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[kmax]

Good to know, Mike. I have new BDS lower control arms still in the box, but I've been hesitant to install them until I can eliminate the upper control arm brackets as well. I haven't looked for BDS adjustable uppers yet, but I guess that's the next step unless your kit comes out soon...

[strokeZ]

I assume you did not have this issue when running the 255's? Might be a good choice to forego the extra 0.5" ground clearance and wait till Mike can give us a solution :-)

What do you think would have happened if you were running rock sliders? Do you think that type of rubbing (on the plastic rockers) would have given you major issues if you had a slider installed?

[El Cid]

Just to be clear: 4xGuard has no plans to manufacture the solution. I'm just testing the modified kit for the manufacturer and pressing them every chance I get to make it a reality.

[strokeZ]

Thanks for clarifying Mike. Perhaps we can get a few people to chime in if we feel like its an issue to be addressed and give you some momentum???

[El Cid]

I appreciate the suggestions, strokeZ. The manufacturer is well aware of the issue and what a massive improvement my modifications represent. It's just a question of them having the time to get the engineering completed on it. There's only so many hours in the day, you know?

[06blkhemi]

This is a very excellent thread !! Will this mod mean anything to us with just the spacer lifts,to help with rear articulation ? Next I love to see a solid front axle conversion,maybe using a Dana 44 ?!

Frank

[El Cid]

It would be a change for the 4" set-up; would do nothing for the 2" folks.

And I wouldn't hold your breath on a front-axle swap -- nor would I personally see the point in it.

[kmax]

As Mike said, there's really no point in a solid axle swap, unless you simply want to be the first on Earth (that I know of) to do it. I've looked into it in great detail along with the owner of a local fab shop known for the rock buggies it puts out. It would take a fab shop probably a couple weeks and about $8K. You would likely end up with a long-arm setup loosely based on an XJ kit for the front and a ZJ type setup in the rear. Reason for the long-arm setup is to get the front solid axle low enough to clear the motor with some reasonable margin of travel. The XK would be at least 6" of lift over stock, but more realistically 8" or so. The rear short arm factory setup can't begin to deal with that. Take a look at the Libertys that have been solid axled, they're about 8" of overall lift. While that may sound cool, that's getting pretty tall to do safe off roading. While the mechanical issues can be overcome, if you try to do a solid axle conversion on a QDII rig, you have to make the computer deal with the elimination of at least the front ELSD. And that's only if you regear whatever front axle is chosen (likely a Rubi D44 w/ factory locker) back down to 3.73 since 4.10's are not available for the rear. So you see there are issues. Electrically it would be a nightmare. If I were to actually attempt it, it would be with a non QDII XK. As it is, I plan on doing a front axle swap, but there will be a 2012 JK with a pentastar V6 attached to it. Probably sometime late next summer. Until then, the nagging IFS will have to do. It's not making any clunks at the moment, but just wait until tomorrow.

[06blkhemi]

As Mike said, there's really no point in a solid axle swap, unless you simply want to be the first on Earth (that I know of) to do it. I've looked into it in great detail along with the owner of a local fab shop known for the rock buggies it puts out. It would take a fab shop probably a couple weeks and about $8K. You would likely end up with a long-arm setup loosely based on an XJ kit for the front and a ZJ type setup in the rear. Reason for the long-arm setup is to get the front solid axle low enough to clear the motor with some reasonable margin of travel. The XK would be at least 6" of lift over stock, but more realistically 8" or so. The rear short arm factory setup can't begin to deal with that. Take a look at the Libertys that have been solid axled, they're about 8" of overall lift. While that may sound cool, that's getting pretty tall to do safe off roading. While the mechanical issues can be overcome, if you try to do a solid axle conversion on a QDII rig, you have to make the computer deal with the elimination of at least the front ELSD. And that's only if you regear whatever front axle is chosen (likely a Rubi D44 w/ factory locker) back down to 3.73 since 4.10's are not available for the rear. So you see there are issues. Electrically it would be a nightmare. If I were to actually attempt it, it would be with a non QDII XK. As it is, I plan on doing a front axle swap, but there will be a 2012 JK with a pentastar V6 attached to it. Probably sometime late next summer. Until then, the nagging IFS will have to do. It's not making any clunks at the moment, but just wait until tomorrow.

Looking at the pics you posted,the XK looks to do just fine with the IFS and the ELSD's ! The problem with the 2"spacer lift,you really don't get any performance gain in suspension just a bit of lift for bigger tires,which I guess is actually a bit of performance gain,but not much..

[kmax]

You're right, 06 - it does pretty dang good with QDII. I agree with you on the spacer lift issue as well. But since the XK is so low to begin with, the bigger tires fitted and made possible by a spacer lift increase the XK's ability by a bunch right there. Even with the 4" lift, I was running 265's for a long time since the stupid things wouldn't wear out. Even then, I didn't have a clearance advantage over anyone running a 2" lift with the same tires. Finally putting on some 285's made a nice difference, as well as getting rid of the RR supersliders. The only thing smacking rocks in Moab were those rear lower control arm brackets. Bottom line is, the XK is as good a platform as one can get with an independent front suspension, especially when modified, and extraspecially when one has QDII. But a JK Rubi, with it's solid axle, and certainly when modified will absolutely outperform any XK off road. So rather than experiment with a solid axle swap with uncertain results (would it really off-road better than it does now? Unknown.), I'll opt for a rig I know will go most places I point it and still be comfortable enough on the street. One thing I would certainly miss is the Hemi. But the pentastar V6 has 20+ more horsepower than a 4.7HO, so it will have to do. Love the XK, pretty much over the IFS.