I'll answer a couple of questions here about a 3" lift about what you will not need to replace 99% of the time. SYE/Driveshaft/Control Arms are not a must for sure but very good upgrades to consider as money allows. You can relocate your stock track bar or buy a less expensive one to begin with. You might want to shim the differentials some they are cheap and possibly need a transfer case drop kit $25.

Tires you run will depend on other mods that need to be done as far trimming fenders cost 0. With the proper wheel a 15x8" with 3 3/4-4" of BS are required for the XJ's on 31-33x12:50's to fit on a 3" lift.

My Rustys 3" full spring package lift rides very well on the highway as well as off road. Included shocks are about the same with any company's lift kit CHEAP.

AAL will be a disappointment on your current leafs buy a full pack to start with and don't do it twice.

 

Ditto.
If your budget isn't an issue buy a kit with coils, shocks, adjustable trackbar, full leaf packs, shims, sye + driveshaft, lower control arms, brake lines. That way it's easier to go bigger too!

 

I bought a $600 Cherokee with 293k miles... Yeah.. Budget isn't an issue.

The whole point of me starting this thread was to see what my options were under $300.

 

300 will barley get you a set of decent shocks , better up your budget to 900-1200 for something decent

 

I pieced my 4.5" lift together whenever i could find stuff on sale for cheap. I got everything new including shocks for around $850. Shocks leave a little to be desired, im using pro comp es 3000's right now. All my stuff is quality as well. $300 bucks is a tight budget. Either save more money or go with a budget boost. Even cheap shocks will run you $200 a set

 

The problem is that I can get a set of 4 Rancho 5s for $180 and springs for $32 a piece. The add a leaf kits weren't that much more so I figured that under $300 wasn't too rediculous. I'm not planning on winning any off road challenges, I just need something that will replace the worn out stock pieces and will give it a little more height so the stock FJ cruiser that parks next to me at work doesn't tower over me.

 

http://www.seriousoffroadproducts.co...Shocks-RE6020T

 

X2 on this kit. For the money its hard to beat, plus customer service is excellent from serious offroad!!

 

I knew your budget and told you for just over a $100 more you could get a good full spring package with everything included shocks and all from Rustys Off Road for about $400. A good solid kit I have been running it for about 2 yrs., no sag or any problems.

You will need nothing more with a full package as you will if you try to piece one together, all new hardware means a lot because the old stuff is rusty and breaks many times.

All I'm suggesting is a plan to save "You" money if that isn't what you want, oh well.

 

Seriously consider how much you also want to drop into a rig that has almost 300k. Granted, XJ's can last a while, those are still some pretty high numbers and I would hate to see you drop 2 grand into this Jeep and have your motor/tranny die

 

Definitely start at 2 inches and see how your XJ does, then maybe consider going bigger. Remember the higher you go, the more you need to change on your Jeep, and the bigger the tires, the more strain on the drivetrain.

 

with almost 300k on your jeep you also need to realize that lifting it is going to cost you way more money than just the lift. Plan on replacing all tie rod ends and bushings, as well as anything else that's going to show it's big ugly worn out head once you change all your angles. With a 300 dollar kit, with no new lcas or track bar, I guarantee the first time you take that out on the street you're going to wish you didn't

 

^^He is correct all of you front end must be in very good shape "Before" you even consider a lift^^

I'm just guessing but if its like mine when I bought it $1800 (have a little more in it now) and 235,000mi the entire front end needed to be replaced. I bet if you check that yours may need ball joints u & l, TRE's shall I go on? Also while doing this you might as well do a few upgraded as well to the steering (cheap ones) for more strength. You will need some for the bigger tires and wheels among other things. You weren't planning on running stock tires were you, that would look very strange?

He did bring up some very valid issues, if any are bad now they will really show up with a lift.

 

But at 2 inches, you shouldn't have many issues. And it's cheap enough that if it does end up being more trouble than it's worth, you can scrap or sell it and not really have lost that much

 

I have a 3.5 inch Rough Country aal, I personally like the aal because it rides rough, like a s10 with nothing in the back. What Ive found out, you NEED an alignment ASAP after you lift it. Dont get a rough country adjustable track bar, mine went bad in about 7000 miles. Ive gone back to a stock track bar because I plan on lifting mine to 4.5 inches pretty soon, however I dont have advice on what to get but Ive heard JKS is a higher end track bar. Be prepared for the death wobble (half of what this forum tries to fix) this is also fustrating and you may end up replacing all your balljoints, tie rod ends, basically the whole front steering system to find the problem.

I paid 1200 for my 99 XJ and it was already lifted, 2 months later Ive thrown about 800$-1000$ in parts and 2 tires at my Jeep, no labor included (this total doesnt even include the tools Ive ended up buying). On the bright side Ive learned a buttload about my jeep and what makes it work.

Basically, take how much you plan on spending on the project, add 50% to your total and you should have a good idea of how much you will spend.

You may want a sway bar drop for a 3 inch lift. They are only about $30. And dont forget the larger tires. I have 31's and I think they look good but plan on getting 33's.

Sorry if it seems like Im rambling