XJ... and the pursuit of road comfort

[Bdiddy11]

As my title states, I'm in the pursuit of the best road comfort possible for my XJ. I understand that it will never ride like a caddy, but I'd like to think I can get it close-ish.

I'm looking for a good overall ride on and off-road. Good handling that doesn't feel every bump in the road. As of right now, it's a bit harsh, not bad, but not great. I've got a 97 XJ with the UpCountry package with coil spacers in the front and adjustable shackles in the back (not ideal, but is temporary). Stock everything else driveline/steering-wise. Sitting at around 3" of lift with the UpCountry package + spacers/shackles.

Overall, I would like to end up around 3" of lift whatever route I go. My thoughts as of right now for a better ride/comfort:

OME 2.5" leaf pack (HD, due to wanting to tow a small camp M416 type trailer eventually)
OME 1.75" front coil spring with some kind of spacer/ACOS...unless someone can suggest another brand of coil around that height.
Shackle relocation brackets
Bilstein 5100 shocks
Grand Cherokee trac bar
ZJ/WJ or some other JY comfy leather seats (front/rear)
245/75/16 Duratracs
LCA/UCAs?

I would like it to be more comfortable for daily driving/trails. We don't do any hardcore wheeling since we've always got our little girl with us who is only 18 months. Mainly camping, forest service roads and mild trails. It sees more pavement than dirt, hence wanting a bit cushier ride.

Anyone using shackle relocation brackets notice a big difference in ride quality? Not flex.. but ride. I know a lot of people say it helps with flexing, but I'm more interested in ride at this point.

What else can I do, or brands should I look at? Would a mid-arm set up help at 3" or be pointless?

I'd ask this over on NAXJA, but I'm looking at it for ExPo type purposes, and not rock crawling/more difficult trails.

 

[88Xj]

Mid arm at 3" may limit up travel. Had a local like this he ended up with a .75" spacer. His arms would bottom out! I have adjustable upper & lower, rubber on the axle side, johhny joints at the body. Flex but very quiet & comfy. I pushed my axle 2.5" forward..I would do it 1" forward for the normal user though. I had to trim my fenders some to avoid rub..road tons better with the coils & shocks at a slight angle forward vs straight up and down!

At 3" you need stock length uppers & 16" lowers..oem length is 15.75" lowers. I had mine set at 17" and the uppers I don't remember..but I had em set to get the correct pinion/caster. Rode tons better with the lowers set 1" more.. I then decided I should push the front more, actually rode a little rougher than at 17" but climbs better & flexes some more without rubbing...I left it cause I wasn't too worried with the ride. Its not rough by any means, I've rode in 4.5" LA'd Xj's & they ride rougher but it was smoother with just 1" of stretch up front!

 

[webdog]

I have installed a mid arm kit on a 2" lifted jeep and he had no loss of up travel but gained massive droop / flex. We did push the axle out 1" on his rig, my personal jeep it is about 2-3" forward and required some modifications to the trackbar and mounts.

 

[88Xj]

I have installed a mid arm kit on a 2" lifted jeep and he had no loss of up travel but gained massive droop / flex. We did push the axle out 1" on his rig, my personal jeep it is about 2-3" forward and required some modifications to the trackbar and mounts.

He has issues of hitting the floor or unirail while stuffing. I wanted long arms but feared the same issue at a measily 3". I hadn't an issue on my bracket or mount on the track bar yet..while stuff my track bar was rubbing my diff cover at the top though..kinda self clearenced slightly & haven't had a issue since, but anything more than 1" stretch deffinetly needs to be looked at & make sure you don't run into issues!.

 

[Mekcanix]

on my truck i used short arms with the RE drop bracket and it rides very nice. i am at 4" of lift running 33's

 

[BIGdaddy]

As my title states, I'm in the pursuit of the best road comfort possible for my XJ. I understand that it will never ride like a caddy, but I'd like to think I can get it close-ish.

I'm looking for a good overall ride on and off-road. Good handling that doesn't feel every bump in the road. As of right now, it's a bit harsh, not bad, but not great. I've got a 97 XJ with the UpCountry package with coil spacers in the front and adjustable shackles in the back (not ideal, but is temporary). Stock everything else driveline/steering-wise. Sitting at around 3" of lift with the UpCountry package + spacers/shackles.

Overall, I would like to end up around 3" of lift whatever route I go. My thoughts as of right now for a better ride/comfort:

OME 2.5" leaf pack (HD, due to wanting to tow a small camp M416 type trailer eventually)
OME 1.75" front coil spring with some kind of spacer/ACOS...unless someone can suggest another brand of coil around that height.
Shackle relocation brackets
Bilstein 5100 shocks
Grand Cherokee trac bar
ZJ/WJ or some other JY comfy leather seats (front/rear)
245/75/16 Duratracs
LCA/UCAs?

I would like it to be more comfortable for daily driving/trails. We don't do any hardcore wheeling since we've always got our little girl with us who is only 18 months. Mainly camping, forest service roads and mild trails. It sees more pavement than dirt, hence wanting a bit cushier ride.

