So I just bought my first Jeep, graduated to join the rest of my family (have had an XJ before, currently have two libertys, a wrangler, and a commander). My little ford escort, first car, died just the way I could have wanted...the other guy's fault. thanks to the insurance money, and the fact that i'm about to graduate college, i was able to get a small loan, small monthly payment, and pick up my XJ in really good condition (except for the rear suspension being tired).

I'm looking to do a lift, tires and wheels this spring or summer (2013), and already have some parts picked out. Been looking at the Old Man Emu suspension catalogue, and have a couple of questions I'd like to research.

-how do I want to determine my load rating (light, medium, heavy)?

-i cant seem to find 2 inch coils for the front to match a 2 inch leaf spring lift...thoughts? do i need to just use spacers with new front coils to level it? or are they just hard to find?

-will the t-case drop and steering damper prevent the "death wobble" people are so keen to remind me of? what's the function/definition of the "valving firmness" on the steering damper?

-is the front end alignment that some tire shops offer with a tire sale what i need post-lift? or something more?

a couple of other questions not directly related to the lift,

-what limits my XJ to a 2000 lb tow capacity?

-is it normal for the "part-time" dash light not to come on with the 4wd, in older Jeeps?

any and all answers will be appreciated, thanks folks!

 

First off, Welcome to the forum! Now to business. Lol. Most two inch lifts in the front are with coil spacers. That way you still keep a factory ride up front. Question: Is two inches all you plan on going up? If so you have a lot of affordable options to choose from.
Two awnser the alignment question, its always, a good idea to get an alignment after suspension modifications.
The Duty question, well that depends on what you plan on doing. Do you carry a lot of weight, passengers or cargo? Are you looking for a smoother ride?
Any more questions, feel free to ask here or you can PM.

 

X2 on using coil spacers for the front if you're sticking with 2"

to my knowledge (feel free to correct me) you shouldnt get death wobble only going 2" up. The tcase drop will help if you get driveline vibrations. these you will feel while driving, but wont affect your steering. Most people don't get them with a 2" lift.

Yes it's normal for the part time light to come on. It's just reminding you that you shouldn't be in 4wd for your daily driving. There isn't a "part time limit" that you can be in 4wd so dont worry if you're wheeling all day and have to stay in 4wd.

 

Yes 2" is all I think I need. I'd probably be moving loads often, my parents have a pellet stove we need to keep fed by the ton, and I'll likely be towing boats and camping gear as well. Which brings me back to, what's limiting my tow capacity to 2000 lbs?

Currently, the stock rear leafs I have on are pretty much shot, and I'm looking for a little better ride. I figure I'd rather just replace all the suspension with something a little nicer, which is why I skipped the cheaper options.

The problem with the part-time light is that it ISN'T coming on with the 4wd. The transfer case is hooking up fine, so I'm not too worried, just curious.

 

If you want comfort and a little load capacity, I'd suggest the medium duty springs. They're firmer than stock but will handle the load better. Also when towing with an auto transmission, its always wise to install a heavy duty auxiliary cooler inline with your existing one. This,will help keep temps in check. Towing will heat up your trans fluid causing premature wear on the trans. We dont know your mileage so as a suggestion, change the fluid n filter in your trans, transfer case and differentials.
As for your Part-time light, the bulb is probably just burnt out on it. The lights are just there to remind you that you're in gear.

 

Now if I were to go up to 3 or 3.5 inches, what would I need to look at in terms of other parts that should be in a certain orientation? I know pinion angle is one, and can be fixed by the t case drop and control arm adjustments (of course I'm inexperienced and could be wrong).

Also, what is specific function of the steering damper (or stabilizer) and what does the softer/harder valve firmness on it achieve?

Trying to make sure when I'm eventually in a store and talking about what needs doing, I have a good idea of what they're talking about. Already this forums been a wealth of info. Thanks again all.