So I'm getting ready to order up the stuff to 3" lift and re-shoe my XJ, compiling a list of parts. Tell me if I'm missing anything.

S10 rear springs (bastard pack).
3" RE front coil springs.
Set of 2"-4.5" front and rear lift shocks.
Fixed lower control arms.
New set of U-bolts for the Chrysler rear end.
15x8 steel wheels w/3.75" BS.
31x10.5x15 Westlake SL369 tires.
Lug nuts and center caps.
2" wheel spacers for the rear.

Not looking for flex, necessarily. The main motivation here is to gain ground clearance, for now, and to get the XJ back into driveable condition. It's been sitting for about 5yrs, cranked and driven a couple times a year to circulate fluids. No doubt I'll be addressing problems from it sitting so long once this is done, I figure things like brakes and such will need to be dealt with given the amount of time she's sat between runs. The XJ will remain to be a backup vehicle for the wife or I, but I want to get it back on the road, and use it to pull the fishing boat occasionally, and assess it's practicality of folding it into our stable of vehicles. If it works out, even partially, more mod's are likely in the future.

What do the XJ guru's deem necessary to add to the above list? Right now I'm at about $1k for the above items. I'm not scared to spend money, but want to keep costs down where I can. I know the LCA's aren't typically part of a 3" lift, but I think I want to put them in up front to avoid any potential issues that might arise (thoughts on this?).

Thanks for any input.

 

Why the 2" wheel spacers in the rear? The front and rear are about the same width from the factory and with a 3.75" backspace and 2" spacers the wheels will stick way out. I have stock control arms with my 3" lift and everything is fine but longer ones won't hurt anything. Also it would be a good idea to replace the rear shackles while you have the springs out. Eveything else looks fine.

 

The 2" spacers are optional but I want them on hand. Every 4wd I've ever seen has a narrower track in the rear than the front, and it just bugs me to look at it on one of mine. I know it's done for a reason, and I've heard a few different reasons for it, but I've never noticed any negative effects from poking the rear tires out even with, or wider than, the fronts.

I had seriously considered 2" backspace for all 4 wheels to get the stance even wider, but not sure that's the way I want to go, yet. Maybe full width 1tons later? Who knows how deep this hole will become.

I won't necessarily have the springs out doing the bastard pack. I should be able to do that without removing the main leaf at all. But I'll be sure to keep an eye on the shackle angle, and upgrade/relocate if it becomes necessary.

As for the LCA's, I've read where some people use them on a 3" lift, and most don't. My luck run like this, if I don't put them in, I'll be one of the few that needs them, if I do, it's likely I wouldn't have needed them but have them anyway. And I can"t see where the added caster will hurt anything, so they made the list.

 

The 4wds I see don't have the rear sticking out by much, if any are all. Your looking at widening the rear 4 inches in total. It would look pretty funny imo

 

Adjustable track bar....

 

Longer sway bar endlinks for the front

 

The reason all 4x4s the front axle is a tad bit wider is tracing when in 4x4,Its best to leave that alone if you want steering control in 4x4.

 

The front and rear axle widths are even on a XJ.

 

Extended brake lines.

https://www.rtoffroad.com/brake-hose...ess-steel.html

 

PB Blaster or Kroil, or 50/50 Acetone ATF mix....and most likely new upper rear shock bolts.