Sinking Creek 4WD Association

Hi i jsut got a xj and have a question about lift i was wondering if i could put this on "This Budget Boost is simple to install and easy on the budget. The new, Polyurethane Spacers replace the stock rubber spring insulators and add 1.5 of lift. It is ideal for 30 Inch tires" and then add this lift kit to it " The Rusty's 4.5 XJ suspension kit is a complete kit, everything needed to easily install a 32"" tire. With the use of Rusty's bump stops or Rusty's cut-out flares 33"" tires can be cleared. Rusty's has put together a package using soft spring rates & specific valve shocks, that will give you superior on road handling as well as world wide off road capabilities" i was hoping i could use both to get 6 inches of lift so i can use 33 or 34"" tires because i am going to put cut out flares on it and dont really want to go bigger then 34s and info would be great

Sounds like a good plan. Only problem I see is using the Rusty's track bar on the front. Go to www.naxja.org and search for Rusty's trac bar. There have been accounts of them breaking the "rod end" off just changing lanes on the freeway. My suggestion is to go with a Rubicon Express 5.5" superflex kit if you want the best performance out of a bought kit. Most of us on here with XJ's have built our kits from scratch using the for sale sections of NAXJA, JeepForum, or Jeeps Unlimited. Talk to shmoken875 on here, He built his 6" kit for not much money. Ctrow is another one who's good at building his own stuff that works really well. Hope that helped some and Happy Wheelin!

FYI, if you're planning to put on cut-out flares, you should be able to get away with narrow 33s or 34s on a 4.5" lift with a little bit of planning in regards to bumpstops.

Here are some pics of my old XJ:

33s(285/75 R16s) with 5" and fenders trimmed for bushwacker flares(took them off 'cause I thought they were ugly)


Different 33s and 5"

6" is too big for 33s in my opinion, save some money and your ride characteristics (I'm assuming you'd buy the short [control] arm lift) and just go with the 4.5" lift with trimmed fenders. As long as you get the kit with new leaf springs it'll sit higher than 4.5" anyways, my buddy's has rustys 4.5" for a few years now and it still sits well over 4.5". Also you may be able to call them and talk them into just keeping that crap trackbar and saving you some money off the cost. If you go that route you could either get a drop trackbar mount (which I ran with a stock trackbar on a 4-4.5" kit) or get a real adjustable trackbar. I'm biased to rockkrawler's trackbar because I have one, but its beef as hell; 1/4" mount, 3/4" heim, 1.25" solid stock bar.

for lift reference; this is a 6" (more like 5.5") lift with trimmed fenders and 35s, plenty of room, thats why I think you'd be better off with 4.5" and trimmed fenders.

Thanks for the all of the info. I wanted the 6 inches of lift was just to be safe but from what yall are saying there is not need for it with 33 or 34 inch tires guess i could jsut go with the 4.5 with bumpstops and the cutout flares. With 33 or 34s should i have to worry about replaceing motor or tranny parts due to strain or any other parts and what is the deal with the trac bar from rustys what is so bad about it

instead of a fordged rod end or "johnny joint" he uses a tie rod end and if you have very much flex it binds it and breaks the casting where it necks down to the threads. I can't tell you how many threads about it I've seen on NAXJA. I use a JKS adjustable track bar I bought from Kevin's Offroad. Its the single shear type mount but I really like the bar. I wish I had had the extra $$ when I bought it to get the double shear type with the custom frame bracket. Oh well, live and learn.

i'm running 6-6.5 inches and 35s. I'll be heading back to blacksburg today and i'll try to get some pics up at show u what i've done. If you wan to go cheap, stick to keeping it small (3in lift and 31s). I've come to find that the bigger u go no matter how cheap u try to be it drains your pocket. Even with 33s, you're looking at regearing on top of the lift. All that said, jonny joints are the shit and i'll post up my junk soon.

Thanks for the info cant wait to see your pics