Might be more of a noob question but whatever I'm just not sure.... I'm about to order my 4.5 lift within the next week and I have a 2in BB on it with extended shackles and spacers. I'm wondering if I should just use my extended shackles for the leaf pack or order OME replacement shackles? What's best?

 

Bigger shakels

 

Bigger shackles? What....

 

I just need to know if I should use the extended shackles or the original shackles for the leaf pack, because I'm not putting coil spacers up front because I researched that it's a bad idea, but I couldn't find s*** on what I need to know

 

Regular shackles, unless you want the rear to sit up 2" higher than the front. I would also keep the BB. Like everyone else you will want to go bigger later on down the road.

 

Relocation brackets and your extended shackles.

 

It depends on what you intend to buy.

If your goal is around 4.5 you will end up with a better flexing/riding jeep if you get leafs with less lift, keep your existing shackles and include relocation brackets with your order.

 

That's true haha but I was researching and when people use the 2in spacers it moves the axel closer into the driveline causing trac bar problems, they said they kept on breaking that's when I was like hell no

 

Yeah I don't want the back to sit up higher than the front and I'm not going to use the coil spacers from the problems I've heard about but I will most likely order those, thanks man

 

They make no lift relocation brackets, check out HD Offroad http://hdoffroadengineering.myshopif...ation-brackets

 

So I'd just be better off using my extended shackles?

 

Well most likely your lift springs are going to pull your shackles forward. Only reason I'd go with the no lift relo brackets.

 

Problem you may run into (i did) was the 4.5 inch leafs caused the shackle to bottom out in the hangers, had to add longer shackles which means more lift. If I had it to do over I would buy 3 inch leafs and longer shackles for a true 4.5 inches.

 

Do you think I really need them? The xj is the only vehicle I have so it's my DD I'm not trying to go all trail rig on it haha, I guess it'd be a good idea to have them right?

 

Yeah, they are good to have if your shackle is pulled forward due to cheapo leafsprings being too short. So not sure if you will need them until you instal the lift. Ideally for a 4.5in lift you would need a 3.5in leafpack and a longer shackle though (possibly with no lift relocators if needed). So if you are getting 4.5in leafs naturally there could only be one outcome if you add a taller shackle to the mix.