I have a 97 jeep cherokee xj and i want atleast a 3.5" lift. I would go 4.5" but my budget can barely afford it and i hear i have to get alot more shit if i go that big. I was looking at this lift here.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/84-01-Jeep-XJ-Cherokee-Rough-Country-4-5-lift-kits-kit_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33585QQihZ008QQitemZ180176776197QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW
I hear shackles arnt very good. Is this lift even worth bying. If i did go 4.5" what else do ineed.
If you are answering this please only answer if you know what you are talking about
With Cherokees the lifts get incrementally expensive with the height of the lift. So a GOOD 4.5" lift costs more than a GOOD quality 3.5" lift.
With Cherokees, low cost lifts cause high cost problems…
The lift you link to is by Rough Country, or Rough Crap by ALOT of people. I won’t EVER use another one, after all of the sub-standard parts that were in the one I installed on my old CJ. The linked lift uses shackles and an AAL. Its better to get a full-leaf pack, but it would work for a bit. Rough Country shocks are LOW quality. Also a proper extended track-bar rather than the relocation bracket in that kit is a good idea.
Rusty’s and Rough Crap are lower quality, lower cost lifts.
Rubicon Express, RockCrawler are both good quality, reasonably priced.
BDS and OME are both extremely good lifts, but their prices reflect that…..
3-3.5" lifts are the extremely limit of the drive shaft angles. The minimum additions would be either hi-angle driveshafts or a rear SYE kit.(around $500 together). Also taller than 3.5" you need look at a kit that includes upper control arms to go with the lower control arms.
Save a few more dollars get a Rubicon Express 3.5" Super-Flex. Very good working lift.
Look into Rubicon Express for a real lift kit, they also have a hardcore long arm kit. If you just want a little lift to fit bigger tires look for Rustys Budget Boost. These guys are for real, I was first at their shop in Sacramento10yrs ago and they ALL drove badass chrerokees for real trails like the Rubicon.
OME or BDS would be my choices too. Check the link below. 10 pts to Howey.