spindle comes out, then put the new one in. For the shackles there is a bolt that goes through the frame that connects the shackle to the frame, with this bolt be sure to use a lots of PB Blast, and just pound the bolt out. Then unbolt the bolt going through the leaf spring, and put the new shackle in its place.
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-03-2009, 07:55 PM	#6
*What?* Moderator Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 17,379 Location: AZ User is: OffLine	Re: liftin a jimmy Ditto, lift spindle(you're lucky it's a pre 97 because s10 lift spindle fits on pre-97). Shackle in rear, lift the front then measure the rear how you want it to lift, prerunner, level or rake. Whatever you measure the difference is the lift you need but UP to 3"
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-03-2009, 11:02 PM	#7
alarm_the_alarm '00 Dime Age: 19 Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 376 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: liftin a jimmy true. shackles can be a PITA. when i did mine i needed a air hammer and a cut off wheel to get um out. try not to wreak the bolts i had to buy 4 new bolts and they were 28 bucks for the bolt with overnight shipping that was from a local fastnal to. as for the spindles all you realy need is a ball joint seperator(u can rent from any auto part store) READ MAKE SURE YOU CUT YOUR CALIPER STOPS OFF WHEN DOING THE LIFT SPINDLES THERES A HOW TO FOR AS A STICK IN THE 2WD SECTION
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-04-2009, 12:01 PM	#8
twistedsmily Registered User Age: 26 Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 58 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: liftin a jimmy Im goin to be doing my 95 2dr 2wd after the first of the year. Dont forget extended front break lines!, Last edited by twistedsmily : 11-04-2009 at 12:03 PM.
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-04-2009, 09:19 PM	#9
austin9372 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 8 Location: Georgia User is: OffLine	Re: liftin a jimmy alright thanks guys. I'm guessin its fairly easy for someone who know what the f**k they're doin. I'm broke as hell now so it'll be a while before I can do anything anyways. I'll try to get my dad in on this one lol
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-06-2009, 08:37 PM	#10
*What?* Moderator Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 17,379 Location: AZ User is: OffLine	Re: liftin a jimmy You don't have to use balljoint seperator, it's too much hassle. This is what I do all the time. You loosen the balljoint nut couple threads then take jack off(make suretruck is on jackstand) then you pound the spindle(down and up) then with coil force will push it out to nut where its couple threads up. Jack it up to where force isn't onto the nut then you can remove it and pull it out and swap. This IS quickiest, less headache. You need to use 4lb sledghammer and DON'T be a pussy, it takes me 1, sometime 2 whacks and its loose. Brake line mount to be removed to help free up brake line length along with removing caliper stop. Its ideal to have longer brake line but also good time to upgrade to stainless steel lines.
	[Reply w/Quote]