Just got my jeep and I am looking at taking it easy and staying small. I am not an aggressive jeeper but I want to take it out a bit.

Is it okay to simply go with a 2" spacer in the front and block and U bolts in the back for easy trailing? I will be running 31x10.5's.

Although opinions are great, I would like to hear some personal experience if anyone has some!

Thanks

 

spacers work well. Blocks to not. The taller the block the more chances of problems.

If at all possible I would suggest lift shackles. Anything more then a 1" block is going to cause you headaches.

 

Any suggestions on price and where to get them? I am not familiar with those yet! They work with Leafs right?

 

http://www.rocklizardfabrications.co...dget_boost.htm

http://www.quadratec.com/products/76190_803.htm

just a start for a few alternatives.

 

Do they usually come with add a leafs?

 

no they are just shackles. The shackles are longer then OEM pushing the spring forward some. This also helps keep the drive knuckle in line. The more you lift up the more the pinion angle changes.

I have the shackles and new leaves in the back. The difference is undeniable. From sag to new was about 3" about 1.5" over stock ride height which is right on.

 

You could also go with a Zone lift, they are supposed to be made by RC, here is a link http://zoneoffroad.com/product?ki=31&gr=-1 ...Tj

 

I was pretty interested in the quadratec but I can't see that the same setup comes in a 2.5" am I just looking it up wrong?

 

using that kit with your stock spring isolator in the front and a 1" block in the rear will yield about 2" in the front and 2.5 in the rear.


I'm still working out the kinks in my budget lift but I'm hoping to get a total lift of about 2"

 

there is no "cheap" way to lift your xj without causing damage. The #1 issue we see that come through the shop are blocks and add a leafs. the blocks cause axle wrap which destroys drive lines and ujoints. add a leafs cause premature leaf spring sagging. also bastard packs on CF are popular it looks like but they to come through are shop all the time because of sagging.

save up some $$ and buy a true kit with full leaf springs!

 

I came across this

http://www.rocky-road.com/xjbudget.html

any suggestions? the 3" is a combination of shackle and block in the back.

 

Something else to consider is tire size. You want to run 31's which means a 3" lift if you don't want to trim. If you go less than that without trimming you'll rub like crazy. You could go shackles and spacers to get 2.5" and probably clear 31's unless you flex, but then you're also looking at shocks since the stock ones are only rated for a 2" lift max. Seriously, save the money and get a full 3" lift if you wanna run 31's. It's well worth it. You put in the other thread that you wanted to be below $500. You can get a 3" with full leaf packs for that from RC or Rusty's.

 

Stay away from blocks. Just like Xjoffroad and I said in other thread - they're not a good plan and you'll have issues later on that you wouldn't have with a true lift kit.

 

coil spring spacers and shackles are the safest cheap way to lift. They don't modify the spring rate or the axle position on the spring.

I am using shackles in back, spacers in front, ZJ coil springs and aftermarket leaf packs. The stock suspension was definitely sagging on my 98.