I want to put a lift kit on my 98 XJ and i want to know how high i can go before i have to put a slip yoke eliminator on the transfer case?

 

depends on whether or not you get lucky. some need one at 3", others somehow make it to 5.5". Unfortunately, the only way you can really know is to go for it and find out the hard way. Why are you afraid of an SYE?

 

x2

But most people end up getting vibes at 4.5" so its either a SYE or TC drop.

 

Anything over 3" and you will have to install an SYE or a TC drop kit to stop vibes. The guys who claim they don't get vibes with 4 and 5" lifts must have already had bad vibes in their Jeeps so bad that they didn't notice any new vibes. My 4.5" Rusty's lift came with a 1" TC drop and 6 degree rear axle shims to prevent vibes. My son's 6.5" Rough Country lift kit came with the same items to prevent vibes. I'm sure these companys would not include them if they weren't needed.

 

I didnt get any from my 4.5". No TC drop either. And no, I didnt have vibes before. I did go with an SYE after a bit though simply because I didnt like the angle. Just because you dont get vibes doesnt mean that your U-joints arent going to wear out fast so sometimes doing an SYE anyway is just good prevention

 

thanx for the feedback guys. about the SYE ive seen them done and it seems like a lot of trouble. i dont plan on doing any hardcore offroading with it when i lift it.

 

I did my hack n tap in like an hour, pretty simple to do. true SYE is more trouble but really still not too tough. if youre not planning to do any hardcore offroading in it, a Hack n tap is more than good enough, dont let it keep you from getting the lift you want

 

im at 7 inches with no sye, just a t case drop and i have no vibes at all, it kinda scares me

 

it happens, more on the 95 and older XJs

 

at some point ill buy one, but for now its not a problem so i aint messing with itt

 

I'd just say 3" to be safe. As previously stated, each jeep is different. I'm currently running a 3" lift with a 1" transfer case drop and the jeep feels just like it did stock.

 

Not to hijack here, but technically, going to 4.5 inch lift, with a 1" t-case drop (or maybe even fab up something for a 1.5 inch drop) will put me back at the 3" lift, so I should then avoid the shake?

 

I put in an Old Man Emu 2 1/2" lift on my 98, and it came with a 1" TC drop on the kit.

 

with a 98 you are more likely to get vibes...i'm going to be installing one with my lift...even if it might be okay at 4" for the price of a hack n tap, why risk it. besides i figure if i jack it up there are a TON of guys out there who have pulled their output shafts putting an hd sye in.