Cherokee Guys Input

[Exalted 4x4]

I have noticed there are quite a few cherokee guys on here and would like your help. My buddy is building a 99 cherokee with the 4.o and a newly rebuilt auto transmission. He is thinking of going with the rubicon express 5.5" long arm kit, cutting the fenders and "bushwacking" them to fit 35's. I know we need a sye and a new cv driveshaft and plan on upgrading the axles to a dana 60 rear and 44 front. Does this sound like a good plan, concerns, missing anything else? thanks guys

 

[Jeremy]

it will fall apart with out some seriouse frame reinforcment. if he plans on using it hard, he will be rebuilding it in a couple of years. i will never build another cherokee again. for the simple fact that i am tired of starting over every couple of years.

it can be done, but for the cost and effort i would start with something a little better prepared. such as a wrangler or a 4-runner.

just my opinion.

enjoy.

 

[19503a]

EKSJAE is right about wanting to reinforce the unibody if he is going to wheel it hard.
Other than that it looks like a good plan I have loved my cherokee but I dont wheel it that hard.

 

[Exalted 4x4]

Which areas are most prone to failure?

 

[Badger]

almost all of it

this is damage done from 44/60 combo without reinforcement


look right under the "A" pillar

look closely at the spot welds on this rear seam.they are pulling apart as well as starting to tear


i'm not saying that you can't build a Cherokee into something that can take it but the amount of time and energy it takes you could build something else that would take the abuse much better.

 

[mbryson]

Which areas are most prone to failure?

yes

almost all of it

this is damage done from 44/60 combo without reinforcement look right under the "A" pillar


look closely at the spot welds on this rear seam.they are pulling apart as well as starting to tear


i'm not saying that you can't build a Cherokee into something that can take it but the amount of time and energy it takes you could build something else that would take the abuse much better.

Agreed....

....another thing to consider as you reinforce areas. You'll reinforce commonly cracked areas and move the stresses to a different part of the unibody that may or may not be prepared for those stresses. You become the engineer at that point and I don't know many of us that are qualified for that. You'll basicly end up chasing and watching for cracks as it gets used. I don't think this is any specific design flaw of the actual Cherokee, just unibody construction in general (to back that statement up, check out how unibody drag cars are built and used up in high horsepower classes vs. a body on frame design).

FWIW, I did NOT reinforce my unibody in my XJ. After 3 years of fairly heavy use, it did NOT have visible cracks in common areas. However, I'm SURE there were cracks as things sounded different in high flex situations.

A body on frame design WILL crack and stress as well, they just tend to put up with the abuse longer.

 

[Milner]

I have to agree, for a hard use rig, an XJ is not a good longterm option....
Angie's felt like driving a wet noodle. The only cracks I ever found were around the striker posts, but the rest of it was LOOOOOSE. She wheeled in for about 10 years on 33" tires....

FWIW the newer uni-frame jeep vehicles seem to have a MUCH better design and a lot more reinforcement. That being said, the libby will never see the use the XJ did, even when the warrantee expires.

 

[skeptic]

My '99 XJ is on a 4.5" RE lift, SYE, stock axles (8.25" rear), and 32's. I plan to add limited slip front and rear, and may cut fenders add bushwackers and 33's. I don't wheel that hard, and don't get out anywhere near as often as I'd like. For as cheap as you can pick up an XJ for, as long as you don't intend to do hardcore stuff all the time it should be worth it. It's not nearly as strong as my TJ was, but the with 2 boys the added space is well worth it. I'm hoping by the time it wears out the 2 door Wrangler Unlimiteds will be reasonably priced, the new 4 door ones have just too long of a wheelbase for me.

 

[Herzog]

Get a solid internal cage built into it and it will last you a long time of twisty wheeling. I can't tell you how much of a difference I noticed when I put an interior roll cage in. The cherokee actually started feeling like a truck instead of a honda.

Strategically tie the cage into the body pillars and through the flooring into the uni-frame.

We now have a 2001 XJ that I plan on doing a similar cage, but I plan to make it not as intrusive because it's not a hard core wheeler. It's still the only true "flimsy" fix I can't think of, and besides it's just added protection for you and your occupants.

 

[Herzog]

Here's another good photo of what my internal cage and pillar nodes looked like.

 

[ewander]

I run an XJ with the RE long arm kit, 35" tires, etc... I believe the 97 and nexer XJs have a lot stiffer unibody. I haven't had any problems with mine so far. I also have every frame stiffening brace made and run rocker guards, etc... About the only thing I haven't done is put in the internal cage. I have had problems with the steering, mostly because I have been too lazy to put it on top of the knuckles (and I'm lifted 7.5"). My current fix (JCR Offroad 1-ton steering) seems to have taken care of my worries there though. XJs are very appealing because they are cheap and have good room. If you are going to get really extreme, then I would probably opt for a wrangler, but if you want moderate trails with an occaisional 4+ in there for good measure then you will be okay.

Eric

 

[JeepTJ38]

Lift it and drive it into the ground, then buy something else. It's only money right. My 00 seems so be fine but it doesn't see many hard trails. Brace up the steering as the XJ's steering mount and trackbar on the uni-frame soon gives way to the death wobble.

 

[Meat_]

Which areas are most prone to failure?

The metal parts.