xjwanted

I am crusing the web on Rustys Offroad and i am looking into getting a lift kit this summer, there a catch i have to get all A's this semester. I saw that they have a 2in lift kit with coils and aals but it comes with shcoks i dont need shocks i found tht it is easier to just but the 2 in coil springs and 2 in. aals then buy new u-bolts and u-bolt plates that would cost $200 rather than $270 and it comuing with stuff i dont need. My question is that will i need brake extensions and long shocks or will my stock schocks do ( i had the shocks replace with monroe gas shocks a while back)? I know its seems like im doing a lot of looking inot the future but i want to do my research into this thoroughly, but for now i have to get back to studying for my pre-calc test tommorow (panicing alot now)!!!! lol
thanks for the help and advice

xjbuddy

what year is your XJ? you will deffiantley need new shocks going over 2" when you flex out with stock shocks your bound to pop one or more.

xjwanted

98, i replaced the shocks from the stock ones a few monthes a go to monroe sensa tracs. my dad didnt want me to spend to much money on an unsure thing which has turned out to be a sure thing!!!

blkcherokee

i would say if your gona lift it go with something a little bigger take a look at the Rough Country sight i have a 3in lift on my 98 XJ with 30/9.5/15 BFG A/T an just resently put the Rustys discos an HD Tie Rod.... It rides good i just need to get a alignment thoe

Brad M.

AAL's bring the suck in the rear. Sure they pick the back end up a bit, but they ride like crap. I would suggest exploring a different option. See if you can find some V8 ZJ coils, they give 1" lift over stock on an XJ. You can find them in JY's all over the country, or search the internet for guys selling used ones. Combine that with a 1" spacer and bingo, there's your 2" for cheap.

In the rear, you can do a bastard pack and either add in another XJ main leaf, or look into a Chevy S-10/XJ bastard pack (meaning a blend of leaves). Lots of threads on the internet on building a good bastard pack for pennies on the dollar.

I recommend this because it allows you to obtain the 2" you desire for very cheap, which means you can put money away for a real kit later, or lockers, bumpers, rock rails, etc.

xjwanted

Well all good suggestions except, I have a bias towards, rough country, i've always hated them. The only lift companies I actually like are Rustys Offroad and Rubicon Express. I dont want to do anything complicated b/c it will end up being time consuming. I also dont want to go up past 3.5" b/c i dont want to have to worry about driveline angles, now if my grades are straight a's then i will probably be able to get the Rubicon Express 3.5" Lift kit, but not with full springs.

85climber

when you lift 3" or more do you have to use longer vac. hoses for the actuator??

xjwanted

I think I've made up my mind on what i want to get, the Rubicon Express 2in. Budget Boost, it comes with everything I will need, how hard is it to put on the brake line extension? And sorry but waht is an actuator?


The RE6160 2-inch suspension system for the Cherokee offers a great performance at an immense value. The 2-inch standard system for the XJ is the quickest and easiest way to boost your Cherokee’s height noticeably while barely making a dent in your pocketbook. Shocks included!

This system will clear 30x9.50-inch tires.

ComponentsRE1334 - COIL SPRING SPACERS 1.75" RE1415 - ADD-A-LEAF PAIR XJ 2" HALF LE RE1482 - REPLACEMENT CENTER PINS 5/16" RE1515 - BRAKE LINE SS REAR 18" RXT2210 - TWIN TUBE SHOCK 22.5-13.5 L/L RXT2421 - TWIN TUBE SHOCK 24.5-14.5 S/L

xjwanted

alright now that i've kinda decided on what lift i want to get im freakin out about installation, i only have hand tools but i have friends with air compressors i want to do this myself to avoid an installation fee, unless some place has a deal whrer if you buy a lift installation is free. The instructions seem fairly easy but how in the heel do i blled the rear brake system and what about stuck bolts i have heard alot about bolts breaking what then what if i break a bolt then im stuck completely!!!!!!

My plans are to do this when installing lift"
1. remove axle completely sand and repaint
2. sand and repaint each individaul leaf spring

once i disconnec the brake line then i cant drive the car anymore right b/c t will not be able to break see people i dont know 100% of what im doing that i s why im freaking out about it i just dont want to get in too deep!!!!!

PLEASE HELP ME!!!!

