Just got a 97' cherokee sport

[Jeep4]

Automatic,4x4,4 door. It's going to be a daily driver, however I love the lifted look. I want to go with a 4 or 4.5 lift. Are there bolt on kits fir 4.5 or do they require bracket welding? Any lift anyone care to recommend? I've looked around and lots of mixed reviews. Thanks in advance

 

[blown XJ]

there are many 4 to 4.5 inch lifts for xj's. rusty's offroad makes nice lift kits. i would recomend not going over 4 inches unless you go with a long arm lift otherwise the ride quality goes way down.. i would also say get full replacement rear springs instead of add a leafs and blocks. it costs a little more but the ride will be much better and the leaf pack will last longer and flex better.. what size tires are you looking to run? a 4 inch lift should clear 31's or 32's depending on the width and rim and how hard it will be wheeled..

 

[Jeep4]

I want to stay away from add ons and blocks. Maybe 3.5 or 4 is best. I was just looking fir a complete kit that requires no air tool or welding. Is like to go with 32" tires but dunno the backspacing/offset are for these cars. I'm guessing at 3.5 I shouldn't need a SYE?

 

[Rmart30]

The Rubicon Express 3.5" super ride kit is very nice and rides well. Get one with rear replacement springs and not a add a leaf.

 

[Bounty__Hunter]

You will need a 4" or 4.5" kit to clear 32" tires, lots of good kits out there. You may be able to get by with simply lowering the transfer case crossmember 1/2" instead of needing a SYE.

FYI you can do a hack and tap SYE for under $100 and often just bolt in a stock front CV driveshaft in the rear after installing a flange adapter. I install them often.

 

[blown XJ]

you wont need a sye with a 4 or 4,5 inch lift.. i have friends running 6+ inches of lift with out sye.. just drop the tcase 1/2" OR 1" and you will be fine

 

[Jeep4]

Thanx guys. I was looking at the rubicon 3.5 lift. I'm guessing it disent come with shackles? Would I need an adjustable track bar? Forgive my ignorance, I'm sort of new to this. I'm trying to figure out what else I would need to have a streetable xj and minor mud trails. Possibly use 32" tires with 15x8 Mickey Thompson sidebiters.
3.5" Super-Ride Suspension System with Leaf Springs for 84-01 Cherokee XJ with Dana 35 Rear Axle by Rubicon Express

 

[xjmarc]

I ran the Rubicon 4.5 with 33s for a while and liked it. Only bad thing about the Rubicon stuff is you have to use their bushing if you ever need to replace them. I would recommend Rusty's, drop the t-case 1" and run the stock driveshaft.

 

[Jeep4]

That's load off of my mind, but why is it that every site says SYE "required" For 4.5 lifts? Is it just to cover their ass and make money?

 

[blown XJ]

alot of companys recommend it instead of a tcase drop bracket. with the sye you wont lose that 1" on ground clearance under you tcase. i run a 1" tcase drop and a sye with about 9" of lift on my xj without any vibrations.

 

[Jeep4]

9" wow! You're my hero, haha! Thanks!

 

[blown XJ]

well its soon going to grow to ten inches maybe eleven inches with 37 or 38 inch tires

 

[Jeep4]

That's awesome. Let us know the weather up there!

 

[xjmarc]

Not sure I'd want to go that high. Hope you're not running stock axles. I was breaking shafts with my 33's. Of course most people don't drive like me. I'm running 60's now with 7-8" of lift and 35's and the full width axles help a lot with stability, but I'm still pretty top heavy.

 

[blown XJ]

as of now i have a stock 30 in the front with a d44 in the rear.. soon i will have a 44 in the front and either a 14 bolt or 60 in the rear

 

[LRwrnglr]

Whats the scoop on the Rough Country lifts?

 

[xjmarc]

For the money you can't beat the Rough Country stuff but if you can spend a little more and get a complete kit like Rusty's, Rubicon Express and if you can afford it Rock Krawler. The Rock Krawler triple threat is sick but at a price.

 

[blown XJ]

rough country lifts are ok.. if it was me i would save up a little bit more and go with a rusty's lift.. there lifts ride alot better and work better offroad. they do alot more off and on road testing (abusing) of their parts before they put the kit up forsale.. i run a rustys lift and love it!

 

[tow_hook]

rough country lifts are ok.. if it was me i would save up a little bit more and go with a rusty's lift.. there lifts ride alot better and work better offroad. they do alot more off and on road testing (abusing) of their parts before they put the kit up forsale.. i run a rustys lift and love it!

the rusty's kit i had was not so good, the rear springs sagged in 2 months, no customer service, either ... i had to buy the extra leafs, then 2 years later snaped them on the road, bent like a S.... the front / rear springs others have bought went south as well.... so no more rustys, cheap is cheap... i bought all r.e.& tear flex and it holds up well !

can't speak for r/c, or rock krawler