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Topic: Mostly Street/Towing w/31's

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olddirtbikeguy
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Mostly Street/Towing w/31's
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I've been using/abusing my stock '98 XJ sport since new... After 10-years, it's time to renew the love affair with some upgrades.

I'm not looking to build a rock-crawler here... In fact, I'll be surprised if it sees more than dirt-road duty during it's life with me. 

What I WOULD like to do is make it LOOK like a man's Jeep and improve the ride a bit. I'd like to run BFG Off-Road TA's 31x10.5 with the bare minimum lift, no fender trimming, and minimal back-spacing on the wheels. I plan to re-gear as I do tow a 6x10 enclosed trailer from time to time, and I'd like to run air-bags in the rear to adjust for heavy loads/towing (articulation is not a big concern, and I plan to keep the sway-bars for on-road handling)

All this said... Will I be better-off with a budget lift (spacers, blocks, shackles) and new shocks, or should I consider the full OME medium-duty kit? Does anyone have pictures of their XJ with 2-3" lift with 31's? I'd like to get some ideas of how this would look when complete so I can decide if I need to go bigger with the lift.

Another concern, and what has kept me from starting these mods, is the SLE... If I drop the t-case a bit, keep the lift to a minimum, and don't push the articulation issue, will the SLE be a necessity?

Thanks in advance...

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LEAD_NOT_FOLLOW
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Keeping it at 2" you shouldn't need a SYE. Going to 3" on the 97+ XJ's "may" require a SYE. It really depends on the individual Jeep. Some say they don't have any vibes and than others say they do. At 3" you can most likely get away with a transfer case drop and not have to worry about the SYE. But like I said; you never know as each Jeep seems to be different.

As far as what size lift you need to fit the 31's also depends on a lot of things. One of the biggest problems is the widening of the tire and it rubbing on the control arms at full lock (turn). You can solve this by running a different offset (backspace) rim or by simply adjusting your steering stops; however that makes your turning radias much larger.

Also another factor to consider is cost. You can get a very nice quality 2" Budget Boost (BB) for a few hundred dollars. The OME 2" or 3" is $800+. The OME kit is by far the best kit on the market but you also pay for what your getting.

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aci4369
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Here is a pic of my old XJ with 3'' rough country AAL lift and 31" MT's



If you buy a lift with Full Packs instead of AAL, which I would suggest you will prolly sit a little higher then what is pictured here.

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olddirtbikeguy
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aci4369 - That, IMO, is exactly how a daily-driven XJ should look! After thinking it over, I'm leaning towards the OME 2" kit. I've never been one to skimp, and I'd hate to have to re-do any of the work due to taking shortcuts...

What were the specs on the rims you had? I assume 15x8, but what backspacing?


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aci4369
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Those are stock Mustang Rims that are powder coated charcoal.  The backspacing is not good.  I don't know what it is, but they rub bigtime on the control arms.  I got the rims for free and the powder coat for next to nothing so I never complained.

That XJ is being rebuilt.  Here is the link to that:

http://greatlakesxj.activeboard.com/index.spark?forumID=43793&p=3&topicID=16522453

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ChevelleSSLS6
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I'd really like to run 31s with my 2" lift... buying the gf a motorcycle jacket and a good helmet means no rims for the XJ this year as I had planned.

Anyway, what backspacing would I need? Would it look fruity with the tires sticking out past the flares (stock) or what?

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dogwonk
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I personally think it looks good when the tires stick out a little past the flares. I do like flares though. So, as far as backspacing goes, I run a backspacing of 3.75". I think it looks just right with my 33's and the stock flares.

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ChevelleSSLS6
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sticking out a little is okay, I just don't want it to look, um, like some vehicles where the tire sticks out really far out the sides as seen in some 'urban areas' if you know what I mean. An inch or two is cool, but too much is gaudy. I'll probably end up getting rims like what you have on your XJ.

-- Edited by ChevelleSSLS6 at 16:46, 2008-06-07

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1996 XJ "Snowball"- 3.5" lift, bunch of little mods.  I hate pegleg rear axles!
1974 AMC Javelin "Jade Grenade"- 360v8, 4sp, green inside and out. Underfunded Project.
2009 Kawsaki Vulan 900 "Rocket III"- Summer DD
 
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