keegscole

So recently i acquired my grandfathers 1998 XJ Cherokee. I am only 15 and live in NY so i wont be getting my license for another year but i would like to have all the modifications done by the time i do get my license. I have been looking at different catalogs and websites and various YouTube builds on the a couple different Cherokees and i think i would want to go with maybe a 3.5-4.5 inch lift just enough to make it look a little more aggressive and give it a clean stance. However, i don't want to get huge mudding tires and a lift kit that will shake someone to death on the highway, but i would also like something to give it some extra strength offroad but nothing too crazy. Please provide me with your favorite Lift Kit brand and some info on what you think would be the best lift, tire size and fender flare to get a wide and mean looking jeep from what i have now. Feel free to post pictures as well!

toasterknight

3.5 inch lift with 31x10.5 tires looks almost stock, but it is significantly more capable. I'm partial to the metalcloak lift kit as it has everything you will need short of an SYE.

Bugout4x4

This is a nice looking rig the way it is Sir, happy to see someone your age doing a project like this!. Honestly, about the only thing I would do to it is maybe put slightly larger tires on it. This would fill the wheel wells a little more making it have a little wider looking stance and will give you about 2 inches more in height. Mine calls for 215/75/R 15's and I have 235/75/R 15's on it.


This has turned out to be a very good combination for dual purpose on and off road. It also rectified that "Pizza cutter skinny" look that the stock sized tires had. You start lifting and such you are going to open another whole never ending can of worms that leads to more additional stuff


I am however considering painting my wheels black to give it a little meaner look, what do you think? Black wheels?


https://www.cherokeeforum.com/g/picture/4138899

Fred/N0AZZ

An excellent budget lift in a 3" from Rustys Off Road is $438 complete full leafs, coils, shocks, hardware for it all else neede3d is a adj. track bar and sometimes a TC drop kit if you have vibs in the driveline. If you go higher than 3" of lift it get a lot more expensive to do it properly a lot more. This kit is made in NA one of the very few not made in China and the springs are quality ones that hold up very well.


You will need a 15x8" wheel with 3.75 or 4" of BS only to fit larger tires and them not rub like a 31x10:50x15 up to a 35x12:50's if you wish. I ran 33x12:50x15 on that size wheel on my 3" Rustys lift, but you nee3d to trin the fenders to do so like most do. The 8" width is needed for air down's when off road for traction and ride a 10" is to wide and 7" to narrow.


Here is a photo of mine still at 3" of lift (Rustys) and the same wheels (Cragar Soft Eights with 3.75" of BS) with 33x12:50x15" tires trimmed fenders.

Bugout4x4

This must have been before you added the second pair of lights up front? I was going ask you how you get away with the taller ones sticking up into your "field of vision"? My son in law just hangs his badge on his visor.

Fred/N0AZZ

The ones above are now on the rear for back-up and work lights but did run them for over a year that way. I new have the Hells "Black Magic's" 3 sets of them in front and increased the lift to 4 1/2".

keegscole

Do you think Rough Country is a good brand and do you find it sags at all?

keegscole

So after about 2 months, I finally have the 98 lifted. I went with a 3.5 inch Rubicon Express lift and 33 inch tires. Tires didn't quite fit so the plastics were trimmed and this is how it came out! However, there is some work that needs to be done to the front end. Death Wobble is apparent after hitting a bump going >40 mph. Still a work in progress!