Well I recently finished my 3" RC lift on my 98'. I gained about 4.5" in the rear (I had negative arched springs to start with) and about 2.25" in front (I'm assuming it's a little less than 3" because of my heavy steel front bumper)

I'm experiencing vibrations starting around 30mph and they seem to go away by 45 (I do understand that any vibration is bad) and I need to do something about it.

I've heard possible negatives about TC drops being (but not limited to)
-doesn't completely cure problem
-can lead to premature motor mount failure
-bad for TC
-added strain to exhaust system
-can disrupt TC linkage (pops out of gear while offroad, and my jeep will see use offroad)
-reduced ground clearance (I'm not too concerned since I won't be doing any climbing or anything, just light trail riding, etc.)

My other choice is a HnT from Iron Rock. For $200 I'll solve the problem and get an already reconditioned DS. I took a look around the junkyard today but all the driveshafts are missing or missing parts and for what they want, plus new u-joints, I'll be in almost as deep.

I'm leaning towards the SYE since it seems like the better solution. I'm unemployed, so I don't have a lot of funds lying around, but I'd rather do something right then have to deal with future issues that come up from doing it wrong. I just don't know if I'm going overkill on a vehicle I only paid 2k for.

Please don't respond by merely saying the TC drop is a "bandaid" or a HnT isn't a "real" SYE. I take that back, you can if you want, but I know those arguments, I'm just wondering what most people would/have done. I'd really like to hear from 97+ people with 3" and what they've specifically done.

It may sound like I've already made up my mind, but if the majority of 97+ people in my situation have just done the TC drop without issues I may just go that route and save the money for now.

thanks in advance!

 

i have 4.5" RE lift. i also have a HnT... its awsome for what it is. i wouldnt do a TC drop for what you have already stated and only like spending money on a problem once... however i am sure people will say that its more moeny then needed for what you plan on doing, which could change. but IMO SYE is the way to go. however you are also only at 3"...

*edit, I acually forgot for a min I had a 87 XJ, and 4" lift. all i did was a TC drop, installed it with my lift and never had a poblem. also if you dor get a TC drop, get a nicer one with a linkage drop bracket aswell to help the poping out issues...

 

I've had a homemade tc drop in my 98 with a 3 inch lift on it for about a year and 20k miles. Once i have some extra funds I am gonna do a sye but for the price of $0 and 20k miles without a issue from the tc drop I cant knock it. I just changed the fluid last week and drive in 4wd a lot in the snow out here in Colorado and everything still looks fine.

 

Mine is an 01' with 4.5" and I have the SYE. TC drop is cheaper but it is smarter to go with the SYE..

 

ive seen very few probs with a tc drop specially at 3 inches ud only need 1 inch drop and there are no negative effects till after 2 plus inches of drop

 

I would go for the SYE if I were you. Sometimes it pays to go the extra mile and not have to worry about re-doing it.

 

tc drop is basically temporary. but something i always wondered about if u do tc drop as temp. and eventually do sye. would it be smart to remove the tc drop. for clearence issues.. and performance.

 

Did you use shims on the rear end?

 

my RC springs had what appeared to be shims as part of the spring pack. they are tapered but only look to be a degree or two... have tried to find out if these are actually shims to compensate for driveshaft angle or just the end of another leaf that they used for another reason (added height, etc.) they are the same size as the perches.

I haven't measured the angle, but as it sits now, it seems as though the yoke on the rear is pointed about a degree or so down from the driveshaft which I believe is what you want so that when the rear "loads" it is straight. Other than that I know the rear and TC yokes should be at the same angle and the driveshaft angles equal and opposite, but I can't see how this would be possible on our jeeps with any kind of lift. Obviously I'm no expert on all this though.

I think I read that you're not supposed to shim too much beyond having both yokes aligned with each other, but I'm not sure.

Don't know if I would need to shim with the SYE as well, that's another questions.

 

if you can afford it do the SYE!

Rough Country has their SYE on sale for $199 right now.

 

sorry, crappy pic, but this is what I'm talking about as part of my RC pack

 

Do you have an angle finder? The TC and rear end should be 2*-3* from each other. Example my DS is at 15 and the diff 12. Toss the shims on and see. It should take some vibe out. You may feel a tad at 30mph. Once it settles you should not feel a thing.

 

I think I'm gonna go pick up an angle finder tomorrow. either way I'll need one. I'm still kinda leaning towards SYE but if I can fix with shims that'd make me feel better than doing the TC drop. I'm trying to drive as little as possible until I fix this... is there anything beyond U-Joints that I could be messing up? will the TC be ok? I try to keep it under 30 or jam through to 40 as quick as possible so I'm not vibrating for too long (thats what she said) but I don't think it matters, harm is harm

 

Well when I had 3" of lift I used the shim my lift came with and cured the vibes. At 4.5 I kept the shim and added the TC block. At 6.5 I went with the SYE, front DS for the rear. No shims but kept the TC drop. I guess I can take that out but I havent gotten hung up yet. Yeah angle finder is a good thing.

 

would a 4.5 RC leaf pack come with shims?