RRO OTT clunking and other problems, need advice

neversummer · **Joined:** Sun Apr 01, 2007 3:03 pm **Posts:** 3

I was about to drive there today and purchase the a-arms to complement/fix the budget lift I purchased from them. But after reading some good posts on the subject, I've decided to forgo that purchase. And I am seriously considering taking the lift off and driving stock until I decide what to do next.

However, I am wondering what broke while I used the lift. It has been on for a year, and just recently I have some bad bad noises when I go over speed bumps or cross over streets etc. It is best described as a metal popping sound or clunking noise. And my front tires wear out far too fast. The noise and tire wear both showed up when another problem stopped -- a constant squeaking noise like metal on metal just after I installed the lift. I'm guessing that I wore out my upper ball joint on the passenger side when I put the lift on.

Can anyone direct me to relevant posts on the subject? And what advice would you offer? What will I need to replace (ball joints, bushings, etc) to take this back to stock?

tommudd · **Posted:** Fri Aug 27, 2010 9:42 am

You now have several problems to contend with.
First the RRO OTT lift is one of the worst things you can install on the KJ.
What has happened more than likely is you used a cheap OTT lift on used springs that were more than likely already sagged.
Without proper bumpstops you have destroyed the front shocks,
so you have some choices, remove the OTT spacers, but you'll have to replace the blown shocks anyways. You could go ahead and upgrade the front shocks now to better ones like the Rancho 17505s and then when you get the $$$ install new OME springs, even Bilstein has some great shocks.
When you do lift, you'll need front bumpstops which would of helped "a little" before all of this.
You'll need to check upper and lower ball joints to make sure how they are, but many have ran the stock upper arms for many miles lifted with regular springs lifts and no problems.
Did you have it aligned after the initial install?

So my best guess is you have blown front shocks and need to replace them and go from there checking everything else.
Good luck if you go back to RRO.

Sport · **Posted:** Fri Aug 27, 2010 11:10 am

I agree, most likely blown struts. Get those replaced and add some teraflex bumpstops. Finally, get it aligned, at this point you probably will need new tires as well. Have fun.

ihatemybike · **Posted:** Fri Aug 27, 2010 11:29 am

Also check the sway bar links, they make a lot of noise when they wear out.

neversummer · **Joined:** Sun Apr 01, 2007 3:03 pm **Posts:** 3

Perhaps this is a dumb question, but how do the struts get blown? They aren't any more compressed or extended at a stand still with OTT spacers, right? The rears I can see are more extended with the puck spacers. Do the fronts compress more over bumps? Also I'm not sure but I think the pinging noise occurs when the suspension is fully extended.

I will get new struts for now and get it aligned, and probably remove the lift. I'm the pot who called the kettle black. I got what I paid for. Interestingly, I did get almost 4 inches of lift when I first put it on, and only 2.5 in the rear, so I added another spacer in the rear. Any possible damage to the front diff, or just the cv's?

Thanks.

tommudd · **Posted:** Fri Aug 27, 2010 1:27 pm

"SHOCKS" all the way around
So shocks get blown by being over compressed, one of the bad parts of a OTT spacer lift, It can happen on any but worse with spacer lifts. Thats why we run extended bumpstops. No difference when sitting still of course but over speed bumps/railroad tracks etc you'll have contact
4 inches of lift over what to begin with. Some say they received 3 to 4 inches but their suspension was already sagged over an inch so they did not get as much as what they thought.
Measure from the middle of the hub to the bottom of the flare. Give us those numbers. You can run up around 23 at those points with no worries. I've done it over that for over 120,000 miles

M&P40 · **Posted:** Fri Aug 27, 2010 1:38 pm

neversummer wrote:

Perhaps this is a dumb question, but how do the struts get blown?

well the first step in the process is..... they go to the bar and start buying drinks for the ladies there....

tommudd · **Posted:** Fri Aug 27, 2010 1:39 pm

M&P40 wrote:

neversummer wrote:

Perhaps this is a dumb question, but how do the struts get blown?

well the first step in the process is..... they go to the bar and start buying drinks for the ladies there....

neversummer · **Joined:** Sun Apr 01, 2007 3:03 pm **Posts:** 3

lol how did I miss that one?! Now I know how a strut gets blown, thanks!

My measurement is 21.5 right side and 21.75 left side. So I guess I'm in the clear. Still, I don't want to put any money in it until I really lift it right. So struts for now, lower it again, possibly new ball joints / swar bar etc -- and wait to find the right lift application. Thanks.

tommudd · **Posted:** Fri Aug 27, 2010 5:08 pm

So yes you are roughly about 2 to 2.5 inches over stock height

KJ in CO · **Joined:** Thu Apr 09, 2009 4:06 pm **Posts:** 346

I dont know much about the lifts that RRO has to offer. Although, I have installed the RRO a arms and havent had any problems so far... Also bought a set of super sliders from them and they seem to be of good quality. They did start to show a little rust on the welds where there are tight creases. But not that big of a deal

ramlebliberty · **Posted:** Sat Aug 28, 2010 3:36 pm

disconnect one of your sway bar links and drive it over some bumps, I had the same problems listen to this clip and you can hear the sway bar links popping

RRO OTT clunking and other problems, need advice

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