I just got a 1998 jeep cherokee SE 4.0l 5 speed. Im getting 4.5 inch lift and 33 12.50 15s. I dont know what the stock gears are but i want to make it as close to stock as possible on 33s maybe a bit more torque. Its my DD but ill wheel it quite often too. I live right at uwharrie national forrest so ill be there alot. Anyone know what would suit me best?

 

What lift?

5 speed XJ's should have 3.07 gears. If you wanna run 33's, you should do 4.10's. Go check this out:
http://www.grimmjeeper.com/gears.html

Plug in your numbers and find what works best for you.

 

Thanks. Its the zone 4.5 inch add a leafs. I just want it lifted for now and will get full leaf packs later but i think its better than rough country from what ive read about them. Ive heard 4.10s and 4.56s are good for 33s. Would 4.10s get better gas mileage on the highway?

 

Just curious. How bad would it be with the 3.07s on 33s?

 

Good decision, RC sucks.
Follow the link above. Punch in the numbers. It will tell you all you want to know.

 

Ok cool. Thanks.

 

If your going from stock height with the original leafs to a 4 1/2" lift use AAL it will suck big time and the leafs will soon give out. Coils and leafs are what you pay for in any lift the quality of those two determine the rest of the lift. Other things they throw in are mostly fluff and are very cheap items that will need to be replaced with better ones usually in a short time.


About all 4 1/2" lifts use a 3" leaf and a 1 1/2" shackle for the total the better they are affects the overall flex. I used the Rustys 3" lift full leaf/coil package in mine (made in NA for his springs and high quality) total cost $438. Ran it for 2 yrs then increased the lift to 4 1/2" using Boomerang Shackles and ACOS for the front. Flex is very good and no problems.


What I'm saying is to do it right the first time it will be cheaper if you go to a 3" lift for now and increase lift height when you have a lot more money. I ran 33x12:50x15's on my 3" lift with trimming and the proper wheels no problem. but when you go to 4 1/2" and the 33's you need a whole lot more like gears, lockers, SYE, Adj. U/LCA's, upgraded steering, brake lines and on it goes thousands more.


3.07 gears and 33's will be a bit of a slug 4.10's are really needed but if you could get by with a 31" tire the 3.07's might be doable for a while till you save up for all the extras needed to go larger then re-gear with lockers. I had to go with these steps also as it cost me over $5k to go from a 3" to 4 1/2" lift and do it properly as I bought all the parts and paid for labor.

 

Well i got a deal on some new 33s and i dont want to trim. Plus its time for new shocks and springs so i dont see how it would be bad for me to get the zone 4.5 kit and upgrade from there. I can get full leafs later on as well as sye and gears. Ill do the work myself so ill save some money there. I know gears and sye are probably at the top of the lost of things to get soon after or get with the lift so ill get them but are the control arms really an issue? I understand the give a better ride and flex with adj. Or long arms but will it effect my driving like death wobble?

 

Do you want to stay with 33s or go bigger like 35s later on down the road ?

 

Stay with 33s

 

I think you need to do a lot more reading before you start ordering anything as to what is required, when you do you will see all the problems with what you intend to do. Some things you don't just put off. The SYE is not one of them or the control arms either just to name a few. There is a lot of difference between a 3" to a 4 1/2" lift as costs go a lot more.


If you plan on it flexing off road you will still have to do trimming or bump stop till it won't move, if it's a "Mall Crawler" your good there.

 

What backspacing should i get for 4.5 of lift and 33 12.50s? 15x8s with 3.75 or 4 inch backspacing?

 

So i should get a sye and adj. Control arms when i put the lift on? I want it done right but i wonder why they sell the 4.5 lift with fixed arms if they dont work right.

 

Do you mean ill have to trim the stock flares or the metal? I can take the stock flares off if its just the flares ill rub on.