XJ up grade questions?

[Jeephawk]

My wife just got a 96 XJ, we want to do some miner up grades such as lift, tires, and maybe shocks. We don't want to do any cutting of the body or have to change out to many parts. What would be good recommendations? In line 6, automatic tranny and of course 4x4. Thank you for your feed back. Hawk

 

[fishgutz]

Probably the simplest thing is a budget 2" inch that puts spacers in the front and longer shackles in the rear.
But to do so really fun off road challenges may require more input.
Lots of XJ peeps here that know more than I do. I've only been wheeling for a few years.
If I hadn't decided on a new Rubicon, I was considering the Iron Rock 6.5" long arm lift for our 99 Cherokee.
Iron Rock has some other options as well. Pretty reasonable on price too.
http://tinyurl.com/2bz8krg

 

[XJfreakHO]

Are you wanting to lift it for wheeling purposes or just sit it up a little higher?

Budget Boost are a great way to sit it up a little higher. I will post some examples of ride height.

2" on 30's

3" on 31's

4.5" on 32's

6.5" on 33's

 

[Yay!Gurrr]

Perfect timing.... I have similar new vehicle. 95 XJ

Q) Do you guys think 31s will fit/clear on 2" lift? Where will my tight/rub spots be ?

I'm looking to replace the stock tie rod with something slightly better... Searching only shows a pile 1ton upgrades. I really don't want to mess with all that for 31s.. Any recomendations on which 1/2-3/4 ton TREs to use.

I have 3/4" bungs + tube and can weld it, just need some P/Ns

What other quick things should I look at or take care of before hitting URE...

 

[XJfreakHO]

V8 Grand Cherokee Tie rod works for the XJ and is a quick and easy JY upgrade, noticably larger then the XJ tierod, solid 1" though not sure if it would be considered 1/2 ton or what.

31's on a 2" BB

More pics...

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c...9-2009/m_2efd1acf084f416e91ae10d3dc5b1de1.jpg
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c4/paroxysym/Jeeps/Wheeling Trips/Greenridge 12-27-08/18.jpg
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c4/paroxysym/Jeeps/Wheeling Trips/Greenridge 12-27-08/21.jpg

Could be different for you, a buddy did this a few years ago, removed the flairs, did minor trimming along the lower line from the flair, cut the front corners off. Didn't have any rubbing issues while driving, only when offroad.

Can't find any pictures of it.

 

[drkelly]

I'm looking to replace the stock tie rod with something slightly better... Searching only shows a pile 1ton upgrades. I really don't want to mess with all that for 31s.. Any recomendations on which 1/2-3/4 ton TREs to use.

I have 3/4" bungs + tube and can weld it, just need some P/Ns

What other quick things should I look at or take care of before hitting URE...

Check this place out:
http://www.jcroffroad.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=S6

 

[Jeephawk]

Thanks for the help guys. The pictures really help. Misty likes 4.5" with 32" tires. Next question. Body lift or spring lift? If we do any wheeling it won't be anything hard. More so the whole family can do some trails and beach access. Again, thank you for all your inputs. Hawk

 

[a_kelley]

Thanks for the help guys. The pictures really help. Misty likes 4.5" with 32" tires. Next question. Body lift or spring lift? If we do any wheeling it won't be anything hard. More so the whole family can do some trails and beach access. Again, thank you for all your inputs. Hawk

Spring lift, all the way. no frame to put a body lift on.

Q) Do you guys think 31s will fit/clear on 2" lift? Where will my tight/rub spots be ?

Yes, they ought to. I ran 31x10.5's with no lift on a 91 (years ago) on stock wheels. Rubbed at full lock and inside rear wheel wells. 1" less backspace would've cured that.

I'm looking to replace the stock tie rod with something slightly better... Searching only shows a pile 1ton upgrades. I really don't want to mess with all that for 31s.. Any recomendations on which 1/2-3/4 ton TREs to use.

WJ tie rod.. I think it uses the same threads and keeps the stock TRE's.

What other quick things should I look at or take care of before hitting URE...

gas tank skid? swaybar disco's? recovery points?

