stock cherokee offroad capability
 

how capable are 98 jeep cherokee's with no lift i was thinking about just puttin stock sized bfg all terrains on it, i live in nc so some of the trails are narly at places, any input fromyou stock wheelers......??????

They're ok stock. Much better than most other 4x4 SUVs are stock. You will be surprised how capable an XJ on 31s and 3" of lift is.

i have a lift on the way for mine but the only bad thing is how little clarance you have, if you dont mind smashing over rocks then youll be fine, with no sway bars you will get cazy flex check it out

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the only bad thing is you wont be able to clear larger m/t tires to climb up on stuff and if you do they will probibly rub. stock wheeling is deff. fun though cause the stock components can deff take abuse lmao :naughty:

Stock components don't take abuse. They survive as long as possible and then break at the worst possible time. The Stock Control arms are nothing more than stamped 3/16" steel. And don't get me started on the POC D35 thats in the rear of alot of XJs.

Wheel it till it breaks, then upgrade to a stronger and better aftermarket part

the D35 is fine till you put anything bigger than a 31 inch tire on your rig

I ran my 99 cherokee sport stock for about 3 months after i bought it and it did fine for wheelin, but i put the lift in and i make it farther than most of my buddies trucks, and end up havin to pull them out lol
:naughty:

I have a 207K mile D35 in my XJ and its had 31s running on it for at least the past 40k miles. its very very unhappy and if I didn't have plans to swap it, would probably blow up sometime in the next 6 months. D44 anyone? :brows:

mine has a 8.25! is that any good?

What year is it? if its a 96 or newer then you have a 29 spline 8.25 which is an excellent stock axel although it still has the downfall of c-clips

its a 98. so that means good? :icon_lol:

yupp, thats the 2nd best rear axel to ever come in a Cherokee. 2nd only to the D44 that was used sparingly in the late 80s

I think the only thing I am gunna do is add a locker to mine,I am only running 235/75/15s so I got no worries.

yea i prolly do the same :)

yeah, I have plans to go up to 33s so a Ford 9" or D44 is in order. I'd prefer to get my hands on a 44 though

They are capable, as mentioned more capable than most stock 4x4 "suvs".

I would however suggest you invest in some rock rails/sliders to protect your rockers.