Got Some Concerns Rough Country Lift Installed Please Help

dynokj007 · **Joined:** Mon Aug 01, 2005 9:12 pm **Posts:** 43

Ok i got the 3 inch rough country lift installed the other day. It took 4 1/2 to get it done, than it needed a major alignment. My questions are as follows since i had never had a lift done to my car so i am bit worried.

#1. Is the suspension supposed to hang on to the strut especially if the travel of wheel goes all the way down then back up?

#2. When driving is it supposed to feel like the steering wheel is going to give out on you?

#3. Is there supposed to be noises coming from the front especially going over the bumps and such? like clunking noises, sounds like things are just going to fall apart.

#4. Is it supposed to rub the inside sway bar when the wheel is turned even with 245/65/16's?

#5. The front just seems higher than the rear can this be normal or does it need to settle?

Here is some more info on the install and all that good stuff. We had to do allot of prying to get the strut spacer into the fork which attaches to the bottom control arm. I mean 2 people prying, and one person hammering to get it in, than we had to loosen all of the bolts on front suspension, including the axel.

I am just a bit worried and i am not sure if its 100% safe to drive. Driving seems ok, just feels strange and not like stock, ( I know, it has a lift on it)

if anyone can comfort me please do so, since i am looking forward to trying to get out to Paragon this weekend to see how it will perform and i would hate to have to remove it.

thanks

Vinni AKA Dyno KJ from previous Board.

priell3 · **Posted:** Mon Aug 01, 2005 9:52 pm

Speleorelic has that lift installed, hopefully he'll see your post and can give feedback on it.

vjdjkj · **Joined:** Tue Jul 26, 2005 3:45 am **Posts:** 7

Sounds like you installed the coil spacer lift. That's what i have on mine. Took me some wrestling with the front end as well.

Rear took about 5 minutes a side, pretty straight forward. As for the front, I am a little confused. Per side i had to remove only 3 bolts. 2 for the lower A-arm and one for the Clevis that holds the bottom of the strut.

1. Yes on full extension, (full drop of wheel) the upper a-arm will come in contact with the strut-coil. For regular driving you will not experience this unless your tire comes off the ground of course.

2. rear end it would be beneficial to put in longer rear shocks ( i haven't yet) to allow the back to flex to it's maximum new capability.

3. as for the feel of the ride, for me it is as good if not better than stock. Perfectly responsive steering, tight and level on corners, .... and not a sound.

I'm not a professional, but since I installed myself as well I can guess some possible reasons for sounds and weird feel.
a) make sure the strut is inserted completely in the spacer. If not then your front end is more than 3 inches higher and this might place the CV joint at beyond proper operational angle. (this is why there are no lifts offered bigger than 3" without changing suspension parts)
b) make sure spacer is fully inserted into Clevis. Reasoning, same as previous.
c) make sure your front tires are toqued tight. I thought I had them nice and tight, turned out they weren't and after a stud broke i made darn sure.
d) as for the rubbing, I'm running 235/70r/16 BFG TA-KO. maybe you can use a reference chart to see how much bigger yours are. I'm planning on putting on 32" (265/75r/16) but I will be adding 1.25" wheel spacers to prevent the rubbing.

Basically in my humble opinion, sound like things just need to be tightened up. I am assuming of course that you had a proper alignment done. (on my way over to get the alignment my steering was all over the place, and I had clunking too because of the weird angles).

Good luck. Let us know how it turns out. The extra 3" makes a huge difference, specially for breakover angles. Hope it works out for you.

indynewfie · **Posted:** Tue Aug 02, 2005 9:14 am

changed handle

vxla · **Posted:** Tue Aug 02, 2005 9:54 am

there's nothing wrong with the front being higher than the rear; you need as much height as you can in front for getting over obstacles.

dynokj007 · **Joined:** Mon Aug 01, 2005 9:12 pm **Posts:** 43

How did you guess, yes i did do the Strut Coil Spacer lift. It fits between the strut thing, and the fork which ties into the control arm below. And indeed did we have to wrestle, pry and bang to get it in there.

Yes the rear not a big deal just 2 people hanging off the axle, and slide the spring and voila, the rear is done. (Literally)

Ok as far as it rubbing i more at ease now since it can happen like you mentioned it, i have noticed or felt it while driving normal so it could be a good thing.

The ride isnt too bad, just cant speed like i used, which is a good thing i wont get anymore speeding tickets.

Now i am thinking of getting some wheel spacers to give more clearance on the front suspension since they rub quite a bit on the sway bar, it shakes the car when i make a sharp turn.

thanks for info i will see what else i can do.

Vinni

speleorelic · **Posted:** Sat Aug 06, 2005 7:42 am

I've had the Rough Country lift for a while now. I had a dealer install it so can't talk about your install stuff. I got about 3.5 inches in the front and 1 inch in the back. Since you need more in front for wheels turning,, that has worked out fine. I only get rubbing at full turns, which I back off the steering a bit and the rubbing stops. I've been towing my camper and it seems the rear springs just aren't stiff enough. I will get longer, stronger springs. During off-road wheeling my rear tires have jambed up into the wheel well enough to actually catch the flange of metal under the plastic door trim,, and totally unbend the flange so that it was sticking out toward the tire. I had to pound it back around when I got home,, had to remove wheel to get to it. I noticed that when I go over a dip in the road that the libby rocks front to back several times,, like a boat on water,, again,, needs rear springs with higher rate of compression,, and needs to be higher. Rusty's will sell you the 2 inch spacers for the back for $50. No part numbers,, you gotta talk to him and tell him what you need,,

So,, I think with longer, stronger springs in the back,, it would be a good lift

I'm a little disappointed with the rear suspension performance,, I think they undersized the rear springs. They should have loaded up a liberty to see what it looked like. I think they used an empty libby. With all my gear in the back of the libby,, and a small trailer hooked up,, I have about 1/2 inch clearance betweem the tire and the wheel well. It rubs going over bumps. The libby is rated to tow a 5000 lb trailer. It should still be able to haul a trailer,, even with the lift.

8-12-05,, Rough Country is sending me a set of rear spacers for free,, after I explained my situation. I also purchased the Firestone airbags that fit inside the rear springs. That way I can air-up when I tow the trailer, and air-down when I'm not towing the trailer.

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Got Some Concerns Rough Country Lift Installed Please Help

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