XJ '01 4.0 i-6
2" lift w/ 31" BFG tires

Hey XJ Lords!
I'm looking for recommendations on steering/suspension parts to build a street XJ that can handle rough-dirt rally action.


This rig currently rides rough on coarse Northern Michigan roads/trails, so I'm looking for steering/suspension parts that will handle high speed/rough trail rally and also provide smooth rides over potholes and pronounced road seams.

Doesn't have to be top of the line gear, but any sensible suggestions are welcome. Ill be sure to post updates as the project progresses.

Thanks, community!

-T

 

Welcome

Start with some pictures of your Jeep as it sits. We love pics

A list of current modifications would help with giving advice for new parts.

What is your budget for parts? Are you looking to add lift parts or keep it stock ride height?

 

What is your budget and do you know any welders or fabricators ?

 

Or...can you weld/fabricate?

 

Weight is your biggest enemy off road. All the best desert racers and rally cars I've ever seen had lightness built in.

To be truly true to the spirit of Baja jettison EVERYTHING that is not needed to start steer stop and GO. Alloy wheels wheigh less than steel. They reduce un sprung weight. They mesuruably quicken 1/4 mile and lap times due to lessened rotational mass.

How authentic do you want to get ? How far down the rabbit hole are you willing to go ?

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I'd probly 4link mid arm the front maybe long arm. With front 10-12" fox coilovers tuned by accutune with dsc adjusters so you can tune to track conditions.

In the rear im not sure. Maybe fox shocks by accutune 10-12" dsc adjusters could run crown leafs with a no lift shackle relocation and 6" long shackles. Possibly a anti wrap bar to keep leaf springs in check.

In the front might be able to get away with a set of control drop brackets 3" coils and dsc shocks by accutune but might be just as much fab work to install just shocks. But may save a few hundred bucks over coilovers

I wonder if the xj is even a good platform for this build. Something with a frame and independent front suspension might be a better base and may have v8 power under the hood

 

High spring rate springs, shocks that won't overheat, and lots of bumpstops and you can drive an XJ fast on rough surfaces.

 

I am probably going to regret this, but I am going to disagree with some of you. Have I set up stuff for this, yes. But there are trade offs. Jeepspeed rigs have higher spring rates, but they also are limited to stock amounts of suspension travel. So if you want a smooth ride, I am going to say up front there are trade offs and there is a limit to what you are wanting and still have good street manners. The trophy truck type of rigs have very soft suspensions and if you watch some vids, they don't corner worth a darn. They also have very soft trailing arm rear suspensions. Fill up a rear tank and they squat. So the question is, what is it you are really wanting

 

This is good feedback..
Im sure some of these guys would love to see this project go hard and swing full Baja, or full Rally.

What i'm actually looking to get most is good street ride quality. I'd also like it to be able to take potholes/ crummy roads like a champ. but not compromise capability on dirt roads or rough trails. I'm looking to keep it well rounded but also polished; not looking to break parts or mod the frame/body- hoping to keep this preserved as a classic in old age. Its a tall order, but there is a unique spec for this task of "trophy/toy", just trying to figure out which specialty steering/suspension parts will offer the most well rounded capability. Is there any setup out there that will play nice on the road and hold up for off road?

2001 XJ Sport
-Rear axle is the 8.25
-Rough country 2'' lift
-BFGoodrich KO2 tires 31x10.50R15

I hope that helps in understanding, even if it makes finding the correct answer more difficult. Thanks for your help!
-T

 

Here is how mine rides.



These are not high speed shots, but do indicate it is fairly smooth. The trick is to have long arm, long travel suspension with low spring rates and the right shocks. I don't have high speed stuff, but we have a place in the snob district with a series of 15mph speed bumps where I test my suspensions. Hypothetically at night when nobody is looking I can hypothetically take them at 50mph which is hypothetically as fast as I would want to go

 

XJ is a very good platform for this.

https://jeepspeed.com

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Stock class is 10" front 12" rear travel. With max of 33" tires. Looks like wj steering with long arms and good shocks coilovers or coil overs and bypasses are present. However im not sure these are in the stock class.

The stock class jeeps could out wheel my jeep on the rocks and desert. They are sweet rugs built to compete with othere jeeps seems like something I could be interested in but don't have the money.

I dont think its xj specific. I think if xjs weren't the only affordable jeeps I'd get something with a frame like a tj

The jeep speed jeeps are cool I like how they're put together. Seems to be a great community to. I did get on the forumn alittle bit. Seemed great there.