i have a 95 cherokee sport with a 4.5 inch rubicon express lift. i would like to raise it another 2 inches totaling 6.5 inches. from what i have found it will be almost as cheap to buy a complete 6.5 lift new. what is my 4.5 lift worth? are used lifts hard to sell? any ideas on how to modify my current lift to get the lift i want?

 

What does your 4.5 consist of? New leafs coils shackles?

 

If you are willing to use blocks and spacers for the extra lift then about the only other things you would need are control arm drop brackets and the upgraded track bar.

 

it is a complete kit. i just bought the cherokee. the lift was already installed. the previous owner provided me with all of the receipts. it was installed by 4west in california in october of 2009. the xj was owned by a retired couple who said they trailered it to trail rides. i am guessing that the lift has very few miles on it. the price for the lift was about $1000. it is the complete kit with springs, not the add-a-leaf kit. the link below shows what is included.

http://www.rubiconexpress.com/Suspen...px?part=RE6130

 

front coils are $130

or 2" front spacers... $20-$40


in the rear it really depends on what you have done to get the lift

Rubicon express offers 2 kits, one is a extended shackle / leaf pack combo (RE6130), the other is an add a leaf / lift block combo (RE6111)

the RE6130 has a 3.5" leaf pack in the rear and a 1.25" lift shackle... in this case I would get a longer shackle... perhaps the Superior Automotive 13-4100 for $35... it is good for 2.5" or so... in your case that would gain you 1.25" over what you have... then you could add an extra XJ main leaf to your existing leaf pack and you should be right on target...

the RE6111 on the other hand has an Add A Leaf setup with 2.5" of lift... and a 1.5" lift block... first thing I would do is LOOSE the lift block... then get a Superior Automotive 13-4100 shackle... that will gain you some flex and it will reduce axle wrap, as well as 1" of lift or so (over what the lift block was giving you...) then I would purchase a used set of S10 leaf springs... and add the leafs to what you already have until you get the lift you desire...

adding leafs from other vehicles (usually from the junk yard) is called a Bastard Pack... you should research this as it will make this process MUCH easier...


that takes care of the height... now you really need a set of drop brackets

chances are you will be ok with your current shocks... but you really will not know until you measure

all in all you SHOULD be able to get the entire project finished for around $250-$400 in parts...

 

2" spacer and longer shackles, do not use blocks

 

Just to clarify - that is THESE SHACKLES which say they are lowering shackles correct?

I am in a similar position as him where I am trying to go a little higher (not as much as him though). I have 3" rear leafs w/a block and shackles that get me about 4". I'm trying to go to 5". Would that set of shackles and the removal of my block be the way to go?

 

i spoke to a tech from rubicon express. we started going through the options. at a minimum i would have to have spacers in the front, blocks or shackles in the back, control arm drop brackets and a track bar. all of this purchased from them would be in the 800$ range. the tallest spacer they offer is 1.75 inches. i have heard that coils will settle into spacers and actually decrease the lift. for an extra 300 or so i can buy a complete new lift from Rusty's that is exactly what i want. not to mention i will have a complete 4.5 inch lift kit to sell instead of just a track bar.

so i guess my question is what is my used lift worth?

 

A lot less than you think.

 

you're a mind reader eh? i figure 400 tops and 250 on the low end. any less than that and i would just keep it and try to get one of my friends in the lifted xj club. what do you guys think? am i seeing gold in a pile of s***?and just to be clear it isn't for sale.....yet.

the budget lift mentioned before sounds great but i am afraid of the spacers and the used xj leafs from the boneyard. it would give the lift it want but there is the chance that the front would settle uneven and the back might be tilted due different amounts of fatigue in the used leafs. it would also be nice to have fresh springs and shocks that come with a new kit.

 

I was thinking the same. $400 tops - but you could part it out and make a little more. Figure:

$100ish for the front springs
$150ish for the rear leafs
$150ish for the 4 control arms
$100ish for the shocks
$30ish for the shackles

etc.

The thing is that people buying used lifts don't usually want to spend a lot. People buying individual components will spend a little more.

With that said I'll give you $275 for the front/rear springs shipped.

 

I would possibly be interested in the lift kit. Let me know if you want to sell the whole kit.

 

thanks for the offer. i haven't made up my mind yet. if i decided to sell it i'll check to see if you're still in the market.

 

just to clarify they are lowering shackles on a shackle UNDER spring setup...

used on the Jeep they are actually LIFT shackles... because our shackles are spring OVER shackle

 

Just to clarify the Re2700 shackle does not give 1.25" of lift. That is a mis print. They are aproximately 1.25" longer than stock. Thus giving you about 5/8" of lift on a XJ. Sorry about the confusion.