I've got a 4.5 RC lift on my XJ right now and i was thinking about raising her up a little more when i got the funds. I was wondering if i had to get an entire new lift kit or if i could just upgrade what i have now somehow to give it that extra 2 inches?

 

You should get new front springs, new shocks, and you could lift the back with a set of shackles. Price that out it should be decently cheaper then a new 6.5" lift. $200ish for shocks, $150ish for coil springs, and $80-100 for shackles.

 

Would i have to get a long arm upgrade as well? I assume i'd have to extend the brake lines. Is there anything else i would need?

 

No you don't have to get a long are kit, though highly recommended. If you choose not to go the long are route you will have to get some control arm drop brackets.

 

I called RC a while back & asked this questions... They said I would need a whole new kit. Im sure thats the "right way" to do it. But as said above, you could bastardize it together for sure.

Im probably going to add coil spacers & shackles to mine for another inch or so instead...

 

On my 92 I added coil spacers and a RE shackle. I would highly recommend going long arm or using the drop brackets that was the mistake I made with mine, constantly in a bind and the control arm angles cause a really rough ride and limit flex not to mention the extremely fast wear of all the control arm bushings. The 94 I got now will be getting the drop brackets at the least with a 4.5" lift.

 

The problem is the RC 4.5 lifts already come with a 2" lift shackle. So, you cant do like they are saying. Unless for some reason you dont have them. Also, you do not need new front springs. A 2 budget boost spacer will do fine for your front. Your rear options are 2" block (not recommeded by many) or a 4.5 rear spring from RC or some where else to go along with your 2" shackles you prob already have. You can also check into the S-10 bastard pack set up with your 2" shackles. Some say they get 4 out of just the bastard pack. You should need new shocks. You do not need a long arm kit. It is more for longer flex and some ride quality. RC sells a drop bracket kit as stated above. I have these and have no problems.

First check to see if you have long or short shackles. Then go from there.

 

The aal 4.5 come with the 2inch shackles but the full leaf packs only come with 4.5 leaf packs so the shackles would be do-able. Also check with rough country bc i have heard that they use the same shocks for the 4.5 and the 6.5 so you would be good there. Better yet ask Grimus he is on here and is helpful and works for rough country.

If the shocks are the same for both lifts i would do the following: either new springs up front or 2inch spacers, control arm drop kit, 2inch shackles out back and bar pin elimators front and rear because that would give the shock about and inch more. Also you will probably need an adjustable track bar depending on what you are using now, this would be needed in either a whole new lift or just the spacer addons. All of which can be found at Rough Country and just a hint look in the vendor section to talk to grimus and check his deals he can give. Good luck.

 

Thanks everyone, all the comments are really helpful! I'll be looking into it soon as i currently don't have a job to pay for this yet, but it's on my list of to-do's haha.. along with a bunch of other things jeep-improvement related. But that's the nature of the beast, is it not

 

And another question, is everything i need bolt on?

 

yes