Need guidance - due to unplanned circumstances (someone borrowed my 2009 JK X, took an unplanned quick swerve off road at speed and quite some damage to the front passenger side - bent housing, etc). Was planning on doing either a 3” lift and moving to 35” tires or a 4” lift and 37” tires over the winter - but the damage necessitates taking action now and replacing w/ stock parts would be a waste.

Already did cosmetic work (Bestop Glide slant back top, LineX spray inside) and Poison Spyder bumpers front & rear, and rock slides).

Not planning on an heavy rock crawling, obstacles, or technical trails. Would be used as a part time daily driver, so would want to keep things reasonable, but not our only vehicle. It is our camping vehicle, and sometimes we will drive it 200ish miles to get to a destination. Want to have fun and enjoy it - we won’t push the limits on it, but don’t want to be overly limited on capabilities either.

So - not wanting to let a good ‘crisis’ go to waste… but now is the the time to lift this and get the mechanical mods done. What you you recommend?

Should I put a Dana 44 in the front as a replacement? Any particular Dana 44 you’d recommend?

What is a good option for a 3” or 4” lift kit?

What underbody armor should I consider adding in?

Should I add lockers as well? Reco?

I’ll figure out wheels / tires separately (once I have the mechanicals planned). Thanks so much in advance for the wisdom and reco’s.

 

you can get a take off front dana 30 for about $100. If going to 35's look for a 44. Rubicon take offs $1500-2500 but will likely need to re gear the rear to match. Something like a PR44 is $6k and really noth worth it IMO. If you are going 37's maybe look into the Fusion hybrid 44/60 with a strong housing, dana 60 diff and lets you reuse your factory outers so you don't have to change wheel bolt pattern and allow you to upgrade to a semi float rear 60 in the future. I would throw an E locker in whenever you doing axles and gears. Look at metal cloak for lift kits, they have several models to choose from. 2.5" lift to run 37's is plenty from them. 3.5"-4" lifts are going to cost you around $4-5k when all said and done. A good quality 2-2.5" lift will run you $2K+.
Throw your budget out there as being vauge makes it hard to recommend but for what you are asking you should have a budge of $8-10 for a front 44 and 35's with lift and closer to $15k for 37's and 3.5" of lift with proper axles and gearing.
Good luck.

 

thanks - this is really helpful - I'm starting to get a picture of what I need to do. budget probably around $10,000 - so probably going into a 44 front w/ 35's and 2.5" lift

 

Another axle option would be a Dana Ultimate 44 comes with an E locker, your choice of gear ratio and Chromoly axle shafts. $4500
Enough for 35 all day and possibly 37's unless you are planning to get crazy with you rock crawling.

 

A dana 44 can last a long time with 37’s, but it is at the ragged edge, and you will want to regear with 37’s, absolutely. If you have 4.10’s and 35’s, it may be tolerable, but everyone is different. I am strange, because my jeep is on 39’s and tons, and I daily drive it, but tow it if I am going more than a couple of hours. It could easily drive it, but my pickup is just more comfortable over distances.
I am with Dirtman, flat fenders and 2.5 » is more than enough for 37’s, especially with Metalcloak. I have almost 70,000 miles on my MetalCloak lift, with only minimal maintenance. Make sure you set up your bump stops correctly.