Wassup guys. Just replaced the motor mounts and tcase mount on my '98 XJ and my guy in the shop tells me the tcase drop is causing all of these problems pulling the motor down from the incorrect angle, should I just take the spacers out or possibly just have the driveshaft lengthened? Not sure if taking the spacers out will cause a wobble, right now it goes 85 with no wobble at all. Any input or experiences are welcome, thanks.

 

Your problems would be solved with a slip yolk eliminator and driveshaft. T-case drops are junk.

 

A t case drop is never a good idea and you found out why.And at 3 inch lift i don't think you really need it.If you do then get a sye and new rear driveshaft.

 

If that is really the case then you do need an SYE/Driveshaft, but usually not needed on a 3" lift the majority of the time.

 

Thanks for the input guys. I'm fairly new to the XJs and Jeeps in general but I kind of figured the tcase drop was unnecessary, a friend of mind whom I bought the jeep from, also a professional mechanic, installed the lift and spacers so I figured he was on the money with his decisions of build. Anyhow I'm going to have to get my protractor and tape measure out to figure this one. I'm pretty sure I will go bigger with the lift so I don't want to invest in a SYE until the suspension is all done, but that means not much driving.

 

Sorry but anyone that uses a t case drop is not a mechanic hes a parts changer.From the factory the whole driveline aka engine to rear axle is set to a angle which makes everything happy.Well that t case drop lowers everything making for funny angles and it will wear out your mounts and in a extreme case your fan could eat in to the radiator and or crack the exhaust manifold.

 

If your going to a larger lift just do the SYE now and use a stock ft. driveshaft from an XJ till the larger one goes in. At that time buy a new custom driveshaft cut for that lift height.

 

I bought Dorman leaves because I wasn't interested in lift. Yeah, word all over the web is that they provide 1" lift; close enough. What I got was 3" above factory height (clarification: I said 3" above factory height, NOT 3" above my previous sagged height) and driveline vibes.

Yeah, SYE is on the to-do list for me...NOW. I planned carefully, was trying to keep the cost down, and budgeted accordingly, but now I'm stuck having to eat hundreds more dollars of expense...eventually anyway since I just don't have that money laying around, and now I have to save during a time when money is tight. In the mean time I dropped my transfer case just far enough to get the yoke/pinion angles jiving with each other again. Vibes are gone, and no harm is being done. I'm honestly surprised at the aggressive reaction to a transfer case drop here.

You guys act like "just do the SYE now" is just that simple when it isn't for many. Telling someone with 3" of lift and driveline vibes that 3" of lift usually doesn't require an SYE is not helpful either--in many cases (OP and mine for example) it IS.


OP, it sounds like your drop was put in without ever testing your lift without it. Remove it and take it for a spin. Maybe you'll find you're fine without it. Maybe you'll find you do need it, but then you really should start taking steps toward an SYE.

 

Well said mschi772.

 

In alot of people's cases you shouldn't lift if you don't have the money for those extras that are sometimes needed. Always over budget so you have money for those what ifs. If you can't then you are not ready. Lots of people just buy a simple lift and then blah blah this happened and blah blah now I have to spend more. You can't lift 3 inches, realize you need an sye, and then say you have to "spend on unexpected things" when it's known beforehand it was a possibility. Plan for EVERYTHING. If you only have the money for the kit at the time, save more, then buy the lift, install and finally see if you need extras. If so then you have the money already saved.

now in your case you only wanted an inch so it was unexpected. But in a majority of these cases that can't be said.

 

I see your point. Had I set out to do 3", an SYE would have been part of the planned package from the beginning.

 

Yeah you have to plan. You may not need it, but at least you're ready if you do. Nothing should ever be totally unexpected if you do your homework. I'm relatively young. Pay for all of my expenses. Don't make alot. But thank goodness my mom taught me how to handle money. Alot of people alot older then me that are never budget right or wantvthings RIGHT AWAY, and its never what it should be. I woukd love to do so much to my jeep, but it's just my toy and all my plans for it are secondary to putting my money to other stuff. I could lift to my desired height and buy drop brackets and t case drop now. But the fact is I'm saving to buy everything I need and then some. I know I'm not ready if I don't have the means saved up to do it right.

mild hijack but back on topic. OP I also recommend saving for an sye. It's the best choice. Or like someone said, drive without the drop and see if you really need anything.

 

check out this thread posted earlier today for an example. 6.5 inches and you don't want an sye?
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f67/re...6/#post3356267

 

You are right repeatedly replacing motor mounts is a much better idea. Why not just save until the lift can be done right?

 

I did. It's not my fault that the springs I got provide 3" of lift instead of the 0-1" everyone told me to expect with them.