jnatny

ok, looking for suggestions from fellow xj fanatics.

i have a 97 stock xj i rescued from an old lady who was going to junk it, because a terrible engine noise turned out to be a loose flywheel, lucky me i have a rust free ute for launching my boat and easy backroads.

All components were tired, replaced PS, alt, bat, brakes, belts, hoses, etc.
Switched out idiot light dashboard for stock gauge dash, it just plugs in works.

I want to beef up the old suspension- but dont' want big lift. I will replace all bushings, and anything else tired.

Question-
Does anyone recommend a good bushing kit, I see some on 4wd about $150. complete.

Rear spring - adding a leaf vs getting new pack? Since I dont want a big lift I assume adding will be ok?

Front coils- any reason or need to replace if I do the bck, I assume spacer might be part of a low lift kit?

Suggestions on Shocks and stabilizer? the standard 4wd offerings are probably good enough?

Thanks for any suggestions...

toasterknight

For bushings go rubber rather than poly. Always do new leafs. AAL will always sag and ride rough. You may need spacers to match the front but they aren't that hard to install. I reccomend bilstein for general use. Good shocks at a reasonable price. There are better shocks for offroading and there are cheaper shocks, but bilstein will do anything you want of them and they are a decent price.

timmysixgun

I rebuilt my suspension (shocks, springs, bushings, shackles, spring isolators and front sway bar links/bushings) for around $550 with factory UpCountry springs. Gave about 1.5" lift and is a bit firm. Some say that these springs are good for towing. Everything came from Amazon. It was the cheapest around.