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FNG here, please help me boost my posting score. I Bought my 3rd XJ, but it's the first time I've lifted one. When I had some lift installed and had a weird problem afterward. Took me a couple weeks to figure out; let's see if you can solve it faster.
I bought a 2001 XJ that had all the factory Up Country additions still in place. It was sitting on 28" tires, on the factory 15" wheels. The Cherokee was 1-owner, had 101k miles on it, and still had the factory (Up Country) shocks, coils, and leaf springs on it. All of which were in good shape, and no apparent sagging.
I had a local tire shop install a run-of-the-mill 2" spacer and shackle kit, that brought the total lift height up to around 3". I also had them put on 31" Ironman A/T tires on the 15" rims.
I picked it up and drove it around a couple days to get all the creaks and pops out (this will mostly be a DD). I live in north Florida, and park the XJ ("Lil Blue") in my concrete drive way.
Because of my line of work, I take note of somewhat minor details. On the 3rd or 4th day after the lift/tire installation, I walked out to Lil Blue and could tell that one side of the vehicle was lower than the other. Using a tape measure, I saw that the driver's side of the vehicle, as measured from the ground to the wheel well (trim) above the axle was 1" lower than the front passenger side, and 1.5" lower than the rear passenger side.
I drove the car for the next two days, trying to take some sharp turns, going over some speed humps, and intentionally crawling over some curbs, etc. Both days I measured the same difference in body height after parking the truck in the driveway. Measuring the leaf spring height gave me equal measurements on both sides, but (as best I could measure with a tape) the shocks were more compressed on the driver's side, and I couldn't understand why. I kept laying under the vehicle, looking in the wheel wells, and under the hood for an explanation. I almost created a post to ask everyone "is the driver's side of an XJ Cherokee heavier than the passenger side??"
After about 10 days of pondering this, and considering taking it back to the tire shop and looking like a NOOB, I drove it up and down the street in front of my house and did some hard braking in forward and reverse. I backed it into my driveway and did another measurement, and my problem was reversed (the passenger side was lower than the driver side).
FNG here, please help me boost my posting score. I Bought my 3rd XJ, but it's the first time I've lifted one. When I had some lift installed and had a weird problem afterward. Took me a couple weeks to figure out; let's see if you can solve it faster.
I bought a 2001 XJ that had all the factory Up Country additions still in place. It was sitting on 28" tires, on the factory 15" wheels. The Cherokee was 1-owner, had 101k miles on it, and still had the factory (Up Country) shocks, coils, and leaf springs on it. All of which were in good shape, and no apparent sagging.
I had a local tire shop install a run-of-the-mill 2" spacer and shackle kit, that brought the total lift height up to around 3". I also had them put on 31" Ironman A/T tires on the 15" rims.
I picked it up and drove it around a couple days to get all the creaks and pops out (this will mostly be a DD). I live in north Florida, and park the XJ ("Lil Blue") in my concrete drive way.
Because of my line of work, I take note of somewhat minor details. On the 3rd or 4th day after the lift/tire installation, I walked out to Lil Blue and could tell that one side of the vehicle was lower than the other. Using a tape measure, I saw that the driver's side of the vehicle, as measured from the ground to the wheel well (trim) above the axle was 1" lower than the front passenger side, and 1.5" lower than the rear passenger side.
I drove the car for the next two days, trying to take some sharp turns, going over some speed humps, and intentionally crawling over some curbs, etc. Both days I measured the same difference in body height after parking the truck in the driveway. Measuring the leaf spring height gave me equal measurements on both sides, but (as best I could measure with a tape) the shocks were more compressed on the driver's side, and I couldn't understand why. I kept laying under the vehicle, looking in the wheel wells, and under the hood for an explanation. I almost created a post to ask everyone "is the driver's side of an XJ Cherokee heavier than the passenger side??"
After about 10 days of pondering this, and considering taking it back to the tire shop and looking like a NOOB, I drove it up and down the street in front of my house and did some hard braking in forward and reverse. I backed it into my driveway and did another measurement, and my problem was reversed (the passenger side was lower than the driver side).
Alright the typical wheel question. I got a stupid good deal on a brand new set of BFG KM3's size 315/75/16. The 16" wheel isn't ideal and I know my options are pretty limited by that. What does everyone recommend so that I'll have a nice wide stance? I was looking at going with just a plain 16x8 D-window with 4" of backspacing but don't know if that will give me what I'm looking for. Any suggestions?
Great question, i found a good deal on some KM2s, same size that I just put on some TJ Moab wheels, the Moab wheels are 16x8 with 5 in of back spacing and 0.5 in of off set, i'll put them on my jeep tonight or tomorrow and let you know how it looks, I also have 2" spacers the previous owner put on and while I hate the idea of wheel spacers, I have not removed them yet, so effective backspacing of 3 in.
Alright the typical wheel question. I got a stupid good deal on a brand new set of BFG KM3's size 315/75/16. The 16" wheel isn't ideal and I know my options are pretty limited by that. What does everyone recommend so that I'll have a nice wide stance? I was looking at going with just a plain 16x8 D-window with 4" of backspacing but don't know if that will give me what I'm looking for. Any suggestions?
5.5” rubicon express springs front and rear, BDS shocks, rockkrawler 3 link, 79 HPD44 front axle, 04 sterling 10.5 rear axle. 38x13.5r17 Patagonia milestar MTs on 17x9 black rock wheels with 4.5” backspacing.
Hi all, I'm looking to lift 3.5" with 31's and have become a little overwhelmed with all the different options. I'm hoping to spend under $1800 for all (kit, tires, wheels) and want to avoid any fender trimming. For light off-roading, only once in a while.
09-21-2015, 02:17 PM
Noob Lift puzzler
