To lift or not????
 

I currently have a 98 xj sport, and I am unsure if I should lift it or not.

I just bought a large pop up camper this year and once I've loaded the family, gear and hook up the trailer I've almost bottomed out the rear suspension. This makes for a bouncy ride towing on rough highways (which are common here in Canada). My buddy suggested that I do an add a leaf lift saying this will give me more spring strength and less sag when all loaded.

I like the look of 3" with 31's but I'm worried about all the hidden extras that a lot of companies don't tell you about such as SYE's, extended brake lines, transfer case drops etc. So maybe a 2" AAL kit with 30's is a better option.

Any suggestions on this would be greatly appreciated.

Thx

I would advise on getting a full leaf pack, not add a leaf. They will stiffen your springs, yes, but also make the ride a bit harsh when unloaded. These are not recommended on high mileage leaf springs since they will not last long and the AAL will eventually sag. I would recommend you check out Old Man Emu HD rear leaf spring packs. They are designed for towing and hauling. The ride is nice and smooth unloaded. The cool thing about these springs are they are designed for towing/hauling/heavy accessories, not for lifting like most other AAL and spring packs. That's why they ride so nicely and handle loads very well. If you find these springs cannot handle the load or need a bit more assistance, you can order up an old man emu spring kit, which is like an Add A leaf but without the stiffness. It increases the spring rate 20%.

http://jeepinoutfitters.com/scripts/...idproduct=1186

You will achieve about 2" of lift, which keeps you in the safe zone, meaning you don't have to spend a fortune upgrading all these parts. You can get these springs and pick up a set of 2" coil spacers and be done with it.

I run these springs with the ome AAL and i have hauled around 800 lbs at one time and only lost an inch of height when loaded. Not too bad IMO ;)


Another option for the rear would be some HD leaf springs from quadratec. They are replacement springs that usually net around 1 or 2 inches of lift. Cheap too.

http://www.quadratec.com/products/56010_11.htm


Good luck!

A lifted jeep will sag too. The problem isn't the lack of lift, its the amount of weight on the back half of the rig.

A few suggestions for ya.
1. Redistribute the weight in your rig and op-up. Get some of the weight off the tongue.
2. Install a set of airshocks on the rear axle. I run them on mine and they do a great job of keeping the rear up when I'm towing my camper.

Thx for the great suggestions. :cheers:
I like the idea of the OME springs, I think the old springs are just worn out. I've been told this is not uncommon in XJ's with similar mileage. (about 170,000 kms). The OME springs are a bit more expensive than the Quadratec but I've been told OME products are supposed to be some of the best. I'm cheap but I am also willing to pay more for a product that will last longer. The OME are still cheaper than stocks from the dealer (about $270 canadian each, OUCH).

I've tried redistibuting the trailer load but to no avail. it's a 12' pop up with a large storage box on the front. The Dinette is a slide out which doesn't leave a lot of room inside of the trailer at the back to store gear.

When I get a chance I will post a picture of the unit loaded to show how much it sags the suspension.

Post up. We all love pictures. I'm sure you will be pleased with the OME suspension. See if you can order from JeepinOutfitters. Jason, who works there, will get you what you need. Talk to him and see what he has to say about this.

and now......

:worthless:

What about this kit? It's the same OME 2" lift, but for all 4 corners with shocks and a transfer case drop. I didn't think that a TC drop was necessary at 2". What do you guys think?

http://www.quadratec.com/products/76090_80X_PG.htm

I noticed when towing with my XJ for the first time this weekend that my rear springs are woefully weak. I'm thinking about replacing them, so why not go for a little lift while I'm at it? :grin:

That's the full kit. If you tow alot, opt for the Heavy springs or at least the mediums. you MAY need a t-case drop. I needed one BADLY with my 2" lift. The older xj's (pre-97) get away with it better than the newer ones.

Oh by the way, i'm selling my nearly new 2" old man emu coil springs and 1" spacers in the for sale forum. If either of you guys are interested, check it out. Save ya some bucks.