Jeep Cherokee XJ Rough Country Long Arm Kit

Jeep Cherokee Xj Rough Country Long Arm Suspension Flexing

One of the hottest SUV platforms for buildups is the Jeep Cherokee XJ. Produced from 1984 to 2001, these solid front-axle rigs are simple, plentiful, and inexpensive. They're just screaming to be modified and wheeled.

Naturally, one of the hottest mods is a suspension lift. Long-arm kits are very popular, and there are a number of these kits on the market. Rough Country Suspension Systems has just jumped in the long-arm fray by unveiling a trio of brand-new, very competitively priced kits for the XJ. They now offer a 41/2-inch kit with rear add-a-leaf and shackles (MSRP $1,099.95), a 41/2-inch kit with full rear spring packs (MSRP $1,199.95), and a 61/2-inch kit with full rear spring packs (MSRP $1,249.95).

We recently traveled to Rough Country's headquarters in Dyersburg, Tennessee, to install the 41/2-inch kit with full rear spring pack. This kit was developed using 32x11.50-15 tires on 15x8-inch aftermarket wheels with 33/4-inch backspacing. If you have extra bolt-on equipment like a winch and/or aftermarket front bumper, Rough Country offers optional polyurethane coil-spring isolator pads that help compensate for the added weight, and they boost ride height by 3/4 inch.

When we asked Rough Country what their goals were with this kit, they responded by saying, "Our goal was to bring an XJ long-arm kit to the market that incorporated a great design, strong components, and a market-leading price."

Here's a look at the major components of the kit and how they install.

This photo shows the vast majority of the components we installed. Note that the kit includes a transmission skidplate, premium Performance 2.2-series shock absorbers, sway bar disconnects, new stainless steel brake lines, and an adjustable track bar.
This photo shows the vast majority of the components we installed. Note that the kit inclu
Installing the new system begins up front. The stock shock absorbers, sway bar links, track bar, coil springs, and control arms all need to be removed.
Installing the new system begins up front. The stock shock absorbers, sway bar links, trac
The stock lower control arm mounts are removed to make room for the new control arms. Typically, this is done with a reciprocating saw. The illustrated instructions included with the kit show exactly where to make the cuts.
The stock lower control arm mounts are removed to make room for the new control arms. Typi

After removing the lower control-arm mounts, any ragged edges are ground smooth and the area is painted to resist corrosion. Overall, the cutting and grinding takes about an hour to complete.
After removing the lower control-arm mounts, any ragged edges are ground smooth and the ar
With the transmission/transfer case supported, the stock transmission crossmember is removed.
With the transmission/transfer case supported, the stock transmission crossmember is remov
The new transmission crossmember, which also incorporates mounts for the new lower control arms, mounts in place of the factory transmission crossmember. This new crossmember is made from 1/4-inch-thick steel.
The new transmission crossmember, which also incorporates mounts for the new lower control

New side plates are installed on each side of the new transmission crossmember to bolster strength. Installation of these plates requires drilling two holes per side into the unibody. With the side plates held in position temporarily via two lower crossmember bolts, the areas to be drilled are marked and then drilled out. The front holes on each side are drilled out to 17/32 inch, while the rear holes are drilled out to 25/32 inch after removing the side plates.
New side plates are installed on each side of the new transmission crossmember to bolster
Crush sleeves are used in the rear side plate holes on each side, while the front holes receive bolts and flag nuts. A total of five bolts per side hold the new crossmember and side plates in place.
Crush sleeves are used in the rear side plate holes on each side, while the front holes re
New stainless steel brake lines are included with the kit for both the front and rear axle. They're not only longer to compensate for the taller lift, they're also better quality than stock.
New stainless steel brake lines are included with the kit for both the front and rear axle

The new lower control arms are approximately 133/4 inches longer than the stock arms, and they're made from 2-inch-diameter, 0.250-inch-wall DOM material. After adjusting their length via the instructions, they're bolted to the new crossmember and the axle.
The new lower control arms are approximately 133/4 inches longer than the stock arms, and
Like the lower control arms, the new upper control arms are adjusted to length via the instructions and then bolted in position. The upper control arms are made from 13/4-inch-diameter, 0.120-inch-wall DOM material.
Like the lower control arms, the new upper control arms are adjusted to length via the ins
Each upper and lower control arm is equipped with a Rough Country flex joint. In the lower portion of the photo, you can see some of the components of these joints. Each has an eye ring made from 5/16-inch steel, hardened washers, injection-molded bushings, steel zinc-coated internal pivot ball, and hardened snap rings. At the top of the image is an assembled flex joint, and as you can see, they are greasable. They are also rebuildable.
Each upper and lower control arm is equipped with a Rough Country flex joint. In the lower

