Rough Country 3" lift problems

[Treadted2]

I just got this lift all installed and the front end is vibrating pretty bad at around 20-25 mph. The thing is, I got the front springs in first and actually drove it with only the front springs in. It drove fine and it wasn't until I got the rear springs in that it started to vibrate in the front end. Why is this happening??? I am so frustrated. Can anyone shed some light?

thanks

Ted

[christopher]

I too drove my rig with only the front installed for a week and I work 40 min. from my house, looked mighty funny I might add. I didn't have any vibs though. one thing I noticed thatthe instructions didn't mention was that the front springs need to have the large bushing eye in front. you won't have proper alignment the other way. if this isn't the case then I would check your cardian u-joint.

[Manhattan]

Ted,

Are you sure the vibration is from the front? Vibrations can tranfer via driveshafts etc., and be felt through the steering wheel and feel as though it's the front. As a test, remove the front drive shaft and go for a drive.

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a.k.a."Bushwood" '88 G-Wag' New 360, 3" Springs, 31" ATs, Custom Roof Rack, 2.5" Dynomax Exhaust... rest stock.

[Treadted2]

Manhatten,

good to hear from you, I am about to freak out. The mechanic working on it put the jeep up and said the vibration sounds like it is coming from the transfer case. Is that a misalignment in the rear drive shaft??

and I have asked him about the shim in the rear, and says there is a little one somewhere. Where should I be telling him to look for it? I am hoping that the shim is the reason for this problem. Let me know. Maybe you can throw your number at me again so I can give you a call. I lost the e-mail you sent me.

thanks

Ted

[Manhattan]

The vibration is being caused by the u-joints not being at the same angle - the ones at either end of the rear drive shaft.

The shims would/could be located on the spring pad on the axle housing - where the leaf spring meets the axle. the shims are the width of the spring, about 4 inches long and vary in thickness: i.e. 1/4 inch tapering to nothing.

It concerns me that your mechanic does not know what a degree shim is and where it would be located.

Call Rough Country's tech support line. Those guys will know a lot better than I what degree shim you need.

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a.k.a."Bushwood" '88 G-Wag' New 360, 3" Springs, 31" ATs, Custom Roof Rack, 2.5" Dynomax Exhaust... rest stock.

[Veepster]

this gets me thinking......I recently installed a skyjacker 4" lift....should I check my angles? I assumed SJ had all that taken care of?

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Peace.............BartG

the Green Flash!
78 Cherokee
360 2v, TH400 QT with low
4" skyjacker Doetsch tech shocks
33x12.50 BFG KO's 8" American Racing Baja Rims
Thorley headers, 3" exhaust, Dyno Max
Infiniti power leather seats
50%LuxuryCar,50%Tractor

[Adamstrator]

Did you install the shims backwards? the 3" lift is not enough lift to cause any serious vibration alone (I have this lift to btw). Howevre, if you isntalled the rear shims backwards then it would point the axle down instead of up, making the driveshaft angle go from good to bad which may cause vibration.

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Adam Zeimet
IFSJA Webmaster
83 Wagoneer LTD.

[Treadted2]

Yeah, this mechanic doesn't know much about all of this stuff. I went and drove and looked at it myself today. It drives HORRIBLE!! However, I looked at the springs and that shim that you were talking about(Manhatten) was there, and it was pointing the pinion too far down. I told the mechanic to take it out and try it. I also told him about getting the 1 degree shim you said would be perfect. I think that will solve it. Now on to the ignition problem that mysteriously started also. Dangit!!!

Don't you just hate automobiles when they have problems???

Thanks for all of your help

Ted

[Adamstrator]

!

If the shim is pointing the back of the axle down (where the driveshaft connects) towards the ground instead of up towards the transfer case, then its in there backwards, simply turn it around and it will point the back of the axle up towards the transfer case like its supposed to.

If your mechanic can't figure that one out, maybe its time for a new mechanic....