THE OHIO CHAT ROOM!!!

lfhoward · **Posted:** Fri Jun 06, 2014 9:06 pm

An all-dirt road trip with covered bridges and a bunch of lifted Liberties sounds like an awesome way to spend a weekend! Wish I was closer.

I do have a question for the 22+ inch lifted crowd. A number of you in the Buckeye State have some pretty tall lifts! I would appreciate your feedback. This is a front suspension question, so KJ and KK owners can both help... Sorry to clog the chat room with a technical question, but here I have you all in one place!

I have the JBA 4 inch kit on my KK, and was at 21 in the front, 22 in the rear until last week when I decided to crank it up to 22 in front. I've had a few issues since, and it would help if you could let me know what am I missing? I am having mixed feelings about running at 22, having driven about 700 miles on it in the last couple of days (including a highway trip from Michigan to Philly).

Pros:
- looks awesome
- more clearance in the front
- I got 19 mpg on a full tank yesterday while following trucks on I-76. Coincidence?

Cons/worries:
- feels less stable around corners at speed. Don't know if this is the higher center of gravity or if the alignment is out of spec now. But the alignment for the LCA's looks like it is at the max outside setting, so I don't think I can improve it any (see pic link below). Seems like there is a bit of positive camber noticeable when I look at it from the front (bottom of tires closer in than the tops are).
- front tires make more noise on the highway than they used to. I am worried I will wear down my expensive Duratracs faster, especially the outside edges of the tread.
- it might be my imagination, but I think I hear more turning noise from the CV or hub than I used to (while driving next to barriers that reflect sound). The CV angle is more pronounced at 22 inches than it was at 21.
- ESP activation while taking slow corners (like turning into driveways or 90 degree turns into side streets) is much more common than it was before. It happens a lot now.
- headlights are aimed too high now. I will need to re-aim them if I stay at this setting.

All of this considered, I am thinking of reducing the height to 21-1/2 to split the difference, or going back to 21. What do you all think? Does anyone have theirs up at 22 without these issues? Seems like a bunch of you must have figured it out.

Pics are here, including one of the front suspension angles.
http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?p=834643#p834643

Thanks,
Lauren

John3:17 · **Posted:** Fri Jun 06, 2014 9:10 pm

Setting at 22" all the way around but its a kj and doesn't have esp. I think Tom's over 23" on his. I would suggest an alignment before you give up on it.

Oops keep forgetting I'm not from Ohio :SOMBRERO:

Ted15 · **Posted:** Fri Jun 06, 2014 9:43 pm

Definitely have an alignment done. It should fix most of what you described.

03CDKJ · **Posted:** Fri Jun 06, 2014 10:27 pm

Lauren are you running wheel spacers with your stock rims?

Cort's_KK · **Posted:** Fri Jun 06, 2014 11:02 pm

Tom I'll be sure to stop you if I ever see ya. I think I actually saw you on 77 a while back. Unless there is another all black kj jacked way up around here. I'm still newer to the area. Spent four years at Marietta College and got a job in town after graduation a little over a year ago. Didn't get to do a whole lot of exploring while in school but have done some in the last year. Love Wayne Forrest. My Jeep ain't much. Still riding the Daystar Lift... Getting ready to order new lift and tires in the next couple of weeks!

So is the meet and ride a go?

Thanks for the warm welcome everybody.

hucorey · **Joined:** Tue Mar 06, 2012 4:29 am **Posts:** 378

You get your interwebs fixed ole man???

Lol.
Never mind, got unsubscribed again and didn't get the updates. Ugh

TwoBobsKJ · **Joined:** Fri May 11, 2012 8:03 pm **Posts:** 463

Yea, let's start throwing dates around for a M&G or day ride or camping trip or whatever. I'm getting a serious case of off-road withdrawals up here in Hartville! :5SHOTS:

Bob

lfhoward · **Posted:** Sat Jun 07, 2014 10:22 am

John and Ted, thanks for your suggestions. I'll get it aligned on Monday. It seems like it should be able to be aligned correctly at 22 inches of lift, as you all are running at around that height (and Tom is up at 23!). I'll let you know how it goes. I'd like to keep it at 22. Chris, I'm not running wheel spacers, just wider tires than stock (245/75/R16).

