In the event that you're thinking regarding installing a jeep cherokee xj 6 inch lift , you're likely beyond the stage of just wanting a "little more clearance" for a few lighting trails. You're moving into the big leagues of XJ modification. Going six inches up adjustments everything about how the Jeep deals with, how it looks, and—most importantly—what it can actually do once the pavement ends. It's an enormous transformation that transforms a boxy loved ones wagon in to a reputable rock crawler, yet it's not really a "plug and play" weekend project where you can just swap some spring suspensions and call it a day.
Let's be genuine for a second: once you hit the 6-inch mark, the particular XJ's suspension angles starts to get fairly cranky. The stock design was never intended to be pushed that will far. At this height, every small shortcut you consider will appear because a vibration, a death wobble, or even a broken part halfway through a path. If you it best, though, an XJ on six inches of lift along with 35-inch tires will be one of the most capable plus iconic sights in the off-road planet.
Why 6 Inches Matters
For most XJ owners, three ins is the special spot for a day-to-day driver, and four and a half inches is great for a weekend break warrior. So just why go to six? The key reason is tire clearance and breakover angle. An XJ has a relatively long wheelbase with regard to its size, and that low-hanging belly will get hung up upon rocks easily. A jeep cherokee xj 6 inch lift gives a person the room to run 35-inch tires (with some fender trimming, of course) plus keeps your rocker panels far apart through the jagged stuff.
It furthermore changes the position. There's just some thing about a high-clearance Cherokee that appears right. But with that height arrives a higher center of gravity, which indicates you need in order to be much more deliberate about your suspension setup to keep the rubber part down.
The Long Arm versus. Short Arm Controversy
At 6 inches, this isn't a real debate anymore—you need long hands. In case you try to run a jeep cherokee xj 6 inch lift on short hands (even adjustable ones), the ride quality is going to be absolutely brutal. Because the control arms are so short, the position becomes very steep. Instead of the suspension soaking upward bumps by shifting up and lower, every hit in the road gets transferred directly into the particular unibody. It seems like you're driving a pogo stay.
Long left arm kits relocate the particular mounting points further back within the "frame, " allowing the particular arms to sit down much flatter. This particular lets the axle move in the more natural arc, which drastically boosts ride quality upon the highway and gives you course of action more articulation within the trail. If you're spending the cash to go this high, don't cheap out there on the handle arms. Your lower back will give thanks to you.
Dealing with the Driveline
You can't just lift an XJ six inches plus expect the stock driveshafts to work. The particular angle within the rear output of the exchange case becomes therefore severe that you'll deal with awful vibrations or, even worse, you'll snap an universal joint the very first time you hit the gas.
The Slip Yoke Eliminator (SYE) is necessary at this elevation. It replaces the sliding output shaft on the NP231 transfer case with a fixed yoke. You then run the custom double-cardan (CV) driveshaft. It's an extra expense, certain, but without this, your Jeep may be virtually undriveable at highway rates of speed. While you're from it, you'll have to check your shim angles on the particular rear axle in order to make sure the pinion is directing where it needs to be to maintain those new u-joints happy.
Steerage and Geometry Corrections
Steering can be another area where things get hairy. If you install a jeep cherokee xj 6 inch lift , your own drag link and track bar finish up at intense angles. When they aren't parallel to one another, you're going to experience bump steer—where the particular Jeep darts left or right every time you hit a pothole.
A lot of people at this elevation ditch the manufacturing plant "inverted Y" steerage and move in order to a heavy-duty "one-ton" setup or an Over-The-Knuckle (OTK) system. You'll also need a heavy-duty track bar with a beefy drop bracket. Don't simply use a fall pitman arm by itself; you have to make sure the track pub and drag link angles match. When you skip this particular, the Jeep is a handful to maintain in your lane at 60 mph.
Brake and Gearing
It's easy to forget about the stuff that makes a person stop and the things that makes you go. If you're running a 6-inch lift, you're probably working 33 or 35-inch tires. Those manufacturing plant brakes were developed for 27-inch street tires. Stopping the lifted XJ with big meat upon the corners takes a lot more pressure. Upgrading to extended stainless-steel brake lines is really a must simply to reach the axles, but you need to also look directly into better pads, rotors, or perhaps a rear disc brake conversion from a Grand Cherokee.
Then there's the gearing. In case you keep the particular stock 3. 55 gears (common within automatics) and put on 35s, your Jeep will sense like a slug. It'll constantly hunt for gears on hills, and your transmission can get hot quick. Re-gearing to 4. 56 or four. 88 is the particular "correct" method to perform it. It brings the engine back to its power band and makes the Jeep feel sharp again, even along with the added excess weight of the lift and tires.
Is It Still a regular Driver?
This is actually the big query. Can you daily commute a jeep cherokee xj 6 inch lift ? Technically, yes. Plenty of people perform it. However you have got to be sincere with yourself about what you're prepared to tolerate. It's going to become louder, thirstier for fuel, and the bit more of the workout to drive than a stock XJ.
However, if you've done the particular work—installed the lengthy arms, fixed the steering geometry, well balanced the driveshafts, plus geared the axles—it can in fact be the very smooth ride. The beauty associated with the XJ is definitely its simplicity. Whenever you build it right, seems strong. It's that "mountain goat" feel exactly where you know you are able to drive over just about anything in your path.
Wrapping Points Up
Developing a jeep cherokee xj 6 inch lift is a commitment. It's regarding more than just height; it's about re-engineering the automobile in order to handle that elevation safely and effectively. It's not the least expensive route, and it's certainly not the particular easiest, however the finish result is the Jeep that appears aggressive and performs like a beast upon the rocks.
Just remember to take it one action at a time. If you try to cut corners around the SYE or the particular steering, you'll just finish up spending even more money later in order to fix what fractures. Do it right the first period, get those long arms tucked upward under there, and enjoy the see from six inches higher. There's nothing quite like looking down at the roof of the modern crossover while you're sitting within a thirty-year-old Jeep that's ready for anything.