Bottom line
As you can see below, the Rough Country long-arm kit for the XJ did exactly what one would expect, and it dramatically improved suspension flex. On a 20-degree ramp we saw a 79-point improvement in the XJ's RTI score from stock to modified, and a 326-point improvement in modified form with the sway bar disconnected. That's a 16.7- and 68.8-percent improvement, respectively.

The height afforded by the suspension and larger tires translated to a 23-percent improvement in approach angle and a 31.3-percent improvement in departure angle. These are very welcome numbers when a rock ledge is in your path.

On the road, the XJ felt stable and controlled, with no weird bumpsteer after the install, albeit with a slightly stiffer ride as one would expect. On the rocks, the XJ crawled confidently, and there were no unhappy sounds audible as the suspension articulated.

The install itself was what we expected. Rough Country says this kit takes a professional mechanic about six to eight hours to install. This time should hold true for the 61/2-inch kit as well.

When it's all said and done, the Rough Country kit delivers, and it does so at an attractive price point.

Stock (28.3x8.90-15 Goodyear Wrangler RT/S tires) RTI (in traveled): 48 RTI score: 474 Front/rear bumper to ground (in): 14/18 *Approach/departure angle (deg): 44/32

Modified (31x10.50-15 Dick Cepek F-C II tires) RTI (in traveled): 56 (sway bar connected), 81 (sway bar disconnected) RTI score: 553 (sway bar connected), 800 (sway bar disconnected) Front/rear bumper to ground (in): 203/4/25 *Approach/departure angle (deg): 54/42

*Measured in a direct line from the tires, not including rear trailer hitch

The kit includes a beefy new track bar drop bracket, and it mounts in the factory track-bar bracket location with no drilling.
The kit includes a beefy new track bar drop bracket, and it mounts in the factory track-ba
The new coil spring rate is 10 lb/in greater than stock. Rough Country says this is to help control body roll due to the higher center of gravity created by the lift.
The new coil spring rate is 10 lb/in greater than stock. Rough Country says this is to hel
Rough Country's Performance 2.2-series shocks have a 2.2-inch-diameter body to optimize oil flow as well as to maintain a cooler core temperature. They also have a large 41.4mm piston and a built-in bumpstop, among other things. They were designed specifically for vehicles with larger aftermarket tire/wheel combinations.
Rough Country's Performance 2.2-series shocks have a 2.2-inch-diameter body to optimize oi

In place of the factory track bar is Rough Country's unit made from 1-inch-diameter, 0.250-inch-wall DOM tubing.
In place of the factory track bar is Rough Country's unit made from 1-inch-diameter, 0.250
A nice and beneficial touch to the kit is this transfer-case skidplate. It's held in place by four bolts, and like the transmission crossmember, it's made from 1/4-inch-thick steel.
A nice and beneficial touch to the kit is this transfer-case skidplate. It's held in place
We also installed Rough Country's optional steering stabilizer kit. This kit bolts directly in place of the factory unit.
We also installed Rough Country's optional steering stabilizer kit. This kit bolts directl

Front sway bar disconnects are also included with the kit. They simply mount to the sway-bar hoop where the stock links were secured.
Front sway bar disconnects are also included with the kit. They simply mount to the sway-b
Lifting the rear of the XJ was easy. The first step was to remove the factory shocks, U-bolts, and leaf springs.
Lifting the rear of the XJ was easy. The first step was to remove the factory shocks, U-bo
The factory shackles were transferred to the new spring packs. The new spring packs' rate is 20 lb/in greater than the stock packs to compensate for towing and gearing.
The factory shackles were transferred to the new spring packs. The new spring packs' rate

In virtually no time, the new springs, shocks, and brake lines were installed. Through the years, some XJs were fitted with the Dana 35 rear axle, while other came with the Chrysler 81/4-inch axle or Dana 44. Rough Country includes U-bolts for all of those axles.
In virtually no time, the new springs, shocks, and brake lines were installed. Through the
Before.
After.