Recently traded an extra XJ for some cash and 6 33' tires. Got three different brands, but a matching pair of super swampers that will definitely be going on. The others are a little mis matched, but here's what I want to know.

Will a three inch lift be enough? I've got cut out fender flares, so I've got some extra room, and I've already got 1.5" of a body lift.

Am I gonna need extended brake lines? Should I re-gear the back end? I just thought it was a good trade, and now I'm realizing I'm not sure what all I'm in for. The tires came with rims from a 98, so they'll fit.

I use my jeep for DD, and I like to go mudding. I don't do rock climbing, and I don't do a lot of trails. I know this is debated all of the time, just seeing who has done a similar combo?

 

I found this, but can anyone give me a price range for all of it on the 3? God I hate doing brake lines >>

 

u mean 1.5 coil spacers, 3 inch should be fine, especially with cut out flares, and you should be fine with 33s and stock gears for what you do with it

 

I guess I was most worried about having to re-gear since I have NO experience with that at all...but thanks for the info : ) If I don't have to do it, I probably wont, but is a SYE worth it if I"m not flexing or doing trails?

 

SYE eliminator will be up to your Jeep, for some reason one Jeep will need it and the next one won't, it will depend on if your Jeep develops vibrations in the driveline. Also I would say re-gearing is recommended for entering/exiting highways, don't forget the speedo gear (new tire size alone will make your speedometer wrong) as well unless you want Johnny Law pulling you over so you can find out how fast you were going.

 

My old Xj with a 3" lift and 33x13.50R16 Boggers.

 

that's really nice looking. What happened to it

 

Take a look at http://www.myjeepxj.com/cherokee-lift-kits it has pictures of every lift and tire size you can think of.

 

That was my 86 Xj. State wouldn't let me reregister it because it was a salvage title vehicle. I took the axles out D44's and saved them for my Mj. Stroker motor went into a friends YJ.

 

I run 33x10.50 on 3.5". I was running 35's for a bit too with this same lift I have pics in my build thread

 

Several issues need to be checked with the tires #1 is the exact measured height of each one. You will find different brand and amount of wear will result in differences in them you need a "Full Set of 4" of the same height if you use 4wd. A small amount of difference is OK but an 1" or so is not either front to back or side to side.


For a 33" tire you need a 4.56 gear if you have the AW4 trans you have the 3.55 stock gearing. When you do regear you must do both front and rear not just the rear unless all you run is 2wd. The stock gear will be very doggy on and off road with trans up/down shifting all the time causing it to overheat. On a 33" tire and stock gear I changed to a 4.56 and gained 5 mpg on the highway and a lot more power. If you mud very much a locker is a big help and can be installed with the gear with no extra labor.


Here is my XJ when it had a full leaf/coil 3" lift with 33x12:50x15's

 

Is it hard to regear things yourself? I wouldn't mind learning how...but if it's not something I would trust to myself, there's a 4x4 shop nearby that told me it'd be about 2K to regear a cherokee.

 

It is not exactly a thing u would want to do all by yourself for the first time. It require precision to do it. If u know somebody who can do gears, have him do it and u can learn from him. The experience is invaluable.

 

^
This whole situation sounds dangerous, best of luck.

 

A complete gear set front and back with a master install kits under $500 a 4wd shop installed my gears and lockers at the same time for $200 each differential.


That's what I gathered also.