bigpoppax2 said:
I'm looking to lift an 01 XJ and am definately a newbie to Jeeps. I want to fit a 32x11.50. I have done some research and seen that people seem to like the Rubicon Express 3.5". Can the 32's be done on say 3.75" of backspacing?
Short answer... nope. Long answer, maybe. It depends on how much fender trimming you're willing to do. If you want it to look relatively stock, probably not, but if you're will to cut away a good portion of the fender including the stock mounting holes, then you might get 32s to tuck in there.
The XJ wants to have wheels with a backspacing of 4.5". My wheels are 3.75" and they stick out too much and they rub where they shouldn't. The good news is that Rockrawler steel wheels only cost about $45ea.
Suggestion... buy used parts. I bought RE rear leaves, front springs and could have bought RE control arms if I wasn't in a hurry to get the heep fixed up for Moab last year. Shop around. People are always getting inchitis and selling their old lift parts. What you can't find used, buy new.
Second suggestion... get your lift installed first. Then trim your fenders. Only then go shopping for tires. Go to a good tire store that will work with you and see what size tires actually fit on your already lifted and trimmed rig.
Do people have vibration problems with 3.5" lifts?
Yes. Emphatically YES! Especially on the newer XJs. Plan on adding a SYE into your budget. If you're doing all the labor yourself, an RE hack n' tap kit and driveshaft will only cost you $330. While it's nice to have a heavy duty tailshaft, if you have a NP242 transfer case, there is no heavy duty tailshaft available.
What are the drawbacks to said lift
You have a low pinion D30 on your '01. The more you lift it, the more you might run into front vibe or driveshaft problems. You might want to consider getting a HP D30 in there.
You
WILL need a SYE. Stop asking for opinions on whether or not you will experience driveline vibrations.
YOU WILL. The only question is to what degree and how long will your driveline tolerate the vibrations before critical components begin to break.
I have about a 1200 dollar budget.
Have you factored in rock rails, front & rear tow points and skid plates into your budget? If you plan on wheeling this rig, you are going to need the protection. With luck, you can find factory tow hooks and hitches in a junk yard. Maybe even a factory gas tank skid plate, but you will need rocker panel and transfer case protection.
Lift, tires, wheels, maybe some flares. And down the road I'll do some steel bumpers. All self installed.
Bravo on being able to self install everything. You'll save a lot on labor costs.
Oh, by the way... you do realize that when you fit the 32s on that your heep will run like a pig? Have you considered the fact that with those new shoes you're going to need new gears?
Any and all advice is appreicated, thanks guys.
I hate to be blunt, these are the real life lessons that I learned the hard way. Based on my experience and those of my friends with 97+ XJs if you want 32" tires you will need at least 4 1/2" of lift and trimming to get the rires to properly tuck inside. If you're going to try to do the same with only 3 1/2" of lift, you have your work (and your fenders) cut out for you.