You read that right, I want to lower my 2000 XJ Sport.

I literally just bought a very rusty 17-year-old Jeep. I instantly wanted to lower it, make it mine. This XJ will eventually become welding training and make its way to being a track SUV.

Now, the reason I'm making this post is for information to come back on. A place to ask questions, gather information and ideas, and just generally have fun. I'm new 2 Cherokees, literally a day in. I know literally everything for XJs is to increase their height and make them offroad, but this XJ is going to be a daily driver and a fun machine.

-I was thinking of saving up for an airbag system, so those long trips and bumpy parking lots are still doable
-I'm looking to reduce the tire size to allow a further drop
-Clean up and bed liner the undercarriage
-replace rear fender walls, rocker panels, and door frames
-wider fender flares

 

I want the end result to be very similar to this.

 

i can't even.....

 

I can, I love lowered mini trucks and SUVs

 

Airbags would be easiest to install because it will be at least mostly custom

Check this build breakdown for a similar build

https://bangshift.com/bangshiftapex/...the-autocross/

 

That thing is beautiful

 

If you can weld i would look in to a mustang 2 ifs kit that would fit the jeep.It will handle better then the solid axle and if you air bag it you can lower it more.

 

They all seem to be front end, what would I do for the rear end?

 

I don't know for sure if it will work, but you might see if the leaf spring under the axle would work. Seems like it would drop it down about 4".

 

Make it front wheel drive and throw both front and rear from something else under it.

 

Just thinking about a lowered XJ makes me want to throw up.

But if you must, you could probably weld some leaf spring perches on the underside of the axle that go to a Wrangler and use Wrangler U bolts.

Driveshaft and shocks might be too short though.

Not sure how one would lower the front.

 

The rear end have some lowering springs made and shorter shocks.

 

Too be honest... Me too. And I hope it doesn't start a fad or trend. The newer low ones are already bad enough to ruin the whole "Jeep" concept as it is.

 

Hey hey hey, I'm not doing this as some fad or trend, I just really want a street Jeep. I've helped lift a TJ Wrangler, I just want to turn a dying Jeep into something only a handful of other people have made.

My main purpose for this is handling at speed and experience. I want to be an engineer specializing in suspension components and odd conversions.

I was thinking of doing a RWD conversion and then finding a double wishbone or even a cantilever suspension set up for the rear. As for the front, I'd probably have to create a subframe and pull some mechanical wizardry. I was thinking cantilever as well since it can be compact and efficient if executed properly.

 

The setup with this Datsun 620 is something I want to take notes from. The amount of work and engineering that went into this is astonishing.

https://www.engineswapdepot.com/?p=14237

Also, mall crawlers ruined Jeeps pretty badly, have you seen those things... Gross.