I'm going to be doing a custom longarm on my wussy soccer mom Jeep soon, and I want to clear 35-15.50 TSL SX's. Everyone on <IMG SRC="smilies/rainbow.gif" border="0">JU <IMG SRC="smilies/rainbow.gif" border="0"> is telling me over 8" is too topheavy for Coil springs...what do you REAL men think?

Please don't hurt me, I'm just a kid.

I may look like a complete newbe but im not i have had many a screen names here so ignore that fact so nobody start with the <IMG SRC="smilies/thefinger.gif" border="0">
now... i believe there is too much lift for a rock crawler but as for a mud runner it doesnt really matter. if your only gunna put in 35s you maynot want to go so high cus you may look funny sitting so high with tiny looking tire...35s are not the largest things in the world. look at other lift kits to see what they suggest on tire to lift comparison
by the way why say you have a whussy jeep ...jeeps are not whussy .. they may just be stock hahahaha <IMG SRC="smilies/bounce.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/bounce2.gif" border="0">
is this a mom or a kid

Its a ZJ (Grand Cherokee)..not a TJ. It'll be for the trails, and stuff like Moab...not mud bogs..

Its not stock...but damn close...2" spacers, 31x10.50 BF muds I gotfor cheap used, disconnects, and thats about it. I do have a Trail Ready front bumper coming, and Im about to make my own rocker guards and rear bumper w/ tire carrier.

Thanks

ya i read your posts i knew what it was and everything i wrote goes for just about all 4x4 all the same i forgot to mention that you dont want to get something now and then upgrade it later it is just a pain in the <IMG SRC="smilies/jeep1.gif" border="0"> so just save up and go for the big stuff

I would say 8 should be your max. I have 5.5 on a XJ and run 34's (35 baja claws) I think you would be better off breakin out the saw zaw and doing some cutting rather than raising you CG more that it needs to be.

personally i think 8" is too tall for a zj or xj for that matter. that is just me. with that much lift and flexy suspenion your asking for trouble. sure you might not care if you roll but with that unibody roll it once and chances are its done.

jj

JJchgo, I completely agree. I was in the same dilemma with my XJ (bought as our 3rd Jeep). I did a little work to it, skid plates, mild lift, bigger tires, and took it offroad twice to Clayton, OK. After the second trip, I realized that if anything happened like what I do with the other Jeeps that it was going to be REALLY costly, losts of broken glass and probably a totalled XJ. We still have the XJ, and use it when the whole family goes out, but for real wheelin' I bought a CJ and later a TJ.

Buat out the saw/torch/plasma cutter and cut the fenders. 8" seems awfully tall and no reason to go that tall. I lik to keep vehicles low for stability, hell I plan on running 5-6" lift and 38.5's but then again toyotas can run 32's stock

I would say 5-7 inches is about optimal for and XJ, and a ZJ for that matter. My XJ is at 6.5 and have been on my side twice in the last ten days. So far just sheet metal damage, but structural damage would be costly!

I would say go about 6 in. and sawzall for 35 & above. <IMG SRC="smilies/usa.gif" border="0">

I agree w/ tornadoTJ ...

i too had a nice SUV w a mild lift... came home with the rear bumpers in the truck a couple of times...

work the numbers a bit ... what if you spend the cost to lift the GC to buy a cheap 4x4 (say a samurai)... and you can beat the snot out of it and it will go everywhere the GC goes...

later
alfred

Kelly, I think 35-15.5's are too wide of a tire for the trails around here. When my 35-14.5's wear out I'm going with some 36-12.5 SX's or 37-13 boggers. And yeah, 8" of lift is a lot. You should be able to clear some 35-12.5's or 36-12.5's with 6" lift or so and some serious trimming. BUT, if you don't want to do a lot of trimming, you might need 8" to clear 'em

Wussy ZJ

Milkman, has 10 inches of lift on his XJ and runs 36's But he had to do alot of cuttin to get them to fit. He had to use TJ flares.

His suspension flexes more than most. And has only rolled one time. But it was big.
He smashed the A pilar, and destroyed the rear gate.

But if you want to go 35's You are for sure going to have to go at least 6" lift on a ZJ.

dont forget with the tall springs they settle. and mine settled after about 2 weeks. I lost about 1 inch. And I have the RE 6" springs. so with 8" springs you will loose about 1 1/2 inches of lift after it settles. I say If you dont mind the ZJ's allignment never being correct again, and dont mind cutting. do it.

