96 cherokee
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96 cherokee
I am looking to purchase a suspension lift for my 96 Jeep Cherokee. Any suggestions on brands and why?
I am looking to lift the jeep between 5 and 6.5 inches depending on the lift. I am not afraid of fabrications work and I do plan on getting chassis reinforcement rails.
Also do you guys have any suggestion on a 4 link or a 3 link suspension set up?
I am looking to lift the jeep between 5 and 6.5 inches depending on the lift. I am not afraid of fabrications work and I do plan on getting chassis reinforcement rails.
Also do you guys have any suggestion on a 4 link or a 3 link suspension set up?
Last edited by pcparas on Fri Dec 14, 2012 2:18 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- BadAssEddie
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Re: 96 cherokee
Build your own rear leaf packs, buy some used lift coils off CL or Pirate, make new panhard bar and draglink out of tube, lengthend dshafts, buy some used bilsteins, and viloa! You got a lift and probably saved a good deal of money with not that much time or effort.
I'm just shoting from the hip though, Stables, what did you do when you lifted your Cherokee on the cheap?
I'm just shoting from the hip though, Stables, what did you do when you lifted your Cherokee on the cheap?
1969 Cadillac Deville 7.7 Big Block
1978 Ford F-150 6.4 FE
1993 Ford Bronco 5.8 Windsor
1994 Ford F-250 7.3 Powerstroke
2016 Ford F-250 6.7 Powerstroke
1978 Ford F-150 6.4 FE
1993 Ford Bronco 5.8 Windsor
1994 Ford F-250 7.3 Powerstroke
2016 Ford F-250 6.7 Powerstroke
- Matt612
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Re: 96 cherokee
DO NOT DO THATBadAssEddie wrote:Build your own rear leaf packs, buy some used lift coils off CL or Pirate, make new panhard bar and draglink out of tube, lengthend dshafts, buy some used bilsteins, and viloa! You got a lift and probably saved a good deal of money with not that much time or effort.
I'm just shoting from the hip though, Stables, what did you do when you lifted your Cherokee on the cheap?

Alec I don't thing they are going for the Stables style budget Xj....From talking to yall at the meeting seems like yall have some money to work with. I would definitely recommend doing frame stiffeners from the get go so later on if yall want to fab your own linked suspension the uni-body is ready to go. I would check out Rock Krawler they make some really nice long arm kits and they also offer rear 4 link kits with coil conversion. I have owned a 5.5" rubicon express long armed xj and it was awesome. Rode excellent on the road and worked great off road. The only long arm kit I would stay away from is Iron-rock off-road, I heard bad things about the camber adjustment y-link setup.
Really any of the big names will be great, depends on what you want to spend.. I would recommend a clayton kit or rubicon express bolt on 5.5 or 6.5" long arm kit, spend the money on nice shocks, bilsteins are popular, then you will have to do an SYE kit with driveshaft, longer brakelines and some new wheels and tires.
Alll the kits come with everything you need, so no need to fab up panhard or drag link unless you really want to. My xj was pretty much a 100% bolt on kit and it worked great.
2 door xj with booger welds
- BadAssEddie
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Re: 96 cherokee
Lol, freal, dont. I was saying that just in the spirit of promoting fabrication and half making fun of Stables.Matt612 wrote:DO NOT DO THAT![]()
I agree with everything Matt said.
I'd do a LA kit in the front right off the bat as well. They offer some nice stuff out there and I second that Matt's green XJ was a great example of bolt-on rig quality and function.
1969 Cadillac Deville 7.7 Big Block
1978 Ford F-150 6.4 FE
1993 Ford Bronco 5.8 Windsor
1994 Ford F-250 7.3 Powerstroke
2016 Ford F-250 6.7 Powerstroke
1978 Ford F-150 6.4 FE
1993 Ford Bronco 5.8 Windsor
1994 Ford F-250 7.3 Powerstroke
2016 Ford F-250 6.7 Powerstroke
Re: 96 cherokee
BadAssEddie wrote:Lol, freal, dont. I was saying that just in the spirit of promoting fabrication and half making fun of Stables.Matt612 wrote:DO NOT DO THAT![]()
I agree with everything Matt said.
I'd do a LA kit in the front right off the bat as well. They offer some nice stuff out there and I second that Matt's green XJ was a great example of bolt-on rig quality and function.

