Budget lift

[drifto77]

A buddy of mine on another jeep forum site told me of this site. A 2" lift and 31s would be just fine for my XJ. What do yall think?

Yup. Just fine.
Just dont foget to do the bump-stop thing.

Here ya go....

http://go.jeep-xj.info/HowtoBumpstops.htm

Mine...
2" BB/31's and trim.....
(spacer/shackle)

I also have a main leaf from a Cherokee pack, but... my springs are so bad you cant tell.

BTW..... its BLUE damn it!

 

[Swamprat]

BTW..... its BLUE damn it!

i dont know, in this light it looks a little purple-ish

 

[MischiefMan]

A buddy of mine on another jeep forum site told me of this site. A 2" lift and 31s would be just fine for my XJ. What do yall think?

The actual answer to this question should have been:

"Just fine" is relative.

In one person's mind, yes, you'll be "just fine" if you want to mall crawl and flex out on speed bumps, but if ya wanna climb over anything bigger than a stray cat, ya might want more break-over height.

 

[menos]

My thoughts on the budget boost are not to waste the money if you plan to go higher at some point.

I was too lazy to click the link, but for $500 (and I paid way too much for some stuff cuz I was too lazy to look for cheaper), my lift was made from:

front
ZJ coils (later replaced with 3.5 Rubicon Express coils)
1.75" Daystar spacers
stock spring insulators
spring insulators from a Camaro

rear
Dakota leafs (used the main leaf from the XJ and ALL the Dakota leafs, including the helper)
Ford Ranger shackles
new u-bolts and and spring clamps from O'Reillys

This netted me 6" of lift and I actually like the ride. I have no idea how it flexes because no one ever seems to get pics of my Heep.

For the front brake lines I just unbolted and straightened the steel line (yes Kurt, I know they still need to be remounted)

For the rear lines the same thing (only because I have yet to get a bolt loosened to replace the line with the longer Dakota one).

You can also use GM front lines to increase the length.

Everything bolts right in and is an easy lift to do.

I am lucky in that I have an older XJ so I was able to do that much lift without much drive line issues (well, except for causing my front shaft to snap, but that has more to do with the fact that it was a CV shaft than anything). You will probably need to drop your transfer case an inch or get a slip yoke eliminator.

I'm running something very similar, but I only built it up to 4". The only thing I bought new for my lift was the shocks. Everything else I either got used or from the junkyard. I'm running Ford F100 front springs with a 1.75 spacer up front and a Dakota bastard pack out back.
Grand total for everything.... $150 and that includes the swaybar disconnects and the adjustable trackbar.

 

[bmpweXJ]

I've been reading that some people are using Dodge Ram 2500 upper control arms as their lower control arms. I've heard they're good with a 3" lift. Might wanna check that out.

 

[akhxj01]

are there lifts that are easier to upgrade at a later time? such as 3" now w/o shackles and spacers but by adding those items later which will then require a slip yoke elim. and drive shafts. I have a small amount to invest now but I already have a set of used 31'' tires I would like to start using. would like to eventually have around 4.5" lift that is a good setup for offroad. Currently stock 2000 xj.

 

[magimerlin]

Best advice I or anyone can give. If this is your first Cherokee wheel it as it is and save up the money to get the lift that you want. You will be surprised at how capable the stock XJ really is. Most of us have spent more money in the "go bigger later" idea than we care to admit. Most of us will agree that we should have done it to the point we are at now instead of in steps.

As far as one lift easier to upgrade than any other , I would say no. The higher you go the more you will need no matter what kid you get.

I started with a 3" lift from "Rough Country" and sat on 30's, I am now at 5.5" and sitting on 33's. There is so much that is needed that is different between the two that I wish I had gone to 5.5" first, I would have saved alot of money in between.

 

[MischiefMan]

X2!

Also, figure out what your driving style, needs, and wants are before spending any money. My XJ is sitting at 6" on 33's and I wish that I was only at 3" on 31's. I'm more of an expedition driver than a rock crawler. I don't need as much lift or big tires.

 

[xxmidianxx]

Best advice I or anyone can give. If this is your first Cherokee wheel it as it is and save up the money to get the lift that you want. You will be surprised at how capable the stock XJ really is. Most of us have spent more money in the "go bigger later" idea than we care to admit. Most of us will agree that we should have done it to the point we are at now instead of in steps.

Well in my case thats not all true. Yes I am in the process of "going bigger" but I am buying the parts a little at a time... thats how I can afford it now. But when I first got my lift (3" RC for $259.00 at my doors with shocks), thats all I felt I was ready for and thats I could afford at the time (Hell I ran on 30's for 2 years till I had them money for 32's). Now with the help of a nice COR member and my limited machinist back gound, I was able to go to 4 - 4.5" of lift with the same kit. Back then my rig was more than enough for the wheeling I was ready for. Now I have "out grown" my lift and need to "catch my rig up" to the way I wheel now (I know MM, I scare you just by you being on a trail with me). Plus now I have more "know how" and have found diffrent parts to put together for my next up grades. And no they do not all come in a kit. I am peicing mine together and I guess I will have to see how well they perform.


But like I said, thats just me and my $0.02 (worth about half that).

 

[x2elite]

Mine is more pieced together now as well. I started with a 4.5 RC, and then upgraded it with some drop brackets, and then I recently swapped to different rear leafs, some shackle relocation brackets, and swapped for a 6.5 inch spring up front. I recommend going ahead and buying the "biggest or best" lift you can afford to start off with. This way hopefully it will get you by for a longer period of time before you have to upgrade again.

 

[MischiefMan]

Nah Midian...only if you are behind me.

Maybe I read your post wrong X2E, are you suggesting someone going "bigger" before learning what about their driving abilities, type of wheeling they want to do, and what their XJ is capabale of....or once they have discovered those things THEN they should lift?

Let's not forget that taller is not necessarily better. There is a lot to be said for keeping the center of gravity lower.

 

[x2elite]

I agree that a person needs to know what a stock vehicle is capable of before they go jumping into modding their rig. However, I think when it eventually comes time to lift it, you should buy the most (whether that means price wise or height wise, whichever you deem more important) lift you can afford the first time. Hopefully, doing that will tide you over for a WHILE before you decide its time to upgrade.

 

[x2elite]

Obviously there is a point where more (taller) lift is no longer desireable. However, you should buy the lift that has the most options you are looking for the first time around. I am just saying you should buy whatever lift that will keep you the happiest for the longest period of time, so that hopefully you will not have to make any changes for a while.

 

[akhxj01]

Long arm vs short arm. Is the long arm just plain better all the way around once the lift exceeds 3"?