Thanks again! :JEEPIN:

03CDKJ · **Posted:** Sat Jun 07, 2014 11:42 am

when you go up in height... wheels come in closer together... You'll be able to tell a huge difference with a wider stance from spacers or new rims... :2cents:

hucorey · **Joined:** Tue Mar 06, 2012 4:29 am **Posts:** 378

03CDKJ wrote:

when you go up in height... wheels come in closer together... You'll be able to tell a huge difference with a wider stance from spacers or new rims... :2cents:

Agreed. But if you get spacers/adapters, do not buy cheap eBay ones.

Get them from either wheeladapter.com or BORA adapters from http://www.motorsport-tech.com

tommudd · **Posted:** Sat Jun 07, 2014 10:44 pm

lfhoward wrote:

An all-dirt road trip with covered bridges and a bunch of lifted Liberties sounds like an awesome way to spend a weekend! Wish I was closer.

I do have a question for the 22+ inch lifted crowd. A number of you in the Buckeye State have some pretty tall lifts! I would appreciate your feedback. This is a front suspension question, so KJ and KK owners can both help... Sorry to clog the chat room with a technical question, but here I have you all in one place!

I have the JBA 4 inch kit on my KK, and was at 21 in the front, 22 in the rear until last week when I decided to crank it up to 22 in front. I've had a few issues since, and it would help if you could let me know what am I missing? I am having mixed feelings about running at 22, having driven about 700 miles on it in the last couple of days (including a highway trip from Michigan to Philly).

Pros:
- looks awesome
- more clearance in the front
- I got 19 mpg on a full tank yesterday while following trucks on I-76. Coincidence?

Cons/worries:
- feels less stable around corners at speed. Don't know if this is the higher center of gravity or if the alignment is out of spec now. But the alignment for the LCA's looks like it is at the max outside setting, so I don't think I can improve it any (see pic link below). Seems like there is a bit of positive camber noticeable when I look at it from the front (bottom of tires closer in than the tops are).
EVEN A 1/4 INCH CAN THROW THE ALIGNMENT OUT SOME, SO GOING UP AN INCH REALLY THREW IT OFF
- front tires make more noise on the highway than they used to. I am worried I will wear down my expensive Duratracs faster, especially the outside edges of the tread.
YOU'RE RUNNING THEM MORE ON AN ANGLE SO YOU WILL HEAR THE TREAD MORE
- it might be my imagination, but I think I hear more turning noise from the CV or hub than I used to (while driving next to barriers that reflect sound). The CV angle is more pronounced at 22 inches than it was at 21.
NOISE COULD WELL BE THE TIRES SINCE THEY ARE NOT RUNNING IN THE SAME PATTERN AS BEFORE
- ESP activation while taking slow corners (like turning into driveways or 90 degree turns into side streets) is much more common than it was before. It happens a lot now.
AGAIN ALIGNMENT WILL CAUSE THAT TO KICK IN A LOT MORE AS WELL
- headlights are aimed too high now. I will need to re-aim them if I stay at this setting.

All of this considered, I am thinking of reducing the height to 21-1/2 to split the difference, or going back to 21. What do you all think? Does anyone have theirs up at 22 without these issues? Seems like a bunch of you must have figured it out.
I HAVE RAN MINE OVER 23 ( 22 FOR KKS) FOR MORE THAN 160-170,000 MILES SO FAR. KEEP IT ABOUT 23.25-23.5. EVEN AT THAT HEIGHT THE DRIVERS SIDE CV LASTED OVER 190,000 MILES. NOW I KNOW THE KKS SEEM A BIT MORE FINICKY (SPELLING?) BUT I'D STAY 21.75-22 AND MAKE SURE TO GET AN ALIGNMENT

Pics are here, including one of the front suspension angles.
http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?p=834643#p834643

Thanks,
Lauren

Easier to answer in the quote than here :wink:

tommudd · **Posted:** Sat Jun 07, 2014 10:46 pm

hucorey wrote:

You get your interwebs fixed ole man???