If you want it to be streetable. only go with a 6" spring and no spacers.

Any more than 6" and your ZJ will wonder all over the road. You will never be able to keep it straight. Unless you replace the front end. the ZJ has a very similar suspension to the TJ and my Tj drives ok, But not great on the road. Just some more to think about. How much do you wheel it and how much do you drive on the road. You should look for a happy medium.

If you really want big tires, You are going to have to pay the price.

"if you really want big tires you are going to have to pay the price"

Yea, as in get something else to wheel. <IMG SRC="smilies/tongue.gif" border="0">

That's what I did.

Originally posted by Alfred:
<STRONG>I agree w/ tornadoTJ ...

i too had a nice SUV w a mild lift... came home with the rear bumpers in the truck a couple of times...

work the numbers a bit ... what if you spend the cost to lift the GC to buy a cheap 4x4 (say a samurai)... and you can beat the snot out of it and it will go everywhere the GC goes...

later
alfred</STRONG>

it will go everywhere the ZJ gpoes... and alot more!!

TJRider, I thought for a mud runner the idea was to go for the biggest tire with the least lift ( IE mass amounts of fender trimming ). Look at all of the mud boggers, their fenders as usually trimmed to hell.

yes i agree that fender trimming is good for old cheaper mud runners but with newer vehiclee i dont like cutting fenders i know many think im insane for that but thats just my personal prefference

WHAT!?!?! YA BUNCH OF FREAKIN FRUITS! There is no such thing as too much lift...only TOO NARROW a rig! DUH!
Get a Massey-Lift 12inchs of BIG FURY!
Go <IMG SRC="smilies/massey.gif" border="0"> or Go Home! <IMG SRC="smilies/wink.gif" border="0">

Get a set of 38's w/ your 8in coil over lift and trim the fenders, and ditch those pink panties you're wearin sissy boy! <IMG SRC="smilies/tongue.gif" border="0"> lol

I got that "It'll be too top heavy" crap when I was talking about 4in springs SOA with my 2in body lift and 1in shackles(2 years ago)...and now what...YEA It's all the rage! COME AWN! Remember when my idea of a 60 up front was overkill!?!?!(2 years ago) uh huh!!!
Nostridomus=Mass-tridomus! <IMG SRC="smilies/massey.gif" border="0">

[ 10-11-2001: Message edited by: massey2kill Osama bin Ladin ]

Just do what makes more sense, chop off all that ridiculous coil stuff and convert to leafs <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> You know you want to!
Scott <IMG SRC="smilies/grinpimp.gif" border="0"><><

Originally posted by TJRider:
<STRONG>yes i agree that fender trimming is good for old cheaper mud runners but with newer vehiclee i dont like cutting fenders i know many think im insane for that but thats just my personal prefference</STRONG>

WTF? You will take it out on the rocks and bash the hell out of it but won't do a little trimming? Mud runners? HAHAHA! I don't think there are many mud runners on this website!

Originally posted by TJ Chicky:
<STRONG>Hell yeah Massey!! Here is a <IMG SRC="smilies/beer.gif" border="0"> to you.
If your afraid of lifting your rig to high, roll overs, breaking glass, body damage, fender trimmin, & totaling a unibody then.....you people shouldn't lift your rig or be behind the wheel. <IMG SRC="smilies/thefinger.gif" border="0">

I was told that if you roll there ain't a damn thing you can do about it. Most roll overs are due to drivers error. If you worry about the lil shit then you'll never have any fun. <IMG SRC="smilies/wink.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/tongue.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/beer.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/beer.gif" border="0"></STRONG>

i dont think its a matter of being scared...its a matter of being smart. when you paying $400+ a month for totalled rig come back and sing the the same song <IMG SRC="smilies/rolleyes.gif" border="0">


jjchgo

fyi, when you total something your making payments on, the insurance company doesnt pay off what you owe. they pay off what they think the auto is worth and your stuck with the rest of the bill. <IMG SRC="smilies/eek.gif" border="0">

Well I've decided to stick to 6.5" or so, and 33x12.50 MT/R's. I'd rather get my 9" in, and get a 231. The 249 just doesn't cut it.
Thanks for all the help, and yes, I am a pussy. I drive a ZJ after all <IMG SRC="smilies/wink.gif" border="0">.

