checked search but couldnt really find anything.. at the weekend I did a super cheap budget lift using 3 inch front coil spring spacers, and built a bastard pack for the rear leafs (its a 1998 xj). Thought I had it figured out for an even 3 inches front and rear, but it went a little wrong and somehow i ended up with 4 inches of lift over stock at the rear and a little over 2 inches at the front, so the back ends kinda up in the air. Problem is that if I pull away quickly (in 2 wheel drive), a really loud creaking, groaning, noise comes from the front end, along with a slight vibration that makes the the t-case selector lever knock back and forward. It happens in 4 wheel drive also, but its not as severe. If I pull away slowly, its quiet as a mouse. Theres no steering wobble, and the jeep handles fine. Question is, I intend to stick an extra couple of spacers up front this weekend to try to even things out - do you think this will solve the problem, or make it worse.. should I lower the back end?.. a 3 to 4 inch lift shouldnt require any extra modifications should it?.. thanks guys - any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

To me it sounds like the rear is too high for the transfer case(driveline angle to sharp) Three ways to cure it....1) SYE Slip Yoke Eliminator 2) lowe the rear to 3 in over stock, or 3) tcase drop. As far as the creaking goes it's more than likely that your jeep is trying (in vain) to pick up the front end as you take off quickly, thus jarring the front end components. Get it level front and rear and that should fix the creaking issues. Remember you are 2 inches higher in the rear, physics dictates that the vehicle will try to level itself out when given excessive throttle.....weight transfers from front to rear when you punch the throttle.

 

appreciate the reply - the weight transfer thing makes sense, so hopefully levelling things out this weekend will stop the god awful noise from up front!. I was hoping to keep the overall cost down, but it seems like a t-case drop might be in order - thanx for the advice thunda