Lift ideas

[bcrosson92]

I want to do a lift because I smashed the tranny lines and had to have a new to me tranny put in. its totally stock. 1990. I would like a 4.5 inch to run 33's but I heard that doesn't work off road. don't have a lot to spend so no long arms. at 4.5 do I need a sye and case drop and longer drive shaft? 3 inches seems pointless to me. my buddy has one and its not much taller then mine. I live in pa about an hour from raush creek. wanna do green maybe yellow trails.

[4.3LXJ]

You can do 4.5" on short arms with 33s. That is a good combination. Plan on some fender trimming though. You should be fine without an SYE

[bcrosson92]

I'm gonna do bushwhacker flares so do I need to trim the fenders. how bout a t case drop

[4.3LXJ]

Personally is don't like them, so I set up drivelines without them. It just depends on how much spline is in the tail housing. If not enough, then yes a drop is in order

[bcrosson92]

OK don't laugh too much but do u mean how severe the angle is? I'm pretty new to all this.

[bluedragon436]

How much are you looking to spend on the lift setup?? You can go through RC and pick up their 4.5" kit w/ AAL's for roughly $460, and it comes with the TC drop... which you can try to install the lift without the drop and see how it does... if you get vibes you have the drop to install, if you don't have the vibes then you leave the drop out... You can spend a bit more and pick up their 4.5" X-flex kit which has full leafs for the rear, and also comes with the TC drop (once again try without it first, if needed then install), and it also comes with adj. upper and lower control arms for the front axle... But since you are doing the Bushwacker flares, I'd say you'd be able to do the 4.5 and 33's fairly easily...

[bcrosson92]

I was thinking RC. but not the x flex one because I will eventually go to the 6.5 and do all the drops with that. I'm still in collage and only wanna do moderate wheeling.

[bluedragon436]

I would say then see about getting the standard 4.5" lift kit but see if you can't gt the full springs instead of the AAL.. I am running 4.5" rear leafs w/ RC adj. shackles, and am sitting a little bit over 6.5" of lift... and from what I've read online (and that could very well be wrong) running the shackles like that allow a bit more flex on the rear axle, over the 6.5" rear leafs I would be running right now... so just something ot think about... I'd keep an eye on the Rausch Creek forums classifieds as there is almost always some sort of XJ lift parts on there..

Another option you could look into since you are planning on going higher one day... is to do a budget lift with "bastard" packs in the rear, and some V8 ZJ coils up front... Just a thought...

Hope to see you out on the trails up @ Rausch one day!!

[bcrosson92]

oh yea I saw the bastard pack lift. I never knew what coils to use up front without buying new. will those give me the lift I'm looking for. and is that all I need for it. just the springs. shocks?

[4.3LXJ]

The popular bastard pack lift is with S10 springs. If you use three leaves you get 3.5" Cut the ends off the main and get another inch. But a little on the stiff side. You could use an extended shackle for the extra inch

[bcrosson92]

does it matter if the coil springs are from the front or rear of the zj. and do I need new shocks?

[4.3LXJ]

Yes, you want the fronts. They net 1.75" of lift

[bcrosson92]

can I use tj front springs with yj leafs for the bastardpak lift

[4.3LXJ]

The TJ springs will give you 2" less lift

[bcrosson92]

OK. the guy didn't know which springs I wanted. what length shocks will I need at 4.5 in lift?

[bcrosson92]

and in the front coil spacers to match actual lift in the rear?

[4.3LXJ]

Shocks are somewhat a stab in the dark from here. It depends on the length of the springs. But if you get some for the final lift they will be close

[bcrosson92]

could I use shocks for the 6.5 lift I'm gonna do later for the lift now? like buy the 6.5in lift shocks now and use them.

[4.3LXJ]

You could. But you will have to bump stop for those shocks, which will limit the controlled downward travel of your rear axle. Front axle will hang and top of the spring will be down and loose under full flex. Lots of guys do that anyway

[denverd1]

4.5" w/ short arms on drop brackets & 33's is a good combo. currently where I am. I'd eventually like to get higher and bigger rubber but that combo yields a very capable vehicle.

[bcrosson92]

my bump stops in the rear are shot anyways. will the loose front spring pop out at full flex. I don't wanna have to put it back in on the trail.

[4.3LXJ]

Depends on how long those shocks are. Some have done that with crazy long shocks

[bcrosson92]

well I want this lift to be done cheaply since I'm going bigger after I finish school. so I know I'll need new shocks at 6.5. could I get away with stock shocks for now? it will just not flex as much right?

[bluedragon436]

Stock shocks will limit your travel so you will not be able to flex hardly at all... Check out the Suspension & Lift section on the Junkyard parts list thread (http://www.xjtalk.com/showthread.php?t=5646).. Might give you a better idea of what will give you what, and what you might be able to pick up from the JY or even search for on forums to get roughly what you are looking for on the cheap!!

[4.3LXJ]

No, you will have to replace the shocks anyway. They would be close to not even hooking up

[bcrosson92]

looks like I can use stock jk shocks all the way around

[Carves]

The TJ springs will give you 2" less lift


Which explains why the 2" lift springs for a TJ I've been hanging onto for donkeys ages .... hoping it wasn't so ...

... are the same length as stock .. :mad: .... :D:D


Might still use 'em with the 2" spacers tho ... as they appear heavier duty than the stock XJs.


Thoughts, anyone ??????????

[Carves]

looks like I can use stock jk shocks all the way around

Measure the front ones carefully ... they arent much different to stock XJ ones.

[bcrosson92]

honestly ur best bet is the v8 zj coils and a bastard pack the rear. I got coils and spacers for 60$.

[bcrosson92]

the shocks gotta be an 07 jk Rubicon stock to work. I found a link somewhere I'll post it when I find it again. its one of those has to be this kinda part for it to work.

[bcrosson92]

heres the link http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=966436

[Andrew XJ]

I am planing to lift my jeep 3" for now with an RC add a leaf system, but eventually want 4.5''. So the question is, would it be dangerous to put the 3" lift on and 1.5 front nylon spacers & rear shackles to git 4.5. Also would this hurt my articulation any. Unfortunately I can't afford a 4.5" which is why I want to do it this way.

[4.3LXJ]

A 3" lift is the most bang for your buck. But once you get above that point, then it is possible to go higher with spacers, but not the most desirable on stock control arms due to the geometry of the system. The castor angle of the front axle is changed and can cause some death wobble. So to answer your question, yes you can do it, but you need to plan on getting new lower control arms for the front and new track bar for that height not to mention shocks and brake lines. It is a big jump in price for that extra height.

[Andrew XJ]

A 3" lift is the most bang for your buck. But once you get above that point, then it is possible to go higher with spacers, but not the most desirable on stock control arms due to the geometry of the system. The castor angle of the front axle is changed and can cause some death wobble. So to answer your question, yes you can do it, but you need to plan on getting new lower control arms for the front and new track bar for that height not to mention shocks and brake lines. It is a big jump in price for that extra height.
It's a good thing you replied, because it also has to be a daily driver and I would hate to invest that much money and have death wobble. Thanks, 4.3 XJ