Where should I begin? As far as upgrading or reinforcing? Stock 1990 XJ
 

Hey guys I've been searching through topics trying to see where I should start my Jeep adventure? I've got a stock 90 Jeep Cherokee Sport 4x4 5-speed. I absolutely love it its 2-door and the 4x4 works flawlessly. I've always been into motorcycles but I sold the bike and bought a Jeep and it was the best decision in my life. Anyway as far as upgrading Im not wanting to jack it up or anything yet. It'll get through anything I've took it through already so I'm gonna worry about bigger tires and lift kits for when I get more serious with it. I just want to be able to explore woods and anywhere I want to without tearing it up because its my daily driver as well. I've got a car too but I can't leave such a fine machine at home everyday when I go to work I want to take it everywhere and if its to the top of that cliff I don't want a broken axle or something for when I conquer it.... That's what I'm getting at stuff that's most likely to break it shouldn't be too bad because I won't have all that extra tire weight but I live in Mississippi and it's swampy and there is a lot of **** to climb I just don't want to tear my Jeep up where should I start?

Armor as in rock sliders t case skid plate gas tank skid plate maybe off road bumpers with a winch on the front.Other things to me a cowl intake 31s maybe cut out flares and lunch box lockers and zj b8 tie rod ends.All of that should have you off to a great start with out lifting and bigger tires.

Skid plates and recovery points are always the best place to start, they are essential.

Ahh yes the winch is an absolute must I've already got myself in the position to where if I had it I wouldn't have been stuck and most definitely the skid plates thanks guys for your info

I just ordered the tie rod ends they were cheap its stuff like that that I was assuming I just didn't know for sure what it was and what role they play.

Also I didn't know what a lunch box locker was until you told me bud and I appreciate it that's amazing I've got to have it of course that is a great problem to fix I see it all the time

Lunchbox locker is a cheaper locker that goes in side your stock carrier and replaces the spider gears.They are only good to a point but unless you go to 33s or 35s they should handle it fine.

do you have abs? what selections do you have on your transfer case lever?
cause if you have the select-trac t-case, you will have the vacuum disco 2 piece shaft, you don't want to put a locker in that front axle, you will snap u-joints all day long.

if you don't have abs, i would certainly think about swapping axles at some point with later model axles that came with abs. (abs has the larger u-joints).


but first things first, recovery points and skid plates.
if you have lsd in the back, that will take the place of a locker for a while.

No I don't have abs so I should find me a newer Cherokee and get the axles from it? I've been looking for a scrap Cherokee I can pull parts from what year model should I get? I can find a pretty cheap one or just someone that has one and will part out easily. I knew axles was something I needed to change out

The best pair of bolt in axles you can get would be:

-high pinion dana 30 front. Non-vacuum disconnect and bigger u joints. All 95-99 Cherokees

-29 spline c8.25 rear. 97-01 non-abs Cherokees

Those would be good parts to keep an eye out for. Some lunchbox lockers would be worth your money also.

yeah, what he said.

wasn't thinking that all 95-99 (99 being the last hpD30) has the larger joints and no disco.

If you could find a 97-99 4 cylinder cherokee buy the axles because they will have 4.10 gears in them. Depending on where you live those could be very hard to come by though.

If you ever want to just poke around for parts -
http://www.jeep4x4center.com/cherokee/menu.htm

We also have diagrams to help you see what other parts you might need on any repair or updgrade -
http://www.jeep4x4center.com/jeep-parts/index.htm

and various tech stuff and manuals -
http://www.jeep4x4center.com/knowledge-base/index.htm


:-)


...

Its actually pretty common right now on craigslist I could possibly find about a 97-99 and im gonna go ahead and get one if I can find one for a decent price and I'll just have it ready because I'm liable to break something quick on a rough ride these are exactly the answers to my questions I appreciate it guys

If you do get around to a lift and bigger tires read this https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f67/lo...24-12-a-32980/