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Post by Scott on Jul 26, 2009 10:07:09 GMT -5
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Post by DOUG® on Jul 26, 2009 10:59:52 GMT -5
I've heard good things about Rusty. What does Lou offer that would compare to it?
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Post by Scott on Jul 26, 2009 11:45:57 GMT -5
I've heard good things about Rusty. What does Lou offer that would compare to it? IDK, I'm going to call him this week.  |
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Post by Jon W on Jul 26, 2009 20:27:47 GMT -5
I've heard good things about Rusty. What does Lou offer that would compare to it? I do not hear good things about Rusty's and I'd recommend you stay away from them. I'm a firm believer "you get what you pay for" and if you buy a cheap lift there are lots of little things that will go wrong with it and/or your jeep. BDS has nice stuff... as does Rubicon Express. Unfortunately it is pretty pricey. If you want to run 33" tires I'd recommend a 4.5" lift, minimum (will still require fender trimming to fit 33" tires) - anything less and you'll have to do major trimming on the fenders. I think if you go 3" now you'll just want more later and you'll have to pay for it 2x. One reason to consider BDS - they offer a lifetime guarantee on their springs, so if they sag you can get them replaced for free! JW |
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Post by Scott on Jul 26, 2009 20:57:38 GMT -5
I figured I'd talk to Lou about BDS as that's one he carries.
If I go w/ a 4.5" lift I'd be at the point I'd have to start looking at LA's and also SYE's and so on.
As far as Rusty's goes I've heard they've changed many of their products do to customer complaints. "They've improved a lot" is the general word on NAXJ.
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Post by johnsxj on Jul 26, 2009 23:57:02 GMT -5
You'll also need to consider an adjustable track bar of some kind.
Don't waste $$ on one of those track bar relocation brackets that bolt into the axle side track bar bracket. if you were considering that route.
At 3" you can get away with relocating the front brake line brackets lower. Much taller than that you'll need longer brake lines.
4.5" you can possibly get away without an SYE if you shim the rear axle right (ran mine at that height for a couple years without one). A cheap fix for more spline engagement off the t-case is to use a slip yoke off a 2wd XJ (got a couple of them if you're interested)
Be prepared to have issues with the bolts for the rear springs (main eyes and shackle to uni-body). The bolts love to rust seize to the bushing sleeves and the blind nuts are known to pop their spot welds and just spin.
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Post by Jon W on Jul 27, 2009 13:49:22 GMT -5
I figured I'd talk to Lou about BDS as that's one he carries. If I go w/ a 4.5" lift I'd be at the point I'd have to start looking at LA's and also SYE's and so on. As far as Rusty's goes I've heard they've changed many of their products do to customer complaints. "They've improved a lot" is the general word on NAXJ. I've heard they've improved a lot too... I still wouldn't buy their stuff. I have considered their heavy-duty XJ crossmember as a replacement because I've dented up 2 stock ones and it would be a better base to weld brackets for my engine skid too (a project I haven't begun). You don't need to think about LAs with 4.5" of lift... You'd probably need adjustable LCAs though. I've been running (adjustable) short arms for 5 years w/ my 4.5" lift w/o any problems. 2x on what John said... Shimming may work... Hard to say though. The track bar will require adjustment, and an adjustable will work better. I think I've heard you can use YJ (stock) front brake lines for a moderate XJ lift - they're longer. Even w/ a 3" lift you may get vibes and need a tranny/t-case drop. JW |
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Post by johnsxj on Jul 27, 2009 19:07:19 GMT -5
Jon,
The Rugged Ridge XJ cross member is a nice piece.
That's probably one piece I might have gotten from Rusty's (how hard would it be for them to f-up a hard part?) but I figured I'd give my business to Lou.
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Post by Jon W on Jul 28, 2009 11:36:24 GMT -5
That's probably one piece I might have gotten from Rusty's (how hard would it be for them to f-up a hard part?) ;D That is kind of what I was thinking.... I'll check out Rugged Ridge's offerings... I have had a Skid Row engine/tranny skid collecting dust in my garage for a while... The DPG offroad belly skid I have doesn't work with it. I was thinking of trimming a bit from the DPG skid and adding some square tube to the front of the XJ crossmember to hold bolts for the engine/tranny skid (which will require some modding also)... A heavier crossmember would probably be easier to weld too, but I may only order it if I really have too since I have already got the existing (stock) crossmember setup for the belly skid plate. JW |
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Post by ZAEDOCK on Aug 4, 2009 8:11:46 GMT -5
That looks almost exactly like my '89 XJ. Same red exterior and also a 2 door 4.0L/auto. I am installing a 2" front spacer lift with already installed (from previous owner)replacement XJ coils and Rough Country add a leaves and shackles out back. It should give about a 2-3" lift. I plan to run 33" tires with some fender mods. I drove it to work a few times with the 33's and they only rub a little at full turn without the fender mods. Once I cut the fenders, they should fit very well. This will be Michaela's Jeep when she gets her license, unless she wants a Wrangler, in which case I'll have to build something else.
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Post by Scott on Aug 23, 2009 15:55:49 GMT -5
New steering wheel in, New rear axle seals in, new rear cover on (thanks to John for the cover), new rear shock on, need to hammer out the rh side nuts and install rh shock. need an air hammer (tomorrow). new gas tank is in.
Gotta get this thing going for the Rally! ;D
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Post by Scott on Sept 21, 2009 20:19:09 GMT -5
XJ is on da ROAD! Drove it around for a while today. Defiantly need to do an alignment and brake job. Rear brakes are crap!  |
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Post by smileyfish on Sept 21, 2009 21:01:39 GMT -5
is it going to the rally?
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Post by Scott on Sept 21, 2009 21:19:53 GMT -5
is it going to the rally? Maybe, we'll see how it does this week back/forth to work. Engine seems strong except for a hesitation when you nail it. |
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Post by Jon W on Sept 22, 2009 12:09:16 GMT -5
XJ is on da ROAD! Drove it around for a while today. Defiantly need to do an alignment and brake job. Rear brakes are crap! Convert them to discs with parts from a Grand Cherokee (WJ) D35. JW |
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