macs97XJ
NAXJA Member #1247
- Location
- Evanston, Wyoming
I finally got around to install me RC 4" lift that has been sitting in the garage for a few weeks along the the 31x10.5 Bighorns.
The kit came with Adjustable upper and lower control arms, extended brake lines, adjustable track bar, quick disco's, full leaf pack, I picked up a greasable 1" shackle for a little more lift in the rear due to weight being added. Oh and I forgot those RC shocks(cough).
I installed the rear leafs and shackle on Friday afternoon along with the shocks. I came back Sat morning to tackle the front, and I looked again at the rear and had to pull the shocks back off and swap around the rubber bushings, seemed like the bushings just dried out over night. I knew about the RC shock bushings so I got what I paid for. Anyway I used my old Pro-Comp bushings for the rest of the shocks.
The front end we started about 9AM, and fiddle farted around with the upper control arms dang factory installed nuts, or nut retaining clips. After trying to keep the things from spinning we replaced them with 3" Grade 8 Bolts and nuts.
The lowers went pretty smooth, just using a few jacks to move the axle to the location it needed to be.
We compressed the springs to get them in easier, and mounted the shocks on(again, I swapped out the Pro-Comp rubber bushings), routed the ABS and brake lines around the shocks. (Zip ties are your friend)
After mounting and balancing the new 31 tires drove it around the parking lot(nice and easy), and took the measurements for the adjustable track bar. The drivers side axle needed to go to the passenger side about 1 1/4". Measured the threads on the new track bar and decided it needed to turn out about 9 1/2 turns based upon the tread degree per turn. After mounting the track bar to the frame of course it was longer, so I good turn of the wheel to the right allowed the longer track bar to fall into place.
Another drive around the parking lot and another measurement and we had it to within 3/16 from side to side. Close enough. Mounted the Quick Releases and replaced from Skid Plate and headed home around 7pm. It drove ok, but so far it lives up to it's name (Rough Country). I will be upgrading the Shocks to a better one within a few months so all is good.
I will be dropping it off on Monday for the alignment and for Jason at (Better Off Road) in Oak Harbor to give it a quick once over to see if I
F-anything up. (He is an XJ Master Mind). I have to replace some zert fittings to a 90* bends for greasing on the C-Arms.
I was sitting roughly at 33 1/4 on the front and 31 1/2 on the rear with the old RC 3" lift with 30's. The rear springs sagged out on me, the measurement was from the ground to the middle of the fender flare (bottom edge). The flares are the older ones and mounted right into the factory 97+ holes.
Now I am sitting @ Front 37" and Rear 37 1/2", not bad and I know it will settle a little so hopefully when it does it will loosen up some.
Pics now:
Yes that Tailpipe does make some noise, it will have to be either cut off or re-routed.
Mac
The kit came with Adjustable upper and lower control arms, extended brake lines, adjustable track bar, quick disco's, full leaf pack, I picked up a greasable 1" shackle for a little more lift in the rear due to weight being added. Oh and I forgot those RC shocks(cough).
I installed the rear leafs and shackle on Friday afternoon along with the shocks. I came back Sat morning to tackle the front, and I looked again at the rear and had to pull the shocks back off and swap around the rubber bushings, seemed like the bushings just dried out over night. I knew about the RC shock bushings so I got what I paid for. Anyway I used my old Pro-Comp bushings for the rest of the shocks.
The front end we started about 9AM, and fiddle farted around with the upper control arms dang factory installed nuts, or nut retaining clips. After trying to keep the things from spinning we replaced them with 3" Grade 8 Bolts and nuts.
The lowers went pretty smooth, just using a few jacks to move the axle to the location it needed to be.
We compressed the springs to get them in easier, and mounted the shocks on(again, I swapped out the Pro-Comp rubber bushings), routed the ABS and brake lines around the shocks. (Zip ties are your friend)
After mounting and balancing the new 31 tires drove it around the parking lot(nice and easy), and took the measurements for the adjustable track bar. The drivers side axle needed to go to the passenger side about 1 1/4". Measured the threads on the new track bar and decided it needed to turn out about 9 1/2 turns based upon the tread degree per turn. After mounting the track bar to the frame of course it was longer, so I good turn of the wheel to the right allowed the longer track bar to fall into place.
Another drive around the parking lot and another measurement and we had it to within 3/16 from side to side. Close enough. Mounted the Quick Releases and replaced from Skid Plate and headed home around 7pm. It drove ok, but so far it lives up to it's name (Rough Country). I will be upgrading the Shocks to a better one within a few months so all is good.
I will be dropping it off on Monday for the alignment and for Jason at (Better Off Road) in Oak Harbor to give it a quick once over to see if I
F-anything up. (He is an XJ Master Mind). I have to replace some zert fittings to a 90* bends for greasing on the C-Arms.
I was sitting roughly at 33 1/4 on the front and 31 1/2 on the rear with the old RC 3" lift with 30's. The rear springs sagged out on me, the measurement was from the ground to the middle of the fender flare (bottom edge). The flares are the older ones and mounted right into the factory 97+ holes.
Now I am sitting @ Front 37" and Rear 37 1/2", not bad and I know it will settle a little so hopefully when it does it will loosen up some.
Pics now:
Yes that Tailpipe does make some noise, it will have to be either cut off or re-routed.
Mac
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