I currently have a stock xj that I'm looking to build. I found this lift online from Rough Country and what to know if its good or not and what I need to get with it (extended driveshaft?,SYE?, etc.). Also, I was told it is a bad idea to go from stock to 6.5" due to vibrations and adjustments and stuff. Is this true?

Link:
http://www.roughcountry.com/jeep-sus...kit-696n2.html

 

True. 6.5 is kind of excessive and gets real expensive quickly. Steering upgrades, an SYE, extended brake hoses, adjustable track bar are just some the extra stuff to consider.

 

I run that exact lift, and I love it.

I fit 33's without any fender trimming.

You will need a slip yoke eliminator and longer drive shaft. Also, if you're worried about vibes, just make sure your steering is set up right (drop that pitman arm if necessary) and run the control arm drop kit (like I did) and it'll drive like a Cadillac, except not really because of the suspension is just a little stiff.

Unimportant however, I think it's a great lift. I've been running it for 2 years now. No sagging or problems.

 

My rough country stuff sagged and wore out rather quickly. RC is a good lift for riding around in parking lots and going through mud holes, not rock crawling.

6.5" gets expensive like mentioned.

 

RC kits springs and leaf sag all to quickly and have other issues as can be found in numerous posts and photos here and other sites, you might want to look at a few other kits before making a final decision. Price is soon forgotten once you start problems and have to start replacing things. Remember before you even start to do a lift you need to go through your whole front end and steering to replace any worn or broken parts. Plus the steering/tie rods/track bar it has to be replaced with an Adj. Dbl. Shear HD one all have to upgraded as well.

A 6 1/2" lift is really not a beginning place to start with JMO as to do it right the costs are very high, not what you see in just that kit. For one thin you really need HD parts and a lot of extras to boot, even a good 4 1/2" lift like mine can cost upwards of $3K over a basic 3" using all HD good parts. Shocks that come with most all kits are very cheap ones plan on a better set $400 up way up depending.

What size tire were planning on running with that size lift 37-40" or so a little costly just on the tires for me I run 33"'s. If going with the large tires need new steering box and all that with it also. Somewhere there is a list that has most of the things needed for the different size lifts to be done correctly.

 

How do you have 3K in a 4.5" lift?

 

Rubicon Express long arm kits for the ZJ/WJ come in pretty close to that.

 

single shear track bar, short arms, crappy leafs. theres a reason rough country is the cheapest brand out there.
that kit will work and last you quite awhile if you're only going to the mall and back

 

A lot of other added upgrades at same time as I upped the extra 1 1/2" of lift and ditched all the original pieces for HD ones. SYE/Driveshaft/Adj. U/LCA HD/Dbl. Shear Track Bar/Complete front end rebuild/Steering all upgraded/Shocks/Etc. plus labor and not including gears and lockers or other things added.

Things just add up when you start something like this the front end on a 200,000 mi XJ they about all need a complete rebuild and I decided to do just that instead of just a piece here and there to set by.

 

I've been running their 4 1/2 inch short arm kit for 4 years. But I knew when I bought it I wasn't going to get a Cadillac ride for Yugo price. Been lucky and havent had a failure yet.

 

Rough Country definitely isn't the cheapest. Zone is even cheaper.

 

"Rough Country definitely isn't the cheapest. Zone is even cheaper."

And rides just as rough. Will be happy days when I finally get rid of zones dump truck 3" coils. Just sayin.

 

So you guys don't like zone? I was probably gonna go with them...is there any way to get a 3 inch lift (not RE because I want 3 inches, not 4 due to stock tires and no money for an sye at the moment) that has decent quality for under $900?

 

^ Seems that most 3" and 3.5" lift coils have ridiculous spring rates of 240 lbs.
Stock is around 140.
Most 4.5" coils are 160 to 180 lbs.

 

that's not necessarily a bad thing. less body roll, harder to bottom out. just needs some bilsteins to go with and you're in business