I Finished my CJ7 Lift!

[Roger]

I don't know what to think. I put on 2" lift shackles no problem. But I froze up on doing the 1" body lift! I was worried sick about doing it, and I almost returned the kit.

Well, Friday it told myself "this is BS. How can I screw it up, I've done all the research, and what could I screw up that I couldn't get help with fixing"??

So this morning, I tackled the project. That was the easiest project I've ever done on my CJ! What a dork I can be. It looks great!

I know that some of you guys forgot more about mechanic work than I knew in the first place. If one of you really talented guys have a chance at Calico, would you mind looking at the angle of the differentials and the drive shafts? I am getting a little vibration and I wonder if that's the cause. I am almost positive that my Jeep had a 2" spring lift by a former owner but I'm not sure. So that would give me 4" total lift on the drive train - maybe.

Thanks in advance...

[VVjeepfreak]

Good job Roger, it is suprising sometimes how hard it looks to do a job and when you are finished you think "what did I miss, it can't be that easy"!!!! post some pic's when ya can

[Geebo]

Congrats Roger,good going you sound like me..not wanting to tackle ANYTHING when it comes to working on vehicles..Geeb

[Shadly1]

Hey Roger, you can pick up a magnetic angle finder at Home Depot for about $5. Stick it to the bottom of the axle, then stick it to the driveshaft. You're shooting for a difference of about 2*. If it's not, you can buy steel shims with longer locating pins from Rusty's.

Did you use shims to correct your alignment? My YJ came with 2" lift shackles and a VERY jacked up alignment. The caster angle was about 3* positive and it was all over the place. I've changed out the whole suspension and both axles since then and now I have the caster dialed in at 8* positive. It feels perfect.

[Roger]

Shadly1 - Thanks for the information!

[Roger]

Well I crawled under my Jeep after work to take a look at the angle of the drive shaft to the differential. I was going to figure out what I needed to buy or make to lower the trasmission a little if need be. The drive shaft didn't appear to be very far off of alignment if at all. I thought while I'm under I'll go a head and grease the zirk fittings on the u-joints. I got to looking closely at them and I noticed three of the bolts holding the rear u-joint to the transfer case were almost unthreaded enough to fall out! Now that could be the cause of the vibration!
I've been really good about checking my rig before and after a run but I never thought to look at the u joints. Anyway, I tightened them up and I'll see if the vibration is gone as I drive into Victorville tomorrow mornng.

Believe it or not, I'm enjoying figuring out my Jeep and all it's ideosyncracies (sp?)

[CalFireGuy]

Hey there Roger,
Hers a link that will show how to the strap that holds down u-joint to a u-bolt. I did mine the other day it was not hard at all, just make sure you have a good 5/16" drill bit. You can get the u-bolts at Napa for around 5 bucks, the part # is 534-10.

http://www.jeepaholics.com/tech/ujoi...ujointconv.htm

[Roger]

Jason,

I checked out the link, that's great! I agree, it sure looks alot stronger.