sicma99ot

i installed a rubicon express 4.5 SF kit with monotubes and 32 stts and 1" tcase drop this weeks. while doing the lift i swaped my old 250k 8.25 for a 90k 8.25. and got an alignment yesterday.


problem 1)
while im driving, if i let off the gas, get on the gas or coast down hill i get a grinding/clunking sound. i assumed it was the rear end, having just put it in. i knew my old rear end was good so i swapped it back in. no change. so i figured my ujoints were worn. so i changed those, along with the transmission mount and put in ubolt staps for the ujoint. no change. i pulled my front shaft. i also jacked up the rear and put it in drive. i could hear and feel the vibration coming from the drive shaft but doesnt look like its binding up. now looking at my drive shaft, im thinking it must be my driveline angle. ive read the t case out put shaft must be parallel with the rear end yoke. will shims help or is this a "you need a sye" type of deal? i plan on getting a sye soon, but is it ok to run like this for a few weeks?



problem 2)
this is my shackle angle. how do i correct it?



problem 3)
i noticed my adj superflex upper contol arms where leaned over, so i took them off, streightened them up, put them back on and went for a drive. i look at them and they are leaned over again. is this normal if not how do i correct it.

gpXJ

Problem 1 - at 4.5" (and likely higher as the RE lifts tend to lift above advertised height) you probably need an SYE. You could temporarily get by with some shims to shim it down, but then once you install the SYE you will likely need some shims to move the pinion up (so you risk having to buy two sets and mess with them twice).

Problem 2 - the only way to fix that is with shackle relocation brackets. HD Offroad sells some good ones (and even ones with 0 lift if that is a concern).

Problem 2 - loosen the jam nut, twist that end back straight then tighten the hell out of the jam nut with a little blue locktite on it.

sicma99ot

im also experiencing some knocking in the front when going over bumps and when turning going over bumps. is that likely caused by the upper contol arms? ive tightened everything in the front as far as it will go and can still hear it knocking. there isnt any play in my track bar.

helmut

SYE and shims.

sicma99ot

im hopefully going to be ordering my sye HnT from IRO next week. ive dumped more money than i wanted into this lift already. im disappointed that i have to keep throwing money at it just to be happy driving it.


but right now ive got everything tightened down with loctite. ill give it some time to cure before checking if the front end knocking is gone.

helmut

I have the same SYE. I put it off as long as I could. But if I could do it over I would have gotten an sye before even messing with anything else.

mjcxking

Did you change out the track bar?

sicma99ot

yes. RE adjustable track bar RE1600. but its tight, no play.

sicma99ot

how do you like it?

helmut

All is good.

andrewmp6

Some do say jeep stands for just empty every pocket.

XJ Mayhem

Depending on how bad the "knocking" is in the front, it could be the lower shock mounts. Par pin eliminators will cure that... but it may not be the issue. It's hard to help diagnose when you can't actually see the patient.

sicma99ot

Im pretty sure it was the uca hitting. I straightend them up and tightened the crap out of them and loctite. Didnt hear anymore knocking. ill check it again later.

Marks2000XJ

Hahaaaa......welcome to owning a Jeep! I can feel your pain.

sicma99ot

Haha ive actually had this jeep about 5 years and just got around to lifting it. It use to be 2wd so I swapped in all the parts to convert it to 4wd. Soon im going to be dropping in a new motor to replace my 250k plus motor.