Urgent! Lift advice PLEASE....

[ruffy01]

Hey guys, got adjustable lower control arms today for my '94 Sport, so of course I fitted them.
Problem is I have a clunk coming from the front end, best description is like a wheel severely out of round at rolling speed then a clunking at up to 20Kmh, haven't gone any faster!

When fitting the arms I also fitted a 2" coil spacer on top of my 2" lifted coils (4" total lift), I made the arms ~10mm longer than standard.
I can feel a little resistance in the front uni' every 180 degrees if I jack a wheel up & turn it, which suggest the pinion angle is too great, but if that's true then I'd need to shorten the arms :confused:

I'm heading back to the car & unbolt the arms, hopefully someone will have some advice for me before I make any alterations :(
Otherwise I'll try the "suck it & see" method.

[ruffy01]

Well I'm totally lost.
I lengthened the arms by ~10mm more (total ~20mm longer than standard after measuring) & no difference.
Total lift is ~3.5" after measuring, I didn't do anything to rear today, it's already at ~3.5".
Tomorrow I'll try shortening the control arms to standard length but I have doubts that'll help.

I drove up & down the road (very slowly) to try & give a description.
There's no real vibration as such it's more like what you'd expect from an out of round wheel hitting a brake caliper: best description I can think of :(

I can't see any signs of rubbing anywhere, including wheels & universals.
It happens whether in gear or not, braking has no effect.
Definitely sounds & feels like it's coming from the front.

Maybe I've instigated a problem unrelated to the extra lift & control arm fitment? Unlikely, but....??
A front ring gear could possibly cause these symptoms.

Grasping at straws now :confused::confused:

[ruffy01]

I've been walking & thinking about this, logically it must be related to the changes I've made.
So, the only thing that could be making this noise would be a universal on the front driveshaft - so, pinion angle.

I just don't understand how it can be as bad as it is.
It's totally undrivable.

[KarloXJ]

Did you replace upper and lower, at 3.5" may help your geometry, adj track bar may help also.

[Easy Rollins 1]

Unis may be binding...try driving with the front drive shaft removed.

[tassiecj6]

that was my thoughts .
the uni joints may be worn to the small lift and don,t like the extra angle .
remove shaft , if the noise disappears ,fit 2 new unis !!

[SeaComms]

You mentioned that you thought it might be that the pinion angle was to great after the 2 in spacers went in on top of your 2 in springs and the 10mm longer lower arms, yet you lengthened the lower arms to try to fix the problem?

Try bringing them back to stock length (10mm shorter than they first went in), or even a fraction shorter then go for your slow test drive.

[Toff]

What brand of adjustable arms? Is it a sort that adjusts by threading out? If so does it have locking nuts on the threads?

[sssadamsss]

send us some pictures of your pinion angles front and rear, a side on pic to the diff.

Also, stand in front of the car, and mearsure by eye, how much tire sticks out each side of the car, to see if the diff is centre of the car. Now do the same for the back, at 3.5 you may need adjustable track bars front and rear.

you can also see if the unis are ok in your drive line, by checking for play. push on the shaft in all directions and rotate, look for play...

[ruffy01]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

My first guess was right, the arms were too long. And I decided last night to go longer :oops: d***head!

This morning I adjusted them to their minimum length (395mm, about 5mm shorter than stock) & problem fixed :D:D

The uni's were definitely binding, all still healthy, no movement in them.
I'm amazed at how much impact a small change in arm length made.

Surprisingly the diff is only ~5mm nearer the drivers side than passengers, so adjustable track bar may not be needed?

I'll be in for a wheel alignment & castor adjustment next week!

[murray]

sounds like something is bent

[ruffy01]

sounds like something is bent

Thanks Murray.

That chart confirms why I originally set the length at ~1/2" longer than standard.
At 4" lift with standard length UCA's it shows LCA's at 16.33"; 1/2" longer than stock.
The front diff is coming out next week to regear & fit a locker, once it's back in I'll get the front end checked out thoroughly.

