802CherokeeXJXJ

Hey I just bought my first vehicle a 2000 jeep Cherokee XJ as of right now everything on it is stock I've been doing research and what to put the RC series-X 4.5" lift in it and http://www.rustysoffroad.com/advance...riveshaft.html is this the best way to go?

younggun96

Im in the same position as you. The best advice i can give is to do everything right the first time. Save for a quality lift, dont cheap on parts.

i would start with recovery points and skid protection first if youre going to be wheeling before you lift. nothing sucks more than scraping and denting everything underneath because you didnt want to put that money you were using for a lift towards a few hundred in skid plates. (currently in that predicament.. lol)

Learn from others mistakes. Read the forums and see what people did wrong and how they wish they did it the first time.

ASK QUESTIONS (but search first!) if you dont know how to do something, dont just "wing it". figure out the correct way to get it done!

802CherokeeXJXJ

Yea I'm buying the rough country 4.5" series-x lift and if I get vides I will look into a cv driveshaft and sye. After that I plan on a brush guard and rockers

DieselD

From someone who has spent way too much money and time upgrading suspension and not wheeling, my advice would be to start with tires and trimming.

Get some 31" tires, remove flares do some fender trimming. Add some tow hooks to the front and a hitch to the rear for recovery. Go have fun and upgrade what needs upgraded.

Looking back at what I've done I would've started like that and went with protection (skids, sliders, etc) and gears/traction aids first.

BUT if your suspension is toast like my 99 it may be a good idea to invest in some quality springs/shocks first.

802CherokeeXJXJ

The lift will be my first mod because I have 1 leaking shock and the back leafs are curved down! So suspension is in need of attention.

DieselD

Definitely understand I have frowny face leafs on my 99 lol

I would suggest looking at a few different manufacturers of lift components. RC isn't that bad but one thing a lot of people seem to complain about is their leaf springs. Specifically being to short.

I would suggest a combination of new stock springs (or 1-2" lift springs) shackle relocation brackets and a lift shackle.

802CherokeeXJXJ

Alright. Nothing is to hard to install btw I have a good friend that's a master mechanic and a lift and all tools ect. Only limiting factor is money and practicality because this is not just a off-road rig it's for daily driving and I want to spend about 2,000$

DieselD

To clarify by too short I mean eye to eye on the leaf spring causing bad shackle angle and rough ride. Not too short as in lift height.

Just watch out for the upper rear shock bolts. Might want to start spraying every bolt on the suspension with PB blaster now to prep it.

kikstand454

General consensus around here for best DD lift is Old Man Emu. Get yourself some springs and leafs and some new quality shocks a d see where that leaves you.

kirknd4spd

I wouldn't buy RC. My MJ had a 4.5" RC lift on it when I got it, within a week I had taken the lift off and gone back to stock because I hated that lift so much. Buy quality parts the first time around. And I saved a lot of money by piecing the lift together on my XJ, it's mostly RE and Serious Offroad parts, except the RC LCAs and RC shackles (which are crap, I don't think I've ever had problems out of shackles before). Cost me less than any 3" or bigger lift kit, and it outperforms most of the short arm lifts my friends have. And aside from the broken shackles and the LCAs, its all quality parts.

BigSquirrly89

I'm trying to figure the best option for my 89 the rear leaves are frowning lol one side even sits lower so when I do lift it I'm going to need to replace the rear springs regardless

802CherokeeXJXJ

I'm sticking to rough country 4.5" series-x I think

mr white

If you are going long arms later, no point in buying the x series, just the regular one is fime, not to mention the x series joints in the arms don't have a great track record. Also for the rear leaves, ask if they will have the poly bushings in them already. If not, get a set of polys while you're at it and put them in before installing the leaves else you'll be doing it shortly after the year warranty on wear items is over. If you don't have added weight in the back like a bumper or sliders the leaves will almost guaranteed be too short.

kirknd4spd

If you're determined to use RC, I would at least use different rear springs (at that height you can get a set of Deaver springs), and some Bilstein shocks. RC leaf springs are too short eye to eye 9 times out of 10. And Bilstein shocks will help the ride, they're called Rough Country for a reason.

802CherokeeXJXJ

Haha ok... I've heard good things about the Monroe reflex shocks