New to the site, new to jeeps, new to 4x4....

[avenom]

Hey guys/gals, my name is Dave and I just purchased my first jeep. It\'s a 99 XJ.
I\'ve got a few problems with it and of course alot of questions.
For example, the front speakers don\'t work, the fog lights don\'t work, the rear sags pretty bad....and forget about puting any weight in it, the rear wheels rub on the wheel wells with just a few bags of mulch.

First thing I did was a complete tune up, steering stabilizer, and put new wheels and tires on it.

I\'d like to do a 2 or 3 inch lift (I don\'t even know where to start) after I figure out the rear saging issue.

So, basically any info you can give me will be appreciated.

thanks!
dave

oh...here\'s the xj

[GTJake]

looks nice...it it automatic? how many miles?

rear sagging is a common problem, over time the leafs go bad. you can either replace them ($250 or so for 2\" lift leafs) or you can put in a ad-a-leaf to stiffen them up.

cherokees are cheap to lift so dont worry about that. it looks good with the black wheels by the way

[smichaelR22]

cheap to lift?  

not if you want to fit 33\"s+  

shackles, add leafs, and hocky pucks only go so far   :)

you guys and those fancy coily things....

[avenom]

Thanks, it is auto with 107k miles

I don\'t want a big crazy lift, I don\'t want my 30\'s to look tiny.

Is there a lift kit that will replace the back leaf springs?

[gCracker]

yes most lifts will replace your rear leafs, do some looking at 4wd.com or any of the hundred other online Jeep catalog places, you should be able to fins something that fits your agenda and pocketbook, but don\'t feel scared to ask more questions here, or just stop out at the next meeting, I am sure some people will help look over your XJ and help you formulate a plan.

[GTJake]

examples:

3\" ad-a-leaf kit
http://www.roughcountry.com/jeep_xj_3.html

2\" spacer/shackle kit
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/84-02-Jeep-XJ-Cherokee-2-Spacer-Shackle-Lift-Kit_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33585QQihZ004QQitemZ140270004118QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

2\" ad-a-leaf kit
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Jeep-Cherokee-XJ-2-Lift-Kit-w-ProComp-Shocks-84-01_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33585QQihZ017QQitemZ270279586033QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

[GTJake]

im in the same boat as you, having a hard time deciding what to use to lift my XJ. id like to go big again and do something like 4.5-6.5\" of lift but its my daily driver right now and i have to be able to get my 2 little kids in it still (its a 2door)
-i think that im going to put in lift springs in the front and block the rear for now so i can fit 31\" tires...till i get a slip yoke eliminator and can lift farther (someday)

[avenom]

Thanks, I\'d love to come out to a meet but I work Tuesday nights.
Hey GTJake, I\'m new to this lifting stuff, but those kits don\'t look like they replace the stock leaf springs.
Is there a kit that does?
I don\'t want to add a leaf onto worn out stock ones.

I contacted Ryan from blue dog jeep, and am waitng to hear back from him.
He said a good 3 inch lift kit would be around $450 installed.

[GTJake]

the least lift with a new leaf would be 4\"  (that i could find)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/4-5-lift-Rough-Country-leaf-springs-XJ-Jeep-Cherokee_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33584QQihZ022QQitemZ350101704166QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

...but im sure you could probably take leafs out of something like a dakota and gain 3\".....id have to ask Mike, he\'d know

[MrMindless]

Dakota leaves are a common swap for XJs.  I don\'t know much beyond that off the top of my head (like how much lift it gives you or if new hangars are needed)

[fedrusion]

I like the rustys lift I bought, 3\" full leafs. It sat a little higher than 3\" and now I\'m starting to add spacers up front and am makeing shackles for the rear to help the leafs flatten out and compress properly. It should be a nice 4.5-5 when I\'m done.

I think s10 leafs straight up are subposed to yeild about 6\" of lift, you can then remove leafs to get the height you want. I think the dakota leafs are about the same.

[GTJake]

just remember youll need a slip yoke if you go that high.

http://www.rockmodified.com/offroad/Tech/sye/sye.html

theres a great article keith @ rockmodified.com did on how to install one (hope it helps)

[avenom]

I\'ll need this for a 3 inch lift?

I wish they made something the exact oppisite. I had a 2001 stratus R/T that I lowered 4 inches, and had the exact same effect talked about in that article.

[GTJake]

haha, i had a 2001 stratus R/T! that was a fun car!

no, with only a 3\" lift your fine. Fedrusion was talking about if you went 4.5-6\" (then you would need it)

[avenom]

Ha, no kidding...it was a fun car.
I just sold mine this week, pretty sad. I put alot of time and money into it, and planned on keeping it. But with our plans to move out west I had to sell.

here\'s a shot of it...