 

[uncc civilengineer]

Thanks for the help guys. The pictures really help. Misty likes 4.5" with 32" tires. Next question. Body lift or spring lift? If we do any wheeling it won't be anything hard. More so the whole family can do some trails and beach access. Again, thank you for all your inputs. Hawk

Unfortuantely XJ's have a "unibody" so there really isn't an actual frame. Basically you cannot do a body lift it will have to be all suspension.

The 4.5" lift will be pretty involved with what you'll need to buy as well. You'll more than likely need to do a Slip Yoke Eliminator (SYE) and get a new 2-peice rear driveshaft made or search and see how to adapt a XJ front shaft to the rear and do a Hack & Tap. Even taking the cheaper route with a transfer case drop you may still get pretty significant driveline vibrations.

It adds up fast so just be ready for the bottomless money pit...

 

[Jeephawk]

Thanks for keeping me straight, I remember reading on here about the unibody. This is our first none AMC product. Looks like maybe a 2". How tough are the front coils to deal with? Compression tools needed and should I get a good life insurance policy before trying?

 

[RenegadeT]

Thanks for keeping me straight, I remember reading on here about the unibody. This is our first none AMC product. Looks like maybe a 2". How tough are the front coils to deal with? Compression tools needed and should I get a good life insurance policy before trying?

don't be silly, the XJ is AMC all the way...clicky

I've swapped the coils out many times, it gets easier after the first few tries. I still borrow the loan-a-tool from AutoZone, they call it the strut compressor. Put the front unibody on jackstands, remove wheels, jack up the axle, unbolt sway bar, remove lower shock mounting, steering stabilzer, passenger side TRE, then go after the coils. I use a floor jack under the axle to raise/lower the axle instead of wreching on the strut compressors. With 3" springs, and/or extended bumpstops, it can be a bit tricky to put the compressed coils back in, might need to push the axle down.

 

[uncc civilengineer]

Thanks for keeping me straight, I remember reading on here about the unibody. This is our first none AMC product. Looks like maybe a 2". How tough are the front coils to deal with? Compression tools needed and should I get a good life insurance policy before trying?

A really good quality 2-3" lift kit is the Old Man Emu HD kit.... However spacers / shackles can be had for around $300 including shocks.

Just disconnect the swaybar and upper control arm (maybe trackbar) and you should be able to get the coil out and replaced easily.

 

[uncc civilengineer]

gas tank skid? swaybar disco's? recovery points?

Get a rear hitch.. I never once hit my gas tank until I started really beating on it at Callalantee, etc. Even then I never had any issues w/ it besides some scrapes / small dent (it's the poly one though)

First things I would put on a XJ before wheeling:

1. Diff Covers
2. Rock Rails
3. T-case skid

 

[Motorman]

upgrades

definitely rock rails first. . I can't tell you how many people have dented their Cherokee's taking that first off road adventure without them. .
Next lift. Decide which lift tire combo you want to go with. Different tires, as described above, determine how much lift.

Get a stock transfer case skid plate and gas tank skid. Stock ones work fine and aren't a lot of $$$$$

WIth these you can do all of URE. Have fun, hope you and your wife enjoy wheelin!

 

[Jeephawk]

Great info guys!! Thank you for your help. I will probably be back on to hit you up for more questions later when we start doing the up grades. You guys rock!!

 

[RenegadeT]

yep lots of good info up there ^^^
x2...rock rails first...denting up the rockers could prevent the doors from working, then ya might as well just have a Wrangler

 

[benXJ]

the best all around combo is 3 inch lift and 31x10.5 tires. A SYE should not be required, just longer coils, add a leaf and shackle for the rear, and new shocks. all this can be had for under $500 new, and much less with used parts. you will be able to do all of Uwharrie just fine and possibly harder stuff with driving finesse. this looks the best and doesn't handle too much differently from stock. 2in. and 30s is ok, but not too far from stock, and if you want to do any wheeling, you will be dragging the body everywhere. My opinion as I have had both setups.

 

[Jeephawk]

Thank s again guys, I'll keep you posted as we move forward. Hawk

 

[gmentavlos]

XJ with a 3 inch Skyjacker lift

Mine is a daily driver. So I did not go crazy with a big lift. I installed a 3 inch SkyJacker Lift which was easy! Did not require any major mods. Here is my jeep on 31s. I wanted it to be street friendly but still hold it's own on the trails. Hope this helps!