I finaly got some new wheels. a friend of a friend bought some tires and they came with these wheels, i got them for 50$, going to have them sand blasted and repaint them black with new bolts (they are fake beadlocks) but there not chrome!

 

why those like my cheap rims

 

Yeah pretty close. They shackle relocation brackets are awsome IMO. They helped the ride a lot. I will have them as long as I own a cherokee.

 

Dang man nice xj. Looks pretty similar to mine, but I like what you did with the axles- you are definately building it up right. What do you have planned for it in the future- anything crazy or just keeping it similar to the way it is now?

 

thanks, It did a lot better in moab then I thought. Ill have to look at yours in a min, as for upcoming plans. the list so far is lock the front (debating on selectable or not) hydrolic assist steering, 35" tires, rear quarter panel guards, front and rear bumpers, then eventualy a winch. that will pretty much be it. then next summer bend up a cage that i hopefully will never need to use lol.

 

Yea I was surprised how well mine did in moab also-the articulation on an xj is amazing compared to the toyotas I was with. As far as the locker I would go with the selectable locker personally, the ratcheting gets annoying with my aussie locker. I also recently purchased a hydro assist setup that I'll be installing soon. I will definately keep following your build though I like what you have done with it.

Here is mine how it sits now:

 

The ratcheting on the street or the trails? I have locking hubs so as far as DD it won't even spin. my rear spartan locker is perfect. no issues. which is why i like the idea of it for the front. but i would like to have it open diff for the winter... but is it really worth the extra $400-$500? lol thats my debate.

I am also going to raie the tank into the back a little and build it into the floor, with a raised skid.

 

Well that would definately solve that problem. That toyota axle was definately a good choice. It is kind of annoying trying to turn in tight spots when you are always locked on the trail, but a tera2low would fix that, or the hydro might help a little. And I guess the only other complaint is strength if you went with a lunchbox, but if you get a carrier replacement locker like a detroit you will be fine there. Either way though a front locker makes a world of a difference.

 

I didn't end up using the toy axle as it was stolen out of my Buddy's yard. But the D44 should be strong enough for what I will be doing. I really want a tera low kit, waiting for a deal threw a friend to get me half off... but could be a while. the lunch box should be strong enough, but these thoughts do cross threw my mind and I haven't made it up just yet... can't wait to see how it goes with a front locker too...

thanks for the interest!

been pretty burnt out on working lat on the jeep so I've been putting things off. but I pick up my front bumper this week, should be putting on my rear quarter panel armor, my steering box brace and spacer, and tap/port my steering box and install hydraulic assist. When I get my wheels back from sand blasting ill paint them and put all the new bolts in. soon ill work on 35's and a front locker... then I should be done for a while so I can wheel the **** out of it.

 

Did it give you more up travel

 

yes it did, my shackles where straight up and down, which made it as if I was already at full droop when I was on level ground. It made it articulate more, which gave me more up and down travel.

not to mention the ride improvment.

 

I got my bumper and cleaned it up a little. ground down a few things nad sanded it to repaint. then installed it with plates. also installed my JCR steering box spacer, man the stock one is junk lol. let me know what you think...

 

I got some 35's installed. looking better then witht eh 33's IMO, just waiting for my other wheels to get back to me and they will be going on.

 

Took it to a near by loading dock to flex it out on the 35's and measure for bump stops and shocks. it seams to have some good flex. need to bump the front a bit more.



I put some JCR rear quarter panel plates on. they look a ton better then the rust that was there from the plastic rubbing and the metal bracket to hold the plastic quarters on. just need to fab a rear bumper....

 

got my wheels back, all redone with new bolts. should finally fix my chrome issues lol



after buying them, sand blasting, powder coat, and bolts all 4 cost me about $170. not to bad.