new to me 89 yj

I still got my 75 cj5 with no plans of getting rid of it but I recently bought a 89 yj I got a hard top full doors half doors bikini top and a brand new still in the box soft top with it. Its got the straight 6 and an automatic trans. There is not a fiber of carpet missing or a tear or dent anywhere on it and its still all factory even the ac works. I would like some opinions on liftkits and lockers for about 31 or 32 inch tires. Just gona be doing very moderate wheeling.

 

I have an 88 YJ 4-banger, low miles, also great condition. It is underpowered on the highway, but very nimble on trails.

I put in a 4" lift spring kit, and run 31x10.5 BFG AT tires.

I am happy with the 31' tires, although they rub a little at full lock.

If I was doing it again I'd use a bit less lift, maybe 2.5' or 3" - I don't think 4" was necessary. Not familiar with the six, but 4 cylinder has a very short rear driveshaft, and the 4" lift meant installing a Slip Yoke Eliminator and replacement shaft with a CV type U-Joint.

 

Not sure where you are, but I doubt it is in the rust belt! Sounds like your YJ is in good shape. All the YJs in my area are rusted out.

I can't offer much for wheeling mods. Mine 4-banger YJ has a humble body lift, milemarker winch, and a heavy rear bumper to counter-balance the winch. The first thing I did (years ago) was herculine the tub. That saved the tub for sure. My frame rusted out a couple years ago - last winter I finally located a solid frame and did a frame swap to get my YJ driveable.

 

According to "managers" at tire shops you can put 31" tires on a stock YJ.... but my 89 did not like it . I did 2" shackles... I know not the best option but gave me plenty of clearance, cheap, and "easy" to install. Don't do more than 2"-6" of lift and whatever amount you decide on choose the correct tire. Remember... bigger tires are more expensive all around! (Sad how many people fail to understand this concept)

 

No advice but my brother's YJ has 31" tires and rough terrain has put the tires in the fender flares causing some rub wear....well a lot of rub wear. Lift for those tires are a good idea.

 

My brother has had a few 4 cyl yj's, both with 31's. he put on extened brake lines, and a inch or so shackle lift, I think thats about it. I had a 79-7 with 4" lift and rear locker and 33" swampers and his little jeep followed me everywhere I went. Once in a while a had to pull for lack of ground clearance. That little jeep never stoped impressing me. He never had problems with the rear 35.

 

the frame will rust at the rear the trans mounts then the steering box in that order ive got one with 4 inch springs and 31s no trouble other than the sacklessness of the 2.5

 

I've got a YJ that I'm working on for my daughter.. I'm disguising it though

 

id get it running perfect first..meaning nutter bypass and mc2100 or weber..team rush upgrade....any carb'd yj can use those...you should have the non c-c;ip d35 too....if the springs are sagged due to age stick with 31's..or just enjoy what it is and formulate a plan of what you want it to be and do it right, once

 

Always carry a spare ignition box with a 4.2, I went through a few of them on the 89 I had.

 

Thanks for the info guys. I have looked at a bunch of different kits on the web and I have decided to go with the BDS 2" kit with 1" shackles and 32" tires.

 

I think you will be happy with the BDS kit. My brother and I both have used the BDS 4" kit and were very pleased with it. It seemed to take a few off road trips to get the springs boke in, but once broke in they rode nice on the road and flexed well off road.. Don't tighten the shackle bolts too tight or the springs won't flex and your ride will be stiff. My brothers jeep rode sooooo much nicer than mine, and we found I had my shackle bolts too tight, we loosend them and my ride improved.. One thing I would add to your suspension is extended brake lines, your new lift will flex more than the factory springs and the factory brakeline isn't very long from the frame to the wheel. Its just a automatic thing I do to any jeep I get, if im going to use it off road at all it gets longer brakelines. The brakeline can limit flex or worse.. BRAKE. if stretched too far.