Lol, I agree. Dont always get a new member that is willing to learn and get dirty and not be a little girl about their jeeps issues.

 

frank was banned? was this recent? i bought a few things from him and the customer service was great. some me my RE lift for a price that no one could touch, i had a question about the track bar bracket i bought. he told me to try it and if i don't like it to send it back.. nothing but a good experience from him for me. sorry to see him gone. seemed to have a ton of knowledge.

 

So I'm being told the RE 4.5" lift has some serious ride quality/driveability issues. Bump-steer off the charts. One of the local 4X installers said he's taken a few of them off TJs for this reason, and that the Cherokee shares the front end. He's cautioning me against a lift that size, but is going to look into it for me. I'd like to get the opinion of those who have the lift installed.

 

I don't have personaly experience or know what's in the RE kit but the taller you go the more steering problems appear, unless you replace the right parts and keep geometry good. Track bar and drag link have got to be parallel. Sounds like they weren't doing something right.

 

I second the zone lift. I almost purchased an RC 4.5 because I did not know any better. The dude at the 4x4 shop talked me out of it and recommended the zone lift instead. Ive had it for a couple of months and a thousand miles or so and I have been pretty impressed with it thus far. I think the ride quality is actually better than it was before I lifted it but that might have to do with the fact that I had crappy tires on it before I lifted it as well.

 

So you must have installed a SYE and CV drive shaft? How about a steering stabilizer? Do you experience bump-steer?

 

Actually I did not install an SYE yet. Im doing this a few hundred bucks at a time and that wont be in my budget until after christmas. I used the transfer case drop that came with the lift kit and contrary to what most folks say on here I have experienced absolutely no vibrations at all at any speed. An sye is the best way to go but if money is an issue then you can get by with a TC drop.

My XJ has the 8.25 inch rear end which I understand has a longer pinion than the Dana 30 which may be helping to keep it from vibrating since that makes the drive shaft shorter but Im not expert on that. I have no bump steer at all but my parts dealer threw in a steering stabilizer for free when I purchased the lift kit. I do not think that the stabilizer is normally included with the kit.

with the full spring pack the cost of the kit was something like 700 bucks. The add a leaf kit is in the 500 dollar range. I also purchased an adjustable track bar for 130. Keep in mind you are likely to need some longer brake lines as well. Mine ran me another 100 for the high end braided ones but you can find cheaper options.. A friend of mine used the brake lines off an early 1990s suburban which were a lot cheaper than mine.

Like I said I have been very happy with the ride quality of my zone lift and feel like it has delivered pretty good bang for my buck and it will fit 32x11.50s with no rubbing and no cutting of the fenders. Its close to the fenders when they are fully stuffed but close only counts in horse shoes and hand grenades. Mine is a 98. I understand pre 97 models have a little more tire clearance than later models.

 

So, is the transfer case drop necessary if installing a SYE and driveshaft?

 

No, sir. A TC drop is a bandaid fix that moves the issue from your rear driveshaft to your motor mounts. An SYE is the correct fix instead of a TC drop.

 

I have a nice indoor space available to do the work. I'm pretty sure I can handle the installation of the lift, but may employ a friend who works as an independent mechanic in his own shop to do the SYE and driveshaft. His shop is on the other side of town. Can I drive a few miles with the lift installed but not the SYE or new driveshaft without damaging anything?

 

Most likely, yes. It might take a little life out of your driveshaft u-joints, but you're replacing that anyway. Just be easy on the throttle, and lower speeds are better.

 

you could always pull the rear driveshaft and drive it in 4wd high essentially making it a front wheel drive vehicle.

 

Nope. There's no seal on the back of the TC without the SYE installed. He'll lose all the fluid

 

sorry didn't see the year. My 99 I can do that.

 

Anyone have any reviews for the iron rock off road 3" lift kit or the 3" premium kit that comes with a lot of other componets.