Well, my new-to-me 1990 cherokee is now mechanically fine after a new valve cover gasket, but after reading some of the threads last night that said stock should be 17.5" to the flare in front and 17" in the rear, I measured it this morning. The measurement from the center of the front axle to the bottom of the fender flare was right at 21.5", which I interpreted to mean it has a 4" lift in the front. I checked the rear, and the measurement was 19". This would mean it has a 2" lift in the rear. Why would someone do this? Or did they have a 4" lift in the rear, and the leaf springs just relax 2"?
I'd like to correct it so there's a 4" lift in the rear. What's the best way to do that? I'm new to jeeps and these type of upgrades, so if you can be specific on how to correct the rear lift so it matches the front, I'd appreciate it. Thanks, Neil

 

Post some pics of the suspension so we can get a better idea of what is going on.
Front coils
Front control arms, upper and lower.
Sway bar links
Rear leafs, at the shackles and at the axle mounts

The previous owner could have done a bastard lift with parts from other makes of vehicles to get it lifted at very little expense.

 

Not sure if I've got pictures of everything you asked for - hopefully these will help. I'd like to lift the rear to at least the same as the front, and maybe a little more to compensate for when I'm pulling my duck boat.

Thanks, Neil

 

Those pics are perfect. Well the front is definately a Skyjacker system. Looks like it may have been a 4.5 inch add a leaf kit and the po was an idiot and just put the extra leaf on the bottom of the pack. It should have bee installed in the pack between the next longest leaf and the next shorter leaf. You best bet is to order a new set of 4.5 rear leaf springs and replace those completely. Make sure you get a full leaf pack and not another add a leaf. Installing that leaf wrong is why your leaf springs are creating a negative arch at the front mounting eye in the 4th pic.

 

Oh yeah, go back the previous owner and ask if he installed the lift kit himself. If he says yes, tell him how money he just cost you by having to repair his screw ups. Then kick him in the sack.

 

and if you dont wanna buy a new leaf pack i guess you could put the add a leaf where it is supposed to be to get the right height

 

I doubt that would do any good at this point. That system has been on there for quite some time, and those leafs have already been worn out. By the looks of the aal in the 4th pic it already has a negative arch itself.

 

yeah your probly right i was just throwin some ideas out, probly best just to buy new ones

 

Well, the guy I bought it from didn't put the lift on it, but I'll let him know it's screwed up.
Where's a good place to buy a new set of 4.5" lift leaf springs?

Thanks, Neil

 

ide look online at different sites, skyjacker, rough country, 4wd.com, 4wheelparts.com, quadratec.com. you can also build you own out of an XJ main leaf and some S10 leafs to make a bastard pack

 

Rough Country, Rustys Offroad, Rubicon Express, Skyjacker, Rancho, Pro Comp and there are probably several more manufacturers to choose from. Just do a little online research and you will be able to find some that will fit your budget. Or you could build your own bastard pack, do a search on it and ther will be a build thread on how to do it.

S10 leafs like mobilecherokee said, or Dakota leafs.

 

Are they all pretty much comparable? Some of these things are pretty expensive - I only gave $130 for the jeep.

 

No, you paid $130 for a $600 Skyjacker lift kit and got a free Jeep to go with it. I did the same thing and paid $350 for a $1000 BDS lift kit and it included a free 89 XJ.

 

X2 well, I guess not he po, whoever installed it

 

I like the way you think - I guess it's all how you look at it. So are all leaf spring sets comparable and I should shop based on price alone, or do you get what you pay for? Thanks