LOST JEEPS
http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/

People with Frankenlift Please Read. I need your experience
http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=35596		 Page 1 of 4
Author:  trailman [ Tue Sep 02, 2008 3:58 pm ]
Post subject:  People with Frankenlift Please Read. I need your experience
Well I just recently traded in my Tahoe for a 2002 KJ. I've been very impressed with it on the mountain trails so far, though I've been giving my front skid plate hell on the rocks. ( oh well that's what its for right?) The thing is that I just found my first big mud hole to try out the KJ in. It didn't look like much, so I don't even think to put it in 4WD before I plowed through it. Well that's exactly what my front skid plated did. It acted as a plow at first and I came to slow but firm stop in the mud. I tried my darndest to reverse and go forward as much as I could before it was effectively high centered.':?'
Image
(that's me after I tried digging myself out with this STOP sign I, uh, "found")


I was slightly disappointed since this was something I could have parked in two wheel drive with my "HOE" and tore right on through.(It has twice the clearance) Well getting on to the purpose of this post, I decided that I need to lift my little JEEP up a bit. I've read into it and it seems to be that I can only lift it 2.5 inches. OK fine. I've also read that the Frankenlift II Premium is the "Holy Grail" of lifts to put on. OK great, I don't have to guess. The main question I have is concerning CV angles. Right now mine seem to be at a slight negative angle. What I mean is that the part of the shaft coming from the diff side is lower than the part of the shaft going into the wheel. Not by much mind you maybe an 1/8 of an inch. They almost look straight unless you lay on your belly and really examine them. I've read a couple posts with people snapping CV's possibly because of the HD coils on the Frankenlift creating to much of a CV angle. I've just contacted All J Products to order one. I would like to get some feedback as to whether it is safe for my KJ's CV shafts, or am I OK since my current angles are not... well theres no real angle to them.
Author:  jsc7002 [ Tue Sep 02, 2008 4:15 pm ]
Post subject: 
you should be fine, or if you wanted a cheap way you can get OME HD coils and Ranchos all around for about $650 shipped and do a small clevis and an eatra rear iso, thats what I did and Im sitting about a 1/4 less than a Frankenlift
Author:  trailman [ Tue Sep 02, 2008 4:19 pm ]
Post subject: 
jsc7002 wrote:
you should be fine, or if you wanted a cheap way you can get OME HD coils and Ranchos all around for about $650 shipped and do a small clevis and an eatra rear iso, thats what I did and Im sitting about a 1/4 less than a Frankenlift


Who did you get your rear iso's from?
Author:  jsc7002 [ Tue Sep 02, 2008 4:23 pm ]
Post subject: 
dealership, I think i paid somewhere around $16 each and there is a website that has them for $9.95 each but you dont save that much usually if any b/c of shipping
Author:  nlife [ Tue Sep 02, 2008 6:29 pm ]
Post subject: 
By the looks of your picture, I've got two comments. First, it looks like you have the stock tires or A/T's at best. They aren't very good in the mud. Second, you couldn't have been digging very hard because your shorts are still white :lol:
Author:  phxtoad [ Tue Sep 02, 2008 7:37 pm ]
Post subject: 
Trailman,

I wouldn't worry too much about the CV angles. Sure the lift will cause them to wear prematurely, but you'll still likely get a ton of miles and a lot of wheeling before you have any real issues. You'll go through a lot more upper A-arms/balljoints and lower ball joints by then - trust me. In five years with 2.5" of lift and a great deal of abuse I've had my CV's re-built once, and now I have a new set of EMPI's complete CV's/shafts in. The price of new shafts is finally becoming reasonable. It used to be that an OEM passenger shaft was $1100 from the dealer. Now an aftermarket one is less than $200. Re-builds will run you only a bit more.

My dos centavos...

