Which lift should I get?

[jeepguy]

I have a 97 XJ, that just turned 70,000 miles. I am planning to lift it this spring. I have decided on the 3" Rustys lift w/ spring pack. I was figuring on going with 31" tires. I noticed that the 4.5" Rustys lift is 250 bucks more. Should I just go 4.5? Here is the thing, I have never done any wheeling, and I dont know if I should start small. This is my DD, so I want it to ride OK on the road. Also, with 4.5, do I need diff gears etc? Will it wind up being much more money in the end? (250 more for the lift, bigger tires cost more too....32's are what I would need I guess) Are there other additional costs Im not thinking about? If I wind up loving the wheeling.....and Im sure I will.....I dont want to regret only going 3". Then again, I am a total newbie. Do I need to earn my stripes? Also, what will I need to spend for skid plates etc. Any thougts? Cost is a concern. I cant go too nuts. Thanks for any thoughts, and I hope to meet some of you this Saturday.
D.

[bluerocket]

In my experiance your best going with a 3" lift which replaces the full rear springpack (not add a leaf). If you decide to go bigger you can easily do a shackle + spacer 2" lift on top of it.

3" VS 4.5"

3":
lift can be bought relativly cheaply
New tracbar not required
Stock brakelines ok
Tcase drop probably needed.

4.5":
Lift costs more due to extra parts
Tracbar nessicary
Extended Brakelines
SYE + new driveshaft most likely needed (~$500 with driveshaft)


There's my .02

[mmagnumpi9]

Once you go bigger then a few inches the costs start adding up. Figure out where you're going and do it right the first time.

[dsgray16]

Like you said, you havent really wheeled and you want a good DD. I say start off at 3 and 31's and see how you like that on and off road. If it leaves you wanting more add shackles and spacers and 32's or 33's. But , like you assumed, this hobby gets expenicive FAST, so keep that in mind.

hope that hepls some

[chrometj]

32s are also going to stick out a lot, that will run you into the money of flares, that is if you dont want to get trouble from inspection stations and police officers (expecially if youre a kid!)
...depending on the rear axle, 35 or 8.25, id be hesitant about running anything over 32 inch tires, 8.25 youll be fine but the 35 is iffy...also you will notice a HUGE power loss going to 32 inch tires, considering you probably have 3.55 ring and pinion gears, to replace gears is VERY expensive, not to mention with 4.5 youll prolly want to get an Slip yolk eliminator and new driveshaft(SYE)

personally, go for a cheapish 3 inch lift, because after a while youll want to jack it up more, expecially after you see dsgray and bluerockets cherokees! haha

3 inch is a good lift size to run 31s, id do that, bf goodrich all terrain kos are great tires, 31x10.5 on some sort of rockcrawler black wheel (30 bucks per wheel) would be a great combo, also get sway bar disconnects for the front, this will greatly enhance suspension travel, you really dont need a sway bar in the rear since it is leaf spring...but thats up to your decision...

get a used 3" kit, if you can find it...someone going to a bigger size is the person to get the lift from, lots of people also sell 31x10.5s since they lift their TJ's (this is the biggest stock tire you can fit on a TJ), so there are always a lot of 31s for sale for a lot cheaper than new

other forum's sales sections (or this one..even though its relatively small)are great places to start looking for suspension components and tires

id go 3" with 31s, with swaybar discos...wheel it and see if you like it!!!

[dsgray16]

Its a 97 so he should have a 29 spline 8.25

32x11.50's will stick out but dont wast your time with 32's(speaking from exp) go right to 33x12.50s and have them stick out more, you may as well

of course this is after you wheel 31's and decide how much money you really want to throw at this expencive as F*** hobby

[jeepguy]

Thanks guys! I think I will go with Rustys 3" lift w/ spring pack. Thanks again.