ceejay612

I started my XJ on the er... super budget plan. I have since gotten the thirst for something more.
My current setup was lacking in flex and durability. I was running ZJ coil springs with 2.5" spacers, trac bar drop, all new poly bushing kit, 4-6" RC shocks, xfer case drop 1", 6" RC brake lines, two 2" AAL and General AT2 31x10.5x15's on 15x 8.5 alum OZ wheels.

I always knew it would not be enough hence my preorder of the RC brake lines and 2" rear shackles (not installed).

Since then I have removed my rear sway bar and replaced my rear leaf packs with Dakota 4x4 leaf springs (which ride very nicely 80$ pulled for me from an alabama junkyard) maintaining my top leaf. 4* wedges, ordered upper and lower RC adjustable 0-8" control arms, adjustable trac bar, 4.5" rustys coil springs, ZJ rubber isolator. 2" pitman arm, and disconnect link ends.

i know, i know i need an sye and new cv shaft and some gears and and and... its still on the budget and if a tc drop and 4* wedge can correct 5" lift enough to maintain for about six months then im cool with that. i'm thinking about possibly jumping to some 32"s or 33"s on some steel 15x10s. however i still like my XJ pretty with my stock fender flares. the only trimming I have done is 45 the front bumper air dam.

pics to follow

posjeepxj

are you sure you are guna need the wedge once you put the 2in shackle on?

grn99

I recomend using the 4deg shims untill you do the SYE. Also a 15x10 in my opinion is too wide for the tires and looks goffy. They may also rub you pretty flares. I would run a 15x8 with a 4" or 3.75" bs. I run the 3.75"bs on mine and wheels sit wide on it. However I am going to replace those with a set with a 4" bs to clear the tops of my front fenders. I set mine up with a 4.5 lift and 33s but plan on moving up to 34s this time around. Yes I have done the basic trim & bumpstop jobs to keep the tires clear.

ceejay612

good call on the 15x8 with bs. much better idear. also good call on the shackle bringing the rear of the leaf springs up changing the angle of the rear axle.

jarretthise

Get some pics up of the ride man.

posjeepxj

the only reason i asked about the shims is when you put the shackles on it will am the pinion up a little

grn99

I did the 2" shackles and the pinion angle did not change enough. I added the 4deg shims and the vibes dissapeared. The correct way to fix this is an SYE though.

ceejay612

how big of a lift?

posjeepxj

i am at 5.5 in rear (3.5 bastard and the 2in shackle) with a 1in t-case drop. My tcase and pinion angle are parralel with no shims

grn99

I'm using an RE 4.5 which netted me around 5.5 in the rear and 5 up front. RE way under rates their lifts. I have since removed the 2" shackles and now using RE 1.5 ones that came with the kit. I too am using a 3/4" TC drop with the 4deg shims. No vibes. I'm not saying this is the only way to do things but its what worked for me. That is untill I can budget an SYE.

ceejay612

pics

posjeepxj

you need to budged new u bolts. they are only ment to use once

ceejay612

almost finished with the front today, had many hangups. just about every bolt had to be cut off due to the metal sleeve inside of the bushings seizing to the bolts. had to have my buddy take a mid day run to lowes for some grade 8 hardware. today i managed to install upper and lower control arms, the 1" spacer with the rusty 4.5" coils and a beefy new pitman arm (why is the hole so big for the tie rod end?). (RIP pitman arm puller and 2 foot breaker bar). The track bar had a wonderful rust weld to it at the tie rod end so it too was cut off. I have to STILL drill out the rest of that out in order to install the new trac bar. also had to make a last minute run to autozone for a tie rod end to the pitman arm because the one that came off was free spinning.
tomorrow i plan to add the rear shackles and get that trac bar installed so that i can drop it off at for an alignment. while i go to search the junkyard for a trans cooler.

ceejay612

just short of an alignment.