Drive it into the dirt until it dies, fix it, and drive some more!!

SoCal_HEMIHead · 07-19-2007, 10:43 AM

I'm trying to figure out what to do with my aging Cherokee. It has 200,000 miles on it and I've decided to make it a trail rig... ok, a trail beater

I first thought I'd lift it, upgrade the axles, etc. but quickly realized I'd spend more on parts than the entire truck is worth. Then I thought I'd purchase a used Jeep already lifted, but then what is the point of keeping the one I have?!?

In the end, I think I'm now leaning towards making very little changes and just driving it until it breaks, fix it, and drive it some more. I'll be happy to get out on the trail once a month, doing some medium level off-roading. My Jeep has never failed me before, so it should be able to hold up to some abuse without having to do any major upgrades... right?

With that in mind, my leaf springs are weak and cause the truck to sag. I friend mentioned getting either stiffer coil springs, or lower shackles and new leaf springs which should give me 1" - 2" of lift.

What low cost fix would you recommend to improve my sagging suspension? AAL? Stiffer Coils? Lower shackles? Other ideas?

Thanks for the help and ideas...

**XJK** · 07-19-2007, 10:49 AM

just grab some new leafs and coils, maybe find some in a JY. if this truck is going to be a beater no sence in throwing money at it if your just going to drive it into the ground.

-Kyle

Atari.fan3000 · 07-19-2007, 11:31 AM

what condition is your jeep in now? (lift/mods etc.......) also axles do you got the 8.25 or the D35?

if you got a D35 you can go to 32 or 33's tires and if you got the 8.25 you can go up to 35's (but I would not recommend it because the gearing would suck and new gears cost $$ )

also is it an auto or manual?

I say just do enough lift to clear 33's hack the fenders get a few skid plates, and make sure yougot a recovery point and wheel the HELL out of it!

SoCal_HEMIHead · 07-19-2007, 11:41 AM

Stock form now. '93 Cherokee 4-door Sport auto.

Not sure which axles... how do I find out?

Topgun514 · 07-19-2007, 11:48 AM

Trim the heck outta it and add a BB (100 dollars)
then put on 33's...i think there is a pic of one next to Erics (EricsXJ) and the trip they were on it was amazing...it has NO lift too
also, HeavyMetal did a job like that and it looks awesome and real capable

dopod · 07-19-2007, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoCal_HEMIHead

Not sure which axles... how do I find out?

The 8.25 axle has a flat bottom. Dana 35 is more or less round.

SoCal_HEMIHead · 07-19-2007, 12:51 PM

Quote:

8.25 axle has a flat bottom. Dana 35

In that case... looks like I have the 8.25. Is that better than the D35?

Quote:

just grab some new leafs and coils

Quote:

add a BB (100 dollars)

Any suggestions on what exactly to purchase? I wouldn't have a clue where to start.

Thanks for the help!!

dopod · 07-19-2007, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoCal_HEMIHead

Is that better than the D35?

Yep

I would look into new (or newer used) rear springs and putting a budget boost on. Cheap and easy.

SoCal_HEMIHead · 07-19-2007, 01:21 PM

Any good suggestions for a cheap budget boost? What do I buy?

dopod · 07-19-2007, 01:37 PM

Here's what I would do if you are going for cheap:
Get a used 2" spacer for the front, or go to the junkyard and get a few stock coil isolators for each side. For the rear get two newer sets of xj leafs. Combine both sets into a bastard pack. You'll have to mix and match to get the desired lift height.

After you lift it you will have to deal with a couple of other things: shock length, brake lines, alignment, and possibly vibes.

Make some bar pin eliminators (bpe's) for the shocks. This is basically free if you have a grinder, drill, and some angle iron. Search for some write ups on it.

Relocate the rear brake line. Hack off the rear brake line support, bend the line down, and attach the support with a strip of metal so it doesn't bounce around after bumps. The front lines will be long enough in stock form for just a 2" lift.

You can do a drive way alignment with basic tools. Search for it, there are plenty of write ups.

If you do get vibes (unlikely, especially if it is older than 96) just do a home made t-case drop.

After you do all of this trim your fenders, throw some 31s on and wheel it.

**MiCrOz** · 07-19-2007, 01:54 PM

Since it's a beater, just put some spacers on the front coils and blocks in the back. 3" blocks from autozone for $15 and I'm sure you can find the spacers for under $30, decent budget lift.

Atari.fan3000 · 07-19-2007, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MiCrOz

Since it's a beater, just put some spacers on the front coils and blocks in the back. 3" blocks from autozone for $15 and I'm sure you can find the spacers for under $30, decent budget lift.

I would have to say stay away from block and shackles, only because he is running a stock setup up and his rear leafs are sagging and block and shackles will only make that worse.

**ChewyXJ** · 07-19-2007, 03:14 PM

If you plan on staying in the world of Cherokees, even after this one completely dies, I'd suggest getting a good quality suspension. You can always swap the good parts out of the dead Jeep into a fresh one.

I originally planned to do this with my '93 but she just keeps on going. I suspect that the XJ is going to outlast my aftermarket parts.

SoCal_HEMIHead · 07-19-2007, 03:58 PM

Quote:

If you plan on staying in the world of Cherokees

No offense... but the next Jeep is going to be the new JK Unlimited Rubicon, thus why I don't want to put any money into the Cherokee.

Thanks for all the great info/ideas!!

jjg214 · 08-02-2009, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoCal_HEMIHead

No offense... but the next Jeep is going to be the new JK Unlimited Rubicon, thus why I don't want to put any money into the Cherokee.

Thanks for all the great info/ideas!!

AND NOW YOU GET NO MORE HELP!!!!

just kidding, spend $200 on new aftermarket lift leafs, you will be happy you did.

07-19-2007, 03:14 PM	#13
ChewyXJ nom nom nom Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Whitefish, Montana Posts: 2,755 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	If you plan on staying in the world of Cherokees, even after this one completely dies, I'd suggest getting a good quality suspension. You can always swap the good parts out of the dead Jeep into a fresh one. I originally planned to do this with my '93 but she just keeps on going. I suspect that the XJ is going to outlast my aftermarket parts. __________________ '93 Cherokee Sport 4.0 man. 4.5" Black Diamond/ O.M.E., JKS control arms, discos, track bar, rear D44/detroit, 35x12.5 BFGmt's,33x13.5 LTBs,AlloyUSA shafts, oba, Warn M8000 multi-mount '97 Cherokee Sport 5spd,231, white, stock '90 Cherokee Pioneer 4.0 auto, 6" homebrew long arm lift, 33x10.5 BFG MT's, etc. '87 XJ 2" lift '96 XJ stock "Personally, I've learned so much from my mistakes, I'm thinking of making some more." "Don't believe everything you think..."

07-19-2007, 11:41 AM	#4
SoCal_HEMIHead Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Thousand Oaks, CA Posts: 201 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Stock form now. '93 Cherokee 4-door Sport auto. Not sure which axles... how do I find out?

07-19-2007, 01:21 PM	#9
SoCal_HEMIHead Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Thousand Oaks, CA Posts: 201 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Any good suggestions for a cheap budget boost? What do I buy?

07-19-2007, 01:54 PM	#11
MiCrOz Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: South Jersey Posts: 129 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Since it's a beater, just put some spacers on the front coils and blocks in the back. 3" blocks from autozone for $15 and I'm sure you can find the spacers for under $30, decent budget lift.