Frankenlift clunk - any ideas?

detroit_doc · **Posted:** Mon Oct 23, 2006 1:17 pm

I threw my Frankenlift on my '03 this weekend. I have a pretty good clunk on the front passenger side when hitting rough road/pot holes.

I rechecked and retorqued everything. It is all installed correctly, and everything is torqued to spec.

I had the lower ball joints replace about a week ago for the recall and did not have front suspension noise prior to the install.

When I was installing it, I did have a problem getting the passenger side upper ball joint tighted up. The threads were pretty rusty and the ball just just wanted to spin. So I used a wrench between ball joint shank and the spindle to lever some pressure on it. I did mangle the bottom of the ball joint boot up. However it did tighten up to 60 ft/lbs. So even though I'll probably need to swap out the upper arms eventually because of the mangled boot, I'm thinking this shouldn't be causing problem.

I'm going to jack the truck up tonight and check the upper and lower ball joints for slop. Can anyone else think of anything else I should be looking for?

Thanks!
Todd

JJsTJ · **Posted:** Mon Oct 23, 2006 1:22 pm

Grab the axle on that side and tug on it. That side usually has more play to it then the driver side and could be the cause of some noise. I would definately make sure that ball joint gets replaced if the boot is messed up. Time for some Moogs.

moose · **Posted:** Mon Oct 23, 2006 1:33 pm

could your UBJ be hitting the spring?

corwyyn · **Posted:** Mon Oct 23, 2006 1:50 pm

detroit_doc wrote:

When I was installing it, I did have a problem getting the passenger side upper ball joint tighted up. The threads were pretty rusty and the ball just just wanted to spin. So I used a wrench between ball joint shank and the spindle to lever some pressure on it. I did mangle the bottom of the ball joint boot up. However it did tighten up to 60 ft/lbs.

For future reference,if you take a look at the end of the ball joint shaft you'll see that it is a hex shape; a 10mm socket or wrench will fit on it so you can use a wrench on the bolt to get it snugged down, then use a socket/torque wrench to finish it off. That way you don't run the chance of messing up the boot.

Something I leraned when doing mine.

Eddo · **Joined:** Thu Jul 07, 2005 7:01 pm **Posts:** 1214

moose wrote:

could your UBJ be hitting the spring?

Quite possible

Check out the last post on this page and follow it through to the next page. Might need to add some bump stops.
http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/vie ... sc&start=0

Check out this post also, same type of issue as described above.
http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/vie ... =bumpstops

detroit_doc · **Posted:** Mon Oct 23, 2006 2:21 pm

I have the new style lift with the integrated bumpers, but I'll double check to make sure I'm not getting ball joint contact under full droop.

Assuming that the bump stops aren't doing their job, would it be normal to get upper ball joint to spring contact over rough paved roads?

Also the directions that came with the frankenlift show the upper clevis bolt torque as 60 ft/lbs. But I saw something on here saying it was 100 ft/lbs. Anyone know the correct spec?

corwyyn · **Posted:** Mon Oct 23, 2006 2:46 pm

According to the '03FSM it is 100 ft-lbs.

Eddo · **Joined:** Thu Jul 07, 2005 7:01 pm **Posts:** 1214

detroit_doc wrote:

Assuming that the bump stops aren't doing their job, would it be normal to get upper ball joint to spring contact over rough paved roads?

Yes it would be quite normal especially if you just installed it because it has not settled in. You are basically riding around with only maybe 1-2" of down travel before contact is made. A rough road can easily cause contact.

Bakerkj · **Posted:** Mon Oct 23, 2006 5:27 pm

Rough up the ubj boot with sand paper and seal it with silicone.

detroit_doc · **Posted:** Mon Oct 23, 2006 7:35 pm

Well when I got home I checked it out and it looks like the noise I'm hearing is probably the UBJ contacting the spring. I can see a worn spot on the spring. It actually looks like the spindle itself it even contacting the first coil of the spring. I'm guessing those built in bumpers aren't working as they thought they would.

