I know i've asked variations of this question before, but this is just a quick check to make sure i'm not doing something stupid. 
Due to the alignment of the planets, i've stumbled across a combination of coupons, sales, and promotions that would enable me to buy a set of Rancho RS9000XL shocks and a Rancho RS66001 lift kit (2.5") for the whopping price of $223.96 out of pocket, brand new. (Or $300 if the sale on the lift kit is not legit.)
The suspension on the Jeep could stand some attention, which is why i was looking at this stuff.
I'm pretty sure for this price, i'd be stupid to NOT go ahead and do it, but i'm just checking to make sure i'm not getting into some terrible quality stuff. From what i understand, Rancho should make decent stuff, though the ride quality of the lower end nitro-charged shocks is a bit stiff. I figure the adjustable RS9000s should be a better bet.
Basically i'm just checking to make sure that there's no horrible side effects from this setup like the clap, or artificial insemination or anything of the sort.
Alternatively, the same setup but with RS5000s would run me $131.93 out of pocket.
Not a bad price, but I don't have personal experience with Rancho stuff. The big things I'd be sure of is the condition of your rear spring packs before installing the AAL and check your pinion angle so as to not bind up the drive line. Such a small lift shouldn't require shimming the T-case nor an SYE. There are always, of course, special cases.
If I had the money, I'd ask you to share the wealth. I'd even deal with the Nitro shocks.
Cool, thank you!
The underside of the truck is completely rust free, everything looks good, but i can tell things are starting to get a little old after 180k miles. I'm giving some thought to swapping the rear spring pack out eventually for a new HD pack, but i'll give the AAL a shot first and see how it does. It DID squat a good 1.5-2" in the back when i loaded it up with 700lbs of motor/trans.
My advice would be to avoid the Rough Country kits. Installed a 3" on my 95 XJ & was not impressed in the quality, then again it was the cheapest I could find.
MA$$hole wrote:
My advice would be to avoid the Rough Country kits. Installed a 3" on my 95 XJ & was not impressed in the quality, then again it was the cheapest I could find.
That was my backup plan, so i appreciate that input as well. 
I think if for whatever reason the Rancho setup is deemed to have a high chance of giving me herpes, i'll just go with an OME kit, but that's about 4x the cost of what i can get the Rancho setup for.
I had the Rancho 3” kit with full leafs on my XJ and it rode way to firm compared to my other friends XJ’s I also broke 3 leafs in the packs. Two on the driver’s side and one on the passenger.
PseudoSport wrote:
I had the Rancho 3” kit with full leafs on my XJ and it rode way to firm compared to my other friends XJ’s I also broke 3 leafs in the packs. Two on the driver’s side and one on the passenger.
Would you say this is due to bad materials in their leaf packs or due to some other factor?
I never had the chance to wheel it and I never carried anything too heavy in the back after i lifted it so I can only guess it was poor materials. Springs only lasted 2 years. Stock springs sagged but ever broke when wheeling or carrying tons of stuff back and forth to school.
Ok so the AAL in this kit might be a better bet anyways. 
I agree with Ma$$hole, as long as it doesn't say Rough Country on it you should be good to go.
I had a RC lift kit on my old TJ, and let's just say you get what you pay for. Rough describes the kind of ride you end up with...
Well Advance Auto Parts is pissing me off yet again. I specifically ordered tune up parts for the Cherokee from them at a higher price in March to get a $50 off $100 or more coupon from them.
Got the coupon, and they're treating it like a promo code. As in, i can't combine it with other promotions. So, i can't use the $50 off the Rancho shocks from them. There's nothing else i want from their site, so what the berkeley is the point of this "coupon" that's not really a coupon that i paid extra for parts to get?
Spoolpigeon if you're reading this, i'll be emailing you tomorrow or something to see if there's a way around this.
I can get $120 off the shocks by ordering each of the four in four separate orders using the "BIG30" or "VISA" discount codes, but that's stupid. I just want the $130 off with the coupon i have in one order instead of gaming the system like crazy.
It's not a $50 off $100 coupon that i paid extra for, it's a friggin' $50 promotion code. Big difference. Jerkholes.
check out http://www.rustysoffroad.com They've got good stuff for the XJs and you can oogle the most excellent orange shop rig
Alright, stuff is here, and i have one last dilemma/noob question.
My dilemma is that i don't want to just put the AALs on my old stock 180k mile leafs.
This leaves me with a couple options.
1) Rockauto OMIX-ADA "heavy duty" leaf packs for $90 each
2) Quadtratec "heavy duty" leaf packs for $100 each: http://www.quadratec.com/products/56010_11.htm
3) Rancho 1.5" leaf pack (replaces AAL in lift kit) for $133 each
4) Old Man Emu 2" "heavy load" pack for $120 each http://www.quadratec.com/products/16090_5056.htm
Options 1 and 2 would obviously mean i'd be using the AAL setup.
