3" Lift questions

[01yellowxj]

Ok guys, I have searched and find all kinds of lifts and all different brands of shocks for sale and in use.

I want my XJ to ride like factory as much as I can with a 3" lift so what is the best way you would thinks with in reason on pricing. Jeep will be a daily driver and light trail use with the kids/friends to explore trails and wildlife.

I was thinking this:

1. 3" coil springs or 3" spacers for front
2. 2" spring packs or 2" shackle
3. t-case drop spacers
4. OME shocks or Bilstein 5100 shocks

 

[XJ Stryker]

Most of the time when you change the suspension it will be stiff initially and will have to break in.

From what i hear rubicon express has a nice ride after install.

 

[PacificEd]

Most front spacers will measure 1.75" to 2" thick. I've never seen a 3". The spacers do work well from what I've heard and retains the stock front spring so it still rides close to stock.

I'm like Rob, Rubicon Express makes a grear kit in the 3.5" lift range that rides well. Cottontail had this lift on his Jeep before the recent round of mods.

 

[Cottontail]

Most front spacers will measure 1.75" to 2" thick. I've never seen a 3". The spacers do work well from what I've heard and retains the stock front spring so it still rides close to stock.

I'm like Rob, Rubicon Express makes a grear kit in the 3.5" lift range that rides well. Cottontail had this lift on his Jeep before the recent round of mods.

I have the 3 inch RE lift, yes, and it is still on. I also have set of front spacers. Ed is right, in that the spacers only gain about 2 inches. Combined I am now at about 5.5".

My only complaint is that is that the lift seems to be awfully squeaky. Never did get any better, even after settling and breaking in.

If you go with a set of front coil spacers and get a pair of shackles from a Dodge Ram pick up you will gain about 2-2.5 inches. That is as close as you will get to 3 using stock componants as far as I can tell. Doing this and getting 2" won't require any T-case drop. I bet you can find a set of spacers used on the forum for about $25 or 30 or less. Get the Ram shackles from the junk yard for under $10 and you have a 2 inch lift for less than a tank of gas.

 

[01yellowxj]

I have the 3 inch RE lift, yes, and it is still on. I also have set of front spacers. Ed is right, in that the spacers only gain about 2 inches. Combined I am now at about 5.5".

My only complaint is that is that the lift seems to be awfully squeaky. Never did get any better, even after settling and breaking in.

If you go with a set of front coil spacers and get a pair of shackles from a Dodge Ram pick up you will gain about 2-2.5 inches. That is as close as you will get to 3 using stock componants as far as I can tell. Doing this and getting 2" won't require any T-case drop. I bet you can find a set of spacers used on the forum for about $25 or 30 or less. Get the Ram shackles from the junk yard for under $10 and you have a 2 inch lift for less than a tank of gas.

Thanks everyone.
cottontail, I bought a 3" budget kit that I was going to use on the green XJ but have since gave the rear add a leafs to stump down in atlanta (dropped them off today) as the spring packs are rusty so thinking I should just but a lifter spring pack.
I still have the front spacers that measure 3" if I can get some rear 2" spring packs I think I would be heading in the right direction. Then to get some nice shocks (getting these rear shocks off is gonna be a pain).

 

[Tom95YJ]

I pieced together a 3.5" Re lift with bilstein 5100's. It rides great on and offroad I am happy with my purchase It blows the tuff country lift the po installed out of he water as far as ride and offroad performance

 

[dktool]

I replace my stock coils with "Fat Bob's" 3" coils and picked up a nice pair of slightly used BDS nitro shocks, the rear had 2 hole, longer shackles on it when I bought it, I have the stock leafs in the highest holes, added a pair of slightly longer / used oem shocks from a Rubicon, removed the rear sway bar and it rides very nice and with the front sway bar disco'd it flexes and travels good.

 

[UNCC_99XJ]

Another vote for the RE lift kit if you can afford it. Their 3.5" super ride is an excellent kit and pretty reasonably priced. Performed great offroad and rode like a dream on the road. I ran it for about 4 years and had no complaints.