By the way, at 6.5", with a longarm front and rear, I won't have alignment problems. Guy who's building these things is at 8", and his is perfect.

See you all in Moab next summer...then tell me my ZJ sucks ya <IMG SRC="smilies/rainbow.gif" border="0"> 's.

Originally posted by jjchgo:
<STRONG>
fyi, when you total something your making payments on, the insurance company doesnt pay off what you owe. they pay off what they think the auto is worth and your stuck with the rest of the bill. <IMG SRC="smilies/eek.gif" border="0"></STRONG>
Fret over this dilema no more..next time ask your lender about Gap Insurance to cover the difference.
Just lookin out for ya so you don't have to be "scared". lol

Originally posted by massey2kill Osama bin Ladin:
<STRONG>Originally posted by jjchgo:

fyi, when you total something your making payments on, the insurance company doesnt pay off what you owe. they pay off what they think the auto is worth and your stuck with the rest of the bill. <IMG SRC="smilies/eek.gif" border="0"></STRONG>
Fret over this dilema no more..next time ask your lender about Gap Insurance to cover the difference.
Just lookin out for ya so you don't have to be "scared". lol

Hey..atleast I'm broke, and its payed for.

Wussy ZJ, Since you dont have a whole lot of mods into the ZJ already. I would strongly suggest building a different kind of rig. The lift and tire size is doable but it will come at a tremendous price. Build a wrangler or a ZUK. You can build a YJ that can do anything for about the price it will cost to do the long arm and get the steering dialed in. XJs and ZJs wheel great but it costs a ton of money to get to that bigdog level. I have a really built XJ. I love it but I take alot of body damage running the hard trails and the tough lines just because of the size of the rig. I would never build another unibody or SUV type rig. If you choose to go the hardcore route with a ZJ it will be a long expensive road that can end in a minute when the ruck goes turtle. It is also alot easier to drive SWB without doors. Good luck. You get alot more for your money building a SWB rig. Build a decent looking beater and get a tow rig. think twice. good luck RobK

Originally posted by Wussy ZJ:
[QB]Well I've decided to stick to 6.5" or so, and 33x12.50 MT/R's.[QB]

6.5" of lift and 33" tires ?!?!? Damn one of my wheeling buddies has 35" tires on 5" of lift on his ZJ. Just hack your fenders and run 35"X12.5" tires on 6.5" of lift. That shouldn't be a problem at all. Here is a pic of how it is done on a ZJ:
http://wsphotofews.excite.com/036/D1/nw/V2/Xf53447.jpg

Here is a pic of my hacked XJ:
http://www.fototime.com/ftweb/bin/ft.dll/standard?pictid={2766F24D-00FF-467F-B08C-BCD5E748AE10}

Hey Rob, while I would probably agree on the merits I doubt that you can build a YJ ready to tackle anything for ~2k. For a trailbeater yea it does make a lot of sense but building up a hardcore trail rig is not exaclty cheap either. You may cry less if you roll but that's about it. Wussy ZJ, I'm not sure what your O/R aspirations are but there is a whole range of trails between the dirtroad and ARCA competitions and they're just as exciting. In the long run I'll probably get a CJ to do some crazy-ass sh!t but until then I'm enjoying myself just as much. 8" lift and some 35/36's are floating around my head as well with pretty much the same concerns as yours but with ~6" and 33's you can do a lot of stuff without necessarily beating your rig to a pulp and w/long arms you can get yourself to the trail and back without terror in your eyes.

Xenodank, ultimately this is the best way to go, tho in this particular case I think Nate is in the league of his own <IMG SRC="smilies/wink.gif" border="0">

<IMG SRC="smilies/beer.gif" border="0">

[ 10-14-2001: Message edited by: Jeepin' Wolf ]

wow my jeep, I'm famous! I just did that cause people say it can't be done, don't be a bitch, cut your fenders and run some real tires, 35's aren't that big!!! Hell read the jeep talk mission statement, 36's aren't THAT big!!! Just if you want to lift 8" you should be running 37's!
-Nate

Originally posted by Xenodank:
Here is a pic of my hacked XJ:
http://www.fototime.com/ftweb/bin/ft.dll/standard?pictid={2766F24D-00FF-467F-B08C-BCD5E748AE10} [/QB]

