Not the Runt Anymore!

[Jawa]

I've been out wheeling quite a bit this spring and summer and on every trip I've been the runt of the litter. After this weekend's done, I'll be able to hand that designation to somebody else. :clap: Today I got started on installing my 4.5" RC " Special" kit.

Starting point: 2" BB on 30's

Back end just about all disassembled.

Back end done. 4.5" springs with 1" JKS shackles on 33's, netting between 6.5-7" as it sits now. Gonna need to trim those fenders pronto!

Tomorrow and Monday I'm tackling the front. I'm a little intimidated by everything still to do - adjustable UCAs and LCAs, adjustable track bar, extended brake lines, shocks, springs, discos, speedo gear, shimming the rear... I hope 2 days will be enough! :shocked:

 

[philip_g]

if you need it yucamans webpage has a nice chart with UCA and LCA lengths for a given lift.

 

[Jawa]

Thanks Philip, it looks like Yuccaman is using pretty much the same chart I've been referencing here: http://www.lunghd.com/Tech_Articles/Suspension_Steering_Axles_and_Brakes/Control_Arm_Chart.htm

Consistency is good - at least that give me some confidence in the measurements.

 

[macs97XJ]

I will be very interested in your front, I purchased the same kit from RC (comes in on tues), and the front install I am also a little concerned about the adjustable items.

Jim

 

[kennzz05]

cant wait to see the front nice work

 

[Hugothegrunt]

You may not need to trim the fenderwells, I'm running 33's and at full flex they touch but havent torn anything up.

 

[Jawa]

Day 2 progress was very disappointing - only got as far as removing the old shocks, springs, track bar, and swapping out one LCA. Words cannot describe how much I HATE rust. :flamemad: At least now I know to never, ever buy a rig from the midwest again.

In a brilliant display of mechanical ineptitude I cut out my rusted in track bar below the frameside mount thinking the castle nut would be loose and fall right out afterwards. That would've been the case if the track bar end wasn't tapered like a TRE. :doh: Now I have no way of getting that nut out and will have to replace the track bar mount in addition to everything else. Sweet! In addition to my rust troubles I find that RC sent me the wrong size coil spacer and only half the zerk fittings I need for the adjustable control arms.

I wanted to do this lift all by myself, but I'm tired, sore, and running out of time. If anyone has some time Monday and is willing to help out a fellow member, I would be extremely appreciative. I'll provide beer/sodas, food, etc...

 

[philip_g]

well a rubicon express HD trackbar with the mount would fix the problem

 

[philip_g]

You may not need to trim the fenderwells, I'm running 33's and at full flex they touch but havent torn anything up.

Wish mine had black flares, look much nicer.

 

[Hypoid]

In a brilliant display of mechanical ineptitude I cut out my rusted in track bar below the frameside mount thinking the castle nut would be loose and fall right out afterwards. That would've been the case if the track bar end wasn't tapered like a TRE. :doh: Now I have no way of getting that nut out and will have to replace the track bar mount in addition to everything else.

Ouch! Just fawkin Ouch! On your way to pull-n-save, stop at auto zone and buy a can of pb-blaster.

It could be torched out, but do you really want to play with fire at this point?

What part of Aurora do you live in?

 

[philip_g]

Ouch! Just fawkin Ouch! On your way to pull-n-save, stop at auto zone and buy a can of pb-blaster.

It could be torched out, but do you really want to play with fire at this point?

What part of Aurora do you live in?

FYI walmart sells PB too, handy to know at 1am.

 

[Jawa]

I've got plenty of PB Blaster, no worries there. I've been soaking everything for 5 days now. Not that it's helping all that much...

I'm at roughly Hampden and Tower, back in the Seven Hills neighborhood.

 

[curbdog17]

gonig from this

to this

i needed to cut the fenders to run my 33s with a 4.5 RC lift but i havent rubbed yet. i cut about 1.5 to 2 inches out then shot some bed liner paint to hide my hack job. the rims are 15X8 with 3.75 BS 33X12.5 Boggers.
P.S. dont worry to much about the front just take your time, for me the the rear end was the only challenge( damb rusted bolts) thanks PB Blaster.

 

[jdogg4]

If you have the correct amount of bump stop you won't hit but I didn't want to limmit my so the stock 3" bumb stops up front and 33s ripped off my flairs and all that so I ended up trimming the front by 3-1/2" Plan is to go to 35s soon and the 33s are still clost to rubbing the tops still.

 

[Jawa]

I'm going to start with 3" of hockey pucks and go up or down from there. I'm with you jdogg, I'd rather trim than bumpstop and limit travel. I figure I'll bumpstop for now and trim when I can.

On a related note, I was looking at a guy's rig the other day - 5.5" of lift on 35's and no trimming, but something like 6" total bumpstopping. He had 2", maybe 3", of wheel travel. I got the impression his rig was built more for mall crawling than rock crawling...

 

[Jawa]

Well, Day 3 was much better, but thanks to work calling me in for a while on my day off I still haven't finished. I got all four control arms in, the spring buckets drilled and tapped for lower bump stops, and my ruined track bar mount off. At this rate I'm hoping to be done before winter hits.

 

[Gravesdiggerxj]

keep it up. you'll be surprised how much quicker it goes after the 3rd or 4th lift... but seriously a good attitude will make the work easier.

 

[Jawa]

Okay, I got the coil springs and shocks in and got the rig back on the ground. I'm surprised and concerned to see that it sits a bit lower on the passenger side. I haven't installed the track bar yet and my axle is off to the driver's side. Could that be causing the squat on the passenger side?

 

[YELLAHEEP]

If you tightened the rear shackle bolts and it was propped higher on one side or the other, it may be holding that position. I generally wait to tighten shackle bolts until the lift is completely installed and the XJ is sitting on level ground.

Yes, your front axle will be off to one side until you get a track bar installed. Once installed, you'll need to adjust it so that the axle is centered.

The trick to getting the lower track bar bolt into the axle bracket is to have both tires on the ground, no jack stands or anything. Have someone turn the steering wheel slightly to get the body to move right/left. As the body moves it'll pull/push the track bar in the axle bracket until you can line up the bolt.

 

[Jawa]

Hmmm... I did indeed tighten the shackle bolts down when I completed the rear. It wouldn't be a big deal at all to loosen them up a bit and re-torque them to see if that helps. So you don't think the lack of a track bar and the axle being off center would cause the lopsidedness?