Well, since ya bumped us... I got my 3 inch AAL kit in from RC today. Pretty stoked to put it on, and plan on doing that Sunday. In other news, got my windows tinted, 15 on the sides and 55 on the windshield, and it's awesome. Also picked up a Yakima roof basket on the cheap from a friend with 4 55(?) watt lights on top (also cheap) that I need to wire up, and I plan on adding some more lights to the rear. I have zero experience with any of this... so it should be exciting!

 

Come on guys I'm lonely in here! Alright, so I got my lift put on, sortof... Well I broke the passenger side sway bar link, and a lower shock bolt, so I just went out and bought all new grade 8 hardware. In the rear is where I ran into real trouble... I couldn't get the leafs eye bolts out for anything... SO in my desperation I thought "why don't I just put blocks in the rear"... I also thought, "I wonder why no one else does that.." but I went and did it anyway...

Like a rookie I unbolted both sides of the axle so it went free and was a pain to get back under center (still not perfect), got the blocks on, got the new wheels and tires on, and 8 hrs later I roll out of the garage with a lifted XJ. And it drives like total garbage. No sway bars up front is brutal, and after reading up one why NOT to lift an XJ with blocks I will be taking it to Tennessee Off Road in Lebanon on Thursday to get that AAL put in, and my sway bar link fixed (the passenger side is inhibited by the steering, and I learned my lesson the first time in NOT taking things apart that you don't have the tools/experience to get things back together. Then I'll get an alignment and diagnose any vib's that remain.

I'm really picky about my vehicles, and my XJ runs like a top and only leaks at the valve cover gasket, and that's only because I haven't had time to replace it. So I want it to drive perfect and won't settle until it does.

Overall, I'm thankful for this forum and the wealth of knowledge it provides (especially the fishing line/rear shock bolt deal) and the way it turned me into a very, very novice mechanic, and helped me build a Jeep I can be proud of. Here are some pics before and after lift.

 

Looks good, I would have been glad to help with the lift.

 

X2... looks good. I have my old leaf packs and possibly some shackles. Ditch the blocks man!

 

I ditched the blocks! Actually, I took it to TOR in Lebanon and he put in my AAL for me, and cut and welded on a new rear shock (stud?) for me. Mine was broken their at the axle when I bought the Jeep. It was just long enough for the shock to sit on, but not long enough for a nut and washer. He also threw my replacement front sway bar link in for me.

It drive a million times better. I do however have some vicious, and I do mean vicious vibrations in the drive shaft. I feel it in the petal when engaging and disengaging the throttle, and it starts vibrating audibly at around 15 mph, shaky at 25-30, then just really loud from 30+. From what I've gathered on here, t-case drop should cure it? I'd really rather not do the axle shims if possible.

 

Man, I can't believe u got that kinda vibes on that deal. My rear is lifted with shackles and blocks, I did't drop my T'case, and I do 80 on the Interstate all the time. No problems. sept a saggy ride height in the rear, do to sagged out fact. leaves. O, and i leak a lil fluid from the T'case rear seal do to a worn out slipyoke. <~~~curse the word. I need to get off my fat a$$ and do the SYE and build me an S-10 bastard pack and ditch the blocks. But... A fat guy at rest tends to stay at rest unless acted upon by an outside motivational Jeeper.

 

Maybe it's because the leafs are fresh and need to settle? I don't know but they're intense, and I think I can hear the slip yoke squeaking as it engages and disengages? If that is even what I hear. I don't know but I hope the t case drop will be sufficient. I have a feeling it wont be. And I don't have the money for sye and a new drive shaft.

 

Idk man, If ur slip yoke is "Disengaging" u got serious problems. How much lift are we talkin about? U sure u, or they, didn't leave a cir-clip off of a U-joint cap or sumthin? In the pics it looks like about 3" lift. U shouldn't need a SYE or a T'case drop with that amount of lift.

 

I said "disengaging" because I don't know the terminology. It's a chirping sound when I get into and out of the throttle... it just made sense in my head that it would be coming from the area where the t case and drove shaft meet... Yeah it's 3 inches... I didn't mess with anything on the drive shaft, and I don't think TOR did either. I'd be interested for one of you local Murfreesboro Jeep guys with experience to drive it and let me know what you think. Until then, I'm ordering a t case drop kit because that's what my research on here has yielded. I bet I'll need a drop and shims.

 

I see... Ur in Murfreesboro?! I thought u was further off than that. I'm in Murfreesboro every day and so is EC. We aint no experts, but i know how mine goes together. If nobody ever disconected the driveshaft, and it didn't shake B4, that pretty much eliminates that idea. I really can't think of anything else that would cause this other than drive line angle. If everything looks like it's together right, I guess the T'case drop is the next logical step. I just can't, for the life of me, understand how moving the axle 3" on one Jeep can cause such violent vibrations, and cause none at all on another one just like it. Guess that's just the way it goes sometimes.

 

Well, I installed my t case drop today. Both studs and one bolt came out fine, but I broke one bolt, so ill have to have that fixed tomorrow. I drove it after, still vibs. Not near as severe, but still unbearable. My xj sat a lot taller in the rear than the front pre-lift, so maybe my leafs need to settle? I guess the next step is axle shims. Never thot id run into trouble like this with a 3" lift. Oh well. Like all fun things, they break.

 

Hey y'all! I was just wondering if anyone was thinking about going to WITC this Saturday for the SRRS race? The racing starts at 10am and i will be at the Loves Truck Stop off of exit 46 around 8:30 waiting on a few buddies do that we can caravan in to the trails.

Let me know if you are interested in meeting us or if you will be out there and we can keep and eye out for you!

 

That sounds like fun, I might have to see if I can get permission to go.

 

Awesome! Hope to see you there!

 

Well, this thread is DEAD!