96 Grand Cherokee
No, I don't lick fish.



Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 11,169
Likes: 26
From: Northern Kentucky
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
I've hit the fender a couple times while driving(full lock in a bumpy parking lot), the heat doesn't seem to be as strong as when I last flushed the heater core, and I'm pretty sure I need SRB's as the ride is staying quite bumpy. Looking briefly, the Ironman4x4 brackets seem the nicest: https://www.ironman4x4fab.com/produc...ets-bare-steel thoughts? Thinking about switching back to DDing the ZJ for the heat...lol Mi insurance sucks, I wish it wasn't so expensive I'd leave them both insured, at least the plate transfer is only $8...
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,226
Likes: 11
From: Laurium, MI
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: 4.0L
I was hoping to stay away from cutting out the stock brackets, and I hate painting lol. The IRO shackles I have have a higher mounting hole so I was thinking of using that and in combination of going from ~65* shackle angle to 45* it might be close to making up for the "1.5" lift". Or would having a shorter shackle mounting point negate most of the benefit?
I was hoping to stay away from cutting out the stock brackets, and I hate painting lol. The IRO shackles I have have a higher mounting hole so I was thinking of using that and in combination of going from ~65* shackle angle to 45* it might be close to making up for the "1.5" lift". Or would having a shorter shackle mounting point negate most of the benefit?
No, I don't lick fish.



Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 11,169
Likes: 26
From: Northern Kentucky
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
I was hoping to stay away from cutting out the stock brackets, and I hate painting lol. The IRO shackles I have have a higher mounting hole so I was thinking of using that and in combination of going from ~65* shackle angle to 45* it might be close to making up for the "1.5" lift". Or would having a shorter shackle mounting point negate most of the benefit?
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,226
Likes: 11
From: Laurium, MI
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: 4.0L
No, I don't lick fish.



Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 11,169
Likes: 26
From: Northern Kentucky
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
OH! Selectable height shackles. Yeah, you'll just have to play around with 'em. Keep in mind though, once your springs settle, they'll be a different height anyway. So if they're too high with the lower most mounting holes, they'll be dead on in a few months.
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,226
Likes: 11
From: Laurium, MI
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: 4.0L
. I'll just deal with the bumpiness for now, frost heaves, new springs and new shocks are almost as jarring as riding on the bumpstops. Not like we have any money either
. lol
No, I don't lick fish.



Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 11,169
Likes: 26
From: Northern Kentucky
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
This will limit down-travel but give you a better ride. If you know you're going to go wheeling with it and want to increase the down travel, just adjust the shackle position accordingly.
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,226
Likes: 11
From: Laurium, MI
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: 4.0L
lol... if you're looking to "soften up" the ride in the rear, changing the position of the rear shackles to as perpendicular to the datum line as possible will give you a softer ride...
This will limit down-travel but give you a better ride. If you know you're going to go wheeling with it and want to increase the down travel, just adjust the shackle position accordingly.
This will limit down-travel but give you a better ride. If you know you're going to go wheeling with it and want to increase the down travel, just adjust the shackle position accordingly.
So really depending on your purpose of the rig and what you intend to do with it you don't necessarily have to run the shackle angled back or foward you could even leave it straight up and down. Adjusting is only going to affect stiffness and softnesss depending on your need for it. Interesting and very good example!
No, I don't lick fish.



Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 11,169
Likes: 26
From: Northern Kentucky
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
So really depending on your purpose of the rig and what you intend to do with it you don't necessarily have to run the shackle angled back or foward you could even leave it straight up and down. Adjusting is only going to affect stiffness and softnesss depending on your need for it. Interesting and very good example!
Yea I figured it would affect more than that but good knowledge provided. I'm at that point right now where mine is sitting exactly straight up and down and I will need to either run the no lift shackle relocation brackets or of course unhook everything from rear axle so I can loosen up the shackles to reposition them. Hopefully that will do the trick but if not I will just have to buy some relocation brackets. I just hate to unbolt axle, sway bar, shocks, etc. so I can reposition it. Not doing so though is only going to affect my off roading so I need to do it. Just being lazy!
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,226
Likes: 11
From: Laurium, MI
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: 4.0L
A week ago
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Found a couple places that are cluncking... #1
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#2
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Got pretty buried this last weekend, a drifted over spot buried me right to the frame almost cresting the 33's. Winch couldn't pull me out at first and stalled luckily it had pulled me enough I could back up an inch and rock it back forward while spooling in the winch.
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Rear locker certainly helps, but definitely get more stuck...lol
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The mayhem, originally I was just going to turn around but ended up sliding to the left(in this pic) any time I tried to back out. Either the rear would slide down the slope or the front would.
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Also made it out to the Gay stamp sands, passed a Tacoma abandoned in the ditch on the way.
Click for full res
Found a couple places that are cluncking... #1
#2
Got pretty buried this last weekend, a drifted over spot buried me right to the frame almost cresting the 33's. Winch couldn't pull me out at first and stalled luckily it had pulled me enough I could back up an inch and rock it back forward while spooling in the winch.
Rear locker certainly helps, but definitely get more stuck...lol
The mayhem, originally I was just going to turn around but ended up sliding to the left(in this pic) any time I tried to back out. Either the rear would slide down the slope or the front would.
Also made it out to the Gay stamp sands, passed a Tacoma abandoned in the ditch on the way.
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,226
Likes: 11
From: Laurium, MI
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: 4.0L
Wow...long time no post...lol
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New custom shinies
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Chopping open the framerail, looks like I'll have to trim the shackle bolt
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Cleaned and bedlined the tie ins with the rest of the crappy Krylon Bedliner...it may be a couple bucks cheaper per can but it sucks compared to rustoleums
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Testing to see if I made the hole big enough...definitely. lol
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Kinda rusty in there...
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Trying to figure out how to do the farthest carriage bolt
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Nope
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That'll work
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Couldn't fold over the lower edge very far. so had to tighten the rear bolts to cinch'er down
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Time to play the balancing game.
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Inside view with bolts and cutout. Works slick!
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New custom shinies
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Chopping open the framerail, looks like I'll have to trim the shackle bolt
"
"
Cleaned and bedlined the tie ins with the rest of the crappy Krylon Bedliner...it may be a couple bucks cheaper per can but it sucks compared to rustoleums
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Testing to see if I made the hole big enough...definitely. lol
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Kinda rusty in there...
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Trying to figure out how to do the farthest carriage bolt
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Nope
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That'll work
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Couldn't fold over the lower edge very far. so had to tighten the rear bolts to cinch'er down
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Time to play the balancing game.
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Inside view with bolts and cutout. Works slick!
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Last edited by rcguymike; Sep 25, 2018 at 03:45 PM.