Anyone know if All-J's will make this right?

JJsTJ · **Posted:** Mon Oct 23, 2006 8:37 pm

detroit_doc wrote:

Well when I got home I checked it out and it looks like the noise I'm hearing is probably the UBJ contacting the spring. I can see a worn spot on the spring. It actually looks like the spindle itself it even contacting the first coil of the spring. I'm guessing those built in bumpers aren't working as they thought they would.

Anyone know if All-J's will make this right?

ALL J's would know and you should contact them about it. I think the problem is the smaller spacer w/ bumpstop isn't tall enough to be effective in actually bumpstopping the front end. Al's arms did help this problem on my wifes KJ w/ Frankenlift.

moose · **Posted:** Mon Oct 23, 2006 9:11 pm

detroit_doc wrote:

Well when I got home I checked it out and it looks like the noise I'm hearing is probably the UBJ contacting the spring. I can see a worn spot on the spring. It actually looks like the spindle itself it even contacting the first coil of the spring. I'm guessing those built in bumpers aren't working as they thought they would.

Anyone know if All-J's will make this right?

I hope Heather's lack of response to me was just that my FrankenLift was a 2 month old resale rather than a new sale. I've been under impressed with AllJ. I know, everyone else has great things to say; I'm just the lucky odd man out on this... At least you didn't need a '06 break relocation line

However, CALL. see what they tell you (fell free to post results)

JJsKJ wrote:

ALL J's would know and you should contact them about it. I think the problem is the smaller spacer w/ bumpstop isn't tall enough to be effective in actually bumpstopping the front end. Al's arms did help this problem on my wifes KJ w/ Frankenlift.

1) why is allJ selling these if they don't fit well?

2) why should new A-arms be required after a new lift? Now, are the existing bumpstops designed to work with the larger A-arms? If that's what's necessary to make them work right, great, but they should add it to the kit parts, or make it a requirement

Eddo · **Joined:** Thu Jul 07, 2005 7:01 pm **Posts:** 1214

detroit_doc wrote:

Well when I got home I checked it out and it looks like the noise I'm hearing is probably the UBJ contacting the spring. I can see a worn spot on the spring. It actually looks like the spindle itself it even contacting the first coil of the spring. I'm guessing those built in bumpers aren't working as they thought they would.

Anyone know if All-J's will make this right?

All-J should fix the problem, but in the mean time here is an easy cheap fix

moose wrote:

OK, here is an image of my solution for the UBJ touching because of the frankenlift spacer's bumpstop not working....

All I used was some rubber (2 layers of a 4" pipe joint - Lowe's or Home Depot) and a 4" hose clamp. (I tried a 3" to 4" pipe addapter, but 1/2" of rubber was too much).

I kind of expected to ear back from AllJ about the break line bracket (or the UBJ's), but no dice. The guy who answered the phone could only just agree with me. I'd recoment not buying that $30 addapter and just making it youself. Next time I'm at Home Depot I'll look for something that might work and post the info.

detroit_doc · **Posted:** Mon Oct 23, 2006 9:51 pm

Thanks Eddo.

I'll give All-Js a call in the morning, and fashion up something similar to what you have there.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Mon Oct 23, 2006 10:29 pm

moose wrote:

detroit_doc wrote:

Well when I got home I checked it out and it looks like the noise I'm hearing is probably the UBJ contacting the spring. I can see a worn spot on the spring. It actually looks like the spindle itself it even contacting the first coil of the spring. I'm guessing those built in bumpers aren't working as they thought they would.

Anyone know if All-J's will make this right?

