hey everybody, my bro-in-law and sister got me a pro comp explorer 3" lift kit for christmas for my 93 xj country, a friend of his bought it a few years ago, then right after the guy sold his jeep to a friend, so he had a lift for an xj and no xj. this is my first adventure into suspension systems and lifts, so i wanna make sure everything is good. they got it from him for $300, it comes with 4 shocks and boots, i think they are es 1000 or something, i forgot the first two letters, new front coil springs, aal rear leaf springs, 4 u bolts, 2 sway bars and bushings, and i think new control arms, and some other small hardware, like line clamps, things like that. do i really need anything else? and is there any words of wisdom that could help me? any specific tools i might need or any tricks to make it go a little smoother? it is my primary vehicle, my only other vihicle is my motorcycle, and it really isnt motorcycle weather in southwest wyoming right now lol so i want to have as little down time as possible. any advice will be GREATLY appreciated, thanks alot guys

 

Spring compressors unless you have a lift.

 

Best advice I can give.... Be prepared for ANYTHING to break and be prepared to be out of a vehicle for a few days just incase. You will most likely break your rear upper shock mounts... Most people do. I know I did... I broke a lot of stuff doing my lift, but it was a little bit more involved than your 3 inch kit.


Also, don't forget to leave the control arm bolts loose until the Jeep is back down on the ground and on its' own weight. Once it's on the ground you can tighten the bolts, otherwise it's likely you will destroy the bushings.


EDIT: Also to add, if you have an impact gun at your disposal... use it. You will break less bolts that way.


Good luck =)

 

can you make it work with jack stands and a floor jack?

 

You will need coil compressors

 

I mean only if you like living........

 

I did my 4.5" lift without compressors. Once the control arms and trac-bar were disconnected the axle was able to articulate far enough to get the old coils out and new ones in. Maybe I just got lucky???

 

I had a buddy doing a three inch Rough country lift and he almost got taken out by a coil. Better to just not take the chance.

 

and remember your PB Blaster. spray all the bolts before hand.

 

My coils didn't come out with any force really, so I didn't see it as being dangerous. I consider my drum brake springs to be more deadly than my coil springs were. The new coils slipped right in too. I also had the Jeep up on Mack Truck jackstand that I barrowed... my hood sat level with my face.

 

I tried that and it didn't help... I ordered my lift kit and sprayed all of the bolts with pb blaster every morning and every night for a week until it came in the mail. I still broke 70% of the bolts.

 

This is a safe and sane way to do it. Just loosen the four bolts holding on the axle arms and two bolts holding the track bar. Depending on how long the new springs are, disconnect one or both links of the antisway bar. Then lower the axle slowly with a jack until the springs fall out.

The stock suspension bushings are double-bonded so you will not be able to move the axle far down by hand if all the bolts are tight.

 

That's how I did mine, except I fully removed the control arms from the axle since the lower ones were being replaced the the upper ones didn't hurt to remove versus just loosening the bolts. Once the control arms, trac-bar, and sway bar links were removed I lowered the axle using the floor jack until I could remove the coils. (I forgot I had removed the sway bar links, thank you for reminding me )

My new coils were 22" long and I didn't have any trouble getting them in. Getting them in was like removing the alternator... If fits through ONE way, but once you find that one way you're golden.

 

ok thanks alot guys, lol so i should probably make sure i get one of those kits for removing broken off bolts before i even start....lol and find someone that has a spring compressor to make things go smoother......

 

Definitely the best thing to do before you start it all up... With these tools on hand for sure you'll have a smooth installation...