so i plan on purchasing a 3 inch lift for my 93 xj, i cant decide between the rough country 3 inch AAL or rustys 3 inch AAL kits. there both basically the same price (except shipping). so id like to know your opinions or experiences with these kits. this is my daily driver and occasional offroader so id like the ride to be not too rough (but honestly as of right now my shocks are junk so anything new will feel better lol). I chose these 2 bcz there in my price range btw, so please dont suggest a $500 lift kit bcz i cant afford that. Thanks

 

AAl will be rough, which you buy doesn't matter, both are basicaly the same. You should save a little more money and get the full packs. Or go to a Junkyard and get a set of S10 springs and build a bastard pack. Buy Just front coils and shocks.

 

full packs will definitely be a better purchase in the long run.

 

well i cant really afford the full packs..and i really cant spend that much on this lift. im trying to keep it as close to $300 as possible. my jeep rides horrible as it is so i dont really think it could be worse than it is now. why exactly will it be a rough ride if i get the AAL's? its all ill ever be able to afford

 

rustys springs (both AAL and full pack) tend to break at the center point

rough country AAL's tend to sag (but all AAL's do)

rough country shocks SUCK. so do rustys.

if you can't afford a full leaf pack I suggest just buying a decent set of used stock shocks from a member on here (I'm quite sure someone has recently lifted their jeep and has no use for their stock shocks), and then just put the rest of that $300 in a piggy bank which you add a bit each month to. within a year you could easily afford a complete lift kit and, depending on what you put in monthly, you may even be able to afford new tires and rims and better shocks.

 

Bought the rough country 3" on E-Bay for 200, it had 8000 series shocks, new coils upfront, and blocks or add a leaf in the rear, new u bolts, it also had boots for the shocks.
I also bought a new steering stabalizer from rough countries web page, it was on sale for 28 for there heavy duty one, also get a new track bar.
It works great no death wobble or any bad vibes, and handles good with 30" bfg all terains.
I used the blocks but I would recomend the add a leafs, my xj only has 136 miles on it and the leaf springs are still good, but when I get the jeep back I am going to put the add aleafs on, the are better for your leaf springs.

 

well i dont really think my jeep will be going for much longer, so by the time the AAL's sag a little my jeep will be pretty close to death. im not too worried about the sag bcz my leaf springs sag a little already. its my DD and i off road on weekends or whenever i dont have school so its not like its gonna see some hard core stuff. what is wrong with the rough country and rustys shocks?? whats the difference from all the other brands?? i could always upgrade later if i had to..