CV Angles with Frankenlift

gmoney2626 · **Posted:** Fri Feb 13, 2009 9:40 pm

cdiekhans wrote:

I put on a frankenlift premium 2 at 80,000 miles ..... I now have 142,000 miles on the KJ....
I still have my original CV's, and original boots....
:roll:

Do you have any added weight on the front end from stock configuration?

LIV42DY · **Posted:** Fri Feb 13, 2009 9:50 pm

gmoney2626 wrote:

tommudd wrote:

You should not need the shaved CVs with only a Frankenlift. Many people and thousands of miles on their KJs without using them.

Check NAPA thats the only place I would trust for replacements

I did do a lot of research before buying the lift. I got quotes from local shops that were selling Skyjacker and then came across Rocky Road and was about to pull the trigger when I did one final google search and found this forum which enlightened me to the different types of lifts and downfalls. I changed my mind and went with the Frankenlift because of the huge number of positive experiences I saw. Hopefully this is just a fluke thing and I wont experience any more issues.

Thanks to all for the feed back. The lift shop also mentioned NAPA. They are refurbs though right?!?!?! Do you think they would have less life span then new? My issue is that I dont have the means to perform the work myself so I will have to take it back to the lift shop. I am looking to try and get good quality.

Nappa carries both do not purchase re furbished.

gmoney2626 · **Posted:** Fri Feb 13, 2009 9:51 pm

ATXKJ wrote:

FYI - most folks who do Frankenlifts - notice that they're initially tall but settle down after some hard wheeling

so finding some rocks to drive over might help settle things down.

Well on the drive home today (in my non jeep vehicle which I will leave nameless) I thought I should measure the vehicle again to see if it had settled some.

Prior to the lift I did measurements from the ground to the pinch weld behind the front tire and just in front of the rear tire

Pre lift:
Front 13"
Rear 13.5"

Post lift:
Front 17.5"
Rear 17 7/8"

Just measured today and it is 17" both front and rear.

Do you think it has more to settle or is that about where it will be?

gmoney2626 · **Posted:** Fri Feb 13, 2009 9:58 pm

PeppermintPatty wrote:

been there seen that...it has no info on the longevity of these kits, ie: mileage & how well the vehicle itself has held up to them & what repairs had to be made. That's my point.

How old are those threads? Now that these kits are starting to show some serious miles on them, I'd say it's a fair idea :roll:

I think that is a great idea. I went through alot of threads and bounced around betwen Skyjacker, Rocky Road and Frankenlift. I spent many nights/weeks running through all the lift topics and never really saw a topick that covered all that info in one thread. If any starts it I would like to add my experiences to help out others once I weed through my short term issues.

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Fri Feb 13, 2009 9:59 pm

I don't know the numbers (I have straight OME)

I just know they commented initially that they looked too tall

and about a week or two later they'd say everything was okay

gmoney2626 · **Posted:** Fri Feb 13, 2009 9:59 pm

trac95ker

Thanks for the info. I will try and look over your links and suggestions this weekend.

LIV42DY · **Posted:** Fri Feb 13, 2009 10:03 pm

im not one to say but it seems that ever since the NAME Change... other things have been changing :shock:

gmoney2626 · **Posted:** Fri Feb 13, 2009 10:07 pm

LIV42DY wrote:

Nappa carries both do not purchase re furbished.

Funny you mention that... this evening when I came home I wanted to check the CV boots to make sure everything was fine after a day of my wife's driving. I looked under to find new piles of grease and the a boot ring on each axle off. After much cursing and yelling I decided to call NAPA and they are going to have new axle shaft assemblies for me in the morning. Hopefully I can put this behind me this weekend. I took trac95ker's comment about the refurbs being machined resulting in thinner housings then new and said the heck with it I will spend the few extra bucks, buy new and hopefully be done with it.

gmoney2626 · **Posted:** Fri Feb 13, 2009 10:08 pm

LIV42DY wrote:

im not one to say but it seems that ever since the NAME Change... other things have been changing :shock:

What name change?

LIV42DY · **Posted:** Fri Feb 13, 2009 10:20 pm

gmoney2626 wrote:

LIV42DY wrote:

Nappa carries both do not purchase re furbished.

Funny you mention that... this evening when I came home I wanted to check the CV boots to make sure everything was fine after a day of my wife's driving. I looked under to find new piles of grease and the a boot ring on each axle off. After much cursing and yelling I decided to call NAPA and they are going to have new axle shaft assemblies for me in the morning. Hopefully I can put this behind me this weekend. I took trac95ker's comment about the refurbs being machined resulting in thinner housings then new and said the heck with it I will spend the few extra bucks, buy new and hopefully be done with it.

the new ones will do fine for you. a few more things I need to add it may sound off the wall to some but here it is.. after you put you shafts on or you can do it with the old oned measure the distance on level ground between the UCA at the ball joint were it would come in contact with the built in rubber padding at the spring get back to me with that measurement.

another thing to remember after you get your new shafts do not spray any lubricants on the boots also if you wheel it especially in mud make sure you hose the boots down keeping them clean is important I dont have to explain why. you already know your angles and how the boots compress.

tommudd · **Posted:** Fri Feb 13, 2009 10:36 pm

gmoney2626 wrote:

cdiekhans wrote:

I put on a frankenlift premium 2 at 80,000 miles ..... I now have 142,000 miles on the KJ....
I still have my original CV's, and original boots....
:roll:

Do you have any added weight on the front end from stock configuration?

no he does not have any extra weight out front, and we just added some more lift to it two weeks ago :wink:

tommudd · **Posted:** Fri Feb 13, 2009 10:38 pm

gmoney2626 wrote:

PeppermintPatty wrote:

been there seen that...it has no info on the longevity of these kits, ie: mileage & how well the vehicle itself has held up to them & what repairs had to be made. That's my point.

