Axel shift after lift?

Deputyjoel · **Joined:** Sun Jul 29, 2007 1:57 pm **Posts:** 40

Hey all,

I just did a 2.5" Daystar spacer lift on the KJ. What a PITA! But, I love the look. Now I was checking the old girl out yesterday and noticed that the axels are shifted as a result of the lift. I'm thinking at least 1.5" and maybe 2" towards the drivers side. Is this normal on the KJ? I've never heard of this topic being discussed with the KJ in the lift forum. It is enough of a shift to be anoying to me since I'm a perfectionist. With the TJ Wranglers that I've lifted the solution is an adjustable track bar and problem solved. But again, I don't hear any talk of this here. So, is this the norm and what do you guys do to correct the problem? Just live with it? THANKS!

jason thompson · **Posted:** Sat Aug 25, 2007 3:06 pm

Axels as in front and rear?
if so I would not drive it
infact if the rear has moved I would not drive it
the rear is a tri-link so if it moved some thing is realy wrong
no trac bar to adjust
check the upper link for a bend or loose/bad joint
check the lowers for bad bushings
measure from the unibody to the inside of the rim to see how bad it is

Post pics if you find something "funny"

Deputyjoel · **Joined:** Sun Jul 29, 2007 1:57 pm **Posts:** 40

Odd that it drives fine and I've even had it to an alignment shop and they didn't say anything.

Here are some pics.

Drivers side rear

Passenger side rear

Drivers side front

Passenger side front

BeepBeepJeepJeep · **Posted:** Sat Aug 25, 2007 4:11 pm

jason thompson · **Posted:** Sat Aug 25, 2007 4:23 pm

UM Ok UH

IDK

Here is my .02
It could be just how it came from the fctory and has been like this from day 1
we are talking about a $25,000 jeep not a $100,000 sports car
it may be that the rear was put on shifted to the driver side so they shifted the front to mach or the other way around
you can get a budy over and do some measuring from the unibody to the axel ends and from axel tip to axel tip and check for
"bad numbers" but if it drives good and the computer found no issues then you may have to live with it
My wife should be home in a little while I will look at hers and see how it looks but I have yet to notice any issues

tommudd · **Posted:** Sat Aug 25, 2007 5:11 pm

That is strange maybe been that way forever but more noticeable now? Mine sure is not like that??? :shock:

Joe Jeeper · **Posted:** Sat Aug 25, 2007 5:49 pm

Not sure I'm liking that! Joe

tommudd · **Posted:** Sat Aug 25, 2007 6:05 pm

Did you take those pictures with your left or right eye, maybe thats what is wrong?? :wink:

I would start measuring from the from one point to certain points on each side, cant see where lifting it would do that on a LIBERTY

jason thompson · **Posted:** Sat Aug 25, 2007 7:00 pm

OK I did some thinking
you MAY be able to ajust this out
if the rear is adjustable at the top of the trilink and was made shorter on one side and the lower pushed out then it would roll strait but the axel would be shifted over

the front i IFS and has all kinds of adjustment in it so to get it strait they just moved the fronts over

the1jferg · **Posted:** Sat Aug 25, 2007 8:03 pm

Joel,

I have that lift on the rear, it should only (appear) to move your axle foward not side to side.

Did you loosen the sway bar and forget to connect one side?

Mine did contort like crazy when I flexed too far and bent my swaybar. I had to slap a new one on.

Are your control arms having problems?

Joel, you said: "What a PITA!" The reason I'm asking is because doing both sides is a 30 minute simple job at best. Was force applied with some device that could have bent your rear arms in the shifted direction?

Or what JT said

Good Luck

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Sat Aug 25, 2007 8:39 pm

Did you put a bend in the trailing arms during installation? It would be better to get a pick from behind showing both rear wheels at one time and then one showing the underside whole width.

Deputyjoel · **Joined:** Sun Jul 29, 2007 1:57 pm **Posts:** 40

Well, I've been driving it around today and looked at it again very closely. Three is no doubt that there is a slight axel shift to the drivers side of the vehicle. I had my neighbor look at it and he agrees. It definitely isn't 2", more like 1/2 to 1 inch at best. Not sure what other than the lift could have caused it. I never really noticed it before I put the lift on, so it could have been this way from the get go. Sway bar is attached and in good shape. In any event, I'll keep you all posted with any developments and I'll try and get some exact measurements.

AZScout · **Posted:** Sat Aug 25, 2007 11:32 pm

We had a guy with that same problem in AZ. Whenever he wheeled, the driveshaft would hit his muffler and cause a huge commotion. He solved it by getting a Rubi. Not much help but wanted to point to the variances from one Jeep to another and the trouble it causes.

Deputyjoel · **Joined:** Sun Jul 29, 2007 1:57 pm **Posts:** 40

I guess that is the answer since I can't find any other reason for my problem. I did the exact opposite as your friend. I have a Rubicon and I got the Liberty for something a little more comfortable on the road! Thanks for your input.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Sun Aug 26, 2007 11:50 am

His driveline was hitting his muffler so he sold it? :lol:

Seems like he just wanted another jeep to me.

Takes some measurements Deputy and get back to us.

AZScout · **Posted:** Sun Aug 26, 2007 7:31 pm

Well, he took to wheeling like a man possessed and ran into the limitations of a Liberty on a 3" lift.

FastTRX · **Posted:** Sun Aug 26, 2007 8:40 pm

My driveshaft U-Joint rubbed the muffler after I installed the Frankenlift and removed the rear swaybar (Edit* do this at your OWN risk, and you didn't get the idea from me or this site)....it flexed like crazy and made this metal crunching sound....

I took care of that problem by getting a new muffler...since I cant get a new Jeep.... :lol:

Axel shift after lift?

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