Iron Rock 5.5" LA
11-02-2012, 08:28 PM
#1
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Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: inline 6 4.0L
Iron Rock 5.5" LA
Well I'm going to go ahead and say it, I'm not THAT impressed. Dont get me wrong everything looks VERY stout and VERY strong but the ride isn't much better than how my old RC lift was. it does absorb the bumps a little better but the vibration in the Jeep sucks! I must have done something wrong because I seem to be to only person that hasn't been impressed with the lift. So if you guys/gals can help me diagnose what could be wrong that would be much appreciated.
let me start out by telling you what I have on the Jeep. like you already know, IRO 5.5 critical path LA lift, 35x12.5x15 Cooper STT (good tread), D30 & chryco 8.25 29 spline 3.55 gears. It has good ball joints and u-joints on both drive shafts and axle shafts and has a hack and tap SYE. Just got the alignment done on it today, the toe is good but the caster isn't what it should be but they did what they could. IRO recommends +4.5, the alignment shop could only get it to +1.6 on the left and 1.2 on the right. which brings me to another issue. the caster adjuster is a B**** to move.I used a piece of 1" black pipe (cheater bar) and moved it as much as I could but it moved forward after I got it set to what I wanted it set at.
please everyone, any and all help would be great. I hate to be the first to write a bad review on a product if there's something wrong with something other than the suspension. it seems that everyone that has gotten this LA system has been very impressed with the ride. maybe I did something wrong?
let me start out by telling you what I have on the Jeep. like you already know, IRO 5.5 critical path LA lift, 35x12.5x15 Cooper STT (good tread), D30 & chryco 8.25 29 spline 3.55 gears. It has good ball joints and u-joints on both drive shafts and axle shafts and has a hack and tap SYE. Just got the alignment done on it today, the toe is good but the caster isn't what it should be but they did what they could. IRO recommends +4.5, the alignment shop could only get it to +1.6 on the left and 1.2 on the right. which brings me to another issue. the caster adjuster is a B**** to move.I used a piece of 1" black pipe (cheater bar) and moved it as much as I could but it moved forward after I got it set to what I wanted it set at.
please everyone, any and all help would be great. I hate to be the first to write a bad review on a product if there's something wrong with something other than the suspension. it seems that everyone that has gotten this LA system has been very impressed with the ride. maybe I did something wrong?
11-02-2012, 09:47 PM
#2
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Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Did you say 35's on stock gears? That has got to be stressing the daylights out of your drive train. Did it have bad vibes before the LA? Did you have 35's on SA's??? That is the BIGGEST tire I ever heard on a stock geared XJ
11-02-2012, 09:50 PM
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Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
I would also call IRO. I wouldnt consider doing a 'bad review' until you know what's wrong AND speak to them. I called up there all the time with questions on my SYE and axle I bought of them. They had a tech guy answer the call and I never felt rushed off the phone. I can't imagine they won't know the right questions to ask you.
11-02-2012, 10:06 PM
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Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L I6
Suck for you, my turd rides great.
All gloating aside, your caster adjuster should move freely. It will have a bit of tension to be expected, it does have the load of the vehicles weight against it. I just use my long flat head and it moves fairly easy.
For the vibration, have you correctted your pinion angle? That pretty important. Also shackle relocation would also greatly aid in ride quality as much as the long arms
All gloating aside, your caster adjuster should move freely. It will have a bit of tension to be expected, it does have the load of the vehicles weight against it. I just use my long flat head and it moves fairly easy.
For the vibration, have you correctted your pinion angle? That pretty important. Also shackle relocation would also greatly aid in ride quality as much as the long arms
11-02-2012, 10:06 PM
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Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: Golen 4.6 Stroker, AFE Headers, 62mm TB, 24 LB Injectors, Brown Dog kit, HF Cat, 3" Exhaust
I found the ride to be much nicer than the RC I had before. What shocks did you get? I have always found the cheap white ones to be pretty terrible... especially when you get larger tires.
Vibrations can be caused by a ton of different things. Being as you said everything is good (joints, alignment etc) it is probably the angle of your front drive shaft. If you want to check it, take off the front D-shaft and drive it around for a bit and see if it helps. If it does, look into a double-cardian d-shaft (CV) from Tom Woods or the like. At 5.5 w/LA you should really have one anyways. I did not have any problems with the adjuster but I put mine in the middle before i put the lift on before installing the lift.
Vibrations can be caused by a ton of different things. Being as you said everything is good (joints, alignment etc) it is probably the angle of your front drive shaft. If you want to check it, take off the front D-shaft and drive it around for a bit and see if it helps. If it does, look into a double-cardian d-shaft (CV) from Tom Woods or the like. At 5.5 w/LA you should really have one anyways. I did not have any problems with the adjuster but I put mine in the middle before i put the lift on before installing the lift.
