1999 XJ Question: New Shocks and Budget Boost

[modelbuilder]

My buddy wants to upgrade his shocks and get a budget boost. Any ideas as to what is out there. Nothing to extreme...just looking for the best bang for his buck.

He does overlanding in his stock XJ. He wants a 2" budget boost and shocks to fit accordingly.

Suggestions?

 

[mudbutt]

I skipped the BB and went straight to a long arm lift so I can offer no advice.

If he's dead set on staying relatively stock, have him poke around over at NAXJA...

Otherwise have him investigate a phenomenon called "inchitis".

 

[Purzell]

Ome

I just put on the 2" OME kit. I ordered from Sierra Expeditions. It rides great and looks great. It's not budget but it also rides like a stock Jeep. I did go with the new Nitrocharger sport shocks. They're about $10 per shock more.

 

[BEVAN]

I'll say it again... I have this lift on my 2001 XJ - Best lift ever :
http://www.rocklizardfabrications.com/home_brew_budget_boost.htm

 

[JCMatthews]

I'm with you

I just put on the 2" OME kit. I ordered from Sierra Expeditions. It rides great and looks great. It's not budget but it also rides like a stock Jeep. I did go with the new Nitrocharger sport shocks. They're about $10 per shock more.

I started out with a 2 1/2" lift. Now I have a 5 1/2" lift. If I could go back to somewhere between what I had and 3 1/2" I'd be much happier. That said the stock suspension probably has had quite the work out and if it's like other XJs then the rear springs are quite soft. He would benefit greatly from the OEM kit. Along with that if he wanted to run 30"-31" tires, it could easily be spaced and shackled to give him the room. An XJ set up this way with a few skids will remarkably go over some really rough terrain.

 

[Hill Bill E.]

I've ran a few different shocks on my XJ's, and I really like the Bilsteins.

While I now have long arms and a 5.5" lift, I still DD my '99.

If he can swing it, ACOS spacers up front, and some 2-2.5" lift leaves in the back would be best.

The BB's I've seen use an AAL (Add A Leaf) for the rear, and that can make for a rough ride. Plus, a '99 is most likely going to have 100K + on the odometer, so new springs would be nice when loaded up for a trip.

 

[dockrat14]

I put take off jk rubicon shocks on my jeep with a re 3.5 lift and it rides awesome and after i took a metel insert out of the bushing im sure you can find those at a 4x4 shop cheap

 

[wADVr]

I'll say it again... I have this lift on my 2001 XJ - Best lift ever :
http://www.rocklizardfabrications.com/home_brew_budget_boost.htm

I did a similar lift on one of my XJs with ZJ V8 upcountry coils, and rear XJ upcountry leafs with a 1" JKS shackles. I would go their route with the leafs instead of the shackle as it changed the DL angle just enough to create some vibs and was still a little soft. Great way to go on a budget.

 

[Black Dog]

I've ran a few different shocks on my XJ's, and I really like the Bilsteins.

Bilstein 5150s hand down are the best but at a hundred bucks a piece they don't really fit into the budget boost category. But they are totally worth the investment.

 

[BIGdaddy]

I'll say it again... I have this lift on my 2001 XJ - Best lift ever :
http://www.rocklizardfabrications.com/home_brew_budget_boost.htm

thats the one I did, too.

I did it with the help of some Portal'rs a couple months ago, and i actually haven't even swapped out my stock shocks yet. It actually flexes like a madman with this lift, even with stock length stocks.

 

[BEVAN]

thats the one I did, too.

I did it with the help of some Portal'rs a couple months ago, and i actually haven't even swapped out my stock shocks yet. It actually flexes like a madman with this lift, even with stock length stocks.

Yep, did mine back in march...still on stock shocks I added 2 leafs not just the main leaf...sits perfect.