How old are those threads? Now that these kits are starting to show some serious miles on them, I'd say it's a fair idea :roll:

I think that is a great idea. I went through alot of threads and bounced around betwen Skyjacker, Rocky Road and Frankenlift. I spent many nights/weeks running through all the lift topics and never really saw a topick that covered all that info in one thread. If any starts it I would like to add my experiences to help out others once I weed through my short term issues.

I added to the thread tonight what I have done with mine in over 75000 lifted miles , basically not one problem associated with the lift

gmoney2626 · **Posted:** Fri Feb 13, 2009 10:41 pm

tommudd wrote:

gmoney2626 wrote:

cdiekhans wrote:

I put on a frankenlift premium 2 at 80,000 miles ..... I now have 142,000 miles on the KJ....
I still have my original CV's, and original boots....
:roll:

Do you have any added weight on the front end from stock configuration?

no he does not have any extra weight out front, and we just added some more lift to it two weeks ago :wink:

Thanks, I was wondering if the added weight of the ARB bumpers that people are using is helping them to not have these issues.

JJsTJ · **Posted:** Fri Feb 13, 2009 10:42 pm

LIV42DY wrote:

im not one to say but it seems that ever since the NAME Change... other things have been changing :shock:

such as?

if you are referring to the mood around here lately, it has more to do w/ the Winter blues or cabin fever than anything and we actually experience the same thing pretty much every year around this time. It seems to start around the holidays, peak in late Winter then start to die down as it warms up and people can actually get out wheeling.

Thank goodness I live in So-Cal where it is rarely bad enough weather to keep us cooped up for more than a few days at a time. I go stir crazy enough after just one weekend.

gmoney2626 · **Posted:** Fri Feb 13, 2009 10:45 pm

LIV42DY wrote:

after you put you shafts on or you can do it with the old oned measure the distance on level ground between the UCA at the ball joint were it would come in contact with the built in rubber padding at the spring get back to me with that measurement.

Are you referencing the bump stop on the bottom of the strut shaft (just above the clevis braket) or the bump stop at the top of the spring?

LIV42DY · **Posted:** Fri Feb 13, 2009 10:45 pm

tommudd wrote:

gmoney2626 wrote:

PeppermintPatty wrote:

been there seen that...it has no info on the longevity of these kits, ie: mileage & how well the vehicle itself has held up to them & what repairs had to be made. That's my point.

How old are those threads? Now that these kits are starting to show some serious miles on them, I'd say it's a fair idea :roll:

I think that is a great idea. I went through alot of threads and bounced around betwen Skyjacker, Rocky Road and Frankenlift. I spent many nights/weeks running through all the lift topics and never really saw a topick that covered all that info in one thread. If any starts it I would like to add my experiences to help out others once I weed through my short term issues.

Im with Tom.. first I had the Skyjacker 2nd generation then i whent to the frankie with 3/8" clevis lift (Machine Made not conduit nuts) lots of mud and sand 55,000 miles later No problems. without an ARB bumper.

I added to the thread tonight what I have done with mine in over 75000 lifted miles , basically not one problem associated with the lift

LIV42DY · **Posted:** Fri Feb 13, 2009 10:55 pm

gmoney2626 wrote:

LIV42DY wrote:

after you put you shafts on or you can do it with the old oned measure the distance on level ground between the UCA at the ball joint were it would come in contact with the built in rubber padding at the spring get back to me with that measurement.

Are you referencing the bump stop on the bottom of the strut shaft (just above the clevis braket) or the bump stop at the top of the spring?

Bump stop at the bottom of the strut.

gmoney2626 · **Posted:** Fri Feb 13, 2009 11:05 pm

LIV42DY wrote:

Bump stop at the bottom of the strut.

From the bottom of the UCA to the bottom bump stop...... got it... I will take a photo as well to make sure I am getting the info you need. I will try and get to that tomorrow. I am not sure when the axles are going to be replaced... hopefully in the next few days.

Unfortunately I dont have the tools or space to do it myself.

gmoney2626 · **Posted:** Sun Feb 15, 2009 7:31 pm

LIV42DY wrote:

Bump stop at the bottom of the strut.

Okay I got the measurements and took a photo

Passenger Side

Drivers Side

I had a hard time finding true level ground because the only thing around my house are roads and parking lots. These roads and parking lots are angled to get water to drain. I ended up going to three places that were the most level I could find to take measurements. So looking at the picture... if I look at the bottom of the UCA (where the ball joint is) and measure to the top of the bump stop I have between an 1" and 1 1/4" clearance. Hopefully this was the right way to take the measurement. FYI the bump stop is 2 1/4" high, so if I needed to go to the middle of the bump stop just add another 1 1/8" to the above measurements.

KJ Willy · **Posted:** Sun Feb 15, 2009 8:24 pm

And that is sitting on flat level ground? Your ball joints look way out of wack. Might think about Al's Upper arms.

By the way where you from?

CV Angles with Frankenlift

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