Ali Mansour
Brand Manager, 4WD & Sport Utility
For years we’ve told you how the ’84-’01 Jeep Cherokee XJs are some of the cheapest and most budget-friendly wheeling platforms you’ll find. While some model years are notably better than others, the overall suspension and chassis layout went relatively unchanged over the XJ’s 17-year run. Our friend recently picked up a well-used and lightly modified ’97 Cherokee for a great deal. Though the overall rig was mechanically sound, the suspension system was pretty cobbled together and extremely worn out.
After looking at all of the various pieces he would have to acquire to re-vamp the defunct suspension we found that it was cheaper to start over with an all-new kit. Without question there are a lot of suspension options and companies that cater to the XJ platform. Like many of you, deciding which system is the right one often comes down to who offers the most bang for the buck. For around $450 we found that Rough Country’s 41⁄2-inch complete XJ suspension fit the criteria perfectly.
The folks at Rough Country have years of suspension knowhow, and they understand that having quality parts and an economical price is something that benefits both the business and the consumer.
To raise the front of the XJ 41⁄2 inches, Rough Country provides heavy-duty lift coils. We found the new coils to be a touch firmer than stock ones, but they still cycle easily under the Cherokee’s weight.
To install the lift, we browed some shop space at our local 4x4 shop and went to work. Since the majority of the lift is bolt-on and doesn’t require a vast array of specialty tools, the budget-friendly kit makes for an easy install. For a complete line of the Cherokee kits visit www.roughcountry.com.
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