Im lifting my xj tomorrow

X

XCastleXJ

NAXJA Forum User
Location
Firestone Colorado
i picked up a brand new RE 2 inch lift from a guy in highlands ranch last night for 100 bucks and im gonna do the install tomorrow. i know its not a huge lift, but my xj's stock right now and somethin's better than nothin!

1st of all, any general tips or advice? this is the first lift im doing so it'll all be pretty new to me.

2nd, im un-sue of where the add-a-leafs go in the spring pack? do they go on the bottom or somewhere in the middle?

3rd, i know its supposed to be balls cold tomorrow and the nuts/bolts on the jeep are pretty damn rusted up, so i know that im going to be breaking a few of them. im wondering where i can get replacement bolts. do i need to go to 4 wheel parts or another off-road store (if you know of one near thornton i'd love to know!)? or would ace or auto zone have them? i figure since i need to take alot of them off, and there are some that'll be likely to break, i should take the opportunity to replace them all. sopund like a good idea? im thinkin i should replace the shock bolts and the leaf spring eye bolts. maybe the u-bolts too?

thanks guys.

-michael
 
First off TAKE YOUR TIME, and go slow. It will probably take a lot longer than you think. And second I would start spraying down all the bolts tonight to help loosen them a little. And lastly take your time, and go slow
 
so the best way to do it right is to rush through it and get it over with?:gee:

haha.

yeah ive started spraying things down with PB. and im hoping it works some magic.

thanks!
 
If it's not broke, don't fix it! Those front spring eye bolts have broke many a heart, including mine.

front_eye.JPG
 
wow, i hope that i dont get the chance to take a picture like that.

come on guys, over 30 views and only 3 responses?

i need some advice here, can anyone help me out???
 
Last edited:
have fun lol and expect things to NOT go as planned
 
XCastleXJ said:
wow, i hope that i dont get the chance to take a picture like that.

come on guys, over 30 views and only 3 responses?

i need some advice here, can anyone help me out???
Click to expand...

......here is some advice, DON'T DO IT! ONCE YOU START YOU WILL NEVER STOP!


There is another response for you. :D

Seriously you want to do this when it is cold outside? Being cold will just increase your aggravation level by x10.

Like XJBOY said; Take your time, have plenty of tools and when you here a snap and a pop and the bolt gets really easy to turn......you won't have a good remainder of the day. ;)

............and make sure you have another vehicle (or good friend) to go get stuff and not be stranded.
 
Skully said:
......here is some advice, DON'T DO IT! ONCE YOU START YOU WILL NEVER STOP!


There is another response for you. :D

Seriously you want to do this when it is cold outside? Being cold will just increase your aggravation level by x10.

Like XJBOY said; Take your time, have plenty of tools and when you here a snap and a pop and the bolt gets really easy to turn......you won't have a good remainder of the day. ;)

............and make sure you have another vehicle (or good friend) to go get stuff and not be stranded.
Click to expand...


i know its gonna be cold, but luckily i do have someone who will be helping me.......... with a heated garage. so hopefully things wont be too bad. do you guys think it'd be a good idea to warm the bolts up a litle with a heat gun first?

as far as not stoping... im afraid of what i may end up doing with my tax returns when it comes time. haha.

and if (probably when) i break a bolt, where can i find replacements?
 
:shiver:Where are you gonna do this at, in your heated garage?:sunshine:
A buddy lent me a kerosene heater for my garage this weekend so I can replace ball joints on my XJ on monday, but Lowes and Ace hardware want $45 for a 5 gallon can of fuel. The girl at the local Coop store said kerosene hasn't be available in bulk since Hurricane Katrina and suggested maybe using their Grade 1 Clear Diesel fuel, as others have, she said. I think it would stink up the garage.

I don't know if I stole this thread or not, sorry, my bad... but for your lift, yes, take your time. Did you get new coils for the front or spacers? For the add a leaf install you will need to open the leaf pack and so will prob need new spring wraps(?) or keeper straps(?) or whatever they're called to include the added leaf,
I've participated in a couple of lift parties, but it's been years. Thornton isn't to far away so I'll also swing by and at least give a second hand. Be sure and have at least a large pry bar, and a hand winch (coffin hoist) to push / pull the axles back in place. You also will be disconnecting driveshafts and may want to upgrade u-joints at this time.

Mikev in Mead
 
yulp those leaf bolts can be a bitch:

ryvsanglegrinder5small.jpg


take your time... only bust out the angle grinder as a last resort.

The leaf bolts, upper rear shock bolts, the sway bar torx, and lower track bar bolts are all a PITA!
 
I stepped away and missed your lastest reply. Ace will be a good place for bolt replacements. also have you thought about sway bar disconnects? You can modify your existing ones real cheap until you lift the rig up more and these parts are at Ace also.
 
Castle,

The lift you're putting on is a piece of cake.

Go buy PB Blaster and spray all the bolts you're gonna be working on before you start, let them soak in it for as long as you can.

You won't end up with a pic like Hypoids because you won't be removing the leaf packs - DO NOT remove the leaf packs. Your add-a-leaf goes on the bottom of the leaf pack between the axle and the leaf pack. You're going to have to remove the original center pin bolt, add the new leaf and replace the center pin bolt with the one that should have come in your kit.

Before you remove the original center pin bolt, use a couple of c-clamps to hold your leaf pack together tightly. Then cut the bolt using a cutting wheel or brute force with a socket and breaker bar - they usually break pretty easily.

If you didn't get a new center pin bolt, you can make one fairly cheaply. Measure the thickness of your spring pack with the add-a-leaf held in place then add 1" to that measurement. Go buy the appropriate grade 8 bolt, and nut. Use a grinder to round off the hex head of the bolt so that it can be the centering pin.

Once you've tightened the leaf pack all together just reverse the process to put it all back together.

This write up pretty much shows the processes you'll be using:

http://www.jrfarrar.com/jeep/xj/roughcountry/
 
my lift install actually went really smooth i thought i was going to break some bolts but i was lucky... like everyone else said take your time and that write up looks very useful...so use it
 
ya the 2" should be a cake walk...
dont worry about putting axle back in place as youll have no need to disconnect control arms(unless you got new ones?)
if you jack up the opposing side of axle....it will flex the side your workin on down...making it a lil easier to get a pry bar in and get coils out....
make sure you disconnect top bolt on shocks for that added movement of your axle....
be ready to take forever on the first side and the other side will be a lil shorter....
its not hard but you learn a LOT while under there....
 
oh ya...lots of pics....
and dont pry bolts off...if its stiff.....hit your ratchet in a short sharp burst motion (like an impact would.....) the jerking motion helps not strip/break bolts/nuts or strip the heads....
 
YELLAHEEP said:
Go buy the appropriate grade 8 bolt, and nut.
Click to expand...
IIRC the centering pin is 5/16"

xjnco said:
The girl at the local Coop store said kerosene hasn't be available in bulk since Hurricane Katrina and suggested maybe using their Grade 1 Clear Diesel fuel, as others have, she said. I think it would stink up the garage.
Click to expand...
BTDT, less odor IMHO. If you see the phrase "No 1 fuel oil" in the list of suitable fuels, pump diesel from your corner gas station is compatible.
 
hey guys, thanks so much for all of the responses. im starting to feel alot better about doing this tomorrow, especially with the info from yella. knowing i dont have to take the leaf packs off completly is going to make a huge difference!


i'll post up with pics of before/during/after tomorrow. and if i run into any trouble, im sure i'll let you all know. haha.


thanks again!
 
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