6 lost souls

Listen up. If u can do a simple tune up, change your own brakes, do your own shocks and basically all of your own mechanical work. Then you qualify for doing your own 2" lift kit. Its not as hard as it seems. The only special tool you need is a spring compressor. After that you can use basic hand tools (air tools make it go a lot faster, but you tend to brake things a lot more going fast) will work just fine. I recommend using hand tools the first few times you do this.
If you get rusty's 2" aal kit its a bargin but you will only be able to put 30" tires on. And its not worth it cause its not really noticeable. You can get rusty's 3" aal kit and be able to put on 31" tires without worrying about driveline angles, an eliminator kit or anything else. His kits are all complete so you don't need to buy anything else other then the hardwere you break or that's worn out. Rusty's is one of the only companies out there that sells a complete kit. Sure you can buy a kit for more money and not get all the stuff you need or try piecing a kit together that is going to cost the same or even more, with a bigger headache. Buy from rusty. They have a complete instruction guide to walk you thru step by step. Plus its excellent quality for a small price.
I did aal one time. Never again. After a year they tend to sag and its a pain taking old worn leaf packs apart to add one extra leaf. I like to say if your going to buy something, you should only buy it once and never worry again. You do need longer +2 shocks if your going to put the 2" kit one. Just save the extra $150 and buy a complete kit. Then you have no worries when everything is new.
GOOD LUCKY and enjoy your first lift experience cause you'll never forget it. Remember to take your time and PB Blast all the nuts and bolts for a week before you get into it. It helps a lot.

RESCUE-K9

I was just looking at the Rusty's 3'' kit with rims and tires whats the genral input onit. This is my first lift as well. On a 98 XJ mostly stock, roof rack, some lights and a junk bumper out front thats got to go as well.

6 lost souls

The rusty's 3" leaf pack kit is only a good idea if your planning on changing your rims out. On a 3" kit you don't need to. You can run 31x10.50-15 on stock rims just fine and with rusty's kit your going to get the factory size rim with a 31" tire. I just put on my 4th 3" leaf pack kit and I just cleaned up the factory rims and painted them and I ordered 31x10.50-15 tires from TreadWright.com for $420 delivered to my door. I saved around $400 doing it that way. The rusty's kit also comes with Dick Cepek FCII tires. Which in my opinion are mainly highway tires and kinda suck offroad but they will work if your only planning on driving on the grass at your local Forrest preserve.

superj

i just put a 2" spacer lift on mine. very very easy. on the front i unbolted the lower control arms at hte frame, unbolted the lower shock bolts, and undid the sway bar mounts and everything swapped in and out (well, i also undid the bump stop and that sucker was tight, i had to use a pipe wrench) the rears were just shackles for me so i just undid the rear short factory shackles and swapped in my longer shackles i bought on ebay for cheap.

and if you want to really save money, check the overstock or discontinued section of all the lift web sites. i bought the terraflex ones i have for my 93 zj for 2 bucks each from terraflex. they were under the scratch and dent section and htey had tons of htem. unfortunately, they showed up in the mail the day after my zj was totaled so i had them just laying around figuring i would buy another zj. i bought an xj instead but since the zj front end is the same as an xj i just used two spacers for the front and am giving the other two to a member on here who lives south of me.

you can use your stock shocks. i have monroe sensa-tracs also but am going to get something a little longer because i am going to put a 3" lift on later this year. i like the look of hte 2" but i had a 3" on my commanche and liked it more.

xjwanted

alright guys so unfortunately i have decided not to do the lift kit after all, i talked to my brother who goes to john hopkins and he said that if i lift it i will take it offroad break stuff and it will spend more time in the shop getting fixed. So i decided to use my money to instead buy a set of BFG All Terrains in a stock size and just use it as a dd/recreational jeep to get me to school and back and to carry my mountain bike and my kayak and to go on some light trails in the future. Thanks for all of your input i have just decided that a 12 year old jeep does not need to have all this money dumped into it and after college i may just buy a newer wrangler then lift that. who knows what the future hold anyway thanks for all of your help.

itsajeepthing2010

you do need the shocks if you want to flex it at all with a 2inch. I would go with the Rusty's 3inch lift for 265 it has everything you need and its an extremely good price