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RRO OTT Lift - How much damage could I have done?
http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=5511		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  fish eye [ Fri Feb 03, 2006 4:20 pm ]
Post subject:  RRO OTT Lift - How much damage could I have done?
I installed a RRO OTT lift kit in December between Xmas and NYE. At the time, I suspected I was getting a great product and that I would be worry free as far as my lift was concerned.

I didn't know about www.lostkjs.com until last week, and last night I stumbled upon the fact that almost everyone here highly recommends AGAINST this lift. At first, I though it was because everyone was partial to the FrankenLift's, but after reviewing over 5 pages of search results, I have come to the conclusion that risking my front suspension components is just not something I can subject my KJ and my wallet to, should serious problems arise.

So, my question is, have I done irrepairable damage to my KJ suspension in the front? I have driven about 500-700 miles, if that. No off roading, no hard flexing, no anything aside from my commute back and forth to work. I don't know if there's a way anyone can determine what may have happened, but I guess my main concern is, how long before the suspension components are shot?

Thanks, Chad
Author:  Jeepjeepster [ Fri Feb 03, 2006 4:28 pm ]
Post subject: 
You shouldnt have hurt a thing. The biggest thing to watch out for is upper ball joint contact. Heres a pic of what im talking about.

Image

You can see in the top of that pic the upper control arm is resting on that bumpstop, that is to keep the upper balljoint from tearing its little dust boot open. If that happened you must replace the entire upper control arm b/c you cant just replace the ball joint. Also watch the cv anlges, those are not good in that pic. You shouldnt have hurt anything if youve not done any off roading/alot of flexing.
Author:  zeero [ Fri Feb 03, 2006 4:41 pm ]
Post subject: 
DOn't worry bro....I think you're safe if you have just been commuting and mall crawling....thats basically what that lift is designed to do....just lift it...its when you start flexing and bouncing is when these OTT's are causing trouble...but even then its only when the flexing and and bouncing is fairly severe.....in my opinion, you're in good shape...and as said above...just watch your ball joints. :wink:
Author:  fish eye [ Fri Feb 03, 2006 5:57 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks fellas, I was thinking the same things. I'll just have to be careful driving it for the next few weeks...better things to come for my KJ than a lift that restricts my flex limits.

I just don't get it though. Why does RRO hype the hell out of that kit? Do they even run a kit like that? They say they do, but I have to wonder. The peace of mind I will have when its not on my KJ anymore is going to be great. Until then, this is something that will continue to bother me. The rattling in the rear end from the shocks not fitting properly in teh shock mounts, the loud slams in the front when you hit a drainage culvert at intersections going over 15mph...enough already...

I emailed RRO about my concerns. I wonder what the reply will be...I'll keep you all posted, but I won't hold my breath.

Thanks for the reassurances!

Chad
Author:  Skyjump136 [ Fri Feb 03, 2006 6:12 pm ]
Post subject: 
Quote:
the loud slams in the front when you hit a drainage culvert at intersections going over 15mph...enough already...



:roll: Not cool! That's probably your upper ball joint hitting the spring. Definitely take it slow and easy with that lift. It could be your struts topping/bottoming out though too...this kit is know to kill a strut or two unfortunately.

And your question about why they still sell it...that's been asked quite a few times around here. And I know several folks have asked RRO directly. They always say they have heard no complaints. I'm sure they'll tell you that you're the first one. Yeah, uh huh...
Author:  JJsTJ [ Fri Feb 03, 2006 7:04 pm ]
Post subject: 
They don't care if you had problems as they keep making money from uneducated KJ owners. I saw what an OTT lift does to a KJ in late 02. That particlular KJ was getting ready to have a Daystar kit installed and I took his Jeep for a ride. It scared the hell out of me when we hit the first bump and I slowed way down expecting something to fall off the Jeep. It banged like mad when hitting bumps or when the suspension would top out. Drove the same Jeep after the Daystar kit and it was fine. The Frankenlift is an even better improvement over the Daystar.

Please have all of your ball joints checked by a pro to make sure they are good. You may want to invest in the Moog lowers while you have the suspension apart for your new lift. The peace of mind knowing you can service the overall Better Moogs will be well worth the time and money.
Author:  ManicMechanicJoe [ Fri Feb 03, 2006 7:11 pm ]
Post subject: 
I run rusty's version of this lift (identical to the RRO OTT) and while my CV angles aren't bad, I get lots of UBJ contact.

I got it for a christmas gift and only plan on running it untill something way cooler and bigger comes out. I got a sizeable army bonus coming my way and have already started saving for the SFA or SuperLift.
Author:  KJ04 [ Wed Feb 08, 2006 3:12 pm ]
Post subject: 
You could throw a pair of Rusty's coils on the front for $129.00 + shipping and eliminate the front spacer plate.
Author:  warblade666 [ Sun Feb 12, 2006 6:20 pm ]
Post subject: 
I have the Rustys OTT style lift too. I do get upper ball joint contact as well. I would like to replace it but would like to get something that is already asembled. The Frankinlift is just to much ($490 for just the front) for me. Does anyone else sell them asembled?
Author:  TTU_TJ [ Mon Feb 13, 2006 9:52 pm ]
Post subject: 
Hey everyone, the loud bangs during compression are definitely caused by the strut bottoming out, not the ball joint issue. The ball-joints will only be damaged during full droop of the suspension where their angle surpasses their design limits.

I worked out a fix for the bottoming out - http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/vie ... php?t=5379 - but only ball-joint spacers can fix the angle that they see on full droop. Many Toyota owners install the spacers when they lift their IFS vehicles.

So, you're choices are:
1) Install the extended bumpstop shown above, along with ball joint spacers to correct their angle (I don't know if anyone is amking them yet), or
2) change lifts.

Good luck.

I personally emailed RRO about this problem and took the time to explain the problem in detail. I even asked if they planned to offer extended bumpstops and ball-joint correction kits. I also got the response that they'd had no other complaints. This was over a year ago.
Author:  Pablo [ Fri Feb 17, 2006 10:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Class Action Lawsuit
Why don't all the people who have been screwed over with this lift get together and sue the pants off these guys? There is ample contacts and info-- on this site alone-- to point to the fact that the manufacturer knows they have a substandard product and that they are dishonest about it.

Just have some one call them up about the lift and get the "No problems" speal recorded on tape and then get all the affadavits of the people in these threads to the contrary...
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