Hey all, Im new to the forum, but Ive spent time looking around to see if this has been asked before. I currently have a 2001 Cherokee Sport, AW-4, 242 T-case. It currently has a 1.5 lift on 30's and I am looking to go bigger. I do some offroading but nothing too extreme, just some trails and mud everyonce in a while, but she is my DD. I am looking to go to just 31's and have hopes of aftermarket bumpers front and rear.

I am hoping for a 3.5 inch kit, I really like the Full Traction kit. I really do not want to go higher then 3.5 because of the assorted issues I may run into and it being my DD I dont really want to do that to a vehicle that has to last . I also have looked at the R.E. 3.5, Rustys 3, and RC 3. I also have been taught that AAl is better because the spring packs are often not OEM quality.

Now here is my question, If I go to 3.5 will I need an SYE? I, being 17 don't make all that much and couldn't handle an SYE on top of the lift kit and shocks at this point. The only 242 SYE I have found was Tom Woods, and that was 470 with a CV driveshaft. I also don't have the skills to install an SYE and the mechanics are so bad around here I refuse to let them do even basic work on my jeep. I have been reading up and it seems its hit or miss with the issues a SYE fixes. I have a friend that lifted his 4.5 with no SYE and has no vibes, where I have seen people with 3inch lift kits need the sye because the vibes were so bad. I have the 8.25 rear axle and I planned on doing a t-case drop kit and shims If needed

I am looking for forum opinion and general knowledge. Should I go to the 3.5 or just 3? What really is the best for the cost out there? Is AAL better then Spring packs in your personal opinion? Will I need an SYE and what are my options concerning that? I have no problem spending the extra money on my jeep, I just want to be sure that It really is worth it for what I want to do.

 

an sye is mostly hit and miss.
i have about 8 inches of lift and no sye with very little to no vibes. and i wheel it hard. mostly off camber/rocks with lots of flexing.
my jeep is a renix model that came with the d35 stock but i swapped it out for a d44. the d44 has a longer pinion/pumpkin. i don't know what model of xj my rear driveshaft came from, but it's long enough as to not pull out of the t-case.

i also shimmed my rear axle for pinion angle by 4 degrees.

i will be going with an advanced adapters sye eventually as i put in my revolver shackles and limiting strap. but for now, it's all good.

for 3-3.5 inches, you shouldn't need one. besides, the only sye i know about for 242's is a hack-n-tap, which i don't care too much for.
if you do install one, you'll also need a custom rear driveshaft that is quite expensive. it is possible to use a front double cardon xj shaft, but that is also hit and miss.

 

For the SYE on your 242, the other option is the R.E. Hack n Tap. It requires that you cut off (hack) part of your output shaft, then drill and tap a new hole down the center of it to bolt the flange up. This option will allow you to run a CV style driveshaft, and you can use a front driveshaft from any automatic 4.0 XJ. This set up is significantly cheaper than the Tom Woods set up.

I am running this set up on my DD which see's mainly highway travel and it is just as smooth as can be. Took it wheelin a few times this summer and it hasn't let me down yet. The best part is if you break a driveshaft, you can take the one off the front and throw it in to get you home.

 

shouldn't need a sye for that size lift. At most, just a transfer case drop kit.

 

REALLY? Is this true?

 

you can make an sye and cv drive shaft for under 100 dollars

 

How then? Any additional info would be great, thanks!

 

AAL's suck they will sag on ya in a few monthes get a full pack and you will actually get the lift you want

 

And if you go RE, you'll get MORE than the lift you wanted...which is great!

As for SYE or not...it's really a "lift it and see what happens" deal. No two Jeeps react the same to a lift. Some go 8" with no vibes, others have them go to hell at as little as 2" (happened to me at 3", and my friend's 98 at 2").

 

I wish I had the money for the R.E. full spring pack. I have looked at them, but what is the difference between the Super ride and super flex? Is it only the gen 2 disconnects?

 

The difference is in the control arms the SF has differnt joints that flex more than the conventional style

 

O, ok. Not really worth the extra money then, I don't do much flexing when I 4x4, mostly just mud and nice easy trails around here. Plus she isnt 4x4 hard, I can't afford to break my dd. Anybody have any suggestions for shocks? I really dislike the R.E. shocks, they just seem very overpriced, 180 for 4 of the cheapest?

 

every jeep reacts differently to lifts. some will get terrible vibes and some wont. but with a 242 you cant to an SYE, you can only do a hack n tap. you can install your lift and see if you get vibes and go from there. I got vibes with my 3.5" lift and drove it with no SYE for like 3 months and was OK.

 

u need to take off the tail shaft housing hack ur out put shaft tap the out put shaft thread cut off grade 8 bot lock tite it cut ur slip yoke dow slid it in and take a welded washer to the nut thread on and get a front drive shaft

 

Northline76, don't worry about what kind of SYE to get. With a 6" lift or less, the most you will need is a 1" Drop kit and a 4 degree shim kit.