Ain't that the truth! When I first got the MJ I was looking at
lifting it a couple of inches just to fit chains on the rear so they
didn't rip up the flares. Out in the muddy plowed fields a good heavy
set of chains will save a lot of cussing but I gave it up when simple
math said that it was 6 inches or nothing: 2.5 inch axle tube and pad
plus a little over 3 inches of spring pack. The long bed MJ has some
hefty springs compared to the XJ.

I don't know about the short bed version. There are 4 or 5 running
around here so I guess I should take a look some time. One other
oddity about the rear end: mine has the D35 diff with tracloc but the
manual on it specifically states that it DOES NOT use c-clips! I also
checked when I had the brakes off and the rear axle definitely uses a
bolt on bearing retainer behind the backing plate. I sure don't look
forward to ever having to replace that axle! Now, if only I had
lucked into the "metric ton" version with the D44 or something a tad
shorter than the 3.07 it came with... That was probably OK with the
205/75/15 tires the door plate says it came with but even 235s are a
challenge on the highway at 7-8000 feet (Vail Pass at over 11,000 is
third gear time).

On Mon, 7 Jun 2004 22:03:26 UTC Mike Romain <romainm@sympatico.ca>
wrote:

> I am thinking about it and you are right, they are different.
>
> One has spring over and one spring under even.
>
> But cutting the cab off the front frame and boxing it, then putting a
> Cherokee body on with a couple inch body lift would sure fit nice tires
> eh....
>
> Mike
> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
>
> Will Honea wrote:
> >
> > No, the MJ is similar from the doors forward and uses the identical
> > frame extension in the engine bay/bumper area but it is completely
> > different from just aft of the doors on back. I've only looked up
> > close at the long bed I have but the FSM on the body details the
> > differences pretty well. The rear of the cab is incorporated into a
> > cross brace/stiffener that has no counterpart on the XJ and from the
> > rear wall of the cab on back it uses a unique full boxed frame with a
> > number of additional cross braces - remember, it has to be stiff
> > enough to run with the bed off.
> >
> > I haven't measured but I'm pretty sure from looking under my son's XJ
> > that the wheel well arches are considerably higher for the MJ so the
> > body probably won't sit down even if you try it. The long bed version
> > I have has nearly a foot lomger wheelbase than the XJ and the rear
> > shocks have at least 3 more inches of travel than the XJ shocks, maybe
> > more.
> >
> > On Mon, 7 Jun 2004 15:18:07 UTC Lee Ayrton <layrton@panix.com> wrote:
> >
> > >
> > > Are the Commanche pickup trucks are on a full frame? I wonder if it would
> > > be possible to put a Cherokee on a Commanche platform.
> > >
> > > Not that I'd want to do the work, mind...
> > >
> > >
> > > On Mon, 7 Jun 2004, David C. Moller wrote:
> > >
> > > > Ya, pretty sure you can't do a body lift on a Cherokee, because of the
> > > > unibody construction that Jim mentioned..
> > > >
> > > > Dave
> > > > http://mysite.verizon.net/res0p2es/david/index.htm
> > > >
> > > > On Mon, 07 Jun 2004 02:19:44 GMT, "Jim Kelly"
> > > > <corndog__@REMOVEhotmail.com> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > >The largest problem you will encounter is the unibody. I'd look into
> > > > >suspension lifts. I have a Rubicon Express 3.5" (RE 6025). I have been
> > > > >pleased.
> > > > >
> > > > >Jim
> > > > >94XJ
> > > > >
> > > > >"HomeBrewer" <t3e871XXX@earthlink.net> wrote in message
> > > > >news:2ihv1hFn99maU1@uni-berlin.de...
> > > > >> I have a bone stock jeep cherokee, 99 sport, where is a good place to get
> > > > >a
> > > > >> small body lift? Also, what problems may I expect when installing?
> > > > >> Transmission, gaps in body, etc...
> > > > >>
> > > > >> --
> > > > >> HomeBrewer
> > > > >>
> > > > >> http://home.earthlink.net/~t3e871/index.html
> > > > >> www.rcparkflyers.com
> > > > >> Remove the xxx to reply!
> > > > >>
> > > > >>
> > > > >>
> > > > >>
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> >
> > --
> > Will Honea


--
Will Honea

 

> Just keep that in mind. If I had it to do over again, no way would I do a
> 1 - 2" lift. If you're going to do it, go all the way. 3"+ with SYE, new
> trackbars, and definitely new LCAs

Can you translate this for me? SYE? LCAs? Do you have a link and/or price
for this complete kit? or is it even available as a kit?

Thanks
--
HomeBrewer

http://home.earthlink.net/~t3e871/index.html
www.rcparkflyers.com
Remove the xxx to reply!