TL
Author:  dirtykj [ Tue Sep 02, 2008 8:09 pm ]
Post subject: 
41K miles and I haven't broken many things yet. Here's a list of "major" service done to my KJ by the dealer:

1. Recall on the LBJ

2. Replaced one set of upper A arms (worn ball joint)

3. Replaced one set of steering rack bushings

OK, so my current rack bushings are shot and the steering rack will need to be replaced but other than that, no major breakage really, knock on particleboard. I did trails in CA and Moab with the setup (Frankenfranken lift and factory skids), no real complaints so far :)
Author:  trailman [ Tue Sep 02, 2008 8:31 pm ]
Post subject: 
nlife wrote:
By the looks of your picture, I've got two comments. First, it looks like you have the stock tires or A/T's at best. They aren't very good in the mud. Second, you couldn't have been digging very hard because your shorts are still white :lol:



Well even if they were slick 50's they would have went through the hole if I wouldn't have bottomed out. My shorts are white in the picture because they took the pic before I had gotten down on all fours and started digging with my hands. Sure if I wanted to go swimming I probably could have dug myself out in 3 or 4 hours at best. I decided instead to call my buddy with his old International Scout. He walked it right through and pulled me out with his wench. Thanks for the replies guys, I appreciate it.
Author:  Liberator [ Tue Sep 02, 2008 9:15 pm ]
Post subject: 
Get some MTR's after the lift.

Did you put the stop sign back in place cuz I would hate to have caused an accident as a result of it missing.
Author:  LIV42DY [ Tue Sep 02, 2008 9:21 pm ]
Post subject: 
Save your $$$$ and get a Franki Lift, MTR,s and you will be good to go :)
Author:  trailman [ Tue Sep 02, 2008 9:29 pm ]
Post subject: 
Liberator wrote:
Get some MTR's after the lift.

Did you put the stop sign back in place cuz I would hate to have caused an accident as a result of it missing.


Yeah I stuck it back in its hole, but I don't think the road really needed one. It's way out in BFE, and if you're coming from the road to see the stop sign, you already know to stop.
Author:  trailman [ Tue Sep 02, 2008 9:33 pm ]
Post subject: 
LIV42DY wrote:
Save your $$$$ and get a Franki Lift, MTR,s and you will be good to go :)


I think that's the route I'm going to take. As for as saving money...that's what I have a credit card for.':twisted:'
I can always pay it off, come income tax time.
Author:  jsc7002 [ Tue Sep 02, 2008 10:40 pm ]
Post subject: 
if your really wanting to save your money you could just get the OME HD and a clevis and sit at the same height as a Frankenlift :wink:
Author:  LIV42DY [ Tue Sep 02, 2008 10:51 pm ]
Post subject: 
you could, but in some cases you get what you pay for :wink:
Author:  Guest [ Wed Sep 03, 2008 12:23 am ]
Post subject: 
LIV42DY wrote:
Save your $$$$ and get a Franki Lift, MTR,s and you will be good to go :)


MT/R's blow goats in the mud.
Author:  Khaki-KJ [ Wed Sep 03, 2008 5:34 am ]
Post subject: 
ThunderbirdJunkie wrote:
MT/R's blow goats in the mud.

It is way too early for that mental image. :shock:
Author:  trailman [ Wed Sep 03, 2008 11:21 am ]
Post subject: 
jsc7002 wrote:
if your really wanting to save your money you could just get the OME HD and a clevis and sit at the same height as a Frankenlift :wink:


I though about it, but I really want those ome shocks and struts. Like everyone says, "you get what you pay for."
Author:  trailman [ Wed Sep 03, 2008 11:30 am ]
Post subject: 
ThunderbirdJunkie wrote:
LIV42DY wrote:
Save your $$$$ and get a Franki Lift, MTR,s and you will be good to go :)


MT/R's blow goats in the mud.


Well at least the goats will be preoccupied while you dig yourself out.
Author:  jsc7002 [ Wed Sep 03, 2008 2:27 pm ]
Post subject: 
trailman wrote:
jsc7002 wrote:
if your really wanting to save your money you could just get the OME HD and a clevis and sit at the same height as a Frankenlift :wink:


I though about it, but I really want those ome shocks and struts. Like everyone says, "you get what you pay for."


you can still buy and use OME shocks and struts, and Rancho is equally as good I would actually go with Rancho over OME just bc they havea lifetime warrenty
Author:  tommudd [ Wed Sep 03, 2008 2:28 pm ]
Post subject: 
trailman wrote:
jsc7002 wrote:
if your really wanting to save your money you could just get the OME HD and a clevis and sit at the same height as a Frankenlift :wink:


I though about it, but I really want those ome shocks and struts. Like everyone says, "you get what you pay for."


you can still have OME shocks and springs and not buy a Frankenlift What the heck is everyone talking about?? You dont need to buy the Frankenlift to have them , plus after all the miles I have on my setup I would not have the OME shocks
Page 1 of 4 All times are UTC - 5 hours [ DST ]
Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group
http://www.phpbb.com/