Lol.
Never mind, got unsubscribed again and didn't get the updates. Ugh

no!!

not entirely
going to have to call in some professional who done it/fix its :-)r

tommudd · **Posted:** Sat Jun 07, 2014 10:53 pm

TwoBobsKJ wrote:

Yea, let's start throwing dates around for a M&G or day ride or camping trip or whatever. I'm getting a serious case of off-road withdrawals up here in Hartville! :5SHOTS:

Bob

When / where / how long and how much.
Trip to Southern Ohio could be soon
( have another 3 trips to finish moving, so a couple of weeks yet)
I think an overnight would be good, go down Friday evening/ camp out/ burn lots of wood/ tell lies err stories
I'd invite you to the campsite we have with the motorhome, BUT we were there last week, I went to open the hood and just as I reached for the hood latch, a big old copperhead stuck his tongue out at me! :shock:

So we need to de-snake :dead:

that place before I go near again.
But plenty of good camping spots for anyone who would want to go early down in Wayne National
Others could catch up the next morning

tommudd · **Posted:** Sat Jun 07, 2014 10:57 pm

Cort's_KK wrote:

Tom I'll be sure to stop you if I ever see ya. I think I actually saw you on 77 a while back. Unless there is another all black kj jacked way up around here. I'm still newer to the area. Spent four years at Marietta College and got a job in town after graduation a little over a year ago. Didn't get to do a whole lot of exploring while in school but have done some in the last year. Love Wayne Forrest. My Jeep ain't much. Still riding the Daystar Lift... Getting ready to order new lift and tires in the next couple of weeks!

So is the meet and ride a go?

Thanks for the warm welcome everybody.

More than likely you did, parents live in Monroe County and we were going down to my Sisters
(78 to Caldwell and down 77 )
Thats great you got a job in the area, Marietta is a nice place to live, great area to explore the backroads. People come from all over to run 26, 145, parts of 78 and 260. 555 is a great curvy road as well. 26 was one of the top 10 roads a few years back for motorcycles and sports cars. I've led a few groups of bikers on those roads

lfhoward · **Posted:** Sat Jun 07, 2014 11:19 pm

Tom/John/Ted/Chris: I really appreciate the feedback. Looks like an alignment ASAP is a top priority. Got to drive one more trip tomorrow (to State College and back), but will have it in the shop on Monday. I don't see any tire edge wear yet, so hopefully another 350 miles isn't going to destroy my tires in the meantime. I'm glad it sounds like I will be able to keep the height at 22.

tommudd · **Posted:** Sun Jun 08, 2014 8:58 am

Problem is even with alignment being out just a small amount it sits up a wear pattern. Once a tire starts to wear one way it keeps on. Tires won't grow back/ heal themselves Alignment as soon as you can

tommudd · **Posted:** Sun Jun 08, 2014 11:41 pm

Well had to call in a favor today, Larry was going to try and run, but a little arm twisting :lol:

and he came through and helped me load a couple of things today. THANKS LARRY!!!!!

Then Thanks to Chris got unloaded what Larry helped load
and a few other things moved around.
Now this week to unload the enclosed trailer that has all my tools etc and find room for them. Its bad when your basement actually has more room than your garage :banghead:

lfhoward · **Posted:** Mon Jun 09, 2014 2:28 pm

tommudd wrote:

Problem is even with alignment being out just a small amount it sits up a wear pattern. Once a tire starts to wear one way it keeps on. Tires won't grow back/ heal themselves Alignment as soon as you can

I got an alignment appointment on Wed at a very good mechanic in State College, PA. I'm up here for the week, using the Penn State Library for my research. At the same time, my wife is participating in the PSU First Book Institute this week, so we won't be doing any more driving until after it's aligned.

Cort's_KK · **Posted:** Mon Jun 09, 2014 3:30 pm

tommudd wrote:

More than likely you did, parents live in Monroe County and we were going down to my Sisters
(78 to Caldwell and down 77 )
Thats great you got a job in the area, Marietta is a nice place to live, great area to explore the backroads. People come from all over to run 26, 145, parts of 78 and 260. 555 is a great curvy road as well. 26 was one of the top 10 roads a few years back for motorcycles and sports cars. I've led a few groups of bikers on those roads

Interesting. 26 would certainly be great for motorcycles and sports cars. The girlfriend drops me and the kayak off up 26 on the Little Muskingum River and I float 'n' fish back to town. Beautiful out there. I'll have to check some of the other roads out this weekend. Sounds like my Saturday is planned!

I'd love to join in on the dirt roads and camping weekend. There are some busy weekends coming up but I'll make it if I can!

Leeann · **Joined:** Thu Mar 14, 2013 9:19 pm **Posts:** 523

tommudd wrote:

Now this week to unload the enclosed trailer that has all my tools etc and find room for them. Its bad when your basement actually has more room than your garage :banghead:

At least you have a garage. I do have a basement...but my tools (in a chest) are in the dining room. The basement is full of the hubby's outboards and parts.

THE OHIO CHAT ROOM!!!

Who is online