My son purchased a 96 cherokee with a 6" lift and 31" tires. He loves it, but it concerns me for highway speed driving. Wondering if what all needs to be swapped out to set it down a bit? I'm a diesel head and have no experience with lifted vehicles. Any help appreciated

 

It really depends on what type of kit was installed (long vs. short arm, spacers, springs or blocks). If a combination of spring and spacer was used up front and blocks in the rear, it could be as simple as removing those and replacing the shocks. Full spring only kits will require replacement. That being said, a good quality lift that is properly installed and maintained should handle highway driving with ease. I feel your pain in putting your son in a lifted vehicle, I just turned my 16 year old loose in a 99 with 4" of lift and 31" tires. While it doesn't handle as well as a small sedan it does let him see over traffic ahead so he is not only dependent on the brain dead commuter in front of him to know what's going on ahead. Make sure that all of the suspension is in good shape, have it 4 wheel aligned, tires balanced and sway bars attached properly and teach him that it won't handle like a sports car. Take him out to a vacant parking lot and show him how it will handle abrupt steering and braking inputs. Let him get a feel for how far he needs to allow for braking and emergency maneuvering.
That all being said, if you still feel that the vehicle needs to be lowered try contacting a local off road shop, club forum member. You may find someone who wants to upgrade and may be willing to swap kits with you.

 

I also feel your pain. Hell if it was me he wouldn't be driving it on the highway with any amount of lift, or even stock. Idc what anyone says, these old XJ's are really not highway vehicles. If it was at all possible for him to avoid highways, that's what I'd be looking into, but maybe that's just me.

My wife now drives our XJ to work every day, but only the back way. The highway is strictly off limits. It has a bit of a wobble at 55 due to the tires, but even when it's totally fixed next year, it's still not going on the highway unless I'm driving (and even I avoid them with it).

To be fair the highway in question near me is extremely dangerous, and I have driven it for many years. I'm talking multiple accidents every day within a few mile stretch, and it's very narrow and ya...a 1989 vehicle of any sort should probably be avoiding it, let alone an XJ. They don't have the best braking system in the world, and of course they don't compare to newer cars as far as safety measures are concerned, and they're simply old. These aren't issues from 0-50mph.

These are amazing vehicles, but to me they're 0-50mph vehicles, period. I'm sure that's a very hated opinion on here, but idgaf.

 

take some pictures of the suspension. the springs front and rear, shocks, and the steering.

While i do agree that a newer car is much safer and better for highway driving a properly tuned xj is just fine as well. sure its a 20 year old box on wheels but so is an 18 wheeler and there's more of them on the highway than anything. that being said, i too dread the day i hand the keys to my lifted xj over to my son.

 

If it helps I am 20 with a 6" lift on 33's. I unfortunately have to drive the highway every day to school. I have no death wobble, but I track all over the road. Take your son out a few times to get used to it. Sure, it isn't ideal, but so long as you can "tame the beast" they are really not that unsafe. You just give yourself more space. And besides, who wants to drive a stock cherokee when they are my age? Let him have some fun haha.

 

I don't worry too much about the XJ's, I got rammed head-on at highway speed a few years ago when a drunk crossed the centerline and walked out without a scratch.
Keep the brakes, suspension and steering in good repair and you're probably just fine.

 

Probably save time & money just getting something else.

 

Best bet is to find someone with a 3" lifted XJ and propose a trade of parts (or even stock suspension if you don't mind trimming some sheet metal for the tires). Start here in the regional forums. I'm sure you'll find someone willing to trade with ya, plus you'll get some father-son time working on the Heep and build a familiarity with it. They're quite simple vehicles.

Assuming it isn't rusted solid of course lol. For what its worth '96 XJs have much better braking systems than early models. If you like there are a number of upgrades you can put on too. XJs are great vehicles, there's a reason they're responsible for the SUV trend.

 

Yeah. That's a hated opinion.
Especially to those of us who know the facts.

 

Fair enough, it's everyone's personal choice of what they think they should be driving.

Regardless of the state of the vehicle, why you would get a 6 inch lifted XJ for highway driving is beyond me.

It's also someone's kid behind the wheel and behind the wrench, not someone that is a 30+ year Jeep expert.

 

Yeah, we were hoping to find someone to swap out with. I believe its the full spring type. I'll get some pics and post it up.

 

My dad had a 2wd stock back in early 90's. We went on family trip from MS to dallas Tx. It did fine on the hwy. Put 6" under it and its a different ball game altogether.

 

Yours doesn't have a six inch lift though, right?

 

They are very tuff vehicles. My stepsister was hit head on by one. It did little damage to the Cherokee, but completely smashed the Nissan.

 

FIRST, I don't want to turn this thread into a debate that loses the point of discussion. I am thankful for all replies so far. You know how teenage country-boys are when they see lift and big wheels. He wasn't looking very far down the road, but for 700 it was a pretty good buy. It's a project where I'm letting him foot the bill and turn the wrenches. Its a learning endeavor that if far more valuable than a lecture on how to take care of stuff and "Don't be stupid and break something." That being said, we discussed the drivability of it before he started the project. I may let him dirve it a bit at the deer camp and then set her down or better yet sell it and upgrade. We won't have more than its worth in it when done.