RK long arm Q

[HoodRichXJ]

I just finished installing the RK long arm upgrade today and I've got a noise coming from the front suspension i cant pin-point, it sounds like the same noise you might get when your upper front shock bushings wearout a loud "clunk". I "think" the noise might be the control arm rotating with the krawler ends and making contact against the ball? does anyone have any idea of what this might be or how to take care of it, its annoying and i want to fix it. thanks

 

[sidriptide]

call RK.. it just might be something they've dealt with already and can point you in the right direction..

 

[HoodRichXJ]

thanks that was the next step but since i had to wait til tomorrow i figured i'd try here too, oh and just FYI the jam nuts are tight as well.

 

[COXJ]

check the joints my himes blew out the first time in a couple months.

Will

 

[Led]

Had the same problem I swaped the 4 lower control arm bolts with new non shouldered ones. I don't remember the exact size. but the head and nut are 22mm
Led

 

[csudman]

Trackbar bracket and hiem

 

[xjcrawlr]

Did you re-use your old nuts and bolts from the control arms? If you look youll notice that they taper to a smaller dia. in the middle which is where the hiem joint sits and there is alot of play between the bolt and the hiem isnt there.
The fix is to find 4in. long, 14mm dia. metric bolts (and locknuts) and use them at each end of your lower arms. Also, get them TIGHT!

 

[HoodRichXJ]

I have been on the phone with RK this morning about this. They just say to make sure the bolts are TIGHT. I was told that the factory torque specs for the 14mm bolts is 110 foot pounds. The track bar is a skyjacker and it does have a hiem in it, but has never given me any trouble at all. I did however reuse the original factory bolts, so the problem could be in the taper at the center of the bolt??? If this is the problem and I replace them, should I go for grade 8 or is there something even better than that? thanks -steve

 

[gfd207]

I had a clunking noise after my RK kit was installed. It turned out to be from lack of spacers/washers on the rear of the control arms. You couldn't move them by hand but the weight of the vehicle would let them clank back and forth. Check to see if there are washers in there on each side.

 

[xjcrawlr]

I like to use grade 5 bolts for susp. these bolts will deform,stretch and bend before breaking unlike a grade 8 or higher which will just snap when it breaks

 

[xjcrawlr]

Unbolt one of the lower arms at the body put the stock bolt through the hiem and see how much play there is!

 

[jeepme]

Did you re-use your old nuts and bolts from the control arms? If you look youll notice that they taper to a smaller dia. in the middle which is where the hiem joint sits and there is alot of play between the bolt and the hiem isnt there.
The fix is to find 4in. long, 14mm dia. metric bolts (and locknuts) and use them at each end of your lower arms. Also, get them TIGHT!

Not to high jack but where do you find 14mm bolts and lock nuts? My local hardware stores do not carry that size, is there any on line sources?

Thanks

 

[xjcrawlr]

Hit the local yellow pages for a nut and bolt supplier, I went to Copper State Nut and Bolt here in Phoenix for mine.

 

[TrailHunter]

Not to high jack but where do you find 14mm bolts and lock nuts? My local hardware stores do not carry that size, is there any on line sources?

Thanks

You might look up your local Fastenal. They're the only fastener chain that I can think of. Otherwise look a local one up.

 

[RCP Phx]

Ace Hardware!

 

[HoodRichXJ]

gfd207 any luck?

 

[jeepme]

Not to high jack but where do you find 14mm bolts and lock nuts? My local hardware stores do not carry that size, is there any on line sources?

Thanks

Thanks for the suggestions. I found them at Boltdepot.com

 

[gfd207]

gfd207 any luck?

I sent you a PM. But anyone else wondering. We added a 'body' washer between the shoulder spacer and the mount. It was just enough to take up any slack once it was torqued back down to specs. It hasn't rattled since. (about a year)

 

[FUL8INCH]

I've always had the same prbolem Steve so if you fix it let me know.

 

[HoodRichXJ]

BTT anyone have any other ideas, everything is TIGHT.