3.5" RE lift for a Utah guy?

[ajporter03]

I would really like to get a 3.5" RE lift for my 93 XJ. I don't know if I am too comfortable in doing the work my self. How hard is it, and is there a good place in Northern Utah, near Logan that I could have this lift installed professionaly? How much more will I have to spend?

[cherowagon]

dude, if you got some basic tools, this is easy as baking a cake. DO IT YOURSELF!!!!!

[SharkXJ]

dude, if you got some basic tools, this is easy as baking a cake. DO IT YOURSELF!!!!!

What he said - I did my first lift on a TJ and it was not hard at all. Done three or four since and I am gonna be puttin' on the 3.5" RE on the XJ this weekend.

[johnnyc]

Cut the guy some slack. He may not be comfortable doing the work himself. Or he may not have the tools or facilities. Not everyone has mechanical abilities.

That said, look for some fellow XJers in your area and host a lift party. It's a good way to get your lift installed and meet some people.

On the subject of cost...years ago, I paid $200 to have a 3" AAL lift put on. This was when I lived in an apartment and didn't know anybody 'cuz I was new to the area. Might be a little more nowadays...

[crookedletterd]

Cut the guy some slack. He may not be comfortable doing the work himself. Or he may not have the tools or facilities. Not everyone has mechanical abilities.

yeah i agree. however, if you do have the tools and a garage, it is a great learning experience. that way, when you are out on the trail, and something happens you will be more familier with whats going on with your rig.

installation will be expensive because it is time consuming. i would be prepared to spend an extra 3 to 400 on labor.

[XJCasper]

These guys say it is easy as "Baking a Cake". If you are lucky . I had so much Rust on mine that my cousin was in HELL. And he has more experience that my tinkering.

[dphillips]

I've never done any suspension work, but was able to install the RE kit myself. (took two days) After researching it a little, I felt comfortable enough to give it a try. The worst part for me, other than not having a garage, was loosening the control arm bolts and leaf spring bolts. I actually split a socket on one of the control arm bolts. Rusted bolts suck!

[TRNDRVR]

Post this over in the Intermountain Chapter forum, (http://www.naxja.org/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=72) I'm sure we could get something together to help you get your lift installed.

Dan.

[ecrogers]

I had never done any work on my car other than replacing the brake pads when I installed the RE 3.5" over the holidays. It took me a span of 4 days mostly because of trips to the hardware and the fact that it was 5 degrees out so no bolts wanted to move.

I would go for it. You could always throw that $300-$400 at some new tools, or save it for other things you will undoubtedly want/need.

Biggest problems I had:

1) Leaf Spring bolts - get bound up in the bushing as you're taking them out. Just get them far enough that the threads are out and then hack the end off with a sawzall or hacksaw.

2) Top four bolts on rear shocks will break off most likely. Have the next size up tap ready and all you have to do is drill them out and tap them.

3) If you don't have one, get a brake bleeder from Harbor Freight for $30, best $30 I've spent (other than a 1.75 of Jack).

Good luck!

[XJEEPER]

Be careful what you ask for.......better order the lift NOW if you want to install it next Sat at the NAXJA IC Shop Day at Box Elder High Auto Shop.
http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=45199

If that doesn't work, I'm sure we can put a lift party together in the Ogden area to get your rig lifted soon. What year is your XJ?

[Danno]

I did this same lift on a 1997 and then a 2001. The first took 2 days and the second one took 8 hours. Of course the first one was on a trailer in the front of our condo in Moab. 102 degrees! As lifts go it is pretty straight forward. I would buy the spring pack and NOT do the AAL. Rides better!

[Rocketman]

Mine was installed, took $700 in addition to the $499 for the kit (full packs) from Group Buy 4X4.

Leaf eyelets had to be cut off in pieces the bolts were so frozen. All four rear shock bolts were broken but I was prepared and had Rocky Road BPE's welded in place.

NOW... angles were pretty bad and I had to do an emergercy transfercase drop and add the RE/Rusty's longer/better clearance slip yoke..

Lift was more like 5" not 3.5... The lift was desined to be 3.5" up from the day it was new, so be prepared.

http://www.levelthree.net/jeep.gif

[GroversXJ]

I'd totally recomend spending a few bucks on tools or supplies to do the job yourself, just find a garage or covered parking to do it in or get together with some of those guys in Ogden.
I graduated 3 years ago but when I remember there was some 4x4 shop out west on 4th North. It was probably a couple of miles past the last stop light on the North side of the road in a big warehouse building called something like "Mt. Logan 4x4". I never went in because I didn't have money to buy a 4wd cherokee at the time (poor college student) but they may be able to give you a quote on a kit install, which will probably help you decide to do it yourself.
I'm pretty sure I've seen a couple people on this site that are from lLogan so you may just need to look around and give them a PM.

[XJCasper]

So this thing will settle down to 4.5? Or 3.5?

Thanks
Jason

[XJ_ranger]

it will settle to what it settles to on your jeep - it seems to very from jeep to jeep

i have RE 4.5" XD leafs that ride at 3.75" of measured lift...
then again - i carry about 200lbs of crap in the back of my rig all the time...

[BillR]

it will settle to what it settles to on your jeep - it seems to very from jeep to jeep

i have RE 4.5" XD leafs that ride at 3.75" of measured lift...
then again - i carry about 200lbs of crap in the back of my rig all the time...
x2!
There's really no way to tell until the springs are installed. You may get 3" and you may get 5"!