XJ Build Help Near Penn Hills

[Phase09]

Hello Guys looking for some advice on upgrading my 2000 XJ, I'm in Pennhills I have already got some parts including a rubicon lift but want to make sure i do it right anybody close willing to give me some advice on the does and don'ts Thanks Mike

[joshs1ofakindxj]

DO soak bolts in advance with PB blaster, especially the rear upper shock mounts and leaf spring bolts, making sure to spray through holes in the unibody to get to the nutserts. Those are the ones that could break and cause you a real headache.

[ridgerunner97]

Odds are great that the front bolts on the rear leaf spring pockets that are in the unframed will break off inside the uniframe. Not a big deal you can take an angle grinder and cut a notch in the bottom of the rail to reach up inside with a wrench and hold the nut. Rear upper shackle bolts will fight you as well. Just presoak everything before hand like Josh suggested.

[Phase09]

should i use shimes if so how much

[ridgerunner97]

Shims for what? Pinion angle? How tall is the lift, do you have an sye on the tcase, some more details. But odds are good yes. How many degrees to shim I can't answer you need an angle finder.

[Azzy]

No matter how much PB blaster you use on the leaf bolts, they have loctite on them from the factory. they will need heat, and a lot of it.

[ridgerunner97]

I never had luck transferring heat from the head of the bolt, through the leaf pack, and into the nut inside the frame rail...

[XJchris98]

What rubicon kit did you get?

Like others have said, soak everything down with PB Blaster or WD40 Penetrant. Plan on replacing most if not all bolts/nuts that you take out.

What or how many shims is almost a guessing game. You may have to put everything together and back on its own weight to determine what shims you'll need. Make sure you use steel shims and that they're bolted to the spring pack correctly too.

[Phase09]

thanks for the advice Chris ill post when i get the lift on and ask more ????

[joe_and_jeep]

Don't go too high on the lift. I ran 39.5s on 4in springs, short arms and add a leafs. It was a lot of trimming but it was still full body and a TJ flare would of covered my cuts. A good quality control arm, full leaf pack and you're good to start spending money elsewhere like lockers and armor.

[ridgerunner97]

AMEN to what Joe said. 4-4.5in of lift, great steering setup like a ruffstuff x-over kit, and trim run 34-35in tire with lockers and armor makes for a HELL of a capable XJ

[Phase09]

I just got a 3.5" lift they said it would give me a 4" height i did get full leafs and a track bar planning on 33" don't want to go to crazy

[ridgerunner97]

Good plan.

[joe_and_jeep]

You'll be fine on 33s. There's a trick to cutting the rear fenders if you have to. The outer panel is welded to the inner wheel well. So you can't just go trimming, if you cut the spot weld you lose strength. Do you can pie cut and fold up or if you can weld I just cut mine out and welded the two back together. The front fender you can go nuts on. A few companies sell flares for trimmed fenders, you can just mount your flare higher or solve guys used to use TJ flares. But if you extend your bump stops you should be fine.