New to ZJ's Q's about lift

[StompJrKz400]

i just acquired a nice 98 5.9 grand. i want to run 32-33"s

interwebs tell me 33" will rub bad with a 3.5 inch lift ( which was my plan )
so can i trim/space/hammer to stop, or would i need to go bigger on lift

nothing crazy on lift, im in the 400-650 price range, and i was thinking about going with the rough country 3.5 kit.

will the aluminum d44 housing take the punishment of 33s and my lead foot?

[HeavyMetal]

Paging Dr. Huxley to the ZJ ward

[Pedro]

Most 3" kits just put the front springs in the rear and give you taller front springs. Other than that the suspension is the same as an xj and tj I believe. I've seen 32s on a 3". You can probably fit 33's if you trim.

As far as the 44a apparently the aluminum center section doesn't take abuse well. I know i rounded mine off pretty good and had a peeling/leaking cover my first time at Rausch. It is a pretty strong axle, however, and will be fine on 33's. Look at Valhalla Fab on JeepForum or Facebook. They make a nice weld on skid for it for $75. That's where I got mine.

Remember those zjs came with cv front axle shafts too. That's more of a weak point.

[StompJrKz400]

Thanks, i didn't know that the cv shafts were a weak point, for some reason i thought they would be better than u joints....

[Pedro]

Thanks, i didn't know that the cv shafts were a weak point, for some reason i thought they would be better than u joints....

If they are made by RCV, yes. Double check that the boots aren't torn.

With that said, I've never seen one in person break. I've also never wheeled with many people who run them aside from myself. Unlocked on 33's you should be ok, but they aren't ideal.

[StompJrKz400]

Run em till they break, then tj axles i guess

[Harry]

Seen the CVs break locked on 33s. Didn't take much

[Ruepart Hoaxley]

The CV shafts blow. Find an XJ with ABS, you need shafts with tone rings on them.

You saw my ZJ on 33's, and that wheeled a Sentra with 2" of lift perfectly fine. You'll be good with 3.5" or so. Just make sure to hammer back the pinch seam in the front. You can't, and don't ever want to, do any trimming in the rear wheel well.

Don't wheel like an idiot, pay attention to where your wheels are, and the aluminum diff will last. Like Pete said, diff skid is key. Aluminum 44s when supported properly can be just as strong as a cast 44, and actually have bigger bearings. They used hem in Vipers and other stuff...

Sucks the grille and hood are fucked. Getting 9er replacements will be, well... Not cheap. Convenient for you that I have a grille and hood for a ZJ.

[StompJrKz400]

I was jus going to hit up the junkyard for hoood fender and grill, is the 5.9 grill much diffrent?

Im not worried about loosing the hood vents either

[Burton58]

I was jus going to hit up the junkyard for hoood fender and grill, is the 5.9 grill much diffrent?

Im not worried about loosing the hood vents either

Cut the new hood and put the old vents in it

[Lycaon]

Cut the new hood and put the old vents in it

WRONG, get a new hood and hand over the vents to me

[Ruepart Hoaxley]

It screws on the same. Any ZJ grill will work.


Sent from my pay phone in Chechnya

[hippie metal]

You saw my ZJ on 33's, and that wheeled a Sentra with 2" of lift perfectly fine.

Back up SMASH back up SMASH back up SMASH "get the front tires" back up SMASH on the hood. Rear tire 1' off the ground....doesn't quite sound like perfectly fine...but close enough

[Ruepart Hoaxley]

Didn't rub. Didn't flip... It counts


Sent from my pay phone in Chechnya

[Pedro]

The grille just has the mesh and the good has the vents. That's all