Couple of pic's:

http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/x439/ruffy64/IMAG0006.jpg
http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/x439/ruffy64/IMAG0007.jpg
http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/x439/ruffy64/IMAG0008.jpg

[murray]

i have 4" i had to use a adj panhad to keep all square that why i asked about the bendys

[Billnick]

Don't leave the wheel alignment for too long because by adjusting the lower arms you are messing with the castor angle and you'll start chopping tyres.

[sssadamsss]

definatly do your track bars, you will ruin your tires in no time... it will also chew through your bearings more quickly and ruin your fuel economy...

[lochie]

i really need help with where to get lifts for xj's in australia! am after 4.5"+ preferably long arm kits! any suggestions would be great!!! also, live in melbourne.

[Gtscott]

try wooders garage up in sydney

[sssadamsss]

try poly4x4.com.au

[lochie]

thanks guys, they are the only two i hav found so far! wooders seems really expensive, is this what i should expect or..? poly jeep seems quite good, and not far from where i live so yeahh, any idea if they can order me in a bigger lift from the brand they stock? as they only stock a 3" full traction kit and i would be interested in the 6 inch but not listed on their site?

[ruffy01]

Morris 4x4 in the States (of USA) have good prices & ~10 days delivery time.
Only 1 catch, if you order anything from the States & it's over $1000, Australian customs will slug you ~20% on top. If you can get the order broken up into a couple of orders you may get around that.

They're good to deal with, that's where my control arms came from :)

Link: http://www.jeep4x4center.com/jeep-lift-kits/cherokee-xj/index.htm

[Doctor W]

Only 1 catch, if you order anything from the States & it's over $1000, Australian customs will slug you ~20% on top.

Why 20%???....the GST is only 10%, which is never "paid"/followed up on purchases less than $1000

[ruffy01]

Why 20%???....the GST is only 10%, which is never "paid"/followed up on purchases less than $1000

GST plus customs duties.
I was going to purchase an ARB locker from Just Diff's until I was warned about the >$1000 catch, I made a few calls & sure enough it was going to cost ~20% extra once the order hit our shores!
Less than $1000 & it's not looked at, go figure.

[BLU-125]

When ordering lifts from the USA, don't forget to tell them it is for RHD.

Buying panhards locally to suit our cars eats up the price difference real fast.

[rainman]

GST plus customs duties.
I was going to purchase an ARB locker from Just Diff's until I was warned about the >$1000 catch, I made a few calls & sure enough it was going to cost ~20% extra once the order hit our shores!
Less than $1000 & it's not looked at, go figure.

These lockers are all well under $ 1000
http://www.ringpinion.com/PartsList.aspx?SearchMode=Diff&TypeID=3&DiffID=258&Diff=Dana+30+Front%2c+Reverse+Rotation+&CatID=36&Category=Lockers

[Hamsteh]

Keep in mind its purchase price PLUS freight. Which is bloody ridiculous if you ask me.

[ruffy01]

Keep in mind its purchase price PLUS freight. Which is bloody ridiculous if you ask me.

Exactly.

These lockers are all well under $ 1000
http://www.ringpinion.com/PartsList.aspx?SearchMode=Diff&TypeID=3&DiffID=258&Diff=Dana+30+Front%2c+Reverse+Rotation+&CatID=36&Category=Lockers

I don't know if those prices are current nor have I dealt with them.
Just Diff's ARB locker was about the same price ~6 mths ago, then a price rise put it just over $900 + post = >$1000.

[rainman]

What do you guys think?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Yukon-Zip-Locker-Dana-30-3-73-UP-27-Spline-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQitemZ130445915236#ht_1790wt_972

Or more traditionally
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Dana-30-27-Spline-3-73-Up-ARB-Air-Locker-/260836919833?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3cbb178a19#ht_813wt_948

Note the USPS freight price.