My first ever major project on my 99 XJ...

[NCjeepgirl83]

Few more pics

Had to go to Pep Boys to buy a new set of u-bolts as the ones in the RE kit weren't the right ones (apparently I have either a Dana 35 or Chrysler 8.25 depending who you ask).

Old leaf

New leaf

 

[NCjeepgirl83]

More pix

With the lift on:

Front view

Rear view

Angle view

I don't want my new tires to stick out more than this, in fact, I wish they'd stick out less but I figure I'd need new wheels for that:

 

[Lowrange2]

Looks good.

Looks like an 8.25 to me. It's kinda hard to tell from that picture.


Edit... Oh wow thats DEF an 8.25. You posted more pictures while I was typing.

 

[ZacSquatch]

Yep, 8.25....

I still think you should put one up with a Bikini on...

 

[NCjeepgirl83]

Oh good I feel a lot better now based on what I've read about Dana 35s...and 2 guys at 4 wheel parts, including Kyle, looked at it and said it was a Dana 35. :bs:

BTW, is it just me or does it look like the back of my car is a bit higher than the front? it could be cos I'm parked on a curb rather than flat ground...

 

[ladywolf]

with the RE kits, the rear will usually sit a lil higher till the leafs settle. theres a reason why i called mine stinkbug for awhile.

its a lot better now that the jeep has had the lift on for awhile, and i put on a jcr bumper w/ a tire rack on the back, helped settle the leafs a lil faster.

 

[ZacSquatch]

Its higher, like I said last night, let it settle a bit... May need to to add a 3/4" spacer up front if it doenst go down enough for ya...

 

[NCjeepgirl83]

Also I've noticed while driving that there's a droning sound I can hear between 30-40mph. Is that normal?

Sorry but you'll be getting a lot of "is this normal?" questions from me in the next few days...

But now, the eternal question is: Do I go with 30x9.5 or 31x10.5? Are the 31s gonna stick out far with my wheels?

 

[ZacSquatch]

31's.. do it...

 

[NCjeepgirl83]

Its higher, like I said last night, let it settle a bit... May need to to add a 3/4" spacer up front if it doenst go down enough for ya...

Cool thanx. I hope it'll settle quicker with the set of 4 BFG 30s I've got in the back...

 

[ZacSquatch]

uh-oh, junk in da trunk

 

[ladywolf]

jeep girl, heres mine w/ 31x10.50's

hope this helps

 

[NCjeepgirl83]

O yeah and I meant to add, the guy that put the lift on didn't put the steering stablizer on yet. he said he'd do it after the guys at 4 wheel parts get it aligned...I hope he knows what he's doing!

 

[BruceB83]

31's....anything less will be a disappointment!!!

 

[NCjeepgirl83]

Why is it that only one shock is visible from the rear? Is is supposed to be like that? I guess I didn't notice it when it was stock, cos the bumper prolly hid the shock, plus the shock wasn't stark white...

And thanks Ladywolf, that helps a lot!

 

[userbmx1315]

theres a shock on each side of the axle, nice clean jeep "NCjeepgirl83"

 

[ladywolf]

i'm guessin one of the reasons is to help avoid axle wrap.....and the shocks are placed on opposite sides of the axle.


and you are very welcome.

 

[BruceB83]

i'm guessin one of the reasons is to help avoid axle wrap.....and the shocks are placed on opposite sides of the axle.


and you are very welcome.

Correct

NCGIRL...yeah, you probably just didn't notice it before the lift because they were hidden by the puny stock suspension.

 

[RenegadeStang]

Katie that looks great!

And don't listen to Kyle, he's a Toyota guy.

 

[NCjeepgirl83]

GRRR!

Well, I took the XJ to 4 wheel parts for alignment and mounting of the new tires, and they informed me that I had worn out ball joints and they wouldn't put the new tires on until I had gotten new ball joints. Then they printed me up a quote for $622 for buying and installing the ball joints and aligning it, since they were only able to align it halfway today.

They wouldn't even be able to install the new ball joints till Feb 4, which is like 2 weeks from now, and I don't want to wait that long. So I went ahead and paid for the new ball joints which should be here tomorrow and I'm taking the car over to my friend's gas station that he works at that's got a lift and getting a 2nd opinion from him on Monday. He also said they'd be able to fit me in next week to install the ball joints.

So dammit. Here I am again with crappy stock tires, and an annoying and slightly worrying grinding noise whenever I put my foot on the brake.