 

[Ben824]

I have the RE lift and I find the ride to be adequate most of the time but I also knew the ride was going to get rough so my thoughts are based on "it rides good for a lifted Jeep" but it is nothing like the stock ride. I will say I feel like the Jeep is more stable than before as the Jeep felt like it bad body roll even compared to now.

That being said, much of a lift kit's ride comes from the quality of the shocks so spend wisely there as well. Bilstein 5100s seem to be the favorite among those most concerned about ride or just in general. I am running RE monotube shocks and they have a good ride and handling to me and have lasted nearly 70,000 miles and don't feel worn out one bit.

If you are very concerned about ride quality I will recommend one of two options.
A) Buy a 3" Old Man Emu lift kit as they have the best reputation for a good ride quality. Go with Bilstein 5100 shocks and get a t-case drop kit.

B) Buy a set of HD rear factory leaf springs and get the factory UpCountry Suspension Group front coil springs. The UpCountry springs front and rear are said to sit an inch higher over normal stock springs. Or if you cannot find the UpCountry front coils then you can get some ZJ Grand Cherokee front coil springs which are also supposed to sit close to an inch higher. Combine this with a 2 inch budget kit with spacers up front and shackles out back and theoretically you should have close to 3 inches of lift. Again this is just an estimated theory and new springs should be considered here as they will have the best chance at achieving 3 inches of lift since new springs are not worn out and sagging. Combine these springs with some Bilstein 5100 shocks.

 

[01yellowxj]

Great info guys, thanks for it all.

 

[01yellowxj]

with a 3" to 3.5" lift do I really need an adjustable track arm, and a sye kit?
Im trying to not put alot on money into this one like my last one.
This will pull my 6x10 trailer with my mower some days but be a daily driver 100% of the time. And was thinking some 31x10.50x15 tires or 245or265x75x16 tires.
Thanks

 

[Ben824]

with a 3" to 3.5" lift do I really need an adjustable track arm, and a sye kit?
Im trying to not put alot on money into this one like my last one.
This will pull my 6x10 trailer with my mower some days but be a daily driver 100% of the time. And was thinking some 31x10.50x15 tires or 245or265x75x16 tires.
Thanks

No you will not NEED a track bar unless your stock one is worn out. For street use, a track bar relocation bracket or the super cheap re-location by drilling of the axle end track bar bolt hole is perfectly effective. I would still recommend upgrading sometime in the future but it isn't absolutely necessary.

The SYE is a toss up. Some Jeeps need it at 3.5" inches of lift, like my cousin's 99 did, and some can get away with simply a t-case drop kit at 5.5 inches of lift with minimal vibrations like my friend's 96 did. Only way to find out if the Jeep has bad vibrations at that lift height is to get the lift, put it on, and drive it. If there are bad vibrations then yes order a SYE kit and CV driveshaft. If vibrations are minimal then a t-case drop kit would more than likely subdue them to a tolerable level. Older Jeeps before 96 have less of a tendency to have vibrations at low lift heights, than 96+ due to a change in design in the tailshaft housing on the t-case.

 

[01yellowxj]

good to know. My lift will be the following:

3" front, 2" rear, old man emu shocks, 31" tires

Hope this keeps me close to a stock ride quality/feel.

 

[01yellowxj]

Well, found out my XJ had a 1" lift from the factory in the front already so I now have the following done:

Added 2" Metal Coil Spacer (3" total)
Added 2" Rear Shackle
T-case drop bracket
OldMan EMU Shocks

Rides good and once the aligment is done im sure it would be better.
Still want to redrill the track bar mount to relocate soon, but happy with what I have right now.

 

[xjtrailrider]

I'm running the RE 4.5 SF with ACOS in the front, shackle relocation brakets in the rear w/1.5 shackles and I'm sitting at 6". I'm on short arms and drop brackets. My arms and track bar are all johnny jointed and it rides great, flexes even better.

I'm on 35's