11-02-2012, 10:28 PM
#6
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Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: inline 6 4.0L
I would also call IRO. I wouldnt consider doing a 'bad review' until you know what's wrong AND speak to them. I called up there all the time with questions on my SYE and axle I bought of them. They had a tech guy answer the call and I never felt rushed off the phone. I can't imagine they won't know the right questions to ask you.
Suck for you, my turd rides great.
All gloating aside, your caster adjuster should move freely. It will have a bit of tension to be expected, it does have the load of the vehicles weight against it. I just use my long flat head and it moves fairly easy.
For the vibration, have you correctted your pinion angle? That pretty important. Also shackle relocation would also greatly aid in ride quality as much as the long arms
All gloating aside, your caster adjuster should move freely. It will have a bit of tension to be expected, it does have the load of the vehicles weight against it. I just use my long flat head and it moves fairly easy.
For the vibration, have you correctted your pinion angle? That pretty important. Also shackle relocation would also greatly aid in ride quality as much as the long arms
I found the ride to be much nicer than the RC I had before. What shocks did you get? I have always found the cheap white ones to be pretty terrible... especially when you get larger tires.
Vibrations can be caused by a ton of different things. Being as you said everything is good (joints, alignment etc) it is probably the angle of your front drive shaft. If you want to check it, take off the front D-shaft and drive it around for a bit and see if it helps. If it does, look into a double-cardian d-shaft (CV) from Tom Woods or the like. At 5.5 w/LA you should really have one anyways. I did not have any problems with the adjuster but I put mine in the middle before i put the lift on before installing the lift.
Vibrations can be caused by a ton of different things. Being as you said everything is good (joints, alignment etc) it is probably the angle of your front drive shaft. If you want to check it, take off the front D-shaft and drive it around for a bit and see if it helps. If it does, look into a double-cardian d-shaft (CV) from Tom Woods or the like. At 5.5 w/LA you should really have one anyways. I did not have any problems with the adjuster but I put mine in the middle before i put the lift on before installing the lift.
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11-03-2012, 09:55 AM
#9
fix yo caster. as much as I am against that kit, i'm sure getting your caster in check will alleviate your issues (including front driveshaft vibrations).
if it didn't do this with the rough country longarms , it should be awful with that longarm.
You didn't choose much of a longarm to upgrade to either.
if it didn't do this with the rough country longarms , it should be awful with that longarm.
You didn't choose much of a longarm to upgrade to either.
11-03-2012, 12:10 PM
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Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L I6
fix yo caster. as much as I am against that kit, i'm sure getting your caster in check will alleviate your issues (including front driveshaft vibrations).
if it didn't do this with the rough country longarms , it should be awful with that longarm.
You didn't choose much of a longarm to upgrade to either.
if it didn't do this with the rough country longarms , it should be awful with that longarm.
You didn't choose much of a longarm to upgrade to either.
11-03-2012, 02:49 PM
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Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: inline 6 4.0L
they look fine. I cant really tell though. I mean they have been on the Jeep its entire life so im guessing thats in the works now.
first of all i never said I had RC LAs. and second I dont beat the hell out of my Jeep like you do with yours. from what I read from damn near all the reviews, this is a damn good upgrade. the issues Im having and just realizing after being under the jeep all last night and this morning is I have some things I have to fix on my Jeep. I did what someone suggested and I took off the front drive shaft thinking the pinion angle could be an issue and its PART of the issue. I have to dig around a little more and fix a couple more things and im positive that its going to fix my vibration issues. dont get me wrong, after dealing with the caster adjuster on the LAs I dont like it in the fear of it moving on me but it seems like thats nothing a little welding cant fix
its a high pinion.
fix yo caster. as much as I am against that kit, i'm sure getting your caster in check will alleviate your issues (including front driveshaft vibrations).
if it didn't do this with the rough country longarms , it should be awful with that longarm.
You didn't choose much of a longarm to upgrade to either.
if it didn't do this with the rough country longarms , it should be awful with that longarm.
You didn't choose much of a longarm to upgrade to either.
its a high pinion.
11-03-2012, 02:52 PM
#13
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Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: inline 6 4.0L
for everyone that has read this as a negative review... well its not. it was more like me looking for advice on why there were so many vibrations and noises. after I fix all the issues Ill come back and let you all know what I think about the lift.
11-03-2012, 04:03 PM
#14
11-03-2012, 08:42 PM
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Year: 1999
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Engine: Big 4.0L
thank you for posting all that you have ran into. I am looking for the pros and cons of iro. I do understand that this is not a bad review.