Input and/or help freshening up front suspension with 3.5" Lift
 

I bought this rig from a friend. He put a 3.5" rubicon express lift on it. It pops, cracks, and rides terrible. Not to mention the damage done to the tires. It's my toy now and it's time to liven it up.

A few pics on the starting point are attached. You'll notice no sway bar. He removed it completely. When I'm done with everything, ill be buying rubicon express quick dosconnects and give her alignment to finish her off. These tires are probably trash as well. Unfortunately.

I want to check everything and im not sure where to start. First thing I notice is that upper bump stop thing rubs on the spring when fully extended. Bump stops are gone. They were trashed so I pulled them out. Actually slid out of the spring they were so bad. They will get replced, but, not until im done with suspension and I can play with flex to see what I need.

Any advice. I know next to nothing about checking suspension for play outside of letting my wife turn the wheel while I look for play.

A list of things to check would be helpful. Thoughts? Tear it all out and start again? Lol. I wish I had that kind of money. I don't need a $15k jeep.


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Keep in mind that the axle moves aft when it drops. Where does the bumpstop tube sit in relation to the spring when the weight is on the wheels?

You need to install some bumpstops.

Steering upgrade is money well spent.

In the name of all that is holy....get rid of those P.O.S. Pro-Crap Shocks!!! You'll notice an immediate improvement with a set of Bilstein or RE shocks.

Have you checked the condition of the ball joints, bushings and steering joints?

Ha. Noted. I'll get these pOS shocks out. I'll look into bilsteins. I've had them on M3 and loved them. Never thought of using them on an off road vehicle. Does $280 for a set of 4 5100s sound about right? Or should I leave the procomps in the rear and just replace the fronts?

When it sits down the bump stop tubes are centered. I'll get new ones in, but, it's going to be a while before she goes off road. Not worried yet.

The bushings are failed at the bottom of the shocks now. Might as well get a new set instead of wasting money on these procomps.

I don't know how to check the condition of those? Any pointers and I'll get after it. Changing diff fluid up front at the moment.

Just checked the ball joints. Couldn't find any play. Didn't resinstall the tires though. I put a lever under the rotor and pushed up. Brought the axel up, but, joints didn't move. I have the axle off the ground with stands under the frame. Amidoingitrite?

Couldn't really find any play anywhere. Perhaps all is well? Onlu play I find is in the bushings at the bottom of the shocks. I have new poly bushings for the sway bar once it goes in.

However, I did find a few suspect bushing that appear to be cracking. Is this normal and okay? Or do I figure for replacing all the bushings in the front end?


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It's funny. O always see people lift jeeps and NEVER do the bumpstops. I was the same. You lift, get longer shocks and within a year the shocks are blown out. Why, cause you bottom them out on bumps, dip and potholes when the suspension cycles and you you use the shocks to bottom out

This is exactly how my buddy is. He did the bare minimum on everything. Cheapest he could. Everytime it had a leak I'd say...let's find and fix it. His response was, it's a jeep. it will be fine. God it pissed me off. Ha.

For the bump stops, im going to do them last when I start driving it again. I want to play with flex and see what I need. Unless someone can tell me what I need with 3.5" lift and 31x10.50s

Now I get his mess to tinker with. He's already jealous it's getting close to being done. Looking good too. Doesn't help this thing has literally sat 5 years now. Probably has 15 miles in 5 years. These things don't like sitting. Now if I could only find the source of this damn rough idle and power loss I'd be golden.

Thank you. Nothing goes at the bottom right? Just these for the front? My back ones are shot as well. I'm guessing I just need 1" larger than stock there as well?

Correct.

Wellllllllllllllll

You could use hockey pucks and epoxy which works really well. I've had mine set for over a year that includes winter salt and mud

oops

Looks like a case of Dry rot on those Bushings and boots. Recommend replacing all of them.