I'm just got my first cherokee, during the winter it will be my DD but i go offroading fairly often too. I had been loooking at the RE 3.5 super-ride kit with new leaf packs, and thought that it would be a good deal for what i use my jeep for. however i was talking to a friend who does pretty much the same thing as i do with his, and he was saying the RE 4.5 is a better deal because it comes with more hardware than the 3.5 and that i would just have to by that hardware for the 3.5 later anyway. Does anyone know what exactly comes with the 3.5, and if i would have to buy any parts besides the kit? Is it really a better deal to get the 4.5?
Im confused now and would like your advice.
Thanks.

 

I have always been told RE is top of the line and its a pretty complete kit now i dont know that much about the 4.5 but im sure it would be great come with everything you need for that amount of lift are you doing a SYE? cause 4.5 you must but 3.5 you might be able to get away w/o one

so my advice is go one RE's website and price out each part and see which is a better value

 

I dont have a ton of cash, and i was hoping to get away without the sye, also since its still gonna be my DD i dont want to go to big. However, the way my friend put it was that i would have to buy extra parts later, and it would end up costing just as much as the 4.5 just for less lift.

 

well your gonna need a SYE with the 4.5 might need one with 3.5

 

Thanks a lot youve been very helpful, i think ive decided on the 3.5. now i just have one question left. what is the difference between the super-ride and super-flex package?

 

you might not need a sye for the 4.5. if you go to 4wd.com they have pics of the kits and a list of the parts that come with. when you go RE you need to buy shocks. also consider a trac bar which i know for sure comes with the 4.5 the 3.5 might just come with a relocation bracket. but yes RE are supposed to be great.

 

ok, cool well glad to know ive picked out a kit with a good reputation. how important is an adjustable track bar?

 

Extremely important if you want to keep the axle properly positioned under the rig.
SuperRide uses rubber bushings in the controll arms, SuperFlex uses the rebuildable SuperFlex Joints.

 

At 3.5" you will need to address the Trac-bar. The kit doesn't come with a relocation bracket. But you will definately need either a bracket or an adjustable one. Your axle will end up way out of alignment.

Also at 3.5" you MAY need an SYE or a T-case lowering kit. Some Jeeps are remarkably tolerant of lifts and some are not.

 

That is where the extra parts come in. The disco for your sway bar and the control arms. You will have a better more complete kit with the SuperFlex kit.

 

When I lifted my 94 (Lil Red), the new rear leafs gave me almost 3.5 of lift.
I could barely get it turned around in my driveway. The driveshaft bound up so much.

IF not a SYE, you had better look into a TC drop. A 1" TC drop should give enough to alleviate any vibes w/o doing any damage to the rest of the drivetrain.
UNTIL you get a decent SYE.

Look into the SYE that use a front XJ d/s. This way you'd only need ONE spare