Opinions on lift please
 

I just got an 87 cherokee laredo. I want to put a lift on it, but not quite sure which one to go with. I have been really looking into the Rustys 4.5 short arm kit with full packs. Has anyone ran this lift, and if so, what are your opinions ? Even if you havent ran this lift, any opinions would be greatly appriciated.

ive heard mixed reviews on the rustys kits. there are definetly better kits out there. you got the right idea with the full leaf packs tho. have you thought about going long arm?

Read alot of the posts on this forum about lifts and their associated side-effects before deciding.

Unless you know how 4.5" sits and looks and works and know that is what you want through personal experience, I'd stick with 3" and save yourself the driveline concerns and some money. 3" on 31's will look lifted and shouldn't require cutting the fenders and can even be done by swapping in parts from the junkyard on the cheap.

Eventually I definitely want long arms, but the kits double the price, so I was thinking I could get the short arm kit and upgrade to the long arms later. I basically decided on a 4.5 just by looking at alot of pictures, and seemed to be quite alot of people that bought a3 inch and ended up buying a 4.5 later. I think the 4.5 will be right for what I want, I just don't want it too top heavy. What 4.5 kits should I look at to get the best functionality, I need it to perform, this is not just for looks. Although that is an added bonus. But it is also my daily driver.

If you go 4.5 then you must get an sye or a transfer case drop. If you do the drop then you put your ground clearance back at a 3in lift. Which is pretty worthless in my op unless you are clearing 35's or like the looks.

So to do a 4.5in lift right you will need to extend the brake lines, sye, shocks, sway bar extensions, control arm drop brackets, etc.....

Just something to think about.

I got a 3.5 pro comp lift with all new leaf springs I have falken wild peaks 32s I didn't have to shim anything my buddy got a 4.5 and and to shim the trans and transfer case the only probably I have is my fender hitting my tire I even cut the fenders

I just put.a 3 inch series II rough country lift with new leaf packs on my 98 xj last weekend. It took me up about 5 inches from where I was sitting on saggy springs.

It rides way better than I expected. I have a friend with a zj and 3 inch lift done with spacers, mine rides way better.

My experience is limited but I am very happy with my rough country lift. I called to order and got a forum discount and then some. Rough country was the cheapest option I found with full leaf packs.

So to avoid all the other headaches that come with the 4.5, (plus i didnt take weak and sagging springs into account) maybe a 3.5 would work fine for me. What do you think, and what else would i have tothink about if i went with the RE 3.5 kit, other than shocks of course. I dont really want to mess with SYE or the other stuff, i want a lift kit that comes with everything i need. Any suggestions.

RE ftw. Go right the first time and save your cash

Try 4x4groupbuy they say that you get free monotube shocks with the lift.

Depending on tire size, you may want spacers if running stock rims on some lifts. I don't know that lift well but, I needed them in front for 31's on my Zone 3" lift. You can also get rims with different backspacing