Hi all, I have a 2000 Cherokee and I wanted a noticeable lift without having to much modification. I want a 2 inch lift and was thinking about using shackles and apacers, and probably change out the shocks when I can afford it. Does anyone have a better suggestion to get a 2 inch lift? Or experience with spacers or shackles?

 

if it were me id do this:

H.D. offroad shackle relocation boxes
dodge dakota shackles(require a little grinding/1" longer than stock)
2" OME springs
Bilstein shocks
WJ Lcas for better tire clearance

should net a very good ride may be more $$ than a simple spacer/shackle lift, but will ride much better

 

^ thats a solid approach you can build from.

 

To begin with you have 16 yr. old springs and leafs consider that and even with a 2" lift you need shocks. Chances are with the lift shackles and more pressure on the leafs bring even more issues.


Just save a little and for as little as $438 you can buy a quality 3" lift with new leafs, coils, shocks and all new mounting hardware from Rustys Off Road all made in NA not China. Then you have everything that works together plus a much better ride.


Sometimes it pays to wait a little longer and do it right the first time. With this kit you can add to it later if you wish, I have it and I did for a 4 1/2" lift.

 

thanks for the ideas guys i think i might go with the RC 1.5 inch lift for the time being. Can i fit 30" tires with that?

 

FWIW, I got the 1.5 inch OME kit from Quadratec and it gave me 2.25 from and about 2.5 at the rear. Pricey, but rides unreal. I have 265's on stock rims. They rub the LCA's at lock, and hit the flares some. I'd go with 245's if I had to do it over again, but my truck only goes on the beach so I don't need massive articulation. I put some pics up on here somewhere, search OME lift kits and I bet you can find it
SeaVee

 

I wouldn't buy anything from rc if I could do it over again, but with that out of the way. I ran 29" tires with stock front 2" lift rear and rubbed when I went offroad and sometimes on road with an off camber turn. I rubbed with 31" tires on 3" lift before trimming the bumper caps. Never had 30" tires so I don't know how they would do, but maybe that will give you an idea.

 

what about the 2 inch bb lift but get a quadratec heavy duty leaf? would that fix the rear or would the shackles still cause a lot of strain of the rear.

 

I would definitely do full leaf packs. You're going to need something solid to build from. On my 2001 (154,000 miles), the leafs are actually inverted (just need a little more money to fix). Some HD springs will probably give you 1-2 in of lift just by themselves, and with that you could add some shackle relocation brackets. The bolt-in kind normally gives you another .75-1.5in of lift depending on what brand you go with. This would also really improve your articulation in the rear and would set you up nicely for some extended shackles in the future.

Rough Country makes some bolt-ins, as well as HD Offroad Engineering and Iron Man 4x4 to name a few. Just search "xj shackle relocation" and you'll get a ton of results.

I'm looking at doing kind of the same thing as you for my 2001. At the moment I'm planning on going with Rancho 1.5in leaf springs with some spacers up front until I have money for coils. Just some things to check into . . .

 

I am also looking at a 2" lift for my XJ. Here is what I am thinking:

OME 1.75" Front Coils (will add spacer to even with rear)
Teraflex front lower bar pin eliminators
OME 2.25" Medium Duty Rear Leafs
Teraflex rear upper bar pin eliminators
HDO shackle relocators

I am trying to deterimine with Bilstein 5100 shocks to run.

 

I rub with 29" tires with a 2" OME front and rear with shackles relocater boxes (no lift) 1" boomerang shackles and 2" springs...so a 3" lift in the rear...

I've added metalcloak front puck lower bump stops and extended rear bump stops I will let you know how that works once I dial them in..

But that's when it's at full articulation..

I would stay away from RC also... Period...

Save your $ and just do a good quality lift the first time...if not you will end up spending three times as much trying to get what you wanted to start with...

 

Yes use a 3" lift to start with and save yourself some money!!!

 

go 3" why dumb around with anything less also stay away from rough country