Budget build, but done right.
 

Hey, kinda new to the world of xj's. Been a mechanic for a while, but never studied these.
I've got a 2000 xj sport 4x4 asin trans, 8.25 Chrysler rear end.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...ef5e963bc.jpeg

I'm wanting to go with a 3" rough country lift. The whole shabang. New rear leafs, shocks, springs, sway bar links, and all.

I'm gonna put 31's on it when I do this, with a 9-10 inch wheel with a 4inch or less back spacing.

Later on down the road, I may want to go higher.


Would it be a bad idea to buy blocks for the rear, and spring spacers for the front on that lift? Without extending the brake lines/hoses, and without dropping the transfer case?


My overall goal is to get it to 4.5" with 33's without cutting fenders.

Unfortunately for me, I can afford $609 on a 3" but not $829 for the 4.5". I've seen these kits on eBay with a "make offer" option. Has what's the lowest anyone has gotten one of these for?

Also. If I do go with 31's or even 33's do I need to regear the diffs?
I'm asking because this is my daily driver, and I would like it to last a long time.



https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...bf51712c2.jpeg

Do Not install rear blocks. Just dont do it. If it is only $200 extra dollars for the lift you want, wait a few months and do some side work in the evenings. It will all add up. There are plenty of budget lifts out there that will fit what you want in your price range. If you want to fit 33's without trimming and still have full range of suspension travel, you are going to need at minimum 4" of lift. But be ware, at that height you may end up with some bad driveline vibes, in which case you are going to need a T-case drop or the better option, a SYE. it is inevitable. My suggestion is a 3.5 or 4" lift and 31x10.5x15s Unless you do some hard wheeling, those 31's will get you through jsut as much and will be less wear and tear on your hub bearings, brakes, u-joints and ball joints. I am running a 265/75/16 and it is a good compromise between a 33 and a 31.

you can do a budget build with trip to the scrap yard. Do a search theres good stuff on her.

Either buy a Rusty's 3" lift kit, build a bastard pack and find some good coils new or used, or take your time and piece each part new. Stay away from blocks and Rough Country if you want to do this "done right" as the title says. As for 33s and dd with stock 3.55 gearing, you'll do better with 33x10.50s. 33x12.50s are doable, 4.10 stock axles are good but if you spend money on the gears might as well go 4.56 for the overall performance.

X2 on going away from rough country of your "doing it right". I mean their ok for awhile but far from done right.

rough country is just that... rough.

bastard packs are also a rough ride. i've done a few on others jeeps.

add a leaf is also rough. i have one in my little xj.

if you want to do it right, i would get a quality lift like rubicon express. it is such a smooth ride and their 5.5 inch kit will get you on 33's but still have to trim for full flex with 33s.

if you're just gonna daily drive it and not really off road it, you may get away with it if you set up your bump stops.

don't waste your money, you work hard for it. save a bit longer to get the right lift.

long arms ride exceptionally well on road. something to consider.

I would save up for a better quality lift like everybody else said. If you eventually want to go to 4.5 do it right away because it will be an even bigger waste of money to do it on down the road.

There is nothing wrong with a Rough Country lift. I know several people running Rough Country lifts. I agree that budget lifts are just that they have the minimum necessary to get you that amount of lift. You are better saving longer and getting a more inclusive lift. Rusty's has a 3" spring pack lift, which will get you on 31s with no trimming, for $479 plus shipping. They have a 4.5 spring pack lift for $669. 4.5" will get you on 33s but you will have some rubbing you need at least 5.5 to go 33s with no rubbing on an XJ. 90% of XJs out there can go 3 inch with springs and shocks. To go 4.5 you can do a transfer case drop it will get you by for awhile, but it tilts the motor and transmission and eventually leads to motor mount issues. You will want to go SYE for anything over 4". Do some research and reading on this site and decide which way you want to go with your rig. Reading and planning will get you what you want. There are a lot of lifts out there, and some include shiny parts that aren't necessary. I have been researching and reading this forum for over a year to make different decisions with my rig. I have an 88 XJ currently on a 3 inch lift. Rusty's springs in the front and I repacked the rear leaves it sits on 31s. I rock crawl it. I like the ride on and off road.

I agree there is nothing wrong with a RC lift. The only major problem I have ever heard them having is they made the rear leaf springs too short on the 4.5 inch kit, but I'm sure they have that worked out by now. I think Rusty's is better quality overall than RC though, you definitely get more bang for your buck.

The best thing about RC is that they warranty pretty much no questions asked. Not much else good, my 3" kit sagged under 2" within a year. Now my RE 3.5" kit got me just over 4" and has yet to sag under 4".

To the OP,
-Avoid RC unless you wanna replace it down the line.
-No need for 9' or 10' wide wheels, 31x10.5 can be mounted on the stock 15x7.5s and 12.5s can be mounted on a 15x8(I run 35x12.5x15s on 15x8s)
-You can go up to 3" with just springs on shocks, your brake lines will need to be re mounted lower but the stock ones work for as much travel as youll get out of short arms.
- For 31s the gearing isnt a huge difference, but bigger youll notice a lot. Now thats not to say riding 33s or bigger on stock gears cant be done, your MPG will just drop and there will be some extra strain on the motor.

All in allm if you want to "Do it Right" you're gonna have to save some cash.

Very well put. RE is my choice for lifts, you can never go wrong with them.

Here I am set on a 4.5'' lift from RC to fit my JK 265/75r17s on and this thread makes me not want to go with them. Good luck with the build, I am in the same boat!

If you want to go 4.5 I would honestly go Rubicon Express man, you will be happier with the end result.

x2 for sure.
i have their 4.5 in one of my xj's and had their 5.5 short arm in my other which is now longarm but still some of the original RE 5.5 is in there.