I'm thinking of lifting my 99 XJ 2 inches with a simple budget lift and the subject of shocks came up, and another member here mentioned that with a 2 inch lift, I could use stock JK shocks. I just want to make sure that's accurate, not that I doubt the other member, but, I'm on a VERY tight budget, so before I risk spending the very little money I have, I want to make sure it's a bolt on thing, no other mods needed, someone has actually successfully done this, etc. I see there are shocks available for JK's, some are stock black ones, some are red off Rubicons and Sahara's, don't know if they're longer or if I should stay away from those (or the others), or if they're fine. Could use a little more info on this please...

 

Done it numerous times.

NOT a direct bolt on. You need to change some bar pins and stuff around. Need a good vice and different sockets to press those things out.

 

But why not just get a good set of 2 inch shocks for an XJ? I get it if you just happen to have a set of JKs sitting around but what am I missing?

 

The used JK shocks, removed when a guy puts a lift kit on his new one, are cheap!

And, they perform wonderfully.

 

Hmmm! Good to know. Thnx

 

Be sure to bumpstop correctly. The factory JK shocks have a collapsed length longer than some of the aftermarket XJ shocks specified for 3" lifts. The Rubicon HD shocks are longer than Sport/Sahara.

OEM JK Front shocks.
Collapsed/extended/travel
Sport and Sahara:
14.02"/21.93"/7.91"
Rubicon
14.75"/22.75"/8.00"

OEM JK Rear shocks.
Sport / Sahara:
14.50"/22.50"/8.00"
Rubicon
14.63"/23.13"/8.50"

Bilstein 5100 XJ 3" Front:
13.58/22.09/8.51

Bilstein 5100 XJ 3" Rear:
13.68/21.85/8.17

 

not around me, dudes put em for sale as if they are top of the line.

 

I used JK shocks for the front because they were free. I used F-150 shocks for the rear

 

Thank you everyone for the information. I really do appreciate it. One concern i have is, tbe jk outweighs the xj, I'm wondering if even jk sport shocks would be too stiff, Rubicons definately sound like the wrong choice.

 

The Rubicons work wonderfully.

Have them on every XJ and MJ in the family.

 

I'll second that. MJ rides & handles beautifully despite the difference in weight between an empty truck bed and a JK.