4 inch rough country install

[FullMetalJeep]

Jeff...my name is Noel!

hmm ... dated a french girl named Noel once.... 


wheres the pics?

[Rubi03 jef]

how do i post ..

[Rubi03 jef]

here are some build pics and pics of it done .. more to come

http://s596.photobucket.com/albums/tt43/TJRubicon04/

[muffintop]

Well... I finally got it and did the install. Here are a few notes:

1) I went with the  4" Rough Country X-series lift, Rugged Ridge SYE and Tom Wood's CV driveshaft and didn't drop the Tcase. No vibration once SYE was installed.
2) 3 guys working fairly steady "got ur dun" in about 20 hours using basic air & hand tools
3) Kit went together pretty good (except for front track bar). All parts were there... nothing was missing.
4) Front track bar bracket in combination with the drilled holes & frame bushings design is kinda unrealistic. This is some fairly precise work being done by eye with fairly imprecise tools. I drilled the 17/32" holes and through bolted the track bar bracket. I didn't drill the 29/32" holes and install the frame bushings. If anythings works its way loose... I'll weld it in place. 
5) The spring compressor worked well on the front coils but for the rears we pretty much had to drop the diff... put in the springs and jack the diff into place... but that's not the kits fault.
6) Upgraded 2.2 shocks are a little stiff but not too bad
7) Vehicle drove straight and tracked very well before the 4 wheel alignment was completed. Not even a hint of death wobble. 
Ate) I went out wheelin with it once so far and I'm pretty happy. Articulation seems decent, no weird sounds and I didn't break anything
9) Checked all bolts when I got back... all were tight.
10) Checked ride height... no sagging and it sits level.
11) Greased everything... the only issue I have is with the driver side lower control arm "Johnny Joint". The only way it takes grease is if I loosen the control arm bolt... then the grease just squeezes out around the bolt & bracket. If I leave the bolt tight... the grease just hydraulics. Pretty sure the grease is not going where it needs to. The rod end is rebuildable... so I'm gonna pull it apart and see what the problem is. If I need a new one... I'll let ya know what RC customer service is like.

What would I do different?

1) Consider different shocks
2) Order direct from Rough Country and quiz them hard about when it is going to ship
3) Make sure you have all the "hard to find" tools like the 29/32" drill bit before you start (Only need if you are actually going to install frame bushings)
4) Budget 3.25 days to do the job (1/4 day... lay the kit out, build and grease control arms, get tools, get ready for people showing up to help. Day 1... front end. Day 2... Rear end, Day 3... SYE)
5) Build a drill bit guide (like valve guides in a cylinder head) that clamps to the frame for drilling the 17/32" (though both sides of the frame) & 29/32" holes (through one side of the frame) so they can be precisely located. Having said that... so far so good with my 17/32" only holes & no frame bushings

Thats all I got

[Rubi03 jef]

ok my review

its been 6 weeks or so .

everything is still tight  . no sage . nothing broken . still running stock drive shaft but i carry the tom woods in the back seat incase i need it .

with the motor mount lift and body lift and 4 inch xseries i get 5 1/4 inch in total lift and shes level

the rear passenger side spring gets rid of the arse end sinking when getting on the gas peddle . i didnt change the pipmen arm . was told not to and i have NO death wobble at all

fits 33 inch tire with space to clear .

after offraoding it 3 times now its been great . except that the rear springs almost fall out when at full drop . and the front springs come out of the guide holes on the bottom at full drop

the install wasnt to bad

like i said took 12 hours 2 guys everything in .
the biggest problem or should say the dumbest [art was drilling hole in the frame for the front track bar relocate . its not precise at all and i had to make one hole bigger so the bolt would line up with the other side . just tightened it even more and it hasnt moved .. if it does then like buddy said just weld her in place

the directions mention to install the track bar with the bend down . but when installed like that it interfiers with the diff cover when the driver side it tucked . so i had to flip it and place it in bend over the diff

any questions just ask

[muffintop]

I changed the pitman arm... no one told me not to and it came with the kit. No adverse results were noted after install.

It is probably worth noting that... If you are doing your own work... some of this stuff like the pitman arm, big arse hard to drill frame bushings holes, SYE, etc... can always be done at a later date depending on what you get for results. There is no law saying you have to do it all at once.

In my case... I had a wicked vibration from the rear drive shaft... so I am glad I bit the bullet and had the SYE and CV driveshaft sitting there. If not... it could have been a week or two wait buying on-line or "potentially" pay a premium to buy at a local shop to "potentially" get it right away. These are tough situations/choices when you are itching to "git ur out in the mud".

Hope this helps...
 

[S-FLY]

Nice rig!  I think Sprockett and I saw you and a couple other jeeps at McLean store last weekend?

[S-FLY]

hmm ... dated a french girl named Noel once.... 

Me too. 

[JackstandJohnny]

after offraoding it 3 times now its been great . except that the rear springs almost fall out when at full drop . and the front springs come out of the guide holes on the bottom at full drop
 

simple fix jeff. build spring post extensions...... same problem with my ZJ.......... what i did was grab some 2 1/4" exhaust tube from crappy tires, fitted it on posts (part inside the coil on the frame..... i made a 7" sleeve and bolted it through...... its not ridiculously tough, but all it has to do is stop an uncompressed coil from falling........

[Rubi03 jef]

simple fix jeff. build spring post extensions...... same problem with my ZJ.......... what i did was grab some 2 1/4" exhaust tube from crappy tires, fitted it on posts (part inside the coil on the frame..... i made a 7" sleeve and bolted it through...... its not ridiculously tough, but all it has to do is stop an uncompressed coil from falling........

thanks .. good tip ..

[muffintop]

Bit of a rookie question... but have people actually had coil springs fall out while wheelin? That would make for a fairly crappy day

[Rubi03 jef]

Bit of a rookie question... but have people actually had coil springs fall out while wheelin? That would make for a fairly crappy day

i have and all i did was get to the flat .. pull out the high lifter and lift the truck stick it back in and lower her down