ok. if u were me, a cute california girl who can wrench and has friends to help her but is trying to stay on a jeep budget -...here is what i want. a sturdier small lift to get up those fire roads for some good backpacking trails. i don't really rock crawl...but i want a worthy survival wilderness vehicle. this week i'm going to buy, either:

OLD MAN EMU 2" leafs/ OME springs = $380

or

stock heavy duty springs and coils from quadratec=$280

OR
rustys full spring pack 3" = $430


P.S. i just replaced shocks with monroe heavy duty 1 year ago. only one broken rear bolt. amen

 

If you want a good ride, go with OME. If you dont really care about ride (not saying its bad, just will be rougher than OME) then go with the full spring 3"

 

you could always go with a 2 or 3 inch lift. i dont like rustys but i had their 3 inch lift and i had nothing bad to say about it. and you can run 31s later down the road if you want to

rubicon express seems to have really soft springs which ride nice too

 

http://www.rubiconexpress.com/Suspen...px?part=RE6160

or

http://www.roughcountry.com/jeep_xj_3.html

m2c

 

http://www.lunghd.com/Tech_Articles/...udget_Lift.htm
I would alter his plans just a bit and go with 5" to 6" shackles on the rear instead of Adding a leaf.

 

If you can afford it, definitely go with the OME kit. They are at the top end as far as quality goes. They handle off road at full speed and ride comfortably on the street. I heard one of my mates in Australia say it made his LandRover feel like a Cadillac.

 

wish I knew a cute Cali girl who could wrench on stuff, lol.

The best option is this:

-2" medium duty OME leaf packs
-2" front coil spacers from Ironrockoffroad.com


With a 2" you don't have to change as much stuff. You can even leave those stock size shocks that you just bought. With a 3" lift you will need new shocks, and maybe a TCase drop depending on your jeep. The 2" spacers from Iron Rock won't change your ride at all, and are only $30. The OME 2" leafs will ride very nicely. I recommend running 30" tires with this setup. Its the perfect setup for both a college budget (I know how it is) and good on-road driveability.

 

Depending on budget OME with new leaf packs and coils would be my pick.
One thing to keep in mind if you add a lift you will need longer shocks then stock. So get some nice OME shocks as well and call it a day.

 

Wanna go for a ride?

 

Check out these guys, if you only go 3 inches you don't need the control arms and everything just the U-bolts, reposition the rear brake line and new bushings. OME 3 inch leaf packs 121.73 each,
http://www.4by4connection.com/cherokeexj.html

Rusty's 3 inch coils come in 150 lb and 180 lb
Sold in pairs 99.00
http://rustysoffroad.com/mm5/merchan...ory_Code=COILS

Not sure if you will need to replace shocks, but I wouldn't be surprised if you did, if you do look at Rusty's cheaper shocks for a 3 inch lift.

 

hahahahah...priceless

 

Dude!! That is totally awesome!

 

in the photo what front bumper is that?

 

i would suggest the rough country 3 inch lift kit with new leaf packs for 509.xx

but out of your options i would go with rustys

 

where in cali you located? im in socal myself

go with the 2" OME kit if you got the money, its a really nice kit with a superb ride. or like Jeepkid03 says just get the OME rear leafs and a 2" spacer for front. or buy my 2" lift coils from me