NEED HELP WITH 97 GRAND CHEROKEE BUILD

1stgenrookie

1stgenrookie

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 28, 2009
Location
granite falls
Got a 97 grand Cherokee that I'm wanting to put bigger axles and leaf springs under, and prob no bigger that a 35" tire... What springs should I use front and rear and what's a good choose for front and rear end? And should I make any changes to the trans/transfer case?
 
Need more info on you grand, 5.2 or 4.0, to tell you about transmission and transfer case.

Next question, why leaf springs?

Finally, NAGCA.com might be helpful
 
5.2 and doing leaf cause just figure it would be the cheapest.. this is a LOW-LOW budget built... Only have bout $133 in the whole jeep... Jeep is not going to be on the road only trail.. open to any other suggestions
 
With the 5.2 you have stock 3.73 gears, a dana 30 front and an aluminum center dana 44 rear (44a). You have the 249 fulltime transfer case.

As for a low budget build, what are your goals? 35" tires? Flexy suspension? Reliability? Beater?
 
Yea has the full time transfer case and 35"-36" is bout as big as I want to go on tire size.. want more reliable than flexible, building this for the wife and daughter cause they want to ride with me most of the time but don't have the room in my yota... This jeep will prob never hit big rocks just want it to make It around the big rocks
 
Yea has the full time transfer case and 35"-36" is bout as big as I want to go on tire size.. want more reliable than flexible, building this for the wife and daughter cause they want to ride with me most of the time but don't have the room in my yota... This jeep will prob never hit big rocks just want it to make It around the big rocks.. its just going to be a better as well, hope to get out less than a $1k on this build... After building my yota can't afford to spend to more money on crawlers
 
I have a 9" Ford rear and a matching Dana 44 front both with 410 gears out of an old f-150 to put under it just didn't know about suspension and reliability or the full time transfer case....
 
If it is for your wife and daughter, and it is not going to do the hardcore stuff, then here would be my "low buck" version

Keep the axles, swap in some chromolly shafts, aussie lockers, regear to either 4.56 or 4.88, do a front to rear (f>r) swap (more on that below), and cut the ever living crap out of the fenders, add a spring spacer on top of the springs as needed. You will need adjustable track bars for this setup and I would probably ditch the sway bars if it is a trail only rig.

A front to rear swap is where you take the stock front springs and put them in the back, then you can buy new (or used) springs for the front... probably need 4.5" springs or so.

Now if you want to go to the next level as far as price, long arms would be the better way to go to fit the 35s and still be able to flex.

<shameless plug warning> I have a set of 4.5" lift springs for sale on here.
 
BigClay said:
If it is for your wife and daughter, and it is not going to do the hardcore stuff, then here would be my "low buck" version
Keep the axles, swap in some chromolly shafts, aussie lockers, regear to either 4.56 or 4.88, do a front to rear (f>r) swap (more on that below), and cut the ever living crap out of the fenders, add a spring spacer on top of the springs as needed. You will need adjustable track bars for this setup and I would probably ditch the sway bars if it is a trail only rig.
A front to rear swap is where you take the stock front springs and put them in the back, then you can buy new (or used) springs for the front... probably need 4.5" springs or so.
Now if you want to go to the next level as far as price, long arms would be the better way to go to fit the 35s and still be able to flex.
<shameless plug warning> I have a set of 4.5" lift springs for sale on here.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the info.... Think the front axle is bent thats y I was going to go ahead a do a axle swap
 
A front axle from a Cherokee will bolt right in, and most of those were high pinion which is a small upgrade over the stock LP ZJ d30
 
Please don't put leafs under it!!
 
biggoofy said:
Please don't put leafs under it!!
Click to expand...
X2 I don't think you will need 35s. Around 4 inches of lift some trimming & 33s will be a pretty capable wheeler, you also won't have to worry about breaking like you would with 35s.
 
I was thinkin more of a 33, I was just saying no bigger than a 35... Everyone is telling me not to put leafs, I like leaf springs, or they have done me very well on my Toyota crawler.. but thats me, I don't know anything about Jeeps.. if everyone thinks I need to keep the coils then thats what I need to look into....... Pros---Cons??
 
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