Anyone using shackle relocation brackets notice a big difference in ride quality? Not flex.. but ride. I know a lot of people say it helps with flexing, but I'm more interested in ride at this point.

What else can I do, or brands should I look at? Would a mid-arm set up help at 3" or be pointless?

I'd ask this over on NAXJA, but I'm looking at it for ExPo type purposes, and not rock crawling/more difficult trails.

What are the specs? Year, motor, etc?

 

[Bdiddy11]

97 auto. 4.0l engine. What other specs would you like?

 

[shmabs]

Maybe i have been out of XJ's for too long, but why the grand cherokee trac-bar? I have heard of ZJ V8 steering on an xj, but not the trackbar.

I will second the suggestion for new control arms, and will add that for your uses, rubber bushings at both ends would likely suit your uses best. My xj drove very differently with longer control arms and proper alignment with 3.5 in RE springs.

A mid arm setup will help, but that can be a lot of work, and at 3 inches of lift with a well dialed suspension/alignment i would challenge you to see if you can live with and enjoy a short arm setup.

Mike

 

[desertrunner97]

I have installed a mid arm kit on a 2" lifted jeep and he had no loss of up travel but gained massive droop / flex. We did push the axle out 1" on his rig, my personal jeep it is about 2-3" forward and required some modifications to the trackbar and mounts.

the 2" lifted jeep he speaks of is mine. ride was greatly improved with the mid-arm setup the mid arms just kiss the uni frame at the same point my Currie track bar hits my pumpkin. im sure he has the picture somewhere. i still need to bump stop it according to my shock and tire size choices. but i lost no up travel i did gain more down travel than my coils can handle. so limit straps are in the near future! i to will be in the 3" lift range shortly as i have 3.5" coils here and have the parts for the sye paid for just need to figure out my rear susp. i to have been looking at shackle relocation boxes as they do improve spring movement in the rear they will increase ride comfort. by giving the spring more free range of motion it gets full travel and a smoother ride. also with shackle relocation boxes you will be able to run a flatter spring to achive the same ride height. and a flatter spring usually translates to a softer more comfortable spring.

i chose to stretch the wheelbase the inch to get the wheels more centered into the wheel well i didn't like the look of the tire so close to the cab. it would work perfectly in the stock location as well but didn't fit the look i was going for.
how the jeep sits with the mid arm and 2" lift.

 

[88Xj]

the 2" lifted jeep he speaks of is mine. ride was greatly improved with the mid-arm setup the mid arms just kiss the uni frame at the same point my Currie track bar hits my pumpkin. im sure he has the picture somewhere. i still need to bump stop it according to my shock and tire size choices. but i lost no up travel i did gain more down travel than my coils can handle. so limit straps are in the near future! i to will be in the 3" lift range shortly as i have 3.5" coils here and have the parts for the sye paid for just need to figure out my rear susp. i to have been looking at shackle relocation boxes as they do improve spring movement in the rear they will increase ride comfort. by giving the spring more free range of motion it gets full travel and a smoother ride. also with shackle relocation boxes you will be able to run a flatter spring to achive the same ride height. and a flatter spring usually translates to a softer more comfortable spring.

i chose to stretch the wheelbase the inch to get the wheels more centered into the wheel well i didn't like the look of the tire so close to the cab. it would work perfectly in the stock location as well but didn't fit the look i was going for.
how the jeep sits with the mid arm and 2" lift.

I've made the comment many many times. Aftermarket vendors should just offer 16.5" arms for a 3" lift and 17.25" for a 4.5" & whatever else for taller lifts if some stayed short arm. Arm length should be 16" for a 3", while stock is 15.75"..I have my lowers +2.5" but at 17-17.25" at 3" it was perfect!

 

[Gaucho919]

Maybe i have been out of XJ's for too long, but why the grand cherokee trac-bar? I have heard of ZJ V8 steering on an xj, but not the trackbar.

I will second the suggestion for new control arms, and will add that for your uses, rubber bushings at both ends would likely suit your uses best. My xj drove very differently with longer control arms and proper alignment with 3.5 in RE springs.

A mid arm setup will help, but that can be a lot of work, and at 3 inches of lift with a well dialed suspension/alignment i would challenge you to see if you can live with and enjoy a short arm setup.

Mike

He must've meant ZJ tie rod, the track bars are identical. I have the V8 ZJ tie rod and sway bar and they help handling greatly. Look at my build if you want a good idea of what it takes with 5 to 6 inches of lift, the MJ handles better than any jeep I've ever driven.

 

[Bdiddy11]

Yea I meant tie rod. That's whats happens when you don't proof read

 

[88Xj]

Yea I meant tie rod. That's whats happens when you don't proof read

I say ditch the Zj tie rod I did that and wasn't happy because only 1 TRE is serviceable. I would look at either the Rustys or Rough country tie rod upgrade, that way you can service both TRE's incase 1 goes bad!

 

[desertrunner97]

dont get the rustys tie rod i had it and will never run it again! it was thin wall tube and you had to remove the drag link to adjust toe!