what matt said and buy these five 33's in my garage
John
DD-05 F150/Lariat 4dr/5.4/dual exhaust
Beater-Free 1988 XJ/~4"s10 leaf & 4.5"coils/long arms/35s
Trail-1984 s10 blazer/350/700r4/D44 & D60 welded/workin on highsteer
Sold!-1991 s10 blazer/4.3/bodylift/camaro rims/2.5 exhaust
DD-05 F150/Lariat 4dr/5.4/dual exhaust
Beater-Free 1988 XJ/~4"s10 leaf & 4.5"coils/long arms/35s
Trail-1984 s10 blazer/350/700r4/D44 & D60 welded/workin on highsteer
Sold!-1991 s10 blazer/4.3/bodylift/camaro rims/2.5 exhaust
Re: 96 cherokee
33's? wheels and tires? What brands and how much?
Does anyone have anything bad to say about BDS Lift kits? I liked the look of the kit and have read some good things?
Does anyone have anything bad to say about BDS Lift kits? I liked the look of the kit and have read some good things?
- MtnManMatt
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Re: 96 cherokee
5 practically new ProComp Mud Terrains mounted on nice shiny Mickey Thompson Classic Lock Aluminum 15" Wheels 5x4.5... They'd be beautifully right at home on any XJ!!!pcparas wrote:33's? wheels and tires? What brands and how much?

Could probably get more for em, but how bout 1300 for the whole set?
'03 TJ on Bronco Axles and 37s
'96 XJ Country DD on 32s
'96 KLX650c on my driveway
'96 XJ Country DD on 32s
'96 KLX650c on my driveway
- Matt612
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Re: 96 cherokee
I have no experience with BDS but I just checked out there kit and it looks really nice. The transfer case cross member with integraded control arm mounts looks really similar to my rubicon express set up. Overall that kit looks super nice. You thinking 6.5" longarm?pcparas wrote:33's? wheels and tires? What brands and how much?
Does anyone have anything bad to say about BDS Lift kits? I liked the look of the kit and have read some good things?
2 door xj with booger welds
- Matt612
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Re: 96 cherokee
Matt seriously... $1300 let alone more!MtnManMatt wrote:5 practically new ProComp Mud Terrains mounted on nice shiny Mickey Thompson Classic Lock Aluminum 15" Wheels 5x4.5... They'd be beautifully right at home on any XJ!!!pcparas wrote:33's? wheels and tires? What brands and how much?![]()
Could probably get more for em, but how bout 1300 for the whole set?

2 door xj with booger welds
Re: 96 cherokee
We are definitely giving the truck long arms. The size of the lift depends on the kit, whats available and whats best for the truck. Do you have any opinion on the size of a lift? the pros and cons?
- Matt612
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Re: 96 cherokee
I always like a lower stance.. to keep center of gravity low.. my 98 xj had the 5.5 LA kit and 35s.. I really liked the stance and it worked great.. it required some fender trimming but most do. I would stick with either a 5.5 or 6.5 kit and run 35s or a 4.5" kit with 33s. Both will require trimming. Are yall planning on re-gearing the axles? If not I would say stick with 33s. I will post of some pictures of my old jeep for reference and some other jeeps I have had. with trimming you can runs 35s with 4.5" lift.pcparas wrote:We are definitely giving the truck long arms. The size of the lift depends on the kit, whats available and whats best for the truck. Do you have any opinion on the size of a lift? the pros and cons?
2 door xj with booger welds
- Matt612
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Re: 96 cherokee
5.5" rubicon express with 35" km2s




my 96 4.5" with 35" baja claws






my 96 4.5" with 35" baja claws


2 door xj with booger welds
- Matt612
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Re: 96 cherokee
I should add that the teal one is long armed and the dark green one is short arms. Also its hard to tell much difference in lift height in the pictures.. I trimmed the fenders to much on the dark green one so it makes it look lift it has more lift than it does in my opinion
2 door xj with booger welds
Re: 96 cherokee
Both of those stances look good and I understand keeping the center of gravity low. 6.5 inches was on the edge of our lift range, but if we are going with BDS they offer 4.5 inches and 6.5 inches. I couldn't see much of an advantage of the 4.5 other than the lower CG. I figure with the extra 2 inches we would get more room for further improvements. Larger tires larger, axles, ect. In terms of gearing I think we are going to lift it, see what we decide on in terms of tires and go from there. I am pushing for lower gearing and more, but the suspension on the truck now is almost non existence (the leaf springs have inverted) so we are tackling that problem first. To many projects and not enough time or money!!!!!
- Matt612
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Re: 96 cherokee
The difference in 6.5 and 4.5 most likely wont even be noticeable in the center of gravity department, i just mentioned it for shits. 6.5 with 33s or 35s will be awesome I think. Lots of people do that size and tire combo and it looks great. Like you said you can always regear later on. Keep us posted over break on the progress. Start a build thread if yall get going on it.
2 door xj with booger welds