Front axle relocation/ stretch

[talawson42]

i got to thinkin bout stretchin the front axle out on my 97 xj. i was wonderin if anybody has done this,and how hard it would be? is it even worth doing ? and is it a good idea to do for a daily driver/weekend wheeler ?

[bigjim350]

How far forward? You move it much, then you have to get very creative with the track bar, and the steering. Your gonna have to really want to do it, cause it seems like there will be tons of work involved.

[4.3LXJ]

Two inches is about what you can get before the steering will interfere with the axle. It can be done with some custom long arms easily enough

[xjmarc]

Mine is a bit over 2" forward and my coils have a very distinct bow to them. Any more and I'd have to move my spring buckets. My steering and track bar mount are home built so they were built around the axle location.

[talawson42]

i was thinkin bout 2-4 inches nad i was gonna move the coil buckets forward and relocate the shocks. i never thought bout the steering tho.

[4.3LXJ]

You will have to move the box forward too. At some point you will run out of frame rail

[BlueXJ]

What do you see as the benefit of moving the axle?

[talawson42]

bumper wont hit stuff so easily and i heard it would go better

[4.3LXJ]

Well that is true, but I don't think it is worth the work unless you go to tires that are big enough to require that. You can gain a lot of approach angle with a lift and different style of bumper

[bigjim350]

There is tons of benefit to a streched wheelbase if you fully commit to it. With big tires and a big stretch you will have the approach angle equal to a H1. Have seen them things climb walls.