Advice on 99 XJ

[NoTrax]

I bought a 99 XJ, 4.0 with the 8.25

My Ideal and affordable lift for the time would be around 4 " I have heard that you have to do a Slip yoke and driveline if you go over 3" on the 97 + XJ. Also anyone have personal knowledge with a Hack and tap? I heard its a way to get around the slip yoke.


What my question is, do any of you have knowledge of lifting a 97 + XJ. I am curious as to vibrations, things like that. I am also wondering max drop on the transer case I can get away with. I will probably do a RE 4" lift, but I am very poor at the moment. I am gettign 33" MTR's from someoen for doing some IT work, brand new. So if I cant get them to fit with a 4" and trimming then I will have to sell them or trade them.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Caleb]

well,I dont have any experience with the 97+ XJs as far as lifting them...but I will tell you about the hack and tap SYE, its the worst idea you can think of...most driveline shops (I know tom woods and highangle) wont even build you a driveline if they know its going on a hack and tap kit...they are nothing but problems...pay the $275 and get a nice HD AA one and get it done right...

 

[WayneXJ]

hack n tap's work just fine if you can't afford the real thing.

 

[XJEEPER]

hack n tap's work just fine if you can't afford the real thing.

Always the voice of reason, Wayne.....

If the hack and tap is done right, it is as good as the SYE purchased with a pre-cut shaft of the same size, using a lathe for precision. Problem is, too many installs are not done right, which is why Woody and others in the D-shaft business shy away from building shafts for them.

Let's look at this logically.........but I don't want to start a stampede here or anything.
You likely have a long tailshaft version 231 tcase on your 99. Many of these had vibe issues in stock form and there were TSB's from the dealer for this problem. Adding lift will only increase the vibration potential. An SYE kit is the only way to go to do it right and be vibe free. Dropping the t-case 1" is the normal "bandaid".
You want to run 4" of lift and 33's? How much fender trimming do you plan on doing? RE is a great lift choice, but a 32" tire would be pushing it with 4" without mucho trimming and you'll need the perfect BSed wheel at that. (4.5" BS'ed wheel) 31's are a better fit at 4" and no trimming. Stock gearing with 33's will be less than adequate....although there will be plenty of folks stand up and tell you it will work.....so will driving a screw into wood with a hammer.......

Being poor and trying to properly lift your XJ are inversely proportional, doing it right takes money. Schlepping it together takes less.......but usually winds up costing you more in the long run.
My suggestion would be to keep it stock and save your money till you can collect the parts to do it right. Ask some of us that have been wheeling XJ's for a while to help you out when the time comes, keeping an eye out for good used parts as an option. (Visit www.NAXJA.org)
Sell the 33's and use that money to finance lift parts, good deals on tires are usually easier to come by than hard parts, so another one will come along.
Sorry to pop your balloon, just know what it's like to be there and do that......guessing you'll thank me later......or tell me to shove it? Your call here.

 

[sukaB]

Well,
My three cents...
If you can't afford to do it right, Then you shouldnt be affording to do it at all..
GET IT!!!!!!!
Or attempting...

If some people had a clue they would wise up and spend the money once and be done with it instead of (saving money) now and re-bandaiding the temp fix for the next three years and spending more...
Hello....

See: General 4x4 discussion--Thread: Breathtaking......
Perfect Example! YES

 

[parks_pop]

I would have to second everything said thus far. The driveline vibes are really a jeep specific thing, you may have them and you may not. I had a 5" lift on my 2000 XJ and a 1" TC drop worked out great. No vibes at all. Also the 33" tires will really be too much unless you reaally plan on hacking a bunch. I ran 32" MTR's and they rubbed quite a bit. (I hacked a bit up front too) In fact at full stuff without flairs I bent both of my fenders when I turned the wheel. Luckily it didn't do any unrepareable damage.
As for inexpensive yet good performing lifts I would suggest Tuff-Country. I never had a minutes trouble with their 3" lift (ie; no noise or bushing damage) and it flexed great.
You will like that 8.25 rear end. At least I did

 

[crimsonride]

Always the voice of reason, Wayne.....

If the hack and tap is done right, .............blah, blah, blah, don't want to post it all.......blah, blah, blah......or tell me to shove it? Your call here.

Those are some serious, wise words of wisdom, I don't think it could have been worded better.

Welcome by the way.

