Is the RE 4.5" right for my needs.......

[Rough 01]

The time is finally here. I'm going to do a major lift to my Jeep in a couple of months and I would like some advice.

I'm looking to use the vehicle as a dd and it will only see about 40% off road action. I want something with spring rates similar to the up-country springs I'm currently running. I also want to stay with 31" tires (probably BFG MT) on my stock rims. I want to have a lot of travel so that I can do forest trails and mild rocks at a good rate of speed. I don't have a lot of rocks to crawl on and there isn't a lot of mud close by. What I do have is a lot of small rocks that really vibrate the hell out of the XJ and its occupants. I want to have enough travel to take these obsticals at a good speed and not ruin my components right off the bat.

I currently have a '98 Sport with an auto with the NP231 transfer case and the 8.25 rear axle with stock gears front and rear.

I'm thinking about getting the RE 4.5" Superflex kit with the RE SYE and CV driveshaft. I want to swap out the fixed length Upper and lower control arms for the adjustables. I also want to swap out the quick disconnects for the JKS Gen II. I want to run the Bilstein 5150 shocks but I haven't heard any reviews on how long they hold up and how they ride.

I am also planning on regearing to 4.56 as well as adding a no-slip to the rear. I want to go with 4.56 since it will give me a little more torque than stock (I don't really care about gas mileage) and I may want to go to 33" when I stop using it for a dd.

Some questions I don't have answered. Will I need a new front driveshaft for this lift? If not, how high can I go with the stock front driveshaft? Will I need shims for the rear springs and transfer case drop even with the CV driveshaft and SYE? I really don't want to lower the transfer case since I'm paying a lot of money to get it away from the ground.

Thanks for all you help and I may see you on the trail!
Rough

 

[Danno]

I'm running about 6" with the stock front DS. If you have the front high pinion D30 you're in good shape. About 1998 some models starting coming out with a low pinion and that gets you into vibration problems at anything over 4" like I have. If you are going to run 31s you can go with the RE 3.5" superflex and not have to do the SYE or mess with the front DS even with the low pinion. I've done this lift on two vehicles and it works very well. You can even run 32s with a little trimming.

 

[96country]

If it were me, I would just get the RE4.5" kit with 3.5" leaves and extended shackle. I did the RE3.5" kit and the rear sat so high I had to add a 2" coil spacer to level it out. Do the SYE and you shouldn't need to drop the TC.

Good Luck

 

[Ralph]

The time is finally here. I'm going to do a major lift to my Jeep in a couple of months and I would like some advice.

I'm looking to use the vehicle as a dd and it will only see about 40% off road action. I want something with spring rates similar to the up-country springs I'm currently running. I also want to stay with 31" tires (probably BFG MT) on my stock rims. I want to have a lot of travel so that I can do forest trails and mild rocks at a good rate of speed. I don't have a lot of rocks to crawl on and there isn't a lot of mud close by. What I do have is a lot of small rocks that really vibrate the hell out of the XJ and its occupants. I want to have enough travel to take these obsticals at a good speed and not ruin my components right off the bat.

I currently have a '98 Sport with an auto with the NP231 transfer case and the 8.25 rear axle with stock gears front and rear.

I'm thinking about getting the RE 4.5" Superflex kit with the RE SYE and CV driveshaft. I want to swap out the fixed length Upper and lower control arms for the adjustables. I also want to swap out the quick disconnects for the JKS Gen II. I want to run the Bilstein 5150 shocks but I haven't heard any reviews on how long they hold up and how they ride.

I am also planning on regearing to 4.56 as well as adding a no-slip to the rear. I want to go with 4.56 since it will give me a little more torque than stock (I don't really care about gas mileage) and I may want to go to 33" when I stop using it for a dd.

Some questions I don't have answered. Will I need a new front driveshaft for this lift? If not, how high can I go with the stock front driveshaft? Will I need shims for the rear springs and transfer case drop even with the CV driveshaft and SYE? I really don't want to lower the transfer case since I'm paying a lot of money to get it away from the ground.

Thanks for all you help and I may see you on the trail!
Rough

I think for the needs you discribe the RE 4.5" with the upper and lower control arms is overkill. From what I've learned, the OME lift is specifically designed for that kind of driving. The lift will give you about three inches which is fine for 31's. The SYE is a good idea regardless. I think an SYE is a good upgrade for stock vehicles. Once you get the lift installed you will have to measure your driveline angles. With a C/V driveshaft you want the pinion shaft in line with the driveshaft minus 1 to 3 degrees. You can obtain that angle with either shims or an extended shackle. I wouldn't bother with a t-case drop. With a smalled lift, your front drive shaft will be fine. With a 4.5" lift, the slip shaft on my front drive shaft wore out after about a year. I replaced it with a long travel from Tom Woods.

 

[BrianJr]

I recently installed the same lift you are describing on my 1999 XJ. I use my XJ has a daily driver and the suspension rides very nice. The ride is almost identical to stock except when cornering quickly.

I went with 4.10 gears and 32x11.5-15 BFG-MT's. I live in southwest Virginia and the XJ does very well on the hills along I81 and I77. I have also been very happy with them on the trail. Considering I have already taken a hit to my milage I am very glad I did not go with 4.56's.

