Zone 4.5" Short Arm Lift Kit and 33" Tires on Jeep Cherokee XJ 4x4

[@SKPcars]

Channel link to check out more of our stuff kzbin.info/door/YMhyNWFIfAXSiFeTDJTZGw

[@EntertainmentEssencez]

I’m 17 and you Helped me through every single step thank you man

[@SKPcars]

Your welcome, glad it worked out for you. We have more videos on the XJ and are going to be making more when we get done with some projects we are backlogged with. Make sure to subscribe to see them all.

[@SuzyTopAgent]

This was a very in depth tutorial 👌 easy to understand and I like all your tips throughout. Wishing you a Great Day! Stay Safe

[@SKPcars]

Thank you so much 😊

[@kippnovak9833]

Holy shit...a video on KZbin with no ads

[@SKPcars]

it's funny because on my other account it pops up ads on this account and i am not getting paid for them.

[@kippnovak9833]

@@SKPcars that sucks..

[@SKPcars]

@@kippnovak9833 i agree, i need about 900 more subscribers before it starts paying. I don't understand how they are allowed to run ads on it without paying the content creators.

[@kippnovak9833]

@@SKPcars I'll subscribe...just 2 help u out bro...

[@SKPcars]

@@kippnovak9833 thank you very much

[@onefastcyclist]

A good description of the nuts and bolts of this installation. Long arms will provide better geometry for people who go off road and sway bar disconnects will add both articulation and prolong the life of sway-bar bushings. Your lucky that just dropping the transfer case worked - I know people who have had to modify the transfer case and install a new drive shaft with the same lift.

[@SKPcars]

If you are going to crawl you for sure need the long arm kit. This thing is mostly a trail runner short arm works fine. I haven't had any issues with it so far. If i do drop a drive shaft on the trails i will have to get a longer yoke, different shaft and/or slip yoke eliminator. Right now though everything works. I have a good amount of engagement with the set up on it. Good comment.

[@onefastcyclist]

@@SKPcarsThanks - indeed, a "slip yoke eliminator" which really is a shorter output shaft and flange on your transfer case to eliminate what becomes a week spot in your driveline when heavier tires are installed. This intern, necessitates a new longer drive-shaft for bigger bucks. I had to lower my transfer case to eliminate a vibration following my 3-1/4"(actual) Old Man Emu lift. However, the Australian steel holds up on our California rocky trails which are steep enough to require low range to climb with stock 3.55 gears. People in my neck of the country tend to long-arm, SYE and regear with a 4-1/2" lift. All of which is expensive. As I said, you're lucky to be able to spend that wad of cash on having fun!

[@XavierCarpenterMTL]

Really glad to see that your wheel choice looks good! I found a set of JL wheels and now I’m sold on the look

[@tedspens]

You really went into detail, even down to the nut sizes. I've done some limited mechanics and pretty sure I could tackle this. Thanks!

[@SKPcars]

Glad it could help. That's why i make these.

[@Subby808]

Great video, love the format, very detailed and easy to follow along. Thank you for sharing.

[@SKPcars]

Glad you liked it, please subscribe if you haven't already.

[@scottgrigsby4210]

the sway bar bolt with the torx head is pressed in like a wheel stud, use a C clamp to remove or like I did , Use a ball joint tool, it just presses out

[@SKPcars]

good to know, i was not sure at the time.

[@bigcountry4262]

Great video! I’m going to do the same lift and your talk-thru was very thorough. I’ll look for the links for the kit and fender

[@SKPcars]

The lift i got direct from zone the fenders through quadratec. The lift can be picked through them too but during the covid lockdowns i was trying to avoid delivery delays so i bought direct.

[@4x4adventure_pl]

Looks like very good upgrade....

[@SKPcars]

We have liked it so far. We have had some issues with death wobble but i believe those have been sorted out.

[@4x4adventure_pl]

@@SKPcars Yeah, we have one and we already have it in some videos (beginner level!) on our channel.

[@SKPcars]

Well share it, I'm not one of those channels trying to keep others from succeeding. Post some links. I want to check out your videos.

[@4x4adventure_pl]

@@SKPcars kzbin.info/www/bejne/eKOkgJ-HYqyBoMk

[@SKPcars]

@@4x4adventure_pl my channel has subbed to you but there are many similarly named channels having trouble finding it on my personal page.

[@manuelsolano7525]

Very nice video well explain. thank you

[@jdmsurfer]

That's a 4 hour job. Professional here

[@SKPcars]

As you can see my shop is not really up to pro standards and i try to use hand tools for all these jobs. If i had a better set up it wouldn't have taken me very long.

