STAY AWAY FROM BODY LIFTS!!! (over 1") looks like sh!t and doesnt improve the off road handleing of your Jeep. all it does is let you put bigger tires on it.
I have had Jeeps with 4" spring lifts and I've had Jeep with spring over lifts. Time for my
. Both are good, but it depends on what you want your Jeep to do and how it will perform.
4" lift springs.... worked awesome for me when I first got into Jeeps. easy to install, simple and quick. The main draw back that I found was it was a rough ride. This is due to the springs having more arch to them. Flatter springs work better. No really need for other stuff, maybe a dropped pitman arm, extended brake lines and shock (shocks are usually included with lift kit)
SOA lift (lift hieght depends on thickness of axle housing)... This set up is WAAAY better than spring lifts (in my opinion). But there are MANY draw backs to this. You need to know what youre doing if youre gonna build this kind of suspension. Issues that need to be addressed: steering, axle wrap, the list goes on... This system has many benefits though IF DONE RIGHT...
smoother ride (flatter springs) and more suspension movement (flex). Axle wrap is a big problem. I snapped the output shaft on my 300. I was building a torque arm but didnt get it installed in time before leaving on a trip. Drove the Jeep 3 hours to get to the event, snapped the tcase on the very first obstacle. fun.
people who say SOA is cheaper to do than a spring lift are idiots. It is NOT cheaper, when its done properly. I paid approximatly $800 for my 4" spring lift (springs, shocks and brake lines)...
in contrast, I lost track how much i spent on my SOA. steering alone was well over $1000 (histeer arms, tie rod ends and misc materials), everything else I fabbed, including tie rod, drag ling, torque arm, all mounts. dont remember what I paid for shocks and brake lines, but i think you get the point, SOA is EXPENSIVE when done properly...
I dont entirerly agree with Bigwalton when he said SOAs are on the way out... all leaf spring suspension is on its way out, sorta. It will never be gone, the availability for aftermarket "linked" coil suspension kits has changed everything. But that a whole other can of worms.