Lift For WJ Jeep Grand Cherokee's

Here are the contents of the Rough Country X-Series 4-inch kit. The difference between this kit and the other WJ 4-inch kit offered by Rough Country is that this kit includes the X-Flex fully rebuildable control arms and an adjustable track bar.

We're picking up the installation at the point where the new front components are installed. To get to this point, the factory sway bar, shocks and control arms were all removed from the vehicle. The new grease fittings are installed into the new X-Flex control arms, and then the control arm bushings and sleeves are lubricated using lithium non-water-soluble grease and installed. The lower control arms are then adjusted to a length of 16 inches from center-to-center. The control arms are made from 2-inch-diameter DOM 1/4 inch-wall tubing.

The new X-Flex lower control arms are then installed with the Flex Joint mounted at the frame with the supplied U-bracket.

Next up, the track bar is removed along with the factory bumpstops and cups. The bumpstops have to be lowered to compensate for the increase in lift, and spacers are provided for that purpose. Here you can see the driver-side factory bumpstop cup being attached to the new spacer.

Up next, the new front coil springs are installed. These springs are 150-pound springs, which is about 30 pounds more than stock. The rate is increased to help control body roll as well as to counter the weight of aftermarket gear and tires. On top of each coil, the stock rubber coil isolators are reused.

To install the new sway bar quick disconnects, the supplied pins and crush sleeves are installed on each side of the axle. These are the lower mounts for the links.

The new links are adjustable and the instructions say to set them at a length of 111/4 inches. With the length set, they are then installed to the sway bar. Supplied brackets hold the links when disconnected and they mount to existing holes on the vehicle using factory hardware. When disconnected, the links are locked in place on the brackets using the lower pins.

With the supplied bushings, sleeves, and spacers installed on the track bar, the unit is attached to the axle and the frame. The new track bar is made from 1-inch-diameter 0.250-inch-wall DOM tubing and has a replaceable 3/4-inch Heim joint at the frame end. The new shocks are also installed at this time. It's worth noting that the Performance 2.2 shocks included with the kit are valved specifically for this application.

To help keep driveline vibrations at bay, the transmission crossmember is lowered 11/4 inches via included spacers. The crossmember is held in place using a combination of factory and supplied hardware.

At the rear of the vehicle, the shocks, top sway bar bolt, sway bar links, upper control arm at the differential, and springs are some of the items removed in preparation for the new lift components. The first new part that is installed is the upper control arm spacer bracket. It goes between the upper control arm and the differential.

Here you can see the new bumpstop extension being installed in order to compensate for the increased ride height.

The new coils are then installed. These coils share the same increased spring rate as the front coils.

Sway bar drop brackets are installed between the factory sway bar mounts and the vehicle using supplied hardware. Then the sway bar is reattached.

The last step is to install the new lower shock relocation brackets and the shocks. These brackets are needed to run wider tires with stock offset wheels. They move the lower shock mounting point away from the tire. Without the bracket, the shocks will rub the tire under compression given the three-link design of the WJ.