Hey all, new to the forum, have had my 2000 XJ coming up on 2 years. Always been one of my favorite models, though mine has been giving me some trouble for a time.

I bought and had installed the Rough Country 3" suspension lift. Love the ride height, clearance, etc that comes with it. However, I couldn't get a full, proper alignment done due to my Upper Control Arms being old and stock. Was told I'd need extended or adjustable ones, but have read some conflicting reports. Also in need of replacement are my Sway Bar/Sway Bar Links and probably Lower Control Arms as well (all of these parts being for my front-end).

My question is this; do I *actually* need extended or adjustable parts here, or will stock fit fine with such a mild lift? If I *do* need them other than stock, could I get some won't-break-the-bank recommendations? Been having a super hard time finding any.

Thanks for any help/clarification/suggestions! Also if this isn't in the right spot just let me know, but didn't see a sticky for this particular subject.

Upper control arms work fine....it's the lowers that normally need to either be longer, or the shop has to install shims to get the alignment right (most shops don't do this, they just blame the lift)

Now, if the bushings in your upper control arms are bad/shot, that will affect the alignment

I got some replacement upper arms off amazon for like 30 bucks...and they are working just fine with my 5" lift

Great, so I should be able to just grab stock uppers and some 3" extended or adjustable lowers? What about the sway bar stuff?

How do the bushings and links look? With a 3 inch lift and stock links on my xj, the links were very bent and the bushings were shot.

I used my stock links no problem till I went over 3", then I made some drop brackets for the sway bar mounts on the frame out of some old hitch receiver tubing.

My links still aren't bent, but I have replaced the bushings.

Stock lowers should be fine too, as long as you find an alignment shop that will actually put in the needed shims instead of juts saying they can't do it.

Same. My links are incredibly bent which is why I'm wondering if I can replace with new stock-length ones and be okay, or if I need extended. No idea on bushings atm but I'd guess also wrecked

Any further info before I start buying parts?

Get a a complete sway bar bushing set and possibly the bracket mount bolts

But stick with stock length bars or go for extended/adjustable?

So I bought adj UCA's and saw how badly my axle was out of alignment. My lowers arent stock but arent adj. I am wanting to do frame stiffeners and possibly a long arm kit, but I need more info. My lift is around 3.5 to 4" on 33's. I have been up everything but not sure that's the direction I want to go anymore. I probably dont need a long arm kit and probably dont need to box the frame, although I would probably do it from front to middle because of the aftermarket bumper and steering box. What do you think?