WooHoo! I got Rustys Suspension!

[Kimbrough]

I just DROVE over to Rusty's Offroad Equipment - a 3 hour drive - and picked up his 4" suspension lift kit. He's a real nice guy but is in the middle of opening a HUGE new shop so parts are everywhere. I got all new springs (6 for the rear and 4 for the front), shocks and brakeline drop brackets. He didn't recommend a drop pitman arm and said if I need new u-bolts he'd send 'em to me. I'm gonna try to install it this weekend - any advise?

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74 Wagoneer, 360 v8, TH400 D44s F&R 31x10.5 tires(why not?)Marvin the Martian floor mats.

[River Beast]

I am 99% sure you will need the drop pitman arm... anything over 3" will get "bump steer" pretty nasty-like. Let us know how it goes...and how it rides...

You probably should have grabbed the new u-bolts....I don't know about your springs, but mine were a 2-leaf pack and now are 5 with the Skyjacker 4" Softride... your OEM's won't fit unless you have at least 2" of thread remaining (which you probably don't).

Plus it a good idea to replace 'em anyway...

What was the price... just curious...

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Todd
78 Wagoneer, "River Beast"
360/TH400/QT
Dana 44's locked w/ 4.89's
39.50x15x15 Super Swamper TSL's
7" SOA in front-7" Rear Shackle Inversion Mods
4" Skyjacker Softride
3" Trailmaster Bodylift
My FSJ site: http://www.geocities.com/spazz4life (http://www.geocities.com/spazz4life)
My E-mail: monster_fsj@hotmail.com
"If you can't stop...SMILE as you go under!"

'93 3/4 ton 4x4 Suburban...a.k.a. "FSJ Hauler"

[This message has been edited by River Beast (edited November 30, 2000).]

[Kimbrough]

Yo, RiverBeast,
I paid $520 for the "kit" and HEY! I AM FINALLY A FULL-FLEDGED MEMBER!!! WOW! O.K., anyways, he told me that I have an adjustable track bar that I lengthen after the installation and that would correct the steering - yes, I do have an adjustable track bar - His son owns the FSJ that is their test vehicle and said they didn't have any problems... O.k. so basically I'm takin' the guy at his word but MAN! he's done SODA racing and has been around for years and his Jeeps were just so darned COOL - what do you think? http://www.ifsja.org/ubb/eek.gif

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74 Wagoneer, 360 v8, TH400 D44s F&R, soon to be 4" lift, 31x10.5 tires(why not?)Marvin the Martian floor mats.

[BobBarry]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Kimbrough:
I just DROVE over to Rusty's Offroad Equipment - a 3 hour drive - and picked up his 4" suspension lift kit. He's a real nice guy but is in the middle of opening a HUGE new shop so parts are everywhere. I got all new springs (6 for the rear and 4 for the front), shocks and brakeline drop brackets. He didn't recommend a drop pitman arm and said if I need new u-bolts he'd send 'em to me. I'm gonna try to install it this weekend - any advise?
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

He's doing a set of rear lift springs for those oddball '74-'75 FSJ's? Finally somebody doing them. Maybe he's custom-assembling these leaf-packs, and can do them for the '64-'73 frames as well.

He's got a good name on the XJ scene; good to hear that he's getting into FSJ's too!

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Bob Barry<UL TYPE=SQUARE>* '78 Cherokee 4-door
* '88 Grand Wagoneer[/list]http://studentweb.providence.edu/~rbarry/wheels/

[Ralphp]

When I contacted Rough Country, Espo Springs&Things and Superlift, I was told that none of these companies offer rear replacement springs for the '74 Cherokee because the rear packs are longer than any of the later models. Are you sure that the rear springs youo have are the right length? If so, how do I contact the company you bought yours from?

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'74 Cherokee NT
360, Motorcraft 4-Brl
TH 400/QT with Low Range
Factory A.C/PS/PB
Awaiting Complete Rebuild
and New Paint

[Snakeyes_Tx]

About maintenence when adding in a lift.. I didn't use a dropped pitman arm and I really have no noticable bump-steer. And I used a 4" Superlift! The only adverse effect I had was my steering wheel isn't centered anymore.

Bushings... I can't stress the importance of using new bushings. Although a little stiffer riding... opt for the polyurethane ones. Superlift makes a good leaf spring bushing... I replaced all of them but the one at the top of the shackle (I still kick myself for not doing those.. they're the worst looking). MY truck is only 14 years old and the bushings look like hell!

U-bolts... someone once told me to change these once every two or three years, depending on how much you wheel. They STRETCH... and they break. I've broken two on the trail and they were the stock style U-bolts that were FAT. A new set of U-bolts will cost you 4 bucks for a pair. The HELP! section at auto-zone will work on Dana44 front axles..

While you're down there... check out the condition of your steering stabilizer. Rancho 5000's work as great steering stabilizers. I can't remember the exact 50## number, but O'Reilly can look up the one you need. After changing this, I had a dramatic change in steering... a little tighter, yet still very responsive!

A little paint down there wouldn't hurt either... I regret not laying down some paint on my 3/4 ton axles before I stuck them down there.

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Snakeyes_Tx
86 J-20 "The Rusty Dinosaur"

[This message has been edited by Snakeyes_Tx (edited November 30, 2000).]

[River Beast]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Snakeyes_Tx:
...The only adverse effect I had was my steering wheel isn't centered anymore.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

The adjustment for the steering wheel is easy. Drive in a straight line (what feels staright... I did this in my driveway). Loosen the crimped bolts on the draglink adjuster that is connected from the steering box to the main tierod . Have someone sit in the rig and watch your steering wheel as you twist the adjuster... they should let you know if you are turning it in the right right direction. When they tell you your wheel is centered, stop and retighen the crimp bolts. This will not mess with your actual alignment... only the main tierod adjuster that connects the wheel together will mess with the alignment.



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Todd
78 Wagoneer, "River Beast"
360/TH400/QT
Dana 44's locked w/ 4.89's
39.50x15x15 Super Swamper TSL's
7" SOA in front-7" Rear Shackle Inversion Mods
4" Skyjacker Softride
3" Trailmaster Bodylift
My FSJ site: http://www.geocities.com/spazz4life (http://www.geocities.com/spazz4life)
My E-mail: monster_fsj@hotmail.com
"If you can't stop...SMILE as you go under!"

'93 3/4 ton 4x4 Suburban...a.k.a. "FSJ Hauler"