Damn that thing looks like brand new compared to my 99 XJ! <IMG SRC="smilies/laughing.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/laughing.gif" border="0">

Originally posted by TJ Chicky:
<STRONG>Damn that thing looks like brand new compared to my 99 XJ! <IMG SRC="smilies/laughing.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/laughing.gif" border="0"></STRONG>

Well quater panel by quarter panel it is starting to look like an 80's beater.
http://www.fototime.com/ftweb/bin/ft.dll/standard?pictid={B4E4DAD2-B3D9-4235-A351-B6C6447A6F01}

LOL! Yeah, if you look hard enough, you might find a scratch in that last pic! <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

Originally posted by Xenodank:
[QB]Well quater panel by quarter panel it is starting to look like an 80's beater.[QB]

yah, thats a real trail beater ya got there....get some real body damage and come back in a month <IMG SRC="smilies/rolleyes.gif" border="0"> welcome newbie <IMG SRC="smilies/thefinger.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/thefinger.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/thefinger.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

Originally posted by BRBx4:
<STRONG>yah, thats a real trail beater ya got there....get some real body damage and come back in a month <IMG SRC="smilies/rolleyes.gif" border="0"> welcome newbie <IMG SRC="smilies/thefinger.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/thefinger.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/thefinger.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"></STRONG>

Yeah I figgured I would get that, I swear it looked bad in real life!!!!!! That is after I got dents out and I duct taped my back light back on. Don't worry though it will come all in good time.

[ 10-16-2001: Message edited by: Xenodank ]

I'm thinking I can get away with 33" SSR's (about 34"...almost the size of Nate Cannon's 35" PC muds) with just the 4.5" springs if I move the axles to the right spots with the long arm. Big tires (for a ZJ), small lift. Then I'll throw on some spacers and some 36x12.50 swampers. Hell, I just bought a new swazall.
My grandparents will shit when they see my Jeep when I'm done <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">.

Nate, finally took the doors off, eh???

were you able to finally end the controversy of the doors adding strength to the unibody???

(I really need to get out and wheel with you guys some more) <IMG SRC="smilies/rolleyes.gif" border="0">

<IMG SRC="smilies/usa.gif" border="0">

don't listen to these guys, they don't have a clue <IMG SRC="smilies/thefinger.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/thefinger.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/thefinger.gif" border="0">

no really, if you want to go to 35's take it as high as you can. they look sweet that high and can flex like mad. Keep in mind that your front axle won't hold up too long, you are going to have terrible driveline problems, and you will have to use a lot of custom parts. you could use 4.5 inch front coils, a front to rear, and chop to run 33's....or you could go up all the way.

<img src=http://www.autocolorado.com/Owners_Pictures/Select_a_Page_of_the_Gallery/Jeep_Gallery_Page_Six/P6P6/db3.jpg>
<img src=http://www.autocolorado.com/Owners_Pictures/Select_a_Page_of_the_Gallery/Jeep_Gallery_Page_Seven/P7P1/flexpipe.jpg>

Yeah right, if you want 35's your going to need 10-12" of lift so that you wont have to cut any metal <IMG SRC="smilies/thefinger.gif" border="0"> Seriously the best way to figure out lift is to find the tire size you want, trim, and use the smallest lift that will let the tires stuff fully. This gives you the lowest center of gravity (GOOD THING). If you want a better approach angle get rid of the crappy plastic bumpers. If you have good rocker guards, skid plates and lockers you'll beable to do most stuff. IMOHO, 35's are pushing it for the Dana30, I dont know much about the strength of the alum rear D44. If you really want to be a big dog ZJ get some $$$$ and strip the t-case and axles, det a AtlasII, full width(65+") HP 60's, custom long arm control arms, coil-overs, and a fullcage + trussing to stiffen the chassis. Even after all this sombody with a will built CJ, YJ, TJ, FJ will show you up some where thats just the way it is. Oh yeah and with all the $ you have spent you could have built a non-streetable buggy and would have had a ZJ to tow with. Not that I want to tell anyone what to do <IMG SRC="smilies/thefinger.gif" border="0"> http://www.pirate4x4.com/ubb/uploads/jeeprocks.jpg
My heep for the time being. <IMG SRC="smilies/skull.gif" border="0">

[ 10-17-2001: Message edited by: Eddie Mcstiff ]