Hi,
Recently a bought a '96 Jeep Cherokee XJ (I've been told).
The suspension is completely shot and I like going off road so I figured I'd put in a 3" Rough Country Lift. The only problem I have is I've never done this before, in fact the most I've ever done is changed spark plugs in my '74 Ford F100, changed oil and repaired the exhaust on my first car (sort of). So I have ZERO mechanical experience. My question is, if I get this kit (http://www.roughcountry.com/jeep-sus...t-kit-630.html), a track bar and steering stabilizer, am I all set? Or do I need to get bolts and other things? A friend of a friend (who does not like Jeeps) volunteered to help me let me help him put it in.
Thanks!!

 

All of the needed hardware will come with the kit. Read the instructions a few times before you start your install. There will be a list of needed tools to get the job done. It's not that hard to install, just fallow the instructions. If you can make Mac N Cheese you can read instructions and install a simple lift. You may have some difficulty with the rear leaf spring bolts and the upper rear shock bolts. The shock bolts will break and the spring bolts will be seized if you live in the rust belt.

 

Do you're homework BEFORE you order any lift kit.

 

Yep, do your homework.

And you don't need a steering stabilizer. Unless you've got problems, a steering stabilizer will make no difference. They're just bandaids for much bigger problems.

 

In fact you need to do some research on lift kits period as to quality of the kits and the springs. Sounds like you will need a full leaf/coil lift not an AAL kit.

 

Is the kit I linked the right one? It has new springs.

 

You'll find very mixed reviews on that brand.

 

No not the best choice for quality springs/leafs American made one there is one company that offers them with there kits, Rustys Off Road for a 3" full leaf/coil/shocks/hardware $438. You will still need an adj. track bar and a transfer case drop kit to complete this lift.


Frank (SeriousOffRoad) offers several different kits also.

 

bought my lift and track bar from him.. good guy to deal with. guess i'll get the lift on one of these days..lol

 

I've also heard mixed reviews on quality from them, forum is full of comments about problems with RC. I'm not saying it's all them cause lots of people complain about stuff that is really just inexperience. But you don't see the same on Serious or Rusty's because they are helpful solving problems and provide reasonable support. Just my two cents.

 

I'll pile on to Frank's customer service.

 

The vehicle is 19 years old, it's best to budget for new everything


If you do it on the cheap, you'll just be doing it again.

 

Rough Country kind of went down the toilet a couple of owners and "recapitalizations" ago. I made the mistake once and ended up with a flatfender that had similar ride quality to an old D9H dozer.

I've never dealt with Rusty's stuff personally so I can't make much of an educated comment.

That said, installing a 3" on an XJ is probably the simplest suspension lift there is. The only real snags we ran into on mine were that some clown in Toledo got a little too happy with the Loctite on the front leaf spring bolts and we had to bust out the torch to break them loose. Then on the front end, the threads for the spring retainer clips were pretty much non-existent so we drilled it out and put in 5/16 thread-serts.

 

To me a good budget brand is rubicon express and you can get their stuff from http://www.seriousoffroadproducts.com/ Frank is a stand up guy that knows what he sells and will go out of his way to make sure your happy.