[96xjmyjoy]

what can i do to the axles/steering components/tires to my stock xj before i get a lift?
getting a lift just isn't feasible at the moment. so i'm going to get a good base to going. So off with some old parts and on with the new!

[XJMuscle98]

What kind of lift are you thinking of getting?

[lathan888]

no need to worrry about steering unless you need to replace stock components. For tires you can go with 235/75-15, use an aggressive tread, add a locker or two. A locked stock jeep riding on 235s will suprisingly take you many places.

[96xjmyjoy]

I don't know what lift. I was thinking waiting on the lift, and upgrading the axles and steering components(front end stuff) and getting some new springs/shocks/leafs(AAL also)

[96xjmyjoy]

recommendations with lockers?

i do commute bout 80 miles a day

[Luke94XJ]

Just a rear locker if you are on road a lot. Look into a lunchbox style locker if funds are tight, powertrax and aussie run about $300-350 they are both pretty indestructibly I've heard. My friend has the aussies (f/r) and he wails on his axles.

A lunchbox locker means that it fits inside the stock carrier unit (like putting it in a lunchbox).

[Luke94XJ]

oh yeah pull out your rear sway bar, its a skinny *** piece of ****, you will get a little more body roll but a lot more flex, its not worth having it in there.

Look into some front disconnects, for your front swaybar, or make your own, you'll get a ton more flex with it disconnected.

Relocate your front brake lines, to give you more length, for free too!

[96xjmyjoy]

ok. so what axles do you all recommend then? I'll only lock the rear for now.
My front end "stuff" does need replaced. Not in the best shape.
springs? what could i look for at the JY? I'm already going to have my leafs re-arched and a pair added(thinking of something beefy)

[96xjmyjoy]

ok, front discos for swaybar...price?
and just take the rear out.
I don't NEED to relocate the front brake lines though if it's not getting a big lift?

[93gc40]

Originally Posted by 96xjmyjoy

what can i do to the axles/steering components/tires to my stock xj before i get a lift?
getting a lift just isn't feasible at the moment. so i'm going to get a good base to going. So off with some old parts and on with the new!

Complete servicing of the suspension and steering components. All your bushings and TREs. For the axels and drive shaft Ujoints. Searc Death wobble, you will understand this suggestion.

Upgrades? Goods tires and shocks. Lockers would be nice but if you can afford them, you can afford 3" of lift. Lockers are also more of a hinderance for a DD than a help, unless selectable. Off-road they are awsome. For me and the wheeling I do, ground clearance is more important. I can select the correct lines over obsticles to make-up for my open diffs.

[96xjmyjoy]

i have no death wobble. all Ujoints are sound.
I will be going over the front end and buying better parts that I can stick with as i mod my XJ further.

basically i want to wheel with no lift(besides what I will get from AAL's and springs/spacers)
List of to-do's so far: replace front end components-bushings, steering etc
axles-need to come up w/ stronger axles
30in tires
look into better shocks
Anything else?

[Luke94XJ]

stronger axles? what kind of wheeling are you going to do with your daily-driver-no-lift?

(whispers) do you have the thirty-five?

It should be just fine for your current setup don't replace it, it can handle 33s and I don't think you'll break it very easily, It gets a bad rep, that's mostly undeserved. Most people who break them break them in situations where a stronger axle would have also broken.

[93gc40]

Originally Posted by 96xjmyjoy

i have no death wobble. all Ujoints are sound.
I will be going over the front end and buying better parts that I can stick with as i mod my XJ further.

basically i want to wheel with no lift(besides what I will get from AAL's and springs/spacers)
List of to-do's so far: replace front end components-bushings, steering etc
axles-need to come up w/ stronger axles
30in tires
look into better shocks
Anything else?

That was my point, MOST, stock XJ's don't have or ever get DW. But once you lift it, even a little, all those little wear issues that cause DW suddenly show up. Preventative maintenance is the most important part of any JEEP modification, even more important if you wheel it.

Wheeling with NO lift is the best way to decide what you need for modifications. In this case the most important things to get are Skid plates, Rocker protection, and recovery points.

I don't know what you consider lifting. But AAL and spacers is usually considered a lift.

Axels, front good till you get to 32" or bigger then you will need to consider gearing. Rear if you have an 8.25 great just need gearing at 32" or bigger. If you have a D35 DO NOT go bigger than 32".

[96xjmyjoy]

ahhh i gotcha 93gc40. ok...
i figure then even the slightest bit of lift will cause the dreaded death wobble. all the little preventative maintenance things i've been doing first. I want to make sure before I put money into it, it will be able to handle the upgrades(at this point it won't).
I do have the d35 in the rear, and i'm not good enough to tell what i have on the front by the look of it. The only reason i was going to replace the axles, was then i'd replace all the little things in front while i was doing it. same with the rear. I'd go ahead and do the aals.
I've already pushed my lil stock XJ to the edge and as is i'm pretty impressed.
I do enough that i would feel safer if some components were newer or stronger.

[Luke94XJ]

you could look for a c8.25 with posi, or have a ford 8.8 fabbed up, they are more likely to have posi.

You have a d30 axle in the front.