Leveling Kits for 1979 Jeep CJ5 Renegade

Nolathane leveling kits help trucks and SUVs sit level and make room for larger tires. Most people searching for a leveling kit or truck leveling kit are thinking of front spacers, but there?s more than one way to change your Jeep CJ5's stance. This range focuses on body lift kits, polyurethane body mount bushing sets for lifted bodies, and rear lift and level kits.

Each kit type changes ride height in a different way, with its own benefits and trade-offs. This page explains how they work so you can choose the right one. Each listing shows the kit type, lift height, and vehicles it fits.

Understanding Jeep CJ5 Factory Rake

Most pickups and many SUVs leave the factory sitting slightly nose-down. This is called rake, and it?s deliberate.

Trucks are built to carry loads and tow. When weight goes in the bed or onto the hitch, the rear squats. Building in rake means the truck sits roughly level once it?s loaded. The catch is that an empty truck spends most of its time with its nose down, which some owners don?t like the look of, and which can limit room for larger front tires.

Purpose of a Leveling Kit on the Jeep CJ5

So, what is a leveling kit? In simple terms, it raises one end of your Jeep CJ5, usually the front, so it sits level instead of nose-down. It removes the factory rake without lifting the whole vehicle.

That?s the key difference from a full lift. A leveling kit evens out the stance, while a lift kit raises the whole vehicle, front and rear. Leveling is usually a smaller change, aimed at appearance and modest tire clearance rather than major ground clearance.

Types of Jeep CJ5 Leveling and Lift Kits

There are several ways to level or lift a truck. Each listing shows the type and lift height for the kits in this range.

Front Strut and Coil Spacers

Spacers fit above the front strut or coil spring, raising the front of the vehicle. They?re the most common type of front leveling kit on coil-sprung trucks.

Torsion Keys

On trucks with torsion bar front suspension, replacement torsion keys raise the front by adding preload to the torsion bars.

Body Lift Kits

A body lift kit raises the body off the frame at the body mounts, using spacers and longer hardware. It lifts the whole body evenly without changing the suspension.

Rear Lift and Level Kits

Rear lift and level kits raise the back of the vehicle. They?re used to correct a rear end that has sagged under regular loads, or to match a front lift so the truck sits level at a new height.

Jeep CJ5 Leveling Kits, Body Lifts and Suspension Lifts Compared

Each approach changes the vehicle in a different way.

A front leveling kit raises the front to remove rake. It improves stance and gives a little more room for tires at the front, but it changes front suspension geometry.

A body lift raises the body on the frame. It adds tire clearance and height without changing the suspension geometry, but it doesn?t add ground clearance under the frame or axles.

A suspension lift raises the whole vehicle through the suspension. It adds ground clearance and room for much larger tires, but it?s the biggest change, affecting suspension geometry, driveline angles, and alignment.

How a Body Lift Works on the Jeep CJ5

A body lift kit uses spacers fitted between the body and the frame at each body mount, along with longer bolts to suit the extra height. The body sits higher on the frame, while the frame, suspension, and axles stay where they were.

Because the suspension isn?t touched, suspension geometry and alignment don?t change. Several other things do need attention, though:

• Gaps between the bumpers and the body, which grow as the body rises
• The steering shaft, which may need to reach further
• The shifter linkage, hoses, and wiring, which need enough slack for the new height
• The fan shroud, which must still line up with the radiator fan
• Body mount bushings, which should be renewed at the new height

Fresh polyurethane body mount bushings hold their shape at the lifted height, keeping the body firmly located on the frame.

Leveling Kit Benefits for Your Jeep CJ5

The right kit can make a real difference, though each has its limits. The main benefits are:

• Room for larger tires
• A more balanced stance
• Unchanged suspension geometry when using a body lift
• A level ride height when the rear has sagged under regular loads

Choosing a Leveling Kit for Your Jeep CJ5

Choosing the right kit depends on your Jeep CJ5 and what you want to achieve. Each listing shows the details.

Vehicle and Cab Configuration

Kits are specific to the vehicle, and body lift kits also depend on the cab configuration. Use the vehicle search to find the right kit.

Lift Height and Purpose

Decide what you want, whether that?s removing rake, fitting larger tires, or correcting rear sag. Each listing shows the lift height.

Front, Rear or Body Lift

Choose the type that suits your goal: a front leveling kit for stance, a body lift for tire clearance without suspension changes, or a rear kit for sag.

Fitting Leveling and Body Lift Kits on Your Jeep CJ5

Leveling and body lift kits are best fitted by a qualified installer. The general process looks like this:

• Support the body or axle safely
• Work on one side or one end at a time
• Check every line, hose, wire, and linkage for enough slack
• Tighten all hardware to specification
• Check headlight aim
• Have a wheel alignment carried out wherever the suspension is involved
• Check the torque again after the first few hundred miles

Jeep CJ5 Leveling Kit Limitations and Trade-Offs

Every kit has trade-offs worth knowing:

• A body lift adds no ground clearance under the frame or axles
• Gaps between the bumpers and the body may show
• Rear lifts add height at the back, which can work against leveling unless the rear has sagged
• Larger tires can affect braking, gearing, and speedometer accuracy
• Firmer polyurethane body mounts pass slightly more vibration than rubber

Compliance and Insurance

Rules on lifts, body lifts, bumper height, and headlight aim vary from state to state. Make sure your Jeep CJ5 meets the inspection requirements of the state where it?s registered, and let your insurance company know about any modifications.

Warranty and Support

Nolathane polyurethane bushings carry a lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects in material and workmanship, for the original vehicle. Spacers, blocks, bolts, washers, nuts, tubes, and plates are backed by Nolathane?s warranty. Our local support team can help you choose the right kit.

Shop Leveling Kits for Your Jeep CJ5

Lifted 4x4s with independent front suspension may also need a diff drop kit to ease CV angles, and brake hose bolts give the brake lines extra slack.

Find leveling kits, body lift kits, and rear lift kits for your Jeep CJ5, and order online with fast shipping. Every kit is covered by our fitment guarantee.