How do you install a lift kit???

Did you read thorough the link I sent? Cool thing is he shows ya how to do it all... pics and everything! Pretty good write-up... there's also a link at the very bottom of that article, showing how he went higher... like I did... w/the shackle and poly spacer... I want to do a 3 or 4 inch coil for the front soon, to get rid of the spacer, but I'm happy with it for now... Scott's seen me wheel my Heep... he knows what it will and won't do... right, Scott? :kissyou:
 
Nope... they're a 31" NoName AT... cheap, and they work pretty well... looking to get a set of 31" Muds, but got other priorities right now... so they'll do the job for the time being... no regrets so far... have had them about 7 months... about two days longer than I've had the XJ!!! Only paid 1000 bucks for the Heep... '94, 4.0, NP 242, D30/8 1/4 w/LSD... runs like a champ, everything works... so far, w/purchase price, I have about 1300 in it...
 
Yeah... mine's got a few dings, some fading paint, and crap like that... but mechanically, it's in great shape... it ain't a rice-burning trailer queen, I wheel the snot out of it, drive it to work and back every day, and it's about as "green" as I'll ever get... prolly even take it to the drags this year... run some bracket racing with it... did that w/ my Rancharger couple years ago... ran consistent 17.027's for three rounds! Not fast, but it was fun with the top off! And in bracket racing it doesn't matter how fast or slow ya go... consistency wins races! Unfortunately I beat myself... dialed in at 17 flat, went 16.999 in fourth round... oh well... was a blast!
 
Hahahaha nice. yeah mine has pain chippin on the hood, some scratches on the sides, and yeah some paint fade. but you know its an 88 what do you expect hahaha
 
Another thing to remember is to not be in a rush to go bigger. Take your time. You dont want to jump into something ready for. This goes for finding stuff for your lift. I waited months before I found the right deals for my lift that I pieced together.
 
redrider2911 said:
Well first off. The best way to do it is work with someone who has the experience, time, and patience to help you out. Just crawl under your jeep and maybe just inspect it for a little while?... Get an idea on how the parts work together and what parts you have to replace the parts on the jeep.
Second, if everything you listed is indeed everything you have then you are short on some parts. You will need extended brake line, or just drop the stock brackets down. Atleast some sort of longer than stock lower control arms (these are the arms that keep your axle from moving forward and backward), if you dont replace them then you wont be able to adjust for proper caster very easily (caster is the angle your ball joints are in relation to the ground), it wont handle worth crap if this isnt correct, and you could get death wobble. I would actually invest in a long arm upgrade, a little bit more now but worth the money when you decide to upgrade later, 600 dollars is worth it... I would also ditch the blocks and spend 150 on a 3" add-a-leaf, especially if they are aluminum blocks.

Even though some people get annoyed, the best way to learn is ask questions. Now we have the internet, so it would always be recommended to do some searching and research on what goes into a lift.
Click to expand...

Thats all ya can really do. I layed under all my 4x4s and dream ideas up.
 
Jesse you're on the right track.

There's a lot of good advice in this thread and on NAXJA. Spend some time reading trip reports, build up threads, and skimming through the tech forums.

Although the most important thing to consider is seat time! You can dump a ton of money in your rig and make it more capable, but in the end seat time and experience will be the biggest factor. We'll probably be making another trip to TSF after NWF. Come on out and see how your rig performs, and what you'd like to change.

For what it's worth I had a 2" BB lift, and 30x9.5's on my Jeep for about 3 years. It's what I learned on, and was actually a fairly decent setup. I ran it at TSF monthly, Naches, Liberty, and lots of snow wheeling. Only reason why I upgraded was because I got bored with it (it took three years though).

Get some seat time in off road. Instead of big tires and lots of lift, focus on skid plates and rock rails. Protect the drive train, and body. Anyone can mash their rig off road, but it takes skill and finesse to keep it clean.

Also, what are all the parts came with your lift you purchased? I'm still confused about how complete the lift kit you got is. You might want to install some of the parts now, keep some for later, and sell what you don't need/want.
 
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this is what i got...
GetAttachment.aspx


i got the 4 skyjacker shocks, 6.5" coils from rough country, 3" blocks for the back with U-rings, and then the shackles
 
i think i'm just going to get rid of the blocks, sell those and then maybe just save the shackles but wont put them on and just get new leaf packs to put on the back and not ness around because of what i've heard blocks dont seem like a good idea haha.

Does anyone know where i can get cheap but good leaf packs?
what do you guys recomend?
 
McJesse said:
i think i'm just going to get rid of the blocks, sell those and then maybe just save the shackles but wont put them on and just get new leaf packs to put on the back and not ness around because of what i've heard blocks dont seem like a good idea haha.

Does anyone know where i can get cheap but good leaf packs?
what do you guys recomend?
Click to expand...
I suggest 4.5" Leaf springs (rough country/Rubicon express etc etc)
with 1"-1.5" drop shackles and HD Shackle relocation brackets (another 1" drop)

That would net you 6.5" of lift (roughly) and with the adjustable shackle brackets you can dial in the rear suspension for optimal articulation/flex :sunshine:
 
because you already have the shackel. dich the blocks and replace them with an add-a-leaf, to get it leveled out. now you will need to look into brake lines. jeep Wrangler or "YJ" Rear brakes lines are 2-3" longer than stock xj lines. even if there stock ones from napa or even the junk yard will work, you need the length. do some reserch on control arms. there are manny differend styles, and they all flex and ride differently. but at 6" they will need changed. look into control arm drop brackets aswell, its not a necasaty but i had my last on at 6'' w/o them, it felt real tipy. then its all about the stering. id look into a drop bracket for the Track bar, an adjustable track bar for 4-8" of lift, and a stering box brace. "inner and outer".

i know some of that may not make since at the moment but with a little digging you will soon find the missing peices.

the guies are right tough. a small lift and some decent tires around 31s will take you places. i sold my big one and currently run on a 3" lift with 30" tires. dident have too much of a problem at all. and i drive a 2000 that i Adore.and it comes off the trail stright.

there is loads of good info here, just keep ur head up and ull be on the trail soon. look forward to meeting you


Bronze.
 
CanMan said:
Bastard pack to start out with. Cheap, yet effective. And you dont even have to screw around with removing the leafs from the rig.
Click to expand...

First lift bigger than a 2" budget boost was a set of bastard leaf packs and used 2.5" coils with my spacers. Threw in some hand-me-down shocks and I was set. Straighten the front brake lines and get creative with the rear one...then a set of passenger side YJ e-brake cables and that was pretty much all I needed.

Now THAT is going back a ways. Sheesh...
 
Go cheap. Buy used stuff. Make your own stuff.

Might not even like 4wheeling.

It doesn't make sense to me to start off with a huge lift, big tires, and no experience.

You'd be into a cheap ass 3 or so inch lift for the price of a new set of rear leafs.
 
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