So I have a cherokee with a 3.5" lift, the shocks come in 3 or 4" lift, what should I get? It's a daily driver, no crazy off roading.

 

4"

 

Bilstein or OME

Hah read that wrong sorry.

 

4 it is!

 

Measure for what shocks you actually need. Remove shocks and flex out each side. Then measure. That's the way to do it.

 

When flexing, is your down limit usually your brake hose? So your extended length is just before the hose is maxed out, and then you put limiting straps so that they are just shorter than your fully extended shock so the strap stops movement and not the shock?

Compressed length is limited by your bump stops, which are normally set to prevent tire rubbing, correct?

Shocks and bigger springs are my summer project so I'm trying to fully understand.

 

Correct for the most part. Your rear down travel is also affected by the springs too. Your shackle may only allow 3" of max downtravel. So you won't have to use the brake hose as a guide. Also because after about 3-4" of lift you need a longer rear sift line. The front is controlled by the control arms. Limit straps is good for people running long arms all around. They drop further than short arms do.

 

Awesome info! Thanks!

 

no brake lines are a bad way to limit your down travel....

 

No one said to use brake lines to limit down travel. He said to limit just before they tension up

 

wouldn't a better solution be to get longer lines? or at least unhook stock mounting locations?

 

For the front brake lines you can relocate the bracket and that will work up to around a 4-4.5" lift. The rear is good for up to about the same. However yes, when you lift, you should look into longer soft lines cause you don't want that to be the weak link

 

Rear brake lines (e-brake & soft line) become tight at 3" lift and need to be replaced.
Front brake lines 'can' be stretched to reach 4.5" lift but act as limit straps when suspension droops.