I also upgraded to the adjustable control arms and I am very glad I did. I was able to get my castor and pinion angles right where I wanted them. I upgraded to the HD track-bar and bracket but I really don't have a reason to think that was a good upgrade. If I was going to do it again I would have stuck with the standard adjustable control arm.

I have been using the RE quick disconnects. DONT - THEY ARE TONS WORSE THAN SIMPLY UNBOLTING A STOCK SETUP. I think you are on the right track with the JKS discos.

-Brian

I'm thinking about getting the RE 4.5" Superflex kit with the RE SYE and CV driveshaft. I want to swap out the fixed length Upper and lower control arms for the adjustables. I also want to swap out the quick disconnects for the JKS Gen II. I want to run the Bilstein 5150 shocks but I haven't heard any reviews on how long they hold up and how they ride.

I am also planning on regearing to 4.56 as well as adding a no-slip to the rear. I want to go with 4.56 since it will give me a little more torque than stock (I don't really care about gas mileage) and I may want to go to 33" when I stop using it for a dd.

 

[xjhm]

go with the adjustable arms if you can...it will cut the vibrations out of the front driveshaft...at least get one pair of control arms that are adjustable...

 

[dellstopjeep]

in my opinion, i wish i was loaded like u guys and could but a couple grand into my suspension. :farmer:

 

[Rough 01]

in my opinion, i wish i was loaded like u guys and could but a couple grand into my suspension. :farmer:

Just want to say thanks for all the advice and to please keep it coming. As to the money issue....I've been saving for quite a while and trying to put a lot of thought into my lift. I've had the Jeep since 2001 and I've waited on purchasing a lift until I had enough money to do it right and minimize my death wobble and driveshaft vibes (among other issues). I also didn't have a lot of off roading experience then. I've done a ton of off roading and feel very confident in what I'm looking for in my vehicle and what I'm willing to risk with a dd. I've met many great people in my adventures and my entire family is into it too.

I didn't want to do my major lift part-by-part but do all the major suspension work at one time. I also plan on going with new rims and larger tires when I retire it as a dd. That is why I would like to go a little larger in the gears and lift now. It's cheaper to buy it now and just upgrade the tires/rims at a later date. (as long as it is safe and doesn't give me the tiny wagon wheel look)

Has anyone used the Bilstein 5150 shocks and is willing to let me know if they are worth the price?

Thanks,
Rough

 

[yellowxj]

get the hd track bar with and bracket with the 4.5 superflex kit and your all set...even on my wifes old 85 xj that superflex kit is awesome...great with 31's....35's rub a bit even with ample fender trimming....going to have to bumpstop the rear and trim the front a bit more...but it works...big difference in running over stuff with 35's compared to 31's...

 

[sidriptide]

i just installed the RE 4.5 kit WITH a 1" spacer in the front and it now sits at 5.5" front and 6.5" rear... i like the way it sits but it is WAY more than 4.5".... tons of room for my 33s... for a DD running 31s i would NOT use this kit... the 3.5" kit with a 3/4" spacer would probably sit real nice and still fit 32s i bet....

mike

 

[96country]

i just installed the RE 4.5 kit WITH a 1" spacer in the front and it now sits at 5.5" front and 6.5" rear... i like the way it sits but it is WAY more than 4.5".... tons of room for my 33s... for a DD running 31s i would NOT use this kit... the 3.5" kit with a 3/4" spacer would probably sit real nice and still fit 32s i bet....

mike

Why wouldn't you use that kit for a DD with 31s? I'm running that same lift with 31s and it's my DD. I don't see what is wrong with it. The problem that I have with the 3.5" kit and 3/4" spacer is that it will probably still sit high in the rear, and you need an extended shackle to let the 3.5" leaf pack flex well. Mine is sitting at about 6.5" with trimmed fenders and it uses all the available room to flex 31s. Anything taller would require longer bumpstops than supplied with the kit.

 

[BrianJr]

Sidriptide,
What year is your XJ? I have a 1999 with that lift and there is no way I could fit 33's in the front without trimming, and the rear would be very close. I have 32's and the stuff in the front if the wheels are pointing strait ahead. Otherwise they rub very badly. The rear stuffs nicely but there is not any extra room.

-Brian

i just installed the RE 4.5 kit WITH a 1" spacer in the front and it now sits at 5.5" front and 6.5" rear... i like the way it sits but it is WAY more than 4.5".... tons of room for my 33s... for a DD running 31s i would NOT use this kit... the 3.5" kit with a 3/4" spacer would probably sit real nice and still fit 32s i bet....

mike

 

[XJhammer]

I did the RE 4.5" with adj lowers. Great on the trail, but the ride is a little harsh. I am hoping that it will get better in time. I have a 91 and did the TC drop, well about 1/2 the TC drop. On side were studs and the other where bolts. I haven't removed the studs yet, so only one side is dropped. No vibes at all. I have 32" mtr's and needed to cut the front fenders a little. Otherwise I’m very happy with the lift, but I wouldn’t personally recommend going fast through rocks and stuff.

 

[96country]

What tires work in front has more to do with the amount of trimming you do, how much bumpstop you run, and wheel size/backspacing than with lift height. I'm running 6.5" of RE lift and 31s rub in the front. When I go to 33s next month I will be adding a little more bumpstop.