A few questions for my XJ - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum

gtx106 · 07-11-2007, 03:18 PM

I have a 87 2 door cherokee..as of now it sets on 33's, stock axles, and a 6 inch lift. Ive decided to go bigger with a long arm setup in the front and a 4 link rear. I have got a HP60 and a 14 bolt rear to handle the 38's that i plan to run.

Now my questions..Should I just buy the 9 inch long arm kit from rustys since its a simple bolt on and try and sell my 6 inch kit complete? Or, leave the front end together and build my own arms?

I also plan to get air shocks for the rear and eventually for the front, what length of travel would work best with what im wanting to do? 12, 14, 16?

Any help will be much appreciated! Thanks!

HardcorewannabeXJ · 07-11-2007, 03:36 PM

I would be going with a completely custom arm system and unibody plating for sure, the rusty's kit seems ok but I'm not sure you'd be able to get the correct mounting locations on the axles as the stock D30 the kit was designed for. and since you are linking the rear yo may as well do it all.

I'm going to be getting some 16" 2.5 Fox air shocks for the front of mine (and same in the rear when I get around to it)

Gotlift01 · 07-13-2007, 08:56 AM

I agree, I'd do all custom. I have that kit from Rusty's and I really do like it, but I think you'd be better off with something a little beefier with those axles and that big of a tire. I'd actually do something similar to Krawlers kit.....a 3 link in front would work a little better with full size axles.

Either that or check out Claytons stuff......they make some BEEFY ass shit! And I know guys have used there stuff and running full widths! I'm thinking about getting there coil conversion for the rear of mine.

offroader5 · 07-13-2007, 02:41 PM

IMO, just leave it at the same lift height. Just because your putting stronger and wider axles under it doesn't mean you want to go and make it all top heavy. There will be alot of trimming to be done and you'll have to stretch the WB alot to do so without compromising the rear door, but in the long run, I would rather have a lower CG rather than lifting it even higher just because I now have a much heavier axle on the ground.

I am in the process of doing the same thing...full widths and upsizing to either 38's or 40's. Mine already sits with an 8" kit on it which has settled nicely to around 7". My plan is to leave the height alone, stretch the WB, trim the sheetmetal as needed, and fine tune the bumpstops, to make the new rubber fit. Uptravel is overrated

HardcorewannabeXJ · 07-13-2007, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by offroader5

I am in the process of doing the same thing...full widths and upsizing to either 38's or 40's. Mine already sits with an 8" kit on it which has settled nicely to around 7". My plan is to leave the height alone, stretch the WB, trim the sheetmetal as needed, and fine tune the bumpstops, to make the new rubber fit. Uptravel is overrated

X2, I'm upsizing from 4.5" of lift to 7.5" roughly and putting 1 tons on 39.5" Iroks. Air shocks just cause they are cheap and easy to fab, as well as up travel being overrated

2" stretch front and a temporary 1" stretch rear until I got the time and money to link it. Lots of sheetmetal trimming.

gtx106 · 07-13-2007, 06:28 PM

I got lucky and found a 2 dr for $500 so I im gonna chop the body a few inches behind the doors and do away with the back seat. Plan to build a tube body for what Im chopping off. Correct me if im wrong but cant I decide my ride height with the air shocks? and..are the King's as good as the fox? If i remember right the kings seemed to be a little beefier for only like 20 bucks more??

ashmanjeepXJ · 07-14-2007, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gtx106

I got lucky and found a 2 dr for $500 so I im gonna chop the body a few inches behind the doors and do away with the back seat. Plan to build a tube body for what Im chopping off. Correct me if im wrong but cant I decide my ride height with the air shocks? and..are the King's as good as the fox? If i remember right the kings seemed to be a little beefier for only like 20 bucks more??

