Hello, so I am new to the forums and I wanted some advice on a jeep that I picked up recently.
I bought a 1997 Grand Cherokee and I want to upgrade it for a better off-roading experience, but I have two problems. One is that this jeep will be my daily driver and I will probably only have time for off roading on the weekends. Two, I am on a budget, so I will have to look for parts for an affordable price.
I know that for a lift I shouldn't go too high, so I was thinking around 2 inches and maybe running some bigger tires, but idk what size is the best. I just want to know what I should and should not do to my jeep so I can still use it for a daily driver but also as a weekend off roader
Hello, so I am new to the forums and I wanted some advice on a jeep that I picked up recently.
I bought a 1997 Grand Cherokee and I want to upgrade it for a better off-roading experience, but I have two problems. One is that this jeep will be my daily driver and I will probably only have time for off roading on the weekends. Two, I am on a budget, so I will have to look for parts for an affordable price.
I know that for a lift I shouldn't go too high, so I was thinking around 2 inches and maybe running some bigger tires, but idk what size is the best. I just want to know what I should and should not do to my jeep so I can still use it for a daily driver but also as a weekend off roader
A budget boost and Bilsteins is about tree fiddly. And you will also need extended sway bar links and maybe an adjustable front track bar but not always necessary.
OME springs are excellent and ride very great with the Bilsteins but for the springs and shocks its about 600.
To me it was worth it because I wasn't going higher than that.
I originally got 1.75" BB, added a little bit of bumpstopping (hockey pucks on the front axle coil bracket + IIRC 1.5" extra on the rear), some front fender & bumper trim, and gentle wheel arch picnhweld seam massaging with a big hammer.
32" x 11.50" BFG MT KM2s on 15 x 8" wheels that had 4" backspacing; worked pretty well even though they were a fairly tight fit. Keep in mind that pretty much ANY 10.50" or wider tires will rub the stock LCAs on tight turns unless you adjust the steering stops.
I wheeled with the front sway bar disconnected, and I NEVER disconnect the rear swaybar.
Don't expect to do anything serious with the OEM LCAs, they will bend fairly easily on the trails. Get good quality shocks, it will keep the ride quality tolerable. Don't go with the possible budget boost lift kit shocks, they all ride like crap.
I originally got 1.75" BB, added a little bit of bumpstopping (hockey pucks on the front axle coil bracket + IIRC 1.5" extra on the rear), some front fender & bumper trim, and gentle wheel arch picnhweld seam massaging with a big hammer.
32" x 11.50" BFG MT KM2s on 15 x 8" wheels that had 4" backspacing; worked pretty well even though they were a fairly tight fit. Keep in mind that pretty much ANY 10.50" or wider tires will rub the stock LCAs on tight turns unless you adjust the steering stops.
I wheeled with the front sway bar disconnected, and I NEVER disconnect the rear swaybar.
Don't expect to do anything serious with the OEM LCAs, they will bend fairly easily on the trails. Get good quality shocks, it will keep the ride quality tolerable. Don't go with the possible budget boost lift kit shocks, they all ride like crap.
A 2" or so BB and some 31's will give you a good starting point so you can get out there and wheel.
Which will inform where you want to go with the build long term.
You may find that you just want to upgrade to some OME springs and add some armor so you can go trail riding on the weekends. You may also find that you really really really need 40's and tons and hydro and long arms and a cage and an atlas.
Or anywhere in the middle honestly, but the easiest way to waste money on a jeep is to spend money on parts you're just going to remove in a year because you're going in a different direction.
Get 1.75 bb spacers, 31s, and get a set of jk shocks.
Extend the rear coil bucket tube with some exhaust tube or something.
The jk shocks are cheap and 1.75 doesn't throw off the axles too much.
That will get you lifted for about 150 depending on what shocks you go with. I bought new monroes because i hate cheap *** lift shocks but didn't want bilsteins because i wasn't sure on what my build would turn into.
Whats the point in 3.5" for 31's when you can fit them with 2" and keep a lower cog?
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Jeep Enthusiast Forums
18.5M posts
726.8K members
Since 2000
A forum community dedicated to all jeep owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about performance, engine swaps, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more!