Clayton Off Road Premium 4.5 Inch Short Arm Suspension Lift Kit for 1984-2001 Jeep Cherokee XJ

Is This for You?

• You're building a 1984–2001 Jeep Cherokee XJ for serious off-road use and want Clayton's highest-spec short arm system at 4.5" of lift — with forged Johnny Joint adjusters at the control arms, not just GIIRO bushings. The Premium tier is above the Overland+ (COR-3001045) in Clayton's XJ lineup.
• You already have or plan to source a SYE (Slip Yoke Eliminator) kit and CV-style rear driveshaft before installation. These are hard requirements at 4.5" of lift on the XJ — the kit cannot be properly installed without them.
• You want rebuildable, greaseable hardware at the control arm adjusters that can be serviced rather than replaced. Forged Johnny Joint adjusters are built for long-term serviceability on a trail-use XJ.

The Result

• Premium-tier control arms with dual-durometer GIIRO bushings AND forged Johnny Joint adjusters — GIIRO joints isolate road noise and vibration; forged Johnny Joints are greaseable, rebuildable, and capable of up to 40° of misalignment for extreme articulation. Above the Overland+ in Clayton's XJ lineup.
• 4.5" of lift on the XJ platform — engineered to correct suspension geometry at this lift height with high-quality coil springs up front and rear leaf springs. Designed specifically for 1984–2001 Cherokee XJ models.
• Optimized for 31" tire fitment — the suspension geometry and lift height are calibrated for 31" tires on the XJ platform. Running significantly larger tires may require additional modifications.

The COR-2901045 is Clayton Off Road's Premium short arm suspension lift kit for the 1984–2001 Jeep Cherokee XJ, configured at 4.5" of lift. The Premium tier adds forged Johnny Joint adjusters to the control arm package — greaseable, rebuildable, and rated for 40° of misalignment — above the Overland+ (COR-3001045) which uses GIIRO joints only. This is a fabrication-involved installation: drilling is required, a SYE (Slip Yoke Eliminator) kit is required to eliminate the factory slip yoke at the transfer case output, and a CV-style rear driveshaft is required to manage the driveshaft angle at 4.5" of lift. None of these are optional — the kit will not function correctly without them. Shocks are sold separately; Clayton recommends Bilstein 5100s as the direct-fit shock for this application. Rear leaf springs ship bare metal in a box — surface rust and cosmetic marks from transit are expected and do not affect structural performance. If cosmetic condition is a priority, contact OFAS for freight/pallet shipping before ordering. Ships at 145 lbs. Made in the USA, backed by a Lifetime Warranty.

Audit Table

Verified Fitment (OFAS Standard)

Fits:

• ✅ 1984–1993 Jeep Cherokee (XJ) — base trim
• ✅ 1985–1988 Jeep Cherokee Chief (XJ)
• ✅ 1985–1990 Jeep Cherokee Pioneer (XJ)
• ✅ 1985–1992 Jeep Cherokee Laredo (XJ)
• ✅ 1987–1992 Jeep Cherokee Limited (XJ)
• ✅ 1989–2001 Jeep Cherokee Sport (XJ)
• ✅ 1991–1992 Jeep Cherokee Briarwood (XJ)
• ✅ 1993–1997 Jeep Cherokee Country (XJ)
• ✅ 1994–2001 Jeep Cherokee SE (XJ)
• ✅ 1996 Jeep Cherokee Classic (XJ)
• ✅ 1998–2001 Jeep Cherokee Classic (XJ)
• ✅ 1998–2001 Jeep Cherokee Limited (XJ)

Does NOT Fit:

• ❌ 2002–2007 Jeep Liberty KJ — different platform entirely
• ❌ Jeep Grand Cherokee ZJ/WJ — different platform; see COR-4104110 (ZJ) or COR-4106110 (WJ)
• ❌ Any XJ without SYE kit and CV driveshaft installed — required components, not optional

Installation & Fabrication Notes

• Drilling is required — this is not a bolt-on installation. Ensure you have appropriate drill tooling and a solid work plan before starting.
• SYE (Slip Yoke Eliminator) kit is required — must be installed at the transfer case output before the CV driveshaft can be fitted. Source and install the SYE before beginning suspension installation.
• CV-style rear driveshaft is required — the factory slip yoke driveshaft cannot be used at 4.5" of lift. Source a CV driveshaft matched to your transfer case output and axle flange before installation.
• Grease Johnny Joint adjusters at initial installation and periodically thereafter — grease fittings are accessible with standard grease gun equipment.
• Shocks are not included — Clayton recommends Bilstein 5100 series as the direct-fit shock for this application. Source before installation to avoid downtime.
• Rear leaf springs ship bare metal in a box: Surface rust and cosmetic marks from shipping are expected and do not affect structural performance. Contact OFAS for freight/pallet shipping if cosmetic condition is a priority.
• Full alignment required after installation — use a shop familiar with lifted XJ geometry.
• California Prop 65 Warning: This product can expose you to chemicals including those known to the State of California to cause cancer and reproductive harm. See P65Warnings.ca.gov.

Wheel & Tire Fitment

• 4.5" lift: Optimized for 31" tires on the XJ platform
• Running tires significantly larger than 31" may require additional modifications — verify with Clayton Off Road fitment documentation for your specific XJ build.
• Backspacing and offset affect final clearance — verify with your specific wheel spec before ordering tires.

Engineering Question: Do you have a SYE kit and CV-style rear driveshaft sourced for your XJ? These are hard requirements for this installation — the kit cannot be properly installed without them. Also confirm you have the tooling and plan for the drilling required during installation, and whether you need Bilstein 5100 shocks sourced before ordering.