Im lifting my xj tomorrow

Another thing when doing the front spacers........

Disconnect the track bar at the axle - remove the bolt and pull the bar out of the mount. This allows the axle to drop much farther down and you "shouldn't" need to do much prying to get the coils out. Definitely disconnect the shocks (easier to disco them from the bottom than the top) and be sure to watch your brake lines to ensure you don't pull on them too much. It wouldn't be a bad to go ahead and relocate the hard line at this time anyway if you plan on running sway bar disconnects off road.

Here's a link to how to re-locate the hard brake lines for the front: (Scroll about half-way down)

http://www.lunghd.com/Tech_Articles/Suspension_Steering_Axles_and_Brakes/Budget_Lift.htm
 
Good luck with the front leaf bolt. Get a can of PB Blaster, and then buy another one, you will need it. The bolts on the top of the rear shocks are a PITA. I broke all 4. Had to drill and tap new holes. Front leaf bolt was the worst. I got it out and it seized up in the bushing. Had to cut both sides and then fish the end of the bolt out of the hole.

I planned on doing it in one day. It took 2 and about 15 hours of work, mostly because of the front leaf bolts. I was only able to get new one at the stealership. Every time I have taken off the leafs since then I buy new bolts before starting any thing. I am at work on saturday and sunday, but if you need a hand shoot me a pm, I am in Lakewood.
 
Another thing when doing the front spacers........

Disconnect the track bar at the axle - remove the bolt and pull the bar out of the mount. This allows the axle to drop much farther down and you "shouldn't" need to do much prying to get the coils out. Definitely disconnect the shocks (easier to disco them from the bottom than the top) and be sure to watch your brake lines to ensure you don't pull on them too much. It wouldn't be a bad to go ahead and relocate the hard line at this time anyway if you plan on running sway bar disconnects off road.

Here's a link to how to re-locate the hard brake lines for the front: (Scroll about half-way down)

http://www.lunghd.com/Tech_Articles/Suspension_Steering_Axles_and_Brakes/Budget_Lift.htm

Very cool, I guess you learn some thing new every day. Thanks. I will be doing this when it warms up.
 
Hmmm... maybe I just didn't know what I was doing when I installed my 2" lift, but it took my father-in-law and I about 9 hours to do the install (that includes breaks for food and several trips to the parts store). We ended up having to rent some coil spring compressors and unbolt one set of the control arms in order to get the coils off. Maybe we should've just unbolted the track bar - sounds like that would've been easier.

Even though some people are saying it's a piece of cake, if you're brand new to this kind of work and you've got lots of rusty bolts, be safe and count on it taking ALL day...
 
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


I have the same kit. Hopefully your trackbar bushing isn't seized to the bolt that makes it a job for a torch. As for the AAL's they go under the main leaf. They are all silghtly shorter than each other so you should be able to figure it out. Make sure you clamp the leafs to gether as tight as possible and clean them up real well. You are probably gonna have to cut the old center pins off of the leafs My kit came with new ones so should yours. OH and USE LOTS OF PB BLASTER or an equivalent!:D have fun!
 
im in the process right now. and with the concept of longest to shortest, the add-a-leaf goes in between the first and second leafs in the pack.

does that hold true or does it actually go on the very bottom?


Mine is under the main leaf. Not sure why Yellaheep is saying it goes on the bottom!:dunno:

Edit: I have the full length AAL!
 
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Yeah, my bad.......... the short AAL "should" go at the bottom or between the last 2 leafs. The long AAL goes under the main leaf.

You didn't get instructions with this "Brand new kit"?
 
pics will come tomorrow. i forgot my camera at my house so ive only got a couple that i took with my phone.

no broken bolts at all which was really awesome.

but after a busy day, ive got a busy evening too. i'll write more tomorrow.

thanks for the advice and encouragement guys!
 
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