Build it or buy it?

[EJXJ2000]

Ok so I have a 2000 Cherokee 4wd it has a 3 inch block lift in the front and a add a leaf in the rear it's just a bs kinda deal to fit 31s alil better but I want to add another 3" to it. I'm thinking about putting 3" blocks in the back and coils in the front with the right control arms. I can build stuff myself like the control arms but would it be worth it to build what I need or buy what I need? Any help on where to get cheap good parts or tips on fab work would be awesome. Thanks!!

 

[Team Willys]

Hello! And welcome to the forum. Ok, so here's the deal, blocks on the rear springs are kinda a bad idea. Cherokees already have axle wrap issues in the rear, and blocks just compound the problem and make it 10 times worse. So... either buy a new set of springs or get a good used set... or a longer shackle and some of HD Off Road Engineering shackle relocation brackets. Those will net you a few inches of lift without any adverse axle wrap issues. As for the front... if you gotta buy springs to go bigger, might as well get the size you want and ditch the block altogether. Most of the time you can get any size lift spring for roughly the same price, so bigger springs don't cost much more. If you want 6" of lift, you will NEED either long arms or drop brackets for short arms. Ask either shaggybob or melkorsxj, they both have run that much lift with no drop brackets and short arms, and they both will tell you that its nowhere near the ideal situation. Axle movement, poor ride quality, and handling quirks are all issues that will come up with trying to run the short arms in the factory location. Personally, I would just go long arm from the get go because in the end its the best solution, but if you do go short arm, be sure to get a set of drop brackets. For the cost, I wouldn't bother making a set (and this is what I do for a living everyday), so just buy a set.

 

[EJXJ2000]

Thank you so much for the advice but im not really made of money!! lol i mean i know all this will be much better than what im wanting to do but i really dont have alot of money and im gonna install all this stuff myself with the help from my dad but i hav no clue how to mount a long arm kit.......... no clue. SO im just tryin to do the mest i can. I may not run the blocks in the back im just tryin to get the thing in the air right now. im gonna replace stuff as i go if i dont get what i need to start with but i will have to look into the long arm kit tho

 

[souske]

Add A SYE and CV driveshaft to your list

 

[Lowrange2]

Why hack it up the first time? You'll have to fix it later. Save your money and do it right the first time...

 

[Team Willys]

Exactly... I mean, basically what I'm saying is that if you actually want to be able to drive it, what you are trying to do will not work. If you spend your money to make control arms (short arms) and add a block in the back, its going to handle so poorly both on and off road that you will not even want to drive it. Sure it will look good sitting still but that's about it. Then, when you realize that you are gonna have to change it up to work properly, then you have wasted that time and money doing it wrong. Im all for making your own stuff when it's practical. But you still need to do it correctly. Long arms are not that hard to make, just build a new cross member that uses all three nut-serts in the frame rail, then sleeve and through bolt the frame in a couple of spots and tie into that as well. Then you can mount to the cross member.

 

[EJXJ2000]

Yea i know. i checked on some long arm kits last night and saw what i was gonna have to build and everything. and i checked on soome springs and there not too high but. here it is right now

 

[bigalpha]

I agree with the above advice about doing it right the first time - especially if you're on a limited budget. If your only goal is to stuff 31's better, you should look into trimming instead of lifting. 6" lift with 31's might look a little funny. I have 31's on a 4.5" lift and it's on the verge of looking funny.

 

[EJXJ2000]

Well ive got 33-12.50-15 ready to go on it i just need the lift now...

 

[bigalpha]

You can actually stuff 33's on a shorter lift if you are not shy with trimming and bumpstopping.

 

[EJXJ2000]

yea i know but i really dont want to stuff any tire up under my jeep. i want to make sure it will clear when i flex as well as have a half decent ride on the road

 

[bigalpha]

What?

You HAVE to bumpstop - unless you want your shocks and/or fender to stop that side of the axle moving upwards; both of which are bad options.

Also, lifting your Jeep more is going to decrease your ride on the road.

 

[EJXJ2000]

Well yea im gonna have bumpstops but i dont want to trim anything

 

[souske]

Hmm, 3.5" with drop brackets in front and shackle relocators in the rear, along with some prothanes might give you as close as possible to stock ride

But you will need gears to turn bigger tires = $$
And a SYE and driveshaft to have no vibes like stock = $$
Bigger tires need bigger brakes =$-$$$

Guess it all comes down to what you consider a half decent ride

In any case "stuff" does not refer to being tucked inside the fender at ride height lowrider style, it means the tire will tuck in without rubbing at full compression under maximum articulation

 

[bigalpha]

In any case "stuff" does not refer to being tucked inside the fender at ride height lowrider style, it means the tire will tuck in without rubbing at full compression under maximum articulation

Yes, this is what I was talking about.

Also, the newer model year Jeeps are extremely prone to getting bad vibes at higher lifts like you're wanting.

 

[Ghost]

Welcome aboard. Just curious but how old are you? If I were to build an xj to run 33's I'd get a 4.5" coil and a clayton crossmember with some ironman4x4fab long arms. I'd get some Hd shackle relocation brackets, and a 4.5" rear lift spring with a greasable rear shackle. Trim where needed to fit the tires. I'd get a SYE and a front XJ shaft and be done. Well except for the lockrights front and rear and the 4.56 gears.

 

[old_man]

Rather than blocks in the back, given your lack of funds, do a search on there for "bastard packs". You can take another set of leaf springs and steal some leaves from them and make up a custom stackup of leaves.

Front coil springs are fairly inexpensive so I would just buy them or check on the want ads here to see if anybody has an old set.

The newer models have lots of problems with vibes if you don't run a SYE. A well done hack and tap will be just fine. Half the guys I run with are running hack and taps and they do the hardest trails around.

Any thing over about 4-5 inches of lift will yield one crappy ride if you don't go drop brackets or long arms, but I know lots of people who have run it that way for years. Ideal....NO.

Remember you are going to have to go longer shocks as well. You will also need to extend your sway bar links.

 

[bmanga]

Build it. Low is the way to go!

The pics below show my junk running 3.5" of lift with 35's. 99% of it is custom built.

 

[EJXJ2000]

Y'all are deff right. I have a nice jeep (not bragging) but I don't want to mess it up. I guess I need to go with the right stuff to start with

 

[bigalpha]

Exactly - you won't regret this decision later.