Ricksxj

My brain hurts.
I think I'll just give in and get a 3" lift and be done with it.

Martlor13

might as well. A 2 inch does take more piecing together. But again get full leafs right away.

Basslicks

You should be fine, man. You generally don't need to mess with the transfer case, but if you experience vibes, you should really do an SYE, not a transfer case drop. "Fixes" the problem with driveline vibes, but causes another at the motor mounts. Puts stress on them and can cause them to wear out prematurely or, worst case, breaks a mount bracket.

NewKindOfClown

...and send your mechanical fan into your radiator

Basslicks

Ah yes... the dreaded rad shred.

Ricksxj

To quote myself here, I'll add I've narrowed it down to two kits. I won't say which ones right now.

Here is the question of the day from me.

When ordering the kit, the pull down menu asks if you have Dana 35 or Chrysler 8.25. No other options.

So, I go look at mine... It's a Chrysler 9.25!

Now what?

NewKindOfClown

Look again lol

They only came with D35 or C8.25 axles (except a few very rare '80s D44 rear axles)

Ricksxj

I'll have to go take a picture but a quick glance at it and I saw:

NewKindOfClown

We can answer it definitively if you post a picture of yours, but the only way you saw a 9.25 axle is if someone replaced your original one with the first donor axle they could find lol

Ricksxj

OK... I'm an idiot.

Basslicks

Nah... just mistaken. **** happens man. But at least you know now, right?

Ricksxj

This is true.

In other news... I went window shopping today.
This Jeep is worse than owning an AR 15!
There is no end to it.

Bugout4x4

I have a curious question... Does anyone know if someone here has tried this?

Here's the deal. I like how well my 97 rides on the road with the factory front coils for a straight axle vehicle. But I find that sometimes mine tends to bottom out too easy when off road like if you hit even the smallest of ravines across a dirt road.

Now I do already have heavier shocks on it and this helps a bit but it is still just a bit too soft and tries to bottom out. I could shop for heavier coils but that is an expense I can't afford right now and I am afraid aftermarket coils are going to add too much of a stiffer ride.

So what I found in my own backyard here might be a good compromise and was wondering if anyone here has tried this swap to see how well it works before I waste time to try it.

I have an Explorer frame with the body removed because it caught on fire and burned up but surprisingly it was put out before it did any heat damage to the frame or drivetrain . I bought it for next to nothing because all the parts also fit the two Bronco II's I had before I inherited this XJ.

Now from what it looks like and measured out the front coils are almost exactly the same in dimensions. The length is the same and it appears that the inside circle diameter of both the small and large ends are also the same. But it also looks like they might be rated just slightly more than the coils on the XJ because the ones on the Jeep are slightly over .50 " and the coils on the Explorer frame are bigger at .60" .

The only other difference is the Ford's are mounted upside down compared to the Jeep. But if everything measures out the same on the small end and the large ends of the coils I am sure the coil is not smart enough to realize it is being mounted upside down.

Do you know if anyone here has tried this swap yet? And if so was it a good compromise in ride and slightly more stiffness without getting too stiff?

Dumajones

Why not just extend the bump stops on the XJ? It will keep the way it rides, wont have to worry about tires getting stuffed up to high when out wheeling

Bugout4x4

Thank you for the reply Duma! I thought about that also, but I am at factory height. So I'm sure you have noticed on these there is not very much travel to begin with so I would be on the stops all the time if they were longer. I was hoping this might be a decent compromise because it might give it just a bit more rating without getting too stiff like after market coils.

And I am thinking it will probably give me just an inch or inch and a half lift if they are rated slightly higher. I am beating the stops off of mine the way it is now and have realized it just needs a little more resistance judging by what my factory Broncos would do. I was just hoping maybe someone has tried this already. Wanted to feel for any "Don't do it!" before I took the time to try it. lol

I haven't checked it for sure yet, but this Ford frame might have the 8.8 rear axle in the same 3.55 ratio as mine also. I do know it is limited slip because I checked that already. Someone pulled the tag at some point so I need to check for cover shape and twist the drive line and count rotations. That's the next "freebie" labor and welder only project I am going to look at when I get the engine back together.

But I currently have a tight corporate 8.25 open and am debating whether I should just keep it and try and pick up a cheap lunchbox someone took out to put in a locker. It's a toss up at that point because I am very easy on this thing even off road. It just "Feels" like it needs just "slightly" a bit more rating in the front and I am tired of hanging a rear wheel in the air once in a while is all.

But I don't want to lose that high speed flat cornering this little sports car has on the road either. Yes, the sway bars will stay on no matter what anyone suggests. I believe there is a non extreme happy medium compromise that can be dialed into these if it is done right

P.S. something else I have been putting on paper is the possibility of adding air springs as adjustable rating, stops, and dial when needed lift. Too many other responsibilities happening all at once for that now though.

Nice to talk to you again man! thank you for helping!