i am planing to get an xj this summer to take with me to college and have a $550 budget for my lift (does not include tires) i would like to go 4.5inch but am unsure about having to drop another $200 on an "sye"?? so i would like to go 3.5inches...but the Rubicon express 3.5 is a bit pricey for just 3.5inches even though i know it is a better kit. So do i really need an SYE with the 4.5 rough country or should i go with the 3inch rough country and maybe add .75inch coil spacers and blocks? i plan on 31inch BFG MK2s regardless.

Thanks for all the help guys! this truly is a very informative forum!

 

there's about 90% chance that you will need a sye with 4.5" lift from any company. the real problem with low price lift kits is that the come with AAL and AAL is only as durable as the stock leafs that it goes on. so, if your rear is already sagging, then AAL will only work for a short while before it sags.
if you just wanna run 31's, just get a 3" lift kit, do some very minor trimming, and use your sye money on some procomp full leafs. and you can sell the AAL from the kit and make some money back.

 

I know it is the cheap way out, but.... you said you're on a budget. Instead of a $200 hack-n-tap on my NP242, I went to home depot and spent less than $15 on some bolts and 1"x1"x3' square steel tubing and built a transfer case drop before my R.E. lift goes on next weekend.

Add-a-leafs are only a band-aid and will sag and by the time you've bought extended shackles to make up for it, you could have bought new leaf packs.

Search craigslist for good used parts. You'll find a heck of a deal if you're patient.

Also don't for get to budget for an alignment.

 

I have a 3.5 RE lift with with full leaf packs on a 94 XJ. Tried a TC drop didn't work. Needed a SYE and CV shaft combo.

 

If your willing to trim your fenders get a 2" lift and put your 31's. My 2" cost $100 and than spend the rest on something else or use it to save up to add on later.

 

what trans and diff do you have?

 

Ouch, wish me luck! I don't think it'll be a problem though since a 3" skyjacker lift with an add-a-leaf and lift shackles is coming off. I had no problems before the TC drop.

 

well you said your on a budget. i might have the solution you need.
theres a site. i cant remember at the moment but they made 3" spacers from a giant washer and a piece of steam pipe. cost $15 for 2. get the pieces at a hardware store or the like. weld the washer to the pipe. and theres your spacers. for leafs just go to your local JY and find a recently wrecked or good shape mid 90's dakota and take the leafs off of that and theres your 3" for the back. and you have a 3" lift that only costs about $75.
did it with my xj and it works