lift is done, with a problem

[LGR]

thats it finally done!

Anywho I have a problem, RE 5.5 lift, guy told me that I didn't need a dropped pitman arm...however picture below shows some knuckle already hit the swaybar link end and bent over my pin.

Will a dropped pitman arm fix this? or anyone else have other ideas

 

[jay79cj7]

I don't know, but it looks good. What size tires are those?

 

[LGR]

33x12.5

 

[Joopin]

Is your track bar parallel with your drag link? If it isn't, a dropped pitman may be in order.

 

[TwistedCU]

Wow that thing looks sweet!!!!!

Could you take a pic of the front end back far enough to see the whole steering system?

 

[LGR]

front end. Might have track bar problems too, however if I adjust it either way it'll cause the axle to be off center.

 

[Bounty__Hunter]

That's where the tierod connects to the draglink, I've got RE 5.5" coils on mine and it doesn't hit there. A drop pitman arm should remedy that, but you want to make sure that with the drop pitman arm that your draglink and track bar are still parallel.

Nice lookin jeep, the TSL Radial is a good tire but the 33"x12.5" could definately benefit from some grooving. The two center bars that run the circumference of the tire are almost solid, save for some slight siping. This makes for poor traction when offroad, and onroad in slick conditions. I added 1/4" grooves to mine where the sipes are and it made it more aggressive, like the 32"x10.5" TSL Radial.

 

[LGR]

I still haven't gotten an alignment on the jeep yet, I was waiting to fix this problem before I did so i can make right hand turns without that clicking noise and maybe tearing the grease bubble thing.

Think an alignment will fix it? I mean, the track bar does look over extended to me, but axle is center.

 

[TwistedCU]

It looks to me like the tarckbar abd draglink are not parallel. With the trackbar's bends this can be confusing, so I circled the image below where they should be. It appears (emphasis on appears) that a small drop pitman arm may help out this alignment issue and also the problem with the draglink hitting the swaybar link.

Usually they dont recomment a drop arm until 6" of lift, but you are close to that now anyhow.

I forget which stock arms are which, but Snitty could probably tell you if a ZJ or WJ arm would work for a 1-2" drop

 

[LGR]

I seen 'em on rustys they have 1.25" drop and 3" drop, but not sure what drop to get. So what you are saying is that the draglink should almost cover the trackbar in the picture? or do you have a picture of the way it should look.

 

[Sparky-Watts]

Can't help on the tech side, but just wanted to say that's one darn good looking buggy!!!!

 

[TwistedCU]

I seen 'em on rustys they have 1.25" drop and 3" drop, but not sure what drop to get. So what you are saying is that the draglink should almost cover the trackbar in the picture? or do you have a picture of the way it should look.

ON SECOND THOUGHT...

This was mine with around 4.5" of lift on it. Same trackbar I think (RE1600???) and I did not have that problem. It looks about the same as yours. The thoery is that the trackbar and drag link should be parallel, but it you are not having any bumpsteer or DW issues then I would be leery of putting on a drop pitman arm.

Are you certain the axle is centered?

 

[LGR]

Axle looks really center. Again, i still have to get it all aligned..going thursday.

by parallel you mean....like photo one:

or photo two, as in parallell that the drag link should cover the track bar at the same height?

Could always see what the clowns at the alignment place thinks. Just wanted to be able to drive it there without tearing the grease fitting bubble.

Then again, the plus of your father owning a tow truck company. hehe

 

[TwistedCU]

Photo one, but like I wrote before, it's tough to say parallel when it has so many bends.

Break out the measuring tape to check the axle being centered. It can be deceiving.

 

[Sparky-Watts]

Photo one, but like I wrote before, it's tough to say parallel when it has so many bends.

Break out the measuring tape to check the axle being centered. It can be deceiving.

Should both front shocks be at the same angle? If so, then couldn't you measure the angle of each front shock to determine if the axle is centered? If the axle was off center, the shock angle would be greater on one side and less on the other, right?:?:

 

[TwistedCU]

It would be easier to find a centerpoint then measure to each end of the axle tubes

 

[Sparky-Watts]

It would be easier to find a centerpoint then measure to each end of the axle tubes

Oh, sure....take the easy way out!!:roll:

j/k

 

[LGR]

So, the four wheel shop near me refused to do an alignment on my jeep because it was way too much of a lift for a cherokee and called my rubicon express lift kit online garbage, and told me I used two differnt kits for it when infact it was the standard RE 5.5 extreme duty.

Also said my RE SYE was crap and going to fly off and destroy the underside of my jeep.

Maybe he just doesn't like Rubicon Express. This guy is all skyjacker. feh


Anyone ever had work done at Ok four wheel drive(ok4wd.com)? They are like two hours away from me so i don't want to trek the jeep down there to be turned away.

I mean, how hard can it be to find somebody to fix the steering problems and do an alignment on my XJ? If anyone knows anybody from DC to mass. including PA that can do this and regear it would be great. I can't seem to find any places

 

[TwistedCU]

Yea, I don't know how far Mount Zion Offroad in Dover, PA is from you, but they have my complete trust. Good people, they know Jeeps, and they sell Rubicon Express
(717)308-1844 is their #. Mike is a heck of a nice guy to deal with.

As for OK4WD, I bought my BDS lift from them back in '03. Never been there, but they gave me a good deal and I think they also carry RE.

I think your Skyjacker buddy was a tad biased

 

[Sparky-Watts]

I think your Skyjacker buddy was a tad biased

Translation: He was a jerkwad.