want your opinion

taco502 · Oct 31, 2003

I've been lurking for a while trying to figure out what to do with the 97 I just bought, don't have extreme dough and don't want to mess with death wobble. here's what I came up with.

2"s and 32's sounds good, I'm thinking 1" spacer (already have spacer), 5.2 ZJ coils (not up country) in front, then in back a Dakota leaf pack and MJ shackles should put me at 2"s all around, hack as much fender as possible with retaining dignified look and cover with TJ flares. Tranny drop if neccesary (cheap) then toss 32's on stock rims. also fabbing front and rear bumper and rear swing out tire mount. all on a 97.

opinions on this set-up? I want to get started.

Eagle · Oct 31, 2003

Well ... you asked:

I think 32's are too big for that setup. 32s on OEM rims are going to rub like crazy on the LCAs, and in the back you won't get any compression travel at all w/o rubbing unless you do MASSIVE trimming.

IMHO if you want to limit the lift to 2" you should be thinking 31s, especially on stock rims.

89xj · Oct 31, 2003

are you worried about death wobble or drive train vibration. death wobble can happen on your jeep, lifted or not. 97's are notorious for drive train vibration when lifted, not DW.

Rev Den · Oct 31, 2003

IMO....
Leave it stock hieght, add skid plates, rocker protection, hooks, and a TAD. Get a little bigger tire, maybe 30's, with a good AT tread. You will go 90% of the places everyone else does.

JMHO

Rev

DARKFLY · Oct 31, 2003

i thought that dakota leafs gave you up to 4.5" lift?

BUCKYXJ · Oct 31, 2003

taco502 said:
I've been lurking for a while trying to figure out what to do with the 97 I just bought, don't have extreme dough and don't want to mess with death wobble. here's what I came up with.

2"s and 32's sounds good, I'm thinking 1" spacer (already have spacer), 5.2 ZJ coils (not up country) in front, then in back a Dakota leaf pack and MJ shackles should put me at 2"s all around, hack as much fender as possible with retaining dignified look and cover with TJ flares. Tranny drop if neccesary (cheap) then toss 32's on stock rims. also fabbing front and rear bumper and rear swing out tire mount. all on a 97.

opinions on this set-up? I want to get started.

First the Dakota leaf pack I got 4.5" out of using all the dakota leafs and the dakota main leaf with the eyes cut off and with the mj shackle you will be around 5". You could mix and match and get the height you want just try different combos.
Not sure on the ZJ coils I think that should put you around 2" with the 1" spacers. I have 31s on stock rims and I think they work perfect. I can go anywhere I need with them. Just my opinion I would go 3" and 31s. I started at 2" and 30s then 3" and 31s and now at 5" and 31s going to 33s or 35s at tax time. DIG IT!

BrianJr · Oct 31, 2003

When I started I was given the same advice Rev gave. I have found it to have been sound advice. You would be surprised where a stock XJ can go if you are careful. My little stock XJ has surprised people a couple of times (especially me). Even with sagging rear springs it continues to perform very well.

Don't go light on the armor. I went with Tomken bumpers, front and rear, and 2X4 rock rails. The bumpers have paid for themselves many times over. (wet clay and ice is very slick) Plus both of these bumpers have receiver hitches - which can be a big help when you do get stuck.

-Brian

Rev Den said:
IMO....
Leave it stock hieght, add skid plates, rocker protection, hooks, and a TAD. Get a little bigger tire, maybe 30's, with a good AT tread. You will go 90% of the places everyone else does.

JMHO

Rev

xj92 · Oct 31, 2003

I like your plan for the front, I think you're correct that you'd get about 2" from that. You can probably put 32's on with 2" , but be prepared to cut quite a bit and get longer bumpstops (hockeypucks), not sure how dignified it will look, you might want to stick with 31's. 32's on stock rims will limit your turning radius quite a bit.

The rear is another story. I think you'll get much more lift than you plan on. Why not keep your XJ pack and just use the main leaf off of a Dakota pack as an AAL for your pack? You can't cut as much in the rear usually either(without having to re-weld the pinch seam), so the tires will be a close fit.

woodrock03 · Oct 31, 2003

Please excuse my ignorance, but what does "TAD" stand for?

Thanks

Rev Den · Oct 31, 2003

Traction Adding Diff.

Rev

Ghost · Oct 31, 2003

Locker!!

Lock-right, Detroit, ARB $$$, Etc.! I have the Lock-Right and am very happy with it!

taco502 · Oct 31, 2003

Thanks for all the response, I think 31's will suffice so front 1" spacer + 5.2ZJ coils. Rear I found some Commanche shackles I'll add to a dakota main leaf (cut off eyes). hopefully this will give me 2" all around. then TJ flares when I buy the tires. will I want the 1" tranny drop? and will I need new shocks? brake lines? a wire fed MIG will take care of the armor.
here's my 97 Tacoma I recently sold, I did the lift, sliders and bobbed flatbed, doors are on pins.

taco502 · Nov 1, 2003

bump for 2" final plan approval: 1" spacer, 5.2 ZJ coils, mj shackle, 1 Dakota main leaf, cut fenders, TJ flares, 31's, t-case drop.

yes?

Eagle · Nov 1, 2003

taco502 said:
bump for 2" final plan approval: 1" spacer, 5.2 ZJ coils, mj shackle, 1 Dakota main leaf, cut fenders, TJ flares, 31's, t-case drop.

yes?

Do the lift and transfer case drop first. If you stick with 31s on OEM rims you may not need to trim at all.

xj92 · Nov 1, 2003

You PROBABLY won't need a t-case drop if you only net 2", but you never know on the newer style. If you end up putting a drop in, try to get a way with 1/2" instead of 1". The more clearance the better.

want your opinion

taco502

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Eagle

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89xj

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Rev Den

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DARKFLY

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BUCKYXJ

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xj92

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Ghost

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taco502

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