Birty Dastards Jeep Club

Tech Forum => Workshop => Topic started by: Jumpinjacks on December 01, 2015, 07:50:47 PM

Title: Front lower than the rear on lifted xj
Post by: Jumpinjacks on December 01, 2015, 07:50:47 PM
Hi,
I'm eyeing up buying a jeep cherokee xj with a rough country 4.5" lift.
Looking at the pictures of it, the front is lower than the rear.
Is this normal, or does it show worn suspension?
Thanks.
Title: Re: Front lower than the rear on lifted xj
Post by: JamesH on December 01, 2015, 08:07:45 PM
Rear looks a bit tall for 4.5" lift but they say with use do that's not such a bad thing and you could put spacers on the front to level if needed.

There's a lot of other stuff needed on an XJ to make a 4.5" lift work properly, it's not just about the springs. Rear prop, brake lines, gearing for bigger tyres, steering angles and alignment...
Title: Re: Front lower than the rear on lifted xj
Post by: Bubba on December 01, 2015, 08:25:56 PM
what he said
Title: Re: Front lower than the rear on lifted xj
Post by: Jumpinjacks on December 01, 2015, 08:44:14 PM
Apparently it's had everything needed for the lift.
So does that mean the front springs have sagged over time, or maybe the rears have longer shackles fitted?
Also where sells spacers for them please?
Title: Re: Front lower than the rear on lifted xj
Post by: Mike Pavelin on December 01, 2015, 08:54:57 PM
If the rear springs are new they are likely to settle down a bit with use.
Title: Re: Front lower than the rear on lifted xj
Post by: Jumpinjacks on December 01, 2015, 09:14:52 PM
I can't be 100% but he said the suspension was fitted probably 18 months ago.
But the guy has only owned the jeep since October so probably doesn't know to be fair.
I'm travelling from Cornwall to swindon to view it on Saturday.
Anything that would be best to look out for?
Suspension wise aswell?
Would you say the front is the right height for the lift then?
He said the tyres are 32".
Title: Re: Front lower than the rear on lifted xj
Post by: Dave69 on December 01, 2015, 09:42:08 PM
measure from the centre of the wheel vertical to the wheel arch at 12 O'clock. std height is 17.5" front 17" rear
Title: Re: Front lower than the rear on lifted xj
Post by: Jumpinjacks on December 01, 2015, 09:59:10 PM
I've been speaking to Dave from Llama4x4 about it aswell.
And he reckons the front looks about right, but the rear looks miles too high.
I wonder what's been done for that to be like that.
Title: Re: Front lower than the rear on lifted xj
Post by: General Confusion on December 02, 2015, 03:51:53 PM
Possibly lift shackles are wrong. I had that with mine once. Looked like a dragster and vibrated like crap.
Title: Re: Front lower than the rear on lifted xj
Post by: Dave69 on December 02, 2015, 05:29:55 PM
unless the output shaft has been changed or rear axle swapped for a 8.25 then that prop is going to pop at the first hint of articulation
Title: Re: Front lower than the rear on lifted xj
Post by: Jumpinjacks on December 02, 2015, 05:48:56 PM
I've asked for some photos of the suspension setup, so hopefully he'll come back with them and be able to tell more what's going on.
I'm not keen on travelling miles if it's no good to start with.
Title: Re: Front lower than the rear on lifted xj
Post by: Dave69 on December 02, 2015, 09:43:58 PM
ran 4.5" lift on mine with no issues apart from dropped transfer plate, any higher then its drive line changes
Title: Re: Front lower than the rear on lifted xj
Post by: Jumpinjacks on December 03, 2015, 01:16:47 PM
I have just been sent these phtotos by the seller.
Can anyone tell anything from them?
Poor quality though
(https://birtydastards.com/frm/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi5.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy189%2Fjumpinjacks%2FJeep2.jpg&hash=c8d12cc72da1f17814c61523696cbe39aba7b4a9) (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/jumpinjacks/media/Jeep2.jpg.html)
(https://birtydastards.com/frm/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi5.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy189%2Fjumpinjacks%2Fjeep.jpg&hash=0e4955e92f5fbfd98f2caf52a4541c77191dd070) (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/jumpinjacks/media/jeep.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Front lower than the rear on lifted xj
Post by: Brynjaminjones on December 03, 2015, 01:31:21 PM
I'm pretty confident that those are extended shackles on the rear
Title: Re: Front lower than the rear on lifted xj
Post by: wildwood on December 03, 2015, 02:13:45 PM
Certainly look like it..... But if you swap out for example a 4 " shackle for a 3" shackle the nett reduction would only drop it  1/2"  :icon_sad:
Title: Re: Front lower than the rear on lifted xj
Post by: Brynjaminjones on December 03, 2015, 02:19:20 PM
Those do look quite a lot bigger than stock though - I'm pretty sure my stock ones aren't visible from behind the Jeep
Title: Re: Front lower than the rear on lifted xj
Post by: Jumpinjacks on December 03, 2015, 03:15:53 PM
Guess the only way to tell is to measure between the axle and bump stop mounts on front and rear.
Don't think it would need to sort though
Title: Re: Front lower than the rear on lifted xj
Post by: Dave69 on December 03, 2015, 07:21:32 PM
dont expect allot from ruff country, had some installed after i broke a spring while waiting for a replacement from clayton off road.

was not impressed and couldn't to remove them.

dont let my biased opinion phase you
Title: Re: Front lower than the rear on lifted xj
Post by: JamesH on December 03, 2015, 08:53:02 PM
A spacer on the front to lift an inch and some shorter shackles on the back and you'd be sorted. Not too much to spend unless you want a garage to do the work.
Title: Re: Front lower than the rear on lifted xj
Post by: scrw on December 05, 2015, 06:04:16 PM
Think I had that type of shackle on one of my XJs, they give 1.5" lift over a standard shackle. They worked great on my OME +2" springs, but think on a true 4" spring you get what you see here, bet the rear prop vibes a bit!
Title: Re: Front lower than the rear on lifted xj
Post by: The Smiths on December 05, 2015, 09:55:26 PM
The extended rear shackles allow the spring to flex to the full - does make it higher though
Title: Re: Front lower than the rear on lifted xj
Post by: Green Jeep on December 07, 2015, 09:24:49 AM
The guy went and viewed and walked... info in case anyone else is interested:

Exhaust blowing, box rotted out, whining from engine, poss alternator? Gurgling sounds from heater system... Plus of course sorting the suspension height... seller wouldn't budge lower than £1800...

Title: Re: Front lower than the rear on lifted xj
Post by: JamesH on December 07, 2015, 12:28:54 PM
Sounds like he will be storing it for a while then  :wsmile:
Title: Re: Front lower than the rear on lifted xj
Post by: Dave69 on December 07, 2015, 01:01:56 PM
Sounds like he will be storing it for a while then  :wsmile:

pushing it asking for £800
Title: Re: Front lower than the rear on lifted xj
Post by: Jumpinjacks on December 07, 2015, 03:15:06 PM
That price is with no winch aswell.
Title: Re: Front lower than the rear on lifted xj
Post by: Brynjaminjones on December 08, 2015, 07:20:37 PM
I've just seen this on Facebook for £2500!
Title: Re: Front lower than the rear on lifted xj
Post by: bigjeepzj on December 08, 2015, 08:52:03 PM
 :hysterical: :hysterical: :hysterical:
Title: Re: Front lower than the rear on lifted xj
Post by: Green Jeep on December 09, 2015, 02:25:14 PM
I've just seen this on Facebook for £2500!

FAF....

It's a shame as some money and time has been spent, diff guards, H/D steering bars etc...