Piece together a 6.5" LA kit
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Piece together a 6.5" LA kit
I know what it's like to build an off road toy and based upon my ATV MX hobby, I went through about 3 different builds on my quad. Ultimately, I ended up with what I thougth were the best components available on my bike after the third build and alot of money. I want to avoid this with my XJ.
Once I get my XJ I don't want to go through the same thing I went with my other hobby. I plan on building it soon after I buy it and I want to do it right with a budget in mind. I've done some research around here and have figured out that alot of people put together different brands to get their XJ to perform the way they want.
My XJ will see surface streets and some 200 mi. freeway trips every now and then as well as some crawling here and there. I want good 75 mph freeway runner that transitions smoothly into an occasional trail crawler. So I'm looking for a reliable set-up that won't kill me and my family on the road but will perform great off road.
Is there an idleal complete kit for what I'm looking for or can you piece together for me a solid set-up. I know for a fact I want to go 6.5 LA and possibly 33's. I'm looking to spend around the 2k area for the suspension alone.
Once I get my XJ I don't want to go through the same thing I went with my other hobby. I plan on building it soon after I buy it and I want to do it right with a budget in mind. I've done some research around here and have figured out that alot of people put together different brands to get their XJ to perform the way they want.
My XJ will see surface streets and some 200 mi. freeway trips every now and then as well as some crawling here and there. I want good 75 mph freeway runner that transitions smoothly into an occasional trail crawler. So I'm looking for a reliable set-up that won't kill me and my family on the road but will perform great off road.
Is there an idleal complete kit for what I'm looking for or can you piece together for me a solid set-up. I know for a fact I want to go 6.5 LA and possibly 33's. I'm looking to spend around the 2k area for the suspension alone.
#2
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Year: 1998
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If you want safe at 75 mph for 200 mile trips. Drop down to 5" of lift, maybe less. You definitely don't need 6.5" for only 33" tires.
Kris Froehlich
Kris Froehlich
#3
U can easily run a 6.5 if u want and be safe but for alot of highway i would recommend some sway bar disconnects. Most xj's run without but u would feel better on long trips. A 6" will easily fit 35s but with 6" u lookin at alot more parts possibly issues. U can pull off a 5 inch with stock driveshafts and just a tcase drop. 6.5 u would more then likly want a sye kit and longer shafts. Especially 75 mph. Driveline vibe sucks. Alot of people piece them togeter cuz if u know what u need for what then u can find deals in things that u need to build for cheap. Jeeps are probably the easiest thing to find aftermarket and cheap parts for on craigslist. Well and honda lol. If u want to fo new and a long arm then i would look into rubicon express.. Seems to be most peoples fav.
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I just pieced together a 6.5 build, minus the long arms. $802, everything was new except the leafs, which had less than 2k on them. Here are my threads with info and parts:
Towards the end of the thread the 6.5 build starts:
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f67/budget-boost-129077/
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f67/6-...stions-149957/
Towards the end of the thread the 6.5 build starts:
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f67/budget-boost-129077/
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f67/6-...stions-149957/
#5
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I just pieced together a 6.5 build, minus the long arms. $802, everything was new except the leafs, which had less than 2k on them. Here are my threads with info and parts:
Towards the end of the thread the 6.5 build starts:
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f67/budget-boost-129077/
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f67/6-...stions-149957/
Towards the end of the thread the 6.5 build starts:
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f67/budget-boost-129077/
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f67/6-...stions-149957/
Thanks for the input fellas...
I forgot to add..the reason I'm thinking LA is because based upon alot of threads I've read around here mention how well they handle compared to stock.
The reason I'm asking for advice on piecing together a kit is because I've noticed some Builders don't provide certain aspects of a kit but yet have a desired component in their kit.
Like Clayton...seems like guys like their product, but they don't have a package deal that includes shocks...
Like Serious Off road seems to have a nice LA set-up, but dosen't come as a complete kit from what I can tell...
Not wanting to start a pissing match, so just using examples.
#6
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You're gonna want some nice shocks if its a dd on the highway. Probably bilstein. Coil springs are all about te same but rustys coils are said to ride soft. Best leafs are old man emu but something like rubicon express will probably work - just not rough country. I don't know much about long arms but I've never heard anyone complain about serious long arms. You'll want extended brake lines too.
#7
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honestly, I have rough country in the rear with homemade shackle relocation brackets and a 45 degree resting shackle angle, people that have driven or road in my Jeep say it rides great, they normally assume I have an expensive leaf spring setup
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#8
clayton and rockkrawler have the top shelf longarm kits out there right now IMO.
Some don't include shocks, so people can choose their own based on what kind of wheeling they do, what they expect out of a shock, and their budget.
The 2 longarm setups I would avoid are Iron rock offroad and rough country.
