NEED SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR A 2 1/2 TO 3" LIFT ON 98 CHEROKEE

[mkitchen]

My brother just bought a 98 Cherokee (is that an XJ?). The car is stock and we want to do a 3" lift. All of my family are Toyota folks and I know nothing about Jeep. My brother is anxious to do the lift and I was hoping that someone could recommend a brand/model that would be a good application for this car. We don't have a lot of money but we do want to get a decent lift that won't beat him to death in the back country. Any suggestions?
Mikey

 

[Davev1954]

I did a 3.5" BDS lift on my 2000 XJ this year. Really helps when you get off road. Good tire selection is a big part of the modification, too.

 

[shogun]

Up to 3" you probably wont need a SYE, over 3-3.5" you might, at 4" you probably will.

El cheapo is to use wj coils from the junk yard for maybe 1-1.5". Not sure, havent done it. You can just use shackles and blocks in the rear, but its a short cut method that may lead to axle wrap. Another cheapo rear would be to have the leaves re-arched at a spring shop.

IMO, any of the "kits" are suspect for the claimed amount of lift and will probably sag out after a short while. Top shelf would be TJ truck shop who builds alot of jeepspeed trucks. They ala carte the components and they work well.

 

[XJINTX]

I'd tell him to start off with less and it's fine. If you are all new to XJ's you don't know exactly what you want or need yet. We don't know how or where you wheel. I suggest an easy lift with an AAL (add a leaf) in the rear and 2" spacer in the front. Gives it a better stance and look but relatively inexpensive and rather easy. It will allow larger than stock tires too. He could do lifts with replacing Aarms and new leafpacks or even shortarm or longarm lift but may never need them. He will be surprised how well a stock XJ with good tires handles trails. That said he may want sliders to protect rockers if he is wheeling ledges and rocks.

 

[jscusmcvet]

I did a Rough Country 3" on my 2001 and it was great. Perfect for 31's, or trim the wheel wells and go skinny 33's. That, some armor and a lunchbox locker in the rear was about all I needed.

 

[rammland]

One of the best would be the Old Man Emu lift for around the 2.5 mark. Once you start to go larger there is a number of options from rubicon express, bds... Remember you do get what you pay for and when you start to get the height up there, then you will need a slip yoke eliminator and driveshaft that will just add a little extra to the initial cost involved.

 

[F40]

I like my Rubicon Express lift. It's been on for 10+ years with no issues.

 

[screwball48]

http://www.quadratec.com/products/16300_804_07.htm
Start small and let the vehicle grow with the driver.

 

[KelticXJ]

One of the best would be the Old Man Emu lift for around the 2.5 mark. Once you start to go larger there is a number of options from rubicon express, bds... Remember you do get what you pay for and when you start to get the height up there, then you will need a slip yoke eliminator and driveshaft that will just add a little extra to the initial cost involved.

This. Give Dirk at DPG Offroad a call. He will mix and match kits for you. I personally have the RE 4.5" which has been great but if I could do it again I'd piece one together or go through Dirk. Oh and start PB blasting the hell out of the bolts. You'll thank yourself later.

 

[mkitchen]

Thank You

A lot of good suggestions. My son and I both have OME and we are very happy with them. My daughter went with some cheaper suspension on her JK and it was terrible. It raised it up but it beat you to death. She now has an Icon set up and it seems to be working very well (it should for the cost). So I see that Quadratec carries an OME set up up for this model and I am going to suggest that he go with that. I don't see him getting too aggressive and a moderate lift and a 31/32 tire should do him okay. If he does choose to go with more, we can always upgrade then.

His JK looks like it has pretty light axles under it. Do any of you have problems with them? Do people upgrade to a larger axle? I am not sure what size they are, but they look light duty.

Are there other areas on this car that we should be looking at? How are the automatic transmissions and transfer cases in these cars? Sorry for all the questions. I just do not know much about Jeeps.
Mikey

 

[jswift716]

The axles in my cherokee should be good up to 33s, they just look skinny haha

 

[Mitch502]

This may have been said, but what are you lifting for? Do you NEED the lift, or just WANT the tires?

2" coil spacers and a bastard pack in your leafs would allow 31's easy I think, and be less than $50...


Depends on what you want/need a lift for...

 

[mkitchen]

This may have been said, but what are you lifting for? Do you NEED the lift, or just WANT the tires?

2" coil spacers and a bastard pack in your leafs would allow 31's easy I think, and be less than $50...


Depends on what you want/need a lift for...

The country around here is very rocky. We have lots of trails but most of them are very old mining roads and have not received any work since the mines shut down half a century ago or even earlier. So you need a vehicle with a bit of clearance.
Mikey

 

[onemanarmy]

Goodness. Just use a 2 " coil spacer and an Add a Leaf and new shocks, run 31s.