I just picked up a 00 XJ and its bone stock. Looking at getting a 3.5" RE. How hard is a lift to install? I like to think of myself as mech inclined, do I need any special tools?

Unless anyone around Omaha,Ne wants to help, i'll buy the beer and pizza.

Jason

super duper mega hard









seriously, its all gonna depend on
a) how prepared you are
b)if everything goes right (i.e. you don't break any bolts)
c) if you know what you're doing.

try to find some lift write-ups on here to get an idea of what you're going to be doing.

Well since I have never done one before.

I've installed a few lifts before, I will tell you start soaking all of your bolts with PB blaster every day for a month before your install it will lessen your chances of snapping a bolt or breaking a nutsert . The most common bolts on the XJ to break are your upper shock mounting bolts, and the forward most bolts on the rear leaf springs if they break be prepared to do some cutting. You an a friend can get it done with in a day. Air tools and a OXY/ACE torch are extremely handy also. Tall Jack stands (6 ton rated) and a good jack are also nice to have

Spring compressors are a must have

Get all new bolts ahead of time, rockauto has rear spring and shackle bolts. The shock bolts are 5/16 grade 8. Spray everything with pb everyday til you do lift. Get some air tools(every bolt i did with wrench broke the rest with air tools came out in one piece) i recomend the 750ft/lb earthquake at harbor freight $75 and breaker bar. Spring compressor if you dont want to remove everything up front. And time, dont think youll be done in a few hours, maybe you will but most likely something will break.

Also you will prob need an sye since its a newer xj, a tc drop will work as a temp fix however i snapped two of the bolts and between cutting open the floor and drilling them out wish i would haved saved the time and did sye, lots of heat and good vice grips for studs.

Patience is key !!

not that hard. it's a pretty simple and straight forward job.
start with the rear, once you've gone that far, the front won't seem so hard.

you will have trouble lining up the control arms and track bar, but with a friend, some ratchet straps or come-along and a long aligning punch to try to get the holes lined up. just try to park the jeep somewhere that you can hook up a come-along to something very sturdy if you can.

to line up the track bar, leave it till last and just have someone turn the steering wheel until the holes line up.

the rest is quite easy. no need to undo brake lines or anything, so it's just bolt on, bolt off, wax on, wax off.

Lol vice grips....a pipe wrench is the best thing to use to remove the crossmember studs.

Soak em in blaster awhile, too.

Didnt have a pipe wrench, i used a huge pair of vise grips and cranked them so tight i almost couldnt close them. Had to use pliers to release them

Soak your bolts in PB Blaster for week before turning a wrench, and heat up the rear upper shackle mount bolts with a torch and they will come out like butter.

Also, either anti-seize or loctite it before you put it back. You decide when to use which one.

to help out with stuck bolts, in additi0on to soaking in pb blaster, if using hand tools, turn the bolts clockwise just a hair(enough that you can feel it move) THEN loosen them...tightening then loosening helps big time to prevent broken bolts

My cousin and i installed my 3in RC lift on my '98 XJ in about 5 hours..including a lunch break. Im have some experience with cars but he is installed 6 different lifts on his trucks and jeeps. And yes, PB Blaster is a must like everyone is saying. and be prepared for bolts to break or even some of the nuts or bolts to strip. We used 4 jack stands and 4 jacks. Good luck!

I did my 3 in. lift in the Aug. heat in Ga. last year.By myself,it took me 6 hours.
Spray with PB Blaster (I went thru 2 cans), or something like, for at least 1 week prior to install of lift.I put in a used spring pack with AAL's & shackles (4.5+ in. of lift) & NO vibs.But every XJ is different.I took the shackles out-too much lift.

Get coil spring compressors.I used mine & still had trouble getting the coils in,if I'd had a helper would have been easier-maybe.(?)

Good luck & take your time.Make sure you tighten everything-twice!