I hope Heather's lack of response to me was just that my FrankenLift was a 2 month old resale rather than a new sale. I've been under impressed with AllJ. I know, everyone else has great things to say; I'm just the lucky odd man out on this... At least you didn't need a '06 break relocation line

However, CALL. see what they tell you (fell free to post results)

JJsKJ wrote:

ALL J's would know and you should contact them about it. I think the problem is the smaller spacer w/ bumpstop isn't tall enough to be effective in actually bumpstopping the front end. Al's arms did help this problem on my wifes KJ w/ Frankenlift.

1) why is allJ selling these if they don't fit well?

2) why should new A-arms be required after a new lift? Now, are the existing bumpstops designed to work with the larger A-arms? If that's what's necessary to make them work right, great, but they should add it to the kit parts, or make it a requirement

The new arms are have a different angle at the balljoint. It doesnt even hit the spring. :wink:

kolesy · **Posted:** Mon Oct 23, 2006 11:00 pm

I have the same noise on mine. I don't have the Frankenlift but a rustys and some more stuff. But the the noise is distinct and you can tell it is a spring contact due to the "reverberating" sound. Al's arms will be on this weekend.

moose · **Posted:** Tue Oct 24, 2006 9:08 am

Jeepjeepster wrote:

moose wrote:

detroit_doc wrote:

Well when I got home I checked it out and it looks like the noise I'm hearing is probably the UBJ contacting the spring. I can see a worn spot on the spring. It actually looks like the spindle itself it even contacting the first coil of the spring. I'm guessing those built in bumpers aren't working as they thought they would.

Anyone know if All-J's will make this right?

I hope Heather's lack of response to me was just that my FrankenLift was a 2 month old resale rather than a new sale. I've been under impressed with AllJ. I know, everyone else has great things to say; I'm just the lucky odd man out on this... At least you didn't need a '06 break relocation line

However, CALL. see what they tell you (fell free to post results)

JJsKJ wrote:

ALL J's would know and you should contact them about it. I think the problem is the smaller spacer w/ bumpstop isn't tall enough to be effective in actually bumpstopping the front end. Al's arms did help this problem on my wifes KJ w/ Frankenlift.

1) why is allJ selling these if they don't fit well?

2) why should new A-arms be required after a new lift? Now, are the existing bumpstops designed to work with the larger A-arms? If that's what's necessary to make them work right, great, but they should add it to the kit parts, or make it a requirement

The new arms are have a different angle at the balljoint. It doesnt even hit the spring. :wink:

But if it doesn't hit the spring(like mine & detroit_doc's), will it be out wide enough that when it droops the spindal will hit the built in AllJ bumpstop?

detroit_doc · **Posted:** Tue Oct 24, 2006 7:29 pm

Well I never got a call back from All-Js. So I started stripping the lift off the truck tonight. I'm going to pack it up, ship it back, and dispute the charge on my credit card.

What a joke.

Just a note for anyone else who is considering going back to stock. The bushings in the Rancho shocks are too small. When you torque them to spec they crush the shock mounts. Now the stock shocks no longer fit. So if you are using these shocks and think you'll ever go back to stock (to sell it, etc) use some washers to prevent the shock mount from deforming.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Tue Oct 24, 2006 9:40 pm

detroit_doc wrote:

Well I never got a call back from All-Js. So I started stripping the lift off the truck tonight. I'm going to pack it up, ship it back, and dispute the charge on my credit card.

What a joke.

Just a note for anyone else who is considering going back to stock. The bushings in the Rancho shocks are too small. When you torque them to spec they crush the shock mounts. Now the stock shocks no longer fit. So if you are using these shocks and think you'll ever go back to stock (to sell it, etc) use some washers to prevent the shock mount from deforming.

Sounds like you took that problem into your own hands! :wink:

FastTRX · **Posted:** Tue Oct 24, 2006 11:17 pm

I'm really glad I read all of this. I was thinking of doing a Frankenlift...now I'm thinking different. I've only heard awesome things about them and All-J. hmmm...

Detroit, are you planning on a spacer lift now?? I debating going down that route now...much cheaper.

Frankenlift clunk - any ideas?

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