Sure, both have happy customers, but they both also have many unhappy customers who have later ditched those setups in favor for a different brand.
Some don't include shocks, so people can choose their own based on what kind of wheeling they do, what they expect out of a shock, and their budget.
The 2 longarm setups I would avoid are Iron rock offroad and rough country.
Sure, both have happy customers, but they both also have many unhappy customers who have later ditched those setups in favor for a different brand.
#9
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U can pull off a 5 inch with stock driveshafts and just a tcase drop. 6.5 u would more then likly want a sye kit and longer shafts. Especially 75 mph. Driveline vibe sucks. Alot of people piece them togeter cuz if u know what u need for what then u can find deals in things that u need to build for cheap.
I've read alot about adding a SYE and longer shafts with the higher lifts, but once these upgrades are done do they generally hold up or does this cause more wear and tear in other areas?
clayton and rockkrawler have the top shelf longarm kits out there right now IMO.
The 2 longarm setups I would avoid are Iron rock offroad and rough country.
Sure, both have happy customers, but they both also have many unhappy customers who have later ditched those setups in favor for a different brand.
The 2 longarm setups I would avoid are Iron rock offroad and rough country.
Sure, both have happy customers, but they both also have many unhappy customers who have later ditched those setups in favor for a different brand.
Yeah, I've read plenty on IRO and RC by now with mixed reviews. Based on IRO's design and knowing about weak points in general on suspensions, I'm just not to crazy about that bracket design plus it's only on the LH side. My biggest concern being driving on surface streets and highways the most and vibration wreaking havoc on that one bolt.
#10
A sye u can deffinatally not go wrong with sorry bout the spelling lol.. I am just saying that if u go a little smaller around 4.5 to 5.5 u could get away with not doing a sye right now as they can get pricy. I had a 01 xj with 4.5 and just a drop kit. Drove 60 miles a day to work on the highway just fine with no sway bar. My buddy is running 5.5 re lift on a 94 xj with just a drop kit and no vibes supeisingly. Any higher i would not hesitate a sye and longer / stronger shafts.. As far as brands.. Everybody kinda has their own likings and setups. Personally i love re but not saying anything else is bad. I havd a rc track bar now and not a fan. The joint is junk but easy to replace with better. Rustys alot of people hate but the only thing i noticed gave them a bad name cuz the bushings suck amd those get costly for good bushings. Most people i know with jeeps play alot of trial and errer as in buy and sell alot. U dont like it then the thing is u can sell it easily and quickly for diff parts. Jeeps have a good market for parts and enthusiest unlike alot of makes and models. U will never have to worry bout not being able to get parts off ur hands. Also the fact that xj. Tj. Zj. Lj lol most older jeeps have the same interchangable suspention parts.
#11
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U can easily run a 6.5 if u want and be safe but for alot of highway i would recommend some sway bar disconnects. Most xj's run without but u would feel better on long trips. A 6" will easily fit 35s but with 6" u lookin at alot more parts possibly issues. U can pull off a 5 inch with stock driveshafts and just a tcase drop. 6.5 u would more then likly want a sye kit and longer shafts. Especially 75 mph. Driveline vibe sucks. Alot of people piece them togeter cuz if u know what u need for what then u can find deals in things that u need to build for cheap. Jeeps are probably the easiest thing to find aftermarket and cheap parts for on craigslist. Well and honda lol. If u want to fo new and a long arm then i would look into rubicon express.. Seems to be most peoples fav.
I just finished my 6.5" lift this weekend. I used the control arm drop brackets and I have to admit. IT HANDLES EXCELLENT on the highway. I did NOT need a SYE nor did I need to drop the tcase either. My angles are spot on and as a result of careful planning and MANY hours of research the jeep turned out exactly as planned.
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I wanted the same thing as you so I built my jeep 6.5" la on 33s and no sway bars. I'm dropping it to 4.5". It's nice having a huge jeep but you can get just as good results with 4.5". Plus driving over 70 on a highway is sketchy
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I just finished my 6.5" lift this weekend. I used the control arm drop brackets and I have to admit. IT HANDLES EXCELLENT on the highway. I did NOT need a SYE nor did I need to drop the tcase either. My angles are spot on and as a result of careful planning and MANY hours of research the jeep turned out exactly as planned.
I just finished my 6.5" lift this weekend. I used the control arm drop brackets and I have to admit. IT HANDLES EXCELLENT on the highway. I did NOT need a SYE nor did I need to drop the tcase either. My angles are spot on and as a result of careful planning and MANY hours of research the jeep turned out exactly as planned.
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Originally Posted by 93XJLI
Lol yeah right. Wait a couple months and your axle side ujoint will explode. I'm sitting at roughly 6.5" I can do 75 no problem. Drives as good as stock.