 

> Just keep that in mind. If I had it to do over again, no way would I do a
> 1 - 2" lift. If you're going to do it, go all the way. 3"+ with SYE, new
> trackbars, and definitely new LCAs

Can you translate this for me? SYE? LCAs? Do you have a link and/or price
for this complete kit? or is it even available as a kit?

Thanks
--
HomeBrewer

http://home.earthlink.net/~t3e871/index.html
www.rcparkflyers.com
Remove the xxx to reply!

 

> Just keep that in mind. If I had it to do over again, no way would I do a
> 1 - 2" lift. If you're going to do it, go all the way. 3"+ with SYE, new
> trackbars, and definitely new LCAs

Can you translate this for me? SYE? LCAs? Do you have a link and/or price
for this complete kit? or is it even available as a kit?

Thanks
--
HomeBrewer

http://home.earthlink.net/~t3e871/index.html
www.rcparkflyers.com
Remove the xxx to reply!

 

> Just keep that in mind. If I had it to do over again, no way would I do a
> 1 - 2" lift. If you're going to do it, go all the way. 3"+ with SYE, new
> trackbars, and definitely new LCAs

Can you translate this for me? SYE? LCAs? Do you have a link and/or price
for this complete kit? or is it even available as a kit?

Thanks
--
HomeBrewer

http://home.earthlink.net/~t3e871/index.html
www.rcparkflyers.com
Remove the xxx to reply!

 

> Just keep that in mind. If I had it to do over again, no way would I do a
> 1 - 2" lift. If you're going to do it, go all the way. 3"+ with SYE, new
> trackbars, and definitely new LCAs

Can you translate this for me? SYE? LCAs? Do you have a link and/or price
for this complete kit? or is it even available as a kit?

Thanks
--
HomeBrewer

http://home.earthlink.net/~t3e871/index.html
www.rcparkflyers.com
Remove the xxx to reply!

 

> Just keep that in mind. If I had it to do over again, no way would I do a
> 1 - 2" lift. If you're going to do it, go all the way. 3"+ with SYE, new
> trackbars, and definitely new LCAs

Can you translate this for me? SYE? LCAs? Do you have a link and/or price
for this complete kit? or is it even available as a kit?

Thanks
--
HomeBrewer

http://home.earthlink.net/~t3e871/index.html
www.rcparkflyers.com
Remove the xxx to reply!

 

> Just keep that in mind. If I had it to do over again, no way would I do a
> 1 - 2" lift. If you're going to do it, go all the way. 3"+ with SYE, new
> trackbars, and definitely new LCAs

Can you translate this for me? SYE? LCAs? Do you have a link and/or price
for this complete kit? or is it even available as a kit?

Thanks
--
HomeBrewer

http://home.earthlink.net/~t3e871/index.html
www.rcparkflyers.com
Remove the xxx to reply!

 

> Just keep that in mind. If I had it to do over again, no way would I do a
> 1 - 2" lift. If you're going to do it, go all the way. 3"+ with SYE, new
> trackbars, and definitely new LCAs

Can you translate this for me? SYE? LCAs? Do you have a link and/or price
for this complete kit? or is it even available as a kit?

Thanks
--
HomeBrewer

http://home.earthlink.net/~t3e871/index.html
www.rcparkflyers.com
Remove the xxx to reply!

 

HomeBrewer wrote:
>
> Can you translate this for me? SYE? LCAs? Do you have a link and/or price
> for this complete kit? or is it even available as a kit?
>
> Thanks

SYE: Slip yoke eliminator. Fixed driveshaft yoke on the rear output of
your transfer case. Allows use of a CV (constant velocity or double
cardan) rear drive shaft to reduce vibrations and increase strength. Not
strictly required on a 3" Cherokee lift.

LCA: Lower control arms. They connect your front axle to the underside
of the body. Longer replacements highly recommended on a 3" lift. They
correct caster of front wheels for proper steering response.

A 3" lift will let you fit 31x10.50 tires with no fender cutting.

For a 3" lift you want the following:

2 front coil springs
2 rear leaf spring packs (with u-bolts)
2 lower control arms
2 disconnectable front sway bar links
4 longer shocks
brake line extensions

Longer track bar (or track bar relocation bracket) possibly required to
keep front axle centered.

Most manufacturers offer a cheaper version that has add-a-leaf (AAL)
instead of full rear leaf packs. The really cheap kits use very short
leafs that will ruin your stock leaf packs pretty quick. Longer leafs
are better, but still cause your stock springs to sag over time. For
your five year old vehicle, consider a kit with full replacement leaf packs.

Many manufacturers: Superlift, BDS, Skyjacker, Black Diamond, Teraflex,
Rough Country, Rubicon Express, ... Search web for best prices.

Steve