Suspension brand education
Member
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 125
Likes: 2
From: Anthem, AZ
Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee
Is there a middle ground brand or kit? It seems like all the "cheap" brands offer kits in just about every price range. I have noticed some of the brands on the "higher" end offer the kits without shocks. How is one to know which shock will work best with the coils those kits offer?
I'm in the middle of my build, I'm not getting shocks until I get everything done. It depends on lift, tire size, how much you want to cut fenders, how much droop, how much bump stop, where you mount the shock tabs if doing an axle swap, etc...
I'm swapping both axles and the shock tabs will be in different locations than factory, I have no idea what shock length will work. They will probably be one of the last things I order. Obviously on more of a stock build, there will be others that could tell you what length to go with, but there are still so many variables. For example, my first XJ was built when I bought it, the shocks worked fine, but I added shackle relocation boxes and it let the axle droop more. It actually overextended the shocks now and the upper bar pin broke on one side because of it. Just that one little change required longer shocks. Wait until the end of your build unless you find someone with exactly the same options that you're going with that knows the lengths you need.
CF Veteran
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,623
Likes: 13
From: In a large sandbox
Year: 1998
Engine: 4.0
Is there a middle ground brand or kit? It seems like all the "cheap" brands offer kits in just about every price range. I have noticed some of the brands on the "higher" end offer the kits without shocks. How is one to know which shock will work best with the coils those kits offer? I've been reading up on the topic for the past month or so but really feel like I've gotten nowhere. For every person that says "brand x sucks" there is another person that says they have ran brand x for (insert amount of time here) without any problems.
My XJ is going to be a weekend wheeler that will probably only see dirt once or twice a month. I will drive it to work once a week as well (25 miles round trip). Is a "Zone", "Rusty's", "RC", "Trail Master", etc. in the $450-$650 range kit really that awful that it's going to be problematic for someone with plans for their vehicle like myself?
My XJ is going to be a weekend wheeler that will probably only see dirt once or twice a month. I will drive it to work once a week as well (25 miles round trip). Is a "Zone", "Rusty's", "RC", "Trail Master", etc. in the $450-$650 range kit really that awful that it's going to be problematic for someone with plans for their vehicle like myself?
The best input I can give you is to tell you that you are going to spend some coin in your pursuit of what works "best".
This is due to the fact that none of the kits includes everything you need. The "best" of anything is the one that meets your needs and expectations.
It takes many of us multiple tries ($ + time & energy) before we find what suits our needs/expectations.
I ended up most satisfied with the RE 3.5" Super-Ride kit but it took at least double the price of the kit itself to get it ride/handle exactly the way I wanted it to. I would buy it again though.
Last edited by 4WD4EVER; Jun 2, 2017 at 06:29 AM.
CF Veteran
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 8,014
Likes: 17
From: Louisville,KY
Model: Cherokee
Middle ground lift to me and most of us rubicon express,Then you got rustys and zone depending the size are pretty good for the price and the ride.Rusty.Zone if i remember right is part of bds suspension which is a big well known lift company that makes good stuff.I will say one mistake a lot of first timers make is shocks,Most lifts come with a cheapo white body stock the company slaps their brand sticker on.The right bilstein shocks are worth their weight in gold if you want a smooth ride.
CF Veteran
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,226
Likes: 11
From: Laurium, MI
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: 4.0L
Some people want a lift the cheapest way to get it now,But they never stop and think why is one brand cheaper then another brand.Its like coke vs a knock off called cola both are soft drinks but the coke is probably gonna taste better and cost more.Not all lift brands are the same or do they ride the same also.
Middle ground lift to me and most of us rubicon express,Then you got rustys and zone depending the size are pretty good for the price and the ride.Rusty.Zone if i remember right is part of bds suspension which is a big well known lift company that makes good stuff.I will say one mistake a lot of first timers make is shocks,Most lifts come with a cheapo white body stock the company slaps their brand sticker on.The right bilstein shocks are worth their weight in gold if you want a smooth ride.
Has anyone had experience with FULL TRACTION? http://www.fourwheeler.com/how-to/06...nner/#photo-27
Their kit isn't much more than IRO, not sure how I feel about no replacement crossmember/protection but that wouldn't be too hard to fab up since the suspension is completely separate. I still don't really like how TNT's stuff is all one piece, in the salt belt I could foresee issues replacing u-joints, TC, transmission, etc.
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Model: Cherokee
Can't really help you on what mid range kit to go with. As far as the shocks go, I'm not sure there is an easy answer, there are so many variables, not just what coils you have.
I'm in the middle of my build, I'm not getting shocks until I get everything done. It depends on lift, tire size, how much you want to cut fenders, how much droop, how much bump stop, where you mount the shock tabs if doing an axle swap, etc...
I'm swapping both axles and the shock tabs will be in different locations than factory, I have no idea what shock length will work. They will probably be one of the last things I order. Obviously on more of a stock build, there will be others that could tell you what length to go with, but there are still so many variables. For example, my first XJ was built when I bought it, the shocks worked fine, but I added shackle relocation boxes and it let the axle droop more. It actually overextended the shocks now and the upper bar pin broke on one side because of it. Just that one little change required longer shocks. Wait until the end of your build unless you find someone with exactly the same options that you're going with that knows the lengths you need.
I'm in the middle of my build, I'm not getting shocks until I get everything done. It depends on lift, tire size, how much you want to cut fenders, how much droop, how much bump stop, where you mount the shock tabs if doing an axle swap, etc...
I'm swapping both axles and the shock tabs will be in different locations than factory, I have no idea what shock length will work. They will probably be one of the last things I order. Obviously on more of a stock build, there will be others that could tell you what length to go with, but there are still so many variables. For example, my first XJ was built when I bought it, the shocks worked fine, but I added shackle relocation boxes and it let the axle droop more. It actually overextended the shocks now and the upper bar pin broke on one side because of it. Just that one little change required longer shocks. Wait until the end of your build unless you find someone with exactly the same options that you're going with that knows the lengths you need.
beedee, I can totally relate. I found myself in a similar situation a few years ago.
The best input I can give you is to tell you that you are going to spend some coin in your pursuit of what works "best".
This is due to the fact that none of the kits includes everything you need. The "best" of anything is the one that meets your needs and expectations.
It takes many of us multiple tries ($ + time & energy) before we find what suits our needs/expectations.
I ended up most satisfied with the RE 3.5" Super-Ride kit but it took at least double the price of the kit itself to get it ride/handle exactly the way I wanted it to. I would buy it again though.
The best input I can give you is to tell you that you are going to spend some coin in your pursuit of what works "best".
This is due to the fact that none of the kits includes everything you need. The "best" of anything is the one that meets your needs and expectations.
It takes many of us multiple tries ($ + time & energy) before we find what suits our needs/expectations.
I ended up most satisfied with the RE 3.5" Super-Ride kit but it took at least double the price of the kit itself to get it ride/handle exactly the way I wanted it to. I would buy it again though.
Middle ground lift to me and most of us rubicon express,Then you got rustys and zone depending the size are pretty good for the price and the ride.Rusty.Zone if i remember right is part of bds suspension which is a big well known lift company that makes good stuff.I will say one mistake a lot of first timers make is shocks,Most lifts come with a cheapo white body stock the company slaps their brand sticker on.The right bilstein shocks are worth their weight in gold if you want a smooth ride.
Being new in the Jeep scene is really amplifying the WTF/head spin factor as I try to decipher everything regarding lifts. All of the info in this thread has been great and gives me a bit of a foundation to work off of when deciding what to do.
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