The new Ride

[Rockinithard]

I just bought a 99 xj. I would like to put a LA kit on it and was wondering if anyone knew of a good kit. I would like to run 35's and if I can push it up to 37's if possible. I was also wondering since this is my first unibody ride if there is anything i need to look for on the unibody or where i can get some good reinforcements and also body armor. Thanks for the help I could use it.

 

[Bear T]

Personally I like the Rubicon Express 5.5" L/A Kit for the XJ, will clear 35's with some cut out flares. I would recommend a SYE kit as well.

As for 37's? I dunno, thats getting pretty big on an XJ, I would look at upgrading axles even on the 35's. But thats just me.

With the unibody, I would get a steering box reinforcement kit asap, I've always had trouble with them. If you get a good L/A kit it will come with a belly pan that will really help reinforce the "frame" as well.

But I'm not an XJ master.

 

[grandmaster]

I'm with crawlin bear on this one. Clayton also makes a good kit for the XJ but a lot of it is weld on....I believe they even do a coil conversion for the rear which might be something to look into. You should fit 35's easy with 5.5 and 37's should slip right under with trimming as well. But like ^^ said, axle upgrades (at the least rear axle) should be in your plans in the near future. Reinforce the the unibody everywhere you can, plating it is a good idea if you have the know-how to do so, the unibody is thin and can be difficult to weld to. Do what you can to reinforce everything, even sliders will make a difference

 

[4x4addiction]

i would stick with the 35s and get rustys or rubicon, iron rock makes a cool kit and so does clayton

 

[bennyboyraptor]

Realistically with any thing more than 4 inches of lift you will NEED a slip yoke eliminator, a good and fairly cheap rout to go is the rubicon express hack n tap with a front drive shaft from an xj. After getting the sye you will want to upgrade your axles for sure, does your xj have the chrysler 8.25 or the dana 35? If it has the 35 dont even bother trying to beef it up, it wont handle anything bigger than 33s with out you always worrying about breaking something. As far as long arm kits I would suggest the rubicon express 5.5 or the iron rock off road kit. Unless you plan on swapping a dana 44 out back, and at least chromoly shafts up front i would not run anything bigger than 35s. Another thing to consider is gearing and lockers, a xj with 4.88s front and rear that is locked up will go 5 times farther than a xj with long arms and 35s running stock gearing and open diffs.

 

[grandmaster]

Stay far away from Rusty's whatever you do....Not a big fan of there products, not top notch quality for something I would trust on the suspension of my rig. If your going with 5.5 go 37's otherwise stay at about 4.5 and run 35's. The goal is to keep your COG low and your stance wide, There is no need to go 5.5 if you don't have the tire size to accomidate the lift height. I am sure you should have no problem fitting 35's with 4.5....just hack the fenders and get a 8 pound sledge and have ball.

 

[kmboren]

Another thing to consider is gearing and lockers, a xj with 4.88s front and rear that is locked up will go 5 times farther than a xj with long arms and 35s running stock gearing and open diffs.

This is my exact set up and the Cherokee just goes places, I also upgraded the rear with a 44 but am running 33 inch bfgs. I agree to keep it low and wide but Cherokees do not fit big tires easily even with a lot of trimming. With a long arm kit they flex really well which means you need the more lift to clear the tires. I still rub my 33 on flexing and I have around 6-7 inches of lift. Of course proper bump stops would help this.

On a long arm kit that is not mentioned I have the Rock Krawler 3 link set up and absolutely love it. It is a true 3 link unlike the y-armed rubicon and the upper link is also a long arm. Just my opinion and good luck with the build. Like everyone else has said you need to get a slip yoke eliminator kit, and at least the steering box brace. I also have the track-bar brace that crosses the frame that Rubicon express makes for there drop bracket and track bar.
Have fun, if built well cherokees are really good jeeps to build.

 

[richs88rocker]

Hey, Lets see some pics. So are you going to EJS with us? I think we have room in the trailer. That is awesome you finally got another jeep. woot wooot!!!!

 

[Rockinithard]

Currently it has a 35 in the back was going to upgrade to a 44 in the rear and mabey in the front as well. It currently has a teraflex 4.5 on it with 33's and it is cut to hell and still smashed a front fender in I call it self clearance. I am planning on 4.88 and lockers front and rear. Rich if you have room then we will probably go.

 

[XJumpmaster]

Look up TNT or Treks. They have a long arm setup and unibody stiffeners in a pretty good package.

www.tntcustoms.com/treks_home.asp

Good people to work with too.

 

[bennyboyraptor]

Currently it has a 35 in the back was going to upgrade to a 44 in the rear and mabey in the front as well. It currently has a teraflex 4.5 on it with 33's and it is cut to hell and still smashed a front fender in I call it self clearance. I am planning on 4.88 and lockers front and rear. Rich if you have room then we will probably go.

Thats a good plat form to start with. Before going long arm I would re gear and lock the front and rear. The chrysler 8.25 has potential to be just as strong as the 44 and they are pretty easy to find.

 

[Bear T]

I would stay away from any hack-n-tap SYE kits. I've seen too many of them fail on the trails. Spend a little more money and do it right the first time. You can get the Tera, Rubicon Express, Procomp, Currie, almost any of them for about $300 plus shaft.

 

[richs88rocker]

I think it is just going to be a Guys only trip this yr for Russ and I. He is taking his camp trailer down a couple weeks before. We will probably head down Tuesday night and stay till Saturday Night. Are you planning on taking the girls?