Suspension is comfortably the most common upgrade for all 4×4 enthusiasts because it’s not only the most obvious upgrade but provides the most bang for your buck. It raises the profile and ride height of your vehicle and allows for improved handling and stability when driving off-road.
There are three basic ways to lift a 4×4:
- Replace the suspension components. Otherwise known as the ‘professional choice’ this involves removing the old components and replacing them either individually or using a bespoke kit created to work specifically with your make and model. A complete kit is always going to be a better way to achieve optimal results than buying individual components from different manufacturers that might not be compatible with one another.
- Install a suspension spacer kit, which is a more affordable option but has no real benefit to performance. It just makes the car look higher.
- Install a body lift such as frame spacers. Again, however, this is just an aesthetic option.
Even family vehicles sometimes need a little upgrade to truly bring the best out of them. Such is the case with the Jeep Grand Cherokee. With the iconic Jeep branding behind it, the Cherokee is a true classic 4×4 and a consistent favourite with younger families looking to get into the world of 4×4 and off-roading at a reasonable price.
The Jeep Grand Cherokee WH/WK, meanwhile, which is also known as the mark 3 or “third generation,” represents the perfect sweet spot between price and performance, with the model now over a decade old but still outperforming many of the younger bucks on the scene. Even better, as it’s a model notoriously rarely used off-road by its users, there’s every chance that your 15-year old Cherokee might have never been used off-road. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t a capable little green lane machine, particularly if you opt for the V8 petrol option.
However, as wonderful a family 4×4 as it might be, the Cherokee WH/WK is a model that is notorious for suspension failure. Thankfully, Old Man Emu offers a complete suspension replacement package that’s an incredibly simple upgrade with only a few parts required.
A deceptive off-road monster
While it might have earned itself a reputation as something of a family car, it’s long been acknowledged in the community that all it takes to unlock the beast within is a few decent upgrades. However, while the ‘fun stuff’ like bull bars and skid plates are always an upgrade option, it’s always the suspension that should be taken care of first as the stock suspension on the WH is notoriously prone to failure if it’s been run a little too hard.
The aforementioned Old Man Emu kit offers a decent 50mm of front and rear lift and offers flexible options for varying amounts of weight. If you’re intending to use your Cherokee for anything other than dropping the kids off at school then you owe it to yourself to invest in this upgrade. It will not only offer a factory fresh suspension for a vehicle that could be up to 16 years old but it will unlock a world of off-roading potential.
The great thing about the WH (once it’s been upgraded, of course) is that it can be both your daily commute vehicle and your knock-around off-roader for the weekends. So, if you’re interested in upgrading the suspension on your Jeep Grand Cherokee WH/WK, contact us today.
Image: Wojciech Dziadosz / Shutterstock.com
