Hey I got a 96 xj classic and was thinking about lifting it 1-2". I don't want to spend a lot of money and I have some questions. I'm only using my Jeep for DD and mudding/offroading. I don't do rock crawling, "flexing", or anything else crazy or extreme. I don't want a huge lift because I still need somewhat good MPG.
1. What are blocks? Shackles? Differences? Other options I don't know about?
2. What are pros/cons? The best option?
3. Best brand?
4. Besides what comes in the box, will I need other parts?
5. Should I do it or should I let a pro?
Ill prolly fit 30" tires. I don't wanna do any cutting. I'm wary about spacers because I've seen them at autozone, they're cheap and look like they'll fall out while I'm driving

 

google is your friend!!!!

but if i was buying a lift kit for the needs you explained i would go with 2" coil spacers up front(no way in hell they will ever fall out of your jeep), and 2" shackles in the back.

 

Just get a 2" kit. Lift kits don't lower mpgs, tires do. Don't get blocks, they will mess up your springs; use shackles. Go ahead and get a kit too. I think fat bobs garage is good for the budget 2" kits. There is a rare chance that you will get driveline vibes, but probably not. You shouldn't need anything besides the kit.

 

I'll try Zone Offroad....check out vendor section.

 

My OME wasn't that expensive..... really.
It saved spending $$$ on brake line extensions, and other parts.
I did get an adj track bar, but could have lived without it...

Get a quality 2-2.5" lift and it will change your world.

 

to be honest, try stock with no sway bars and trimmed fenders first. sounds like that'll take you where ever you want.
and the cut fenders will give the appearance of a 2" lift

 

Listen to this guy ^.

 

I've seen those OME kits in magazines and stuff. They're expensive, where'd you get yours??

 

I looked up fat bobs! That was a big help, thanks! However now I have another questions. There's kits with just spacers and shackles, then there's kits with spacers, shocks, and shackles or add a leafs, then there's kits with coils instead of shocks. Which on is the right/best one? Some say I need new shocks

 

I have a 2" rough country spacer/add-a-leaf kit with their hydro 9000 shocks and love it. You could do anything you wanted offroading with it and it cost around $200 including shocks

I got the spacer/add-a-leaf kit on ebay and the shocks from rough country's website

 

I would not recommend add a leaf kits over shackles as they tend to sag after a while and don't ride or flex as well. Also, if you find a good deal on a kit without shocks, then you can use JK rubicon shocks from a wrangler JK and they work really well at 2". Otherwise I'd get one with some shocks. As mentioned above, ome is good too.

 

This is a common misconception. The add a leaf may sag a little but it sags to the lift height desired. My add a leaf still sits my rear a little higher than my front and ive been riding it hard for a year.

The circumstance you shouldn't get add a leaf is if your stock springs are already sagging. People put add a leafs on their saggy springs and blame the add a leaf for not giving the lift they wanted or for sagging quickly.

Find out what condition your stock springs are before you make a decision on any type of lift because you might need a new leaf pack altogether

 

I mean I have an aal now and it's probably about an inch lower than than it was a year ago and I've had it for two years now and my leads weren't sagging at all in the beginning. Its a small leaf boosting the whole leaf pack. It's just not as good as shackles in my opinion. My jeep rides like a dump truck lol.