Just got a 3.5" lift installed on the XJ and it looks really good. Even upgraded the entire front end with some heavy duty steering components. When I measured at the fender flares to ground (Same tires) the Jeep now sits 6" taller than it was. Please tell me this is not typical and it will go down quite a bit.

 

What kind of lift was it?
You probably had some bad sagging, and the new lift may settle about a 1/2"
I put on a RE 3.5" lift on my old XJ and got about 5" of lift compared to the sagging suspension I had prior, compared to stock non-sagging measurements it sat about 4 1/4" higher.

 

You need to take your total lift plus half of how much bigger your new tires are over your stock or old ones were, added together, to get your total lift at the body.

 

He has the same tires. His sagging was prolly pretty bad.The best way to measure total lift (if you still have your flares) is center of wheel hub to bottom of flare. IIRC stock measurements are 17" & 19". Can't remember which is front/rear. The difference will be how much lift you have.

OP, don't measure from the ground.

 

My re kit gained 5 front and 5.5 rear but has settled to 4.5 all around. It will settle after you wheel it a few times.