Surfaccing

i've been looking into a suspension kits. i want my body to sit just over the top of my tires (i'll get some bigger ones in the summer), i was looking at about 4in-5in of suspension lift. but i was wondering how do u get the diffs up closer to the body?

i want to off-road more and i don't want to have to worry about the diff getting hit by something, i know body lift and suspension lift get the cab up higher, but how u get the diffs up closer to the body and away form the ground?

Surfaccing

I have the AMC 4L HO I6 motor
3 speed trans (i think the 30RH?)
the guy told me it has a 4in body lift (i think it may be smaller)
Prime Well PA100 31''x10'' on Pacer 15''rims

xer0

jeep cherokees dont have body lifts because they have a uni body frame. put your avatar looks like u got some lift already because u got space between tires and body and you already have 31" tires wich wont fit stuck wiht out major trimming.

Surfaccing

the guy told me a body lift... but i think he ment the shackles between the leaf springs and the shocks to the unibody.

ya the bottom of the frame is sitting at about 21in off the ground and the rocker panels at 21.5in off the ground

Surfaccing

i just checked and i definetly have some shackles lifting the body up some

xer0

shackles are part of the suspension so it is considered a suspension lift. you problay have spacers in the front above the springs as well. this was probably a budget lift, maybe even aal too. but once again no body lift it is a cherokee so u have a unibody not a tub like a wrangler.

offroadnut36

Bigger tires....thats about it

mike37

the only way to get the diff up is bigger tires
and the bigger the tire the more lift you need

xjrev10

yep

FrankSchmeiser

and don't forget about trimming.

Howler_GT

Haha...
Welcome to the quirky world of XJ's

Surfaccing

ya i have a spacer above the macphersian up front and a spacer on the rear holding up the leaf springs... i don't know what their called, i looked online and they were calling them shackles...

so when u get a suspension lift thirs no way to get the diff closer to the body?
the diff has to stay between the tires?
that seems dumb to me.

i know on most trucks u can get cv joints and longer axles and that pulls the diffs up.
i mean 7in ground clearance on the diff and 21in of frame clearence seems dumb to me.

cheapJeeper

XJ's don't have IRS (independent rear suspension), if that is what you're referring to..
(or IFS, either, for that matter...)

Getting the diff closer to the body would involve lowering the suspension, instead of lifting it...which is not the way to go for an off-roadable rig.

Gaining ground clearance with XJ's requires larger diameter tires. Using larger diameter tires requires suspension lift to clear the tires. An alternative to suspension lift for tire clearance would be to HEAVILY TRIM the fenders, but flex would be limited.
Check the stickied "lift/tires setup" thread at the top of the page...

HTH!

Surfaccing

i have looked at the setups.

so has anyone ever set up a IRS suspension on a XJ?
or would i have to get two new differntials, buy a converter to set it up with the jeep transfer cases and set up the IRS myself?

cheapJeeper

One of the cool things about XJ's is that you can do just about anything to them if you throw enough money and effort at them....

One major weak point with IRS is the CV joints, especially with high torque applications.
A buddy of mine had a Datsun 240Z with a healthy SBC and Corvette IRS in it, and he was CONSTANTLY breaking CV joints.
Big tires and IRS CV joints would most likely be problematic...any gains in ground clearance from the setup would probably be counteracted by broken CV joints.
But that's just my opinion...don't let me talk you out of it.
If you are up to the challenge, I say GO FOR IT!...and do a write-up with LOTS of pictures!