[@supercharged00gtp]

Great video, jealous of the rust free rig!! Any vibration just using the drop brackets on for the driveline? I've seen where some folks have to go to an SYE to cure it.

[@SKPcars]

I have not had any vibration issues with it because of the bracket. It is only a 1" drop and doesn't seem to effect it very much. I did have death wobble from a worn upper control arm that showed up later and i have a video for that done more recently. Also this is a secondary vehicle i don't drive all the time. I need to change the axle ratios because of the lift kit, it doesn't like going uphill on the freeway. Glad you liked the video.

[@bombdiggitydave3881]

Thx for the video install with thorough explanations. I subbed and thumbed 👍 Q:what are the tire dimensions i.e. 33x12.50x18 on 5x4.5 to 5x5 spacer/adapters or, something else?

[@SKPcars]

Those are the stock tires off a JL rubicon, they are 285/70/17 which works out to 33". The spacer are the smallest i could find i believe 1.5" 5x4.5(XJ) to 5x5(JL). They might be 1.25" but I'm pretty sure they were 1.5" i wanted the wheels to stay under the fenders.

[@SKPcars]

Thanks for subscribing!

[@TinkerPrepper]

Looks awesome! 👍

[@SKPcars]

Thanks!

[@Amarillobymorning777]

Looks GR8.

[@daveoffroad7396]

Great job man..!

[@SKPcars]

Thanks glad it helped!

[@jhtubevids]

Thanks allot for the review/ install. I just ordered the same kit minus shocks today. Im planning on bilsteins. Also ordered flag nuts and bar pin eliminators. Also hows the 1 month ride review?

[@SKPcars]

the ride is great went from being a mushy car set up to a truck feel. i ran it around 4x4'ing a little bit and needed to replace my break lines to allow for travel. i got some rough country lines from Quadratec. they cost about $90.00. Also and most importantly the truck will need to be re-geared if you are planning to commute with it. i took it to work one day and it would not climb the hills at speed. i spent the drive in 3rd gear most of the way. it will still work fine off-roading because you use low gears to climb but i am going to put in 4.56's to get it closer to a stock ratio.

[@warrenjansen7096]

Nice looking Jeep! And great video. How have you liked the lift after a year?

[@SKPcars]

Lift is great, gear ratios are not. I need to do 456 gears in it. It doesn't like hills now. While working on other stuff in the mean time, because gear parts are expensive, the throw out bearing on the clutch went out. That will be the next big project on this. It's kind of hard to get to at the moment because i am deep in that 53 chevy truck. It all will get done just time and money permitting.

[@charlescummings8218]

Question I have a 1998 Jeep Cherokee SE 4WD RSD. I have looked on Google for the lift kit for this vehicle. Everything I have found is for the Grand Cherokee or XJ. I don't know what kit will work for this vehicle. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[@SKPcars]

You have great timing, i have just started updating these videos with parts. If you look at the video description i have listed the kit i did made by zone and a few other options. Some are cheaper some are more expensive. Plus if you buy one through the link it helps the channel out since we haven't hit monetization yet. The zone kit is american made, made by bds suspensions. Rough country is a foreign made kit but cheaper and will start to sag over time. Plus i have a much more expensive bds option. Check them out if you have more questions let me know.

[@tomwolber]

Sorry if I missed it in the video - but did you have to trim the fenders to not have any rub with the 33s?

[@SKPcars]

Yes, 31's are about all that fit under the stock set up, i think those still rub without spacers. We have another video putting on the fender flares. They are cut in style and require a lot of fender cutting to get those 33's on there. Make sure to subscribe so you can find the video quickly.

[@ethan928]

I may have missed it in the video, but did you need a slip yoke eliminator?

[@SKPcars]

For regular driving and moderate offroading no. I would if you do heavy offroading or rock crawling. I didn't do an sye in the video. It still doesn't have one on it either.

[@lawrenwimberly7311]

make some 2 inch spacers to move the front bumper out so it matches the wheel well... longer bolts, and some 2 inch pipe spacers should work

[@SKPcars]

That's a great idea but my long term plan is to replace them with smittybuilt bumpers. It will probably end up being a video. I need to change axle ratios first. They are a bit pricey and it is super hot outside right now.

[@travisrscott75]

Not a fan of them fender flares other than that I did the same lift I love it

[@SKPcars]

So now that it has been driven a bunch and the suspension has settled. I am now getting death wobble. Ordering parts for that soon. Video of how to fix that will be up probably sometime in June.

[@keithlucas6260]

Track bar shock and possibly ovalized holes.

