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by Bill Soo Back in 1999, we bought a used '94 Cherokee Sport. It was destined to be our daily driver since our family was growing and my Ranger could no longer carry all of us comfortably. The plan was to relegate the Ranger to off-road-only use and the Cherokee would remain pavement-bound except for the occasional foray on an easy forest service road. But that's not how it turned out. The Cherokee was being used for much more off-roading than we had expected. For the use to which the Cherokee was now being used, it was geared too tall, needed taller tires and needed more suspension articulation.
Cherokee owners, like most Jeep owners, are blessed with a huge variety of aftermarket support. That meant that it took a lot of time to research the products that were out there. Making the best choice for our requirements wasn't easy and we spent a lot of time trying to find out what each kit came with and what peoples' experiences were like with the various kits. After a lot of research and much consideration, we chose on the 3" kit from BDS Suspension. The package consisted of new coils in the front, add-a-leafs in the back, shocks all around, a track bar relocation kit, and a transfer case drop kit. While we were at it, we also ordered their sway bar quick disconnect kit. We chose the BDS kit for its completeness and the fact that it was an excellent value. The friendly and capable folks at North Shore Off-Road handled the installation of both the suspension kit and our new BFG 31" All Terrains.
As advertised, the kit gave our Cherokee a 3" increase over its original height. Actually, it was a little more than 3" but that could be because the original springs were sagging a bit. The resulting lift provided the perfect amount of height to fit our new 31" tires. There were no rubbing issues with the tires at full compression and the Cherokee was still low enough that its stable highway manners were preserved.
Off road, the new shocks soaked up minor bumps much better than the old shocks. Larger bumps are still harsh but most importantly, the suspension no longer bottomed out (which happened all too frequently before). I should point out that our Cherokee is usually loaded with all manner of camping gear (notice in the photos that we make use of the roof rack as well!), so it's not too surprising that it was bottoming out.
Disconnecting the sway bar is easily accomplished by removing the 4 locking pins (2 per side), removing the connection tubes, and raising the sway bar out of the way (I use a bungee cord to keep it out of the way). This is best accomplished while the vehicle is on a flat, level surface. Similarly, reinstalling the connection tubes and lock pins must be done on a level surface. A hammer (or a rock, if you're desperate) can help maneuver the sway bar into position, or you could use a jack to compress the suspension. Either way, it's a simple one-person process.
So, the kit accomplished its purpose of improving off road performance. Now how about road manners? On the road, the Cherokee is much the same as before. The few extra inches of height may not seem like much, but they do give a somewhat better sightline; you get more of a "looking down" feeling. The truck also rides much firmer, more truck-like. But it is still quite responsive to fast maneuvers. In fact, that truck-like ride probably helps because with the added height, the additional firmness in the suspension helps keep the body roll in check. In summary, I highly recommend this kit. Our goal was to make our daily driver more capable off-road while retaining its on-road manners and that's exactly what we got. We got the performance we wanted at the price we wanted. What more could you ask for?
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