Suspension lift done.???

[oldyeller]

Finally got my 4" suspension lift on took me about 7 hours because the instructions didn't mention anything about the large bushings having a thick and thin shoulder. I found this out after I got half way through. My wife wasn't there to read instructions, so it's her fault. It has changed the geometry so I will have to start all over on the steering set up, it's back to white knuckle driving again. This time it's amplified by the added height of the jeep. There is a 6 degree shim on it currently, but I'm sure that'll need to be changed. Anyway, here's a couple pics.
The small spare is waiting on an aftermarket mount for the big wheel assembly

 

[Belizean]

Well it looks good !

 

[Torxhead]

I wish my Jeep looked that good. You might get some help by lowering the Transmission skid plate to decrease the driveshaft angle. Use longer bolts also. I solved the issue I had with a constant velocity u-joint on the rear driveshaft and rotating the pinion angle to match.

 

[oldyeller]

Thanks for the compliments. It has been a lot of fun to see it come from barn find to today. I have a lowering kit on the Transfer Case skid plate. But I have to install exhaust because the front drive shaft now won't connect due to the passenger exhaust crossing over to the drivers side blocking the shaft. I may have to go to the cv shaft but so far so good. Except the hwy instability.

 

[Belizean]

Great job of bringing that finished paint back to life !

 

[gert]

What’s your caster angle at now?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[oldyeller]

Thanks again! Really proud of how it turned out. Lots of wet sanding, compound, polish, good wax.........the caster angle now is approx 3 degrees. Gonna contact lift manufacturer for advice and pick the brains of everyone here!
The indicator is setting on the pinion yoke. If pic comes through.

 

[jp360cj]

Thanks again! Really proud of how it turned out. Lots of wet sanding, compound, polish, good wax.........the caster angle now is approx 3 degrees. Gonna contact lift manufacturer for advice and pick the brains of everyone here!
The indicator is setting on the pinion yoke. If pic comes through.

Measure the caster at the ball joint. You can use a large socket over the nut and put the angle finder on the socket.

Measuring at the pinion assumes the caster is 0* when the pinion is 0* and typically that is not true.

 

[oldyeller]

Hey jp360cj, I followed your advice and measured at the lower ball joint, it was now almost 10 degrees. I decided to remove the aftermarket caster shims and I think I am headed in the right direction. I didn't check it with the protractor yet. Will do today. Everywhere people say the fat end of the castor shim need to be to the front of the vehicle, what would it hurt if I tried in reverse? After all it's a parameter that I'm trying to achieve right? I may install them today in reverse and take a reading to see what effect it has on the castor angle. I've watched a couple YouTube videos so that makes me an expert on this,....right.
Second comment, the rough country lift so far not bad, but customer service so far is non existent. Contacted them over a week ago and nothing. Today when people use consumer reviews as an aid to make a decision on making a purchase I would make sure my customers questions were at least being addressed. Will update later. Thanks again! Oh yeah had my dual exhaust flowmaster 40 s installed yesterday. Still got some kid in me.

 

[JeffP]

Finally got my 4" suspension lift on took me about 7 hours because the instructions didn't mention anything about the large bushings having a thick and thin shoulder. I found this out after I got half way through. My wife wasn't there to read instructions, so it's her fault. It has changed the geometry so I will have to start all over on the steering set up, it's back to white knuckle driving again. This time it's amplified by the added height of the jeep. There is a 6 degree shim on it currently, but I'm sure that'll need to be changed. Anyway, here's a couple pics.
The small spare is waiting on an aftermarket mount for the big wheel assembly

I just went thru that myself. Yours looks fantastic but I wouldn’t drive it around the block until you get the steering geometry correct! I feel your pain.
On mine, it came with giant shackles and nothing else. Silly me, I left them on there thinking it looked cool.
I noticed the stock brake lines were stretched tight while parked, the slightest bump and I would have had problems. $100 later I had longer brake lines.
Then I took my life in my hands & tried to drive it. 35mph wasn’t too bad. 40 mph and I needed to change my underwear!
I didn’t have a clue what the problem was. Everything on my Jeep is new! But what good is it if I can’t drive it?
Fortunately there are some people here that know more than I do and told me where to look. I made some stock shackles, put them on and it’s perfect!
From what I can tell with my crude alignment tools mine is about 6 degrees positive caster. You might want to go more if yours is higher & somewhat top heavy.
Bottom line is... ask here! These guys know their ****!

 

[oldyeller]

Thanks JeffP. Sorry for the late reply. I had made a lot of progress prior to the lift but post lift it was back to square one. I tried going back to no shims, bad idea. I tried reversing the 6 degree shims, bad idea. So I oredered an 8 degree shim, it gave me an 11 degree positive castor angle and new hope. The steering seems much better at hwy speeds but the occasional tail sway, will get your blood pumping. I have no trouble on a smooth well maintained road but some roads have tracks or depressions in them from heavy trucks, which causes my jeep to roam from track to track. Good road, good time bad road bad time. I may have my expectations a little high. Good luck and thanks again! By the way if that your jeep in the pic, it's really nice.

 

[JeffP]

Thanks JeffP. Sorry for the late reply. I had made a lot of progress prior to the lift but post lift it was back to square one. I tried going back to no shims, bad idea. I tried reversing the 6 degree shims, bad idea. So I oredered an 8 degree shim, it gave me an 11 degree positive castor angle and new hope. The steering seems much better at hwy speeds but the occasional tail sway, will get your blood pumping. I have no trouble on a smooth well maintained road but some roads have tracks or depressions in them from heavy trucks, which causes my jeep to roam from track to track. Good road, good time bad road bad time. I may have my expectations a little high. Good luck and thanks again! By the way if that your jeep in the pic, it's really nice.

I couldn’t do much over 35 without getting scary. Above 40 was impossible! That was with a 2-2.5” lift with wide tires. I made factory size shackles (2.75” centers) BOTH front and back. Now speed is only Limited to gearing.
I’ve had it up to 75 on the freeway and could confidently let go of the wheel!
This is in a ‘75 CJ5 .
If you can’t do the same you have other problems.

 

[oldyeller]

Like I said good smooth road, no problem. Not so good road still no problem until 50+ mph.

 

[JeffP]

Like I said good smooth road, no problem. Not so good road still no problem until 50+ mph.

Worn parts maybe? I had an advantage in that everything was new. It was only lack of knowledge that beat me up so bad.
Hang in there... there are some good people here. Sooner or later one will read this and know how to help.