Option 3 raises a question to me: The kit was advertised as a 2.5" lift. How does the Rancho 1.5" leaf pack give a 2.5" lift?
Option 4: Is there any reason why this wouldn't work with the rest of the Rancho kit? I'm also guessing it would give me 0.5-1.0" of rake, this is ok. There's no way this would give me "reverse rake," right?
Which option would you guys recommend? At this stage, i'm thinking option #3 is maybe my worst bet.
Bump because the currently suspension has finally worn out to the point that i don't feel comfy driving the Jeep anymore.
I don't understand leaf springs or how they work, but mostly i don't know what i need to buy.
I need to get new leaf springs, i'm going to go with the OME Heavy Duty leafs.
But then what else do i need? Bushings, yes... do i need other things? Shackles? (what the hell are these, anyways?) U-bolts? (Will the Rancho units work?)
So confused.
On the rear, what do i need?
Typically, new leaf springs will have new bushing already installed. U-bolts are a safe bet to replace. The shackle, #44, wouldn't be a bad bet either to replace at this point. The only other thing I would look at buying is new bolts. Rust is the main culprit.
The OME springs don't have bushings. Was looking at these. http://www.quadratec.com/products/76058_81X_PG.htm
How do i tell if the U-bolts i already have with the Rancho kit will work with the OME springs?
[edit] Duhh.... U-bolts are dependent on axle, not spring, correct?
Ok so i've got this:
2" OME Heavy Duty Springs: http://www.quadratec.com/products/16090_5056.htm
Daystar rear poly bushings: http://www.quadratec.com/products/76058_81X_PG.htm
Shackles: http://www.quadratec.com/products/918280_19.htm
Missing anything? Good setup?
Trying to figure out why you're lifting it and I keep coming back with nothing.
Because it was dirt cheap and this vehicle will be the basis for our next long and epic trip. (Across the Arctic Circle in northern Canada)
Rusty's Off Road. 3" coils with 1" spacers up front, full length add-a-leaf and 1" shackles ou back. Use Rusty's shocks too. Get longer LCA's or suffer from death-wobble!
Please go to a place that specializes in Cherokees and similar platforms
Just make sure to show us the pics of the front tire drooping a foot out while the opposite tire is stuffed under the fender on a 30" rock.
+1 on the death wobble. Mine never went away until I installed longer (adjustable) LCAs. That plus a professianal alignment and it was good as new with a 3" lift
Swank Force One wrote:
Missing anything? Good setup?
Looks good.
The reason you would need to change the ubolts is they would not be long enough with a thicker spring pack (like if you added a leaf to your stock pack, you now have an extra 3/8" which the stock bolts don't have.). The other reason being they rust, and break when taking off.
The death wobble is from a worn front suspension part or a cracked steering box mount or bad heavy tires/wheels. Many bushings and pieces that could be bad to give the play, add a lift and it is exacerbated. If you don't get it your good to go, if you do, it is a tedious troubleshooting process to eliminate.
Wait and see how it drives before worrying about a slip yoke or t-case drop, I gave the rear 3" lift and had no issues. 3" and up is where you typically start needing a slip yolk or driveline alignment addressment. If its bad, just keep your tools in the trunk to add weight to sag the suspension back to near stock...
If you snap your rear shock upper mount bolts, get a pneumatic air hammer from harbor freight and punch them out from below. This is the only way to save your sanity, and they probably will snap.
Front sway bar links typically break. I was able to save mine by cleaning the threads, re-tapping, adding heat and penetrating oil. These things break rust free when coming off...
Finally, if you have the rear sway, and you don't offroad every weekend, leave it on. I jumped on the jeep bandwagon and chucked mine only to realize it made a significant difference on the highway/onramps.
You can find most issues addressed by searching http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/ , but if you ask likely no answer will be given. If something comes up and you feel like being emasculated, post over on http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/ or just cruise their threads to get a good feeling of inadequacy.
I am currently suffering from death wobble.
I have every steering piece brand new and ready to install. Already have longer lcas, came with the rancho kit.
Actually... now with this rear stuff, every suspension and steering bit on this truck will be brand new.
Littke worried about endlink length with the lift. I can't seem to find the swaybar spacers I tracked down months ago. I'll just get QDs if this turns out bad I guess.
The REAL death wobble, the kind that causes your filling to fall out just before you crash is the change in steering geometry (caster) that the lift kit causes if you use stock length LCA's.
Picture the angles of the front end and how all the angles change as the axle gets farther away from its original location while the LCA's remain at factory length.
Sure sloppy front end components will negatively affect handling, this death wobble has a much larger cause.
This thing is shaking itself to pieces between 50 and 55mph.
Bad enough that i don't want SWMBO driving it.
I'm not really concerned with the cause at the moment as anything that could potentially be causing it will be replaced.
We're only talking about a 2.5" lift, i'm not anticipating having any serious driving issues after the job is done.
