Questions about lift/tire size on an XJ

[jacobfreeman]

As of right now I have an 2001 Cherokee Sport. Completely stock... I plan on giving it a small lift(2" - or 3" Lift). I am really thinking about getting BFG All-Terrain T/A KO tires(30X9.5R15) and I am looking at the Rubicon Express 2" Budget Kit w/add a leaf. What do you guys suggest? I am using this as my DD and I am not wanting to loose comfort while driving. Also I will have to replace my rear leaf springs if I get this lift.. they are almost inverted haha.

So what do you guys suggest? Just a small lift with some aggressive tires to get me where I need to go.

 

[Root Moose]

Add-a-leafs are terrible for ride quality. Get a leaf pack that is 3".

 

[mudbutt]

AAL=bad...

If you have to do it on the cheap-cheap, maybe find a good set of springs at the J/Y, throw in a pair of lift shackles and a small lift block...

Lift blocks over about 1" are just as bad as AAL's if not worse.

The most common (cheap-cheap) thing to do is a bastard pack.

If you are new to XJ's do a web search on Eric Zappe and buy the book. Everything you will ever need to know is in there.

 

[winkosmosis]

With any amount of lift you will make the ride worse up front by angling the control arms

 

[Chucho]

I'd save up and get a 3" lift kit w/ rear leafs.
I went the cheep route and ended up spending way more money in the long run.
With the kit you get new lower control arms which is longer than stock.
Just my .02.....

 

[winkosmosis]

I'd stick to 2" for the following reasons:

1) less chance of requiring SYE
2) don't need a new trackbar
3) better ride
4) don't need new control arms
5) don't need new shocks unless you want to articulate

 

[jacobfreeman]

Alright, well I have come across a deal for a RE 4.5" lift with rear leaf springs and all for 250 bucks.. would you guys suggest going that large? I will mostly be using this for overland travel/camping a ton. I just really don't want to loose comfort while driving.

 

[mudbutt]

Is the kit used? How complete is it?

I have a BDS long arm 4.5" and BFG 32x11.50-15's. I love it. It will take you most anywhere you wish to go.

You will need longer shocks, bump stops and brake lines (you could relocate the stock brake lines I guess). You might also have to extend the wiring for the ABS if you have it...

New u-bolts. Never reuse old u-bolts.

Chances are you will need an SYE and new rear drive shaft as well. New speedo gear. Degree shims...

I'm sure I left some stuff out. (Ring and pinion)


Check out the picture below. I don't normally do rock crawling but we were already there. It would have taken all day to turn around and go back so we went for it. I made it through with a little finesse and a couple scratches. You can see the back of my XJ in the upper left hand of the pic.

 

[troy]

While the $250 sounds like a good deal, it'll likely require a lot of other expensive upgrades. SYE, re-gearing (30x9.5 would look tiny on 4.5"), Adjustable track bar, bumpstops, etc.

It all depends what you want the end result to look like. I've done the monster lifted jeep thing before and decided my current XJ would be most at home on the road, and trail second. It is all personal preference.

If you're thinking 30x9.5, a set of spacers in front and possibly bastard pack or 1" block and small shackle lift with longer shocks would get you there relatively cheaply and should little affect on current ride quality.

 

[BIGdaddy]

I put two xj packs together and put a spacer up front. got 2" in the front and about 1.5 in the back.

rides wonderfully compared to the clapped out springs before. I didn't have to change much of anything else, and thanks to the help I got from other portal'rs, it was very inexpensive since we installed them at my place.

 

[wADVr]

my last XJ had 2" lift and 245/75R16s with a factory lsd in the rear(almost worthless) and it was very capable. this combo is about the limit for keeping a reliable DD on the cheap.

Larger tires= the need to regear(if you care about efficency and power), fender trimming and/or extended bump stops

larger lift= need for an SYE/CV drive line, track bar, maybe control arms, sway bar extensions, longer brake lines and control arm drop brackets/long arms etc depending on how much higher you go.


If I were you looking to lift an XJ 2" I would either get the OME system for $$ or keep an eye out for a set of ZJ upcountry coils for the front and since you need to replace the leafs maybe the OME leafs and a set of quality shocks such as OME nitros(soft) or Bilstein 5100 or 5125s(med-heavy)

 

[jacobfreeman]

I have decided to replace the leaf springs in the back.. If I replaced them I swear I would come up atleast an inch haha.
But yeah, and I am going to do a 2" spacer in front and I haven't decided about the back yet..

 

[The Adam Blaster]

More than 3" and you need the SYE, and a new rear driveshaft, that's about a grand for those 2 parts.
You should be able to get a decent quality 3" lift for around $500-$600, and it will have everything you need. (Stick to the ones with the full rear spring packs.)
You and a couple of bodies should be able to install the kit on a Saturday, if you're at all mechanically inclined.

I ran a 3" Skyjacker kit and 31's on stock rims (with very minor fender trimming) for a few years, and I really liked the setup for all around daily driver and trail duties. I even used it to pull a trailer across Canada when I moved out west where I am now. I didn't re-gear and it seems to have no trouble on te highway or the trail.
(Mine is an auto, and they have 3.55's from factory, the manuals come with 3.07's apparently.)

I really liked that setup, but I wanted to go bigger and I now have a 4.5" lift from Rubicon Express.
RE is pretty good and has a very good reputation, but it's not perfect.
The Skyjacker kit I had was ok, cheap when i bought it, but after my first weekend of 'wheeling I had to get an additional leaf added in the rear because they had sagged so much. That was a disappointment...

Unless you get into serious offroad stuff, the 31's are going to take you through a lot of trails with little to no problem, and you maintain a really high level of the original ride quality, just a bit stiffer with the new suspension.
And if you do start getting into more serious offroad situations, you're going to want a locker, or two, bigger tires etc. etc. At that point it would be smart to switch out axles and gears before you have to buy the new rear driveshaft.

If I was to do it all over again, I would have stayed at 3" and the 31's and spent my money on bumpers, a winch, spare carrier on the rear, front ARB locker and some other goodies.
My XJ with 4.5" lift on 33x12.5R15's is not the ideal daily driver...

 

[The Adam Blaster]

Oh, and just a note on the tires specifically...
The 31 inch size ismuch more popular than the 30".
So, if you ever have a severe failure, it will be a lot easier to find a replacement 31. Chances are if you're out in a group with at least 1 other Cherokee, he's going to be on 31's as well, and you could borrow his spare in a pinch.
I doubt the cost is much different either, so why not go taller and wider for about the same price?

 

[Explorer 1]

Adam Blaster got it right

Adam Blaster ( whatever that means) has it right, the idea maximum lift for a DD and enough lift for the trail would be the 3" for all the reasons listed. Better to spend any additional $$ on a rear locker. Only other item to increase traction in the front would be a quick disconnect sway bar.

When I was running a 3" lift and 31's along with lockers I went just about everwhere my son-in-law went with his Wrangler and 37's.

Here is a little chart that could also be helpful:

Thanks,
Fred
Explorer 1