 

[NoTrax]

I would have to second everything said thus far. The driveline vibes are really a jeep specific thing, you may have them and you may not. I had a 5" lift on my 2000 XJ and a 1" TC drop worked out great. No vibes at all. Also the 33" tires will really be too much unless you reaally plan on hacking a bunch. I ran 32" MTR's and they rubbed quite a bit. (I hacked a bit up front too) In fact at full stuff without flairs I bent both of my fenders when I turned the wheel. Luckily it didn't do any unrepareable damage.
As for inexpensive yet good performing lifts I would suggest Tuff-Country. I never had a minutes trouble with their 3" lift (ie; no noise or bushing damage) and it flexed great.
You will like that 8.25 rear end. At least I did

This is the kind of info I wanted to hear, but for the most part I am still hearing that I need to do the SYE. I think I will end up doing a 5.5" RE with a SYE. Ill just save up for the time being, I might even end up putting on a 3" with 31" tires till I have enough fr the Arms, and the SYE.

 

[XJEEPER]

This is the kind of info I wanted to hear, but for the most part I am still hearing that I need to do the SYE. I think I will end up doing a 5.5" RE with a SYE. Ill just save up for the time being, I might even end up putting on a 3" with 31" tires till I have enough fr the Arms, and the SYE.

Not a bad choice, but the SYE thing always creates some discussion. I did the t-case drop and ran a longer YJ slipyoke for about a year, way back when I was at 4.5" and thought I was vibe free.......until I installed the SYE and all of a sudden........I was REALLY vibe free! I thought the small vibes were coming from the MT's I was running....but it was really the slipyoke.
BTW, the RE 5.5 setup is awesome, good thing to save for.

 

[spencurai]

the AA kit puts an enormous shaft in there compared to the skimpy piece of crap you have in there right now. I have performed 2 SYE installs, and both were easy and well worth the money. Hack and tap goes in my trailer hitch suspension category, a complete waste of time for an inferior product!!

the time you spend machining and perfecting the hack and tap, you could have gotten another job, earned the money and bought/installed the kit.

Dont be a tight ass!! Suka speaks wise words.

 

[NoTrax]

the AA kit puts an enormous shaft in there compared to the skimpy piece of crap you have in there right now. I have performed 2 SYE installs, and both were easy and well worth the money. Hack and tap goes in my trailer hitch suspension category, a complete waste of time for an inferior product!!

the time you spend machining and perfecting the hack and tap, you could have gotten another job, earned the money and bought/installed the kit.

Dont be a tight ass!! Suka speaks wise words.

The easiet thing for me to do is just emulate my brother. BUt, like I said its expensive! he has the 5.5" RE and the AA SYE. Very nice setup, wheels well. I just dont have the cash to dump on a SYE. The lift wont cost me much at all, the springs or any of that. I can get it at cost. But the SYE even at cost for me is like 400 through a friend.

I think matt spent around 1800 complete on his lift, with everything, the arms, the lift, the sye, the other stuff for steering. Im going to throw on a 3" run it till I save up money for the 5.5" setup. Ill have to either trade my 33" mtr's for some 32" and trim or buy some other tires. I have 4 33" with rims, 4.25 BS. I might be able to get a tire shop to swap me for 5 31" and 5 rims who knows, ill have to check out a few places I know.

3" will just have to do it for now.. damn poser.

 

[Hickey]

I think matt spent around 1800 complete on his lift, with everything, the arms, the lift, the sye, the other stuff for steering. .

You poeple spend way too much money on cheap lift kits. I got mine from a local Manufacturer for 1/4 that price.

 

[parks_pop]

Sounds like a great idea to go with the 3" lift. I ran a 3 incher for a year with 31's even ran Behind the Rocks and other pretty difficult trails that way(till 3 am!---dont ask it was crazy) you will really learn what that XJ is capable of with this set up and then when you grow up later you will have all the more fun Good luck.

 

[NoTrax]

You poeple spend way too much money on cheap lift kits. I got mine from a local Manufacturer for 1/4 that price.

Cheap lift kit

So you think Rubicon Express is a cheap lift, interesting. I was thinking more along the lines of Rough Country for a "Cheap" lift kit.

I guess we need to get a "Teraflex" from the local manufacturer, oh.. those are made in Taiwan now and or China..

 

[XJEEPER]

Cheap lift kit

So you think Rubicon Express is a cheap lift, interesting. I was thinking more along the lines of Rough Country for a "Cheap" lift kit.

I guess we need to get a "Teraflex" from the local manufacturer, oh.. those are made in Taiwan now and or China..

The only component that I don't like that RE builds are the rattley swaybar disco's.....everything else is top shelf, high quality junk. I've run others lift gear, and fixed others failed "cheap lift" components. Hickey's just got grocery getter envy.

 

[mbryson]

Cheap lift kit

So you think Rubicon Express is a cheap lift, interesting. I was thinking more along the lines of Rough Country for a "Cheap" lift kit.

I guess we need to get a "Teraflex" from the local manufacturer, oh.. those are made in Taiwan now and or China..

There's at least one other local lift manufacturer......