If you get air shocks you can adjust your ride height. Same with coil overs you can adjust the ride height (if running a tender coil or tripple rate)

I dont know the difference between kings and fox bands air shocks. I like coilovers 2.5in, much better shock, and more reliable. My buddie caught a rock on the shaft of an air shock it made a mark on the shaft, this ripped the bottom seal and let it depressurize. If you do Air shocks I would carry a Nitrogen tank with you. We had to go back to camp then lost too much time to finish the trail list.

Do custom links. You could look at ballisticfab.com or BTF style generic brackets to help speed things up.

Get 39s or 42s. 1tons can handle those..17in rims and some new 40in creapy crawlers would be way better then 38s.

gtx106 · 07-16-2007, 06:14 PM

Thanks everyone! I have started ordering the parts i need and im going to get some pipe this weekend!!

07-11-2007, 03:18 PM	#1 (permalink)
gtx106 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Member # 94433 Posts: 12	A few questions for my XJ I have a 87 2 door cherokee..as of now it sets on 33's, stock axles, and a 6 inch lift. Ive decided to go bigger with a long arm setup in the front and a 4 link rear. I have got a HP60 and a 14 bolt rear to handle the 38's that i plan to run. Now my questions..Should I just buy the 9 inch long arm kit from rustys since its a simple bolt on and try and sell my 6 inch kit complete? Or, leave the front end together and build my own arms? I also plan to get air shocks for the rear and eventually for the front, what length of travel would work best with what im wanting to do? 12, 14, 16? Any help will be much appreciated! Thanks!

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07-11-2007, 03:36 PM	#2 (permalink)
HardcorewannabeXJ Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Member # 84593 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 3,004	I would be going with a completely custom arm system and unibody plating for sure, the rusty's kit seems ok but I'm not sure you'd be able to get the correct mounting locations on the axles as the stock D30 the kit was designed for. and since you are linking the rear yo may as well do it all. I'm going to be getting some 16" 2.5 Fox air shocks for the front of mine (and same in the rear when I get around to it)

07-13-2007, 08:56 AM	#3 (permalink)
Gotlift01 Captain Insano Join Date: Jul 2006 Member # 76760 Location: Colorado Posts: 166	I agree, I'd do all custom. I have that kit from Rusty's and I really do like it, but I think you'd be better off with something a little beefier with those axles and that big of a tire. I'd actually do something similar to Krawlers kit.....a 3 link in front would work a little better with full size axles. Either that or check out Claytons stuff......they make some BEEFY ass shit! And I know guys have used there stuff and running full widths! I'm thinking about getting there coil conversion for the rear of mine.

07-13-2007, 02:41 PM	#4 (permalink)
offroader5 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Member # 35291 Location: Arizona Posts: 37	IMO, just leave it at the same lift height. Just because your putting stronger and wider axles under it doesn't mean you want to go and make it all top heavy. There will be alot of trimming to be done and you'll have to stretch the WB alot to do so without compromising the rear door, but in the long run, I would rather have a lower CG rather than lifting it even higher just because I now have a much heavier axle on the ground. I am in the process of doing the same thing...full widths and upsizing to either 38's or 40's. Mine already sits with an 8" kit on it which has settled nicely to around 7". My plan is to leave the height alone, stretch the WB, trim the sheetmetal as needed, and fine tune the bumpstops, to make the new rubber fit. Uptravel is overrated

07-13-2007, 06:28 PM	#6 (permalink)
gtx106 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Member # 94433 Posts: 12	I got lucky and found a 2 dr for $500 so I im gonna chop the body a few inches behind the doors and do away with the back seat. Plan to build a tube body for what Im chopping off. Correct me if im wrong but cant I decide my ride height with the air shocks? and..are the King's as good as the fox? If i remember right the kings seemed to be a little beefier for only like 20 bucks more??

07-16-2007, 06:14 PM	#8 (permalink)
gtx106 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Member # 94433 Posts: 12	Thanks everyone! I have started ordering the parts i need and im going to get some pipe this weekend!!