[@SKPcars]

@@keithlucas6260 drivers upper control arm was ovaled out. Found it when i was changing them. I put on jks adjustable arms there is a video up for it on the channel.

[@SKPcars]

@@keithlucas6260 kzbin.info/www/bejne/hKjbp6h7a818rbM

[@keithlucas6260]

@@SKPcars yep, tol ya......just machined out a stock tstat housing and took out 3/4 inch of "in the way material." Beats paying $40 anyday.

[@Garrett053]

Cool!

[@deadspeed6679]

Extended brake lines ?

[@SKPcars]

The kit i believe only came with mount extensions. If i remember right i did extend them when i did the brakes.

[@scottgrigsby4210]

the control are bolts are a 21mm or you can use a 13/16 wrench or socket

[@SKPcars]

yes, this is why i tried to say these are those vehicles in they years they made everything standard and metric sized. i'm sure any difference in size i had was just because of age and corrosion.

[@SLSfan25]

Could you tell me what spacers you used? Thing looks good. Just bought a new project and there's a ton of jl wheels for sale on Craigslist

[@SKPcars]

The only spacers i used came with the kit. They were 1" spacer for the transmission cross member. Used to correct the drive shaft angle. The wheels i had were given to me off a, i think, JL Rubicon. The 2019 and above type, not sure the letter code.

[@SLSfan25]

@@SKPcars Ya the wheel spacers were what I was talking about. Wanna put JL wheels on but they have different lug nuts and studs than the JK.

[@SKPcars]

@@SLSfan25 sorry i wasn't looking at the thread just the comment. Xjs are 5x4.5 newer jeep wranglers are 5x5. I used 1.25" or 1.5" ones i got off ebay. Not any specific brand. They were about $60 for the set.

[@davef.566]

You need to use a old rim or cement block as a back up safety to your jack stand PS your working on the ground :-) :-) :-) you do have good knowledge

[@SKPcars]

i put plywood under the jackstands

[@ky0611]

Did the lower control arms push the axle forward?

[@SKPcars]

No this kit is designed to keep the geometry the same. If you did just arms it probably would but shocks and springs push it truck up to avoid that.

[@Brandonp95]

Hey man, installed this same lift kit on my 96. What is your rear shackle angle? Mine is basically 90 degrees and rides rough in the rear.

[@SKPcars]

i tried to add a picture here but it won't let me. your description of 90 degrees is a bit hard to understand. the curve on the shackle should point towards the front of the jeep. the shackle should be pointing straight down and the leaf should be about 90 degrees off of that. the curve points at the front to allow for more vertical on the suspension and more flex on the springs. it should ride more like a truck or rough with the lift kit. the stock suspension is mushy like a car. it will help with rebound when offroading. sorry wish i could have sent picture.

[@Brandonp95]

@@SKPcars the shackle is straight up and down, but should be closer to a 45 degree angle with the top of the shackle pointing toward the front. Was trying to see if a shackle relocation kit was necessary for me and it sounds like it’s the same for you that this kit put the shackle angle at near 90 degrees to the unibody.

[@SKPcars]

@@Brandonp95 again i wish i could send a picture. the mount would point at the ground but the way the shackle is set up it makes a near 45 degree angle before it points down. if you had the stock set up it would look the same just up and further back. the new mount does relocate for the new leafs. adding relocation brackets would extend the leafs too far down and make your ride mushy and wobbley when offroading.

[@octaviocamacho782]

Did mine but it wobbles after lifting and track bar installed and also the steering wheel was not in the correct place

[@SKPcars]

I have another video about replacing the upper control arms. My drivers side arm was egg shaped. My steering wheel isn't straight either. That has to be readjusted through the steering column.

[@OnlyJayBoss]

What type of zone lift kit was it ? Coil spring lift ? Do you have direct link to buy ?

[@SKPcars]

zone 4.5" short arm lift kit for jeep XJ 4x4. i was going to buy through Quadratec but they estimated 5 weeks to ship. i bought it direct from Zone for the same price. thinking the wait time would be less based on what their site said. i still waited about 2 months for the kit.

[@javiercastillo2877]

Put 2” spacers on the wheels is going to see much better

[@SKPcars]

I went as small as i could because it weakens the wheel attachment. I only used them to make the new wheel pattern match.

[@rolla.18s87]

Very informative. Thanks for the video. I was looking into RC X-series or this one but like u did mention it’s American made. RC claims to say it’s American made but their really made in China 🤥

[@SKPcars]

yes most all RC stuff is made in China

[@nickkiosk5513]

bitching ride dude