TJ suspension height problems

[naddogtj]

I have a 2002 TJ Apex ed. I swapped in anExplorer 8.8 with an Artec truss kit.
I also put in a 4" trailmaster lift ... well I just used the springs with a 1.5" spacer in the front.
I made up some adjustable control arms and installed them.
My problem is that the rear end sits almost 1" taller than the front and rides stiff like my old lifted YJ.
Could the control arms be binding and not letting it sag ??
Thanks

 

[Chris]

Post some photos of things, that will help.

 

[naddogtj]

Ill get some pics when I can.

 

[taylormade73]

What shocks do you have installed?

 

[naddogtj]

Trailmaster nitrogen that came with the kit. But they shouldnt affect the height and stuffness this ammount ... I dont think.

 

[naddogtj]

A couple pics

 

[taylormade73]

Trailmaster nitrogen that came with the kit. But they shouldnt affect the height and stuffness this ammount ... I dont think.

Height, no. But stiffness, likely. I'm not familiar with that shock, but shocks greatly control how stiff or soft your ride is. It is why springs are used to set ride height and then shocks are selected and/or tuned to produce ride quality. What are the compressed and extended lengths of your shocks? What is your current travel bias (how much shaft is exposed at ride height)?

 

[afusco1222]

What air pressure are you running in your tires? Off the shelf Nitro charged shocks usually run stiffer as well when compared to a Hydro.

 

[The Real Lxxtsy]

drop the tire to 25 psi and see how it drives.

 

[Artsifrtsi]

Did you torque the bushing end of your control arms in the air, or on the ground?

 

[mrblaine]

Did you torque the bushing end of your control arms in the air, or on the ground?

Doesn't matter with those joints.

 

[Artsifrtsi]

Doesn't matter with those joints.

On the joint end, sure... but what about the end with the bushing (Frame end?)

 

[mrblaine]

On the joint end, sure... but what about the end with the bushing (Frame end?)

They are not bonded joints. The bolt sleeve turns inside the urethane bushings so it doesn't matter when the bolt is tightened.

 

[JMT]

I have a 2002 TJ Apex ed. I swapped in anExplorer 8.8 with an Artec truss kit.
I also put in a 4" trailmaster lift ... well I just used the springs with a 1.5" spacer in the front.
I made up some adjustable control arms and installed them.
My problem is that the rear end sits almost 1" taller than the front and rides stiff like my old lifted YJ.
Could the control arms be binding and not letting it sag ??
Thanks

So you added 4” springs in the rear and just a 1.5” spacer in front? If so, that’s your problem.

Stiff riding is shocks and tire pressure.

 

[jjvw]

Doesn't the 8.8 position the lower spring seat higher than a stock axle?

 

[JMT]

Doesn't the 8.8 position the lower spring seat higher than a stock axle?

Calling @ac_ . He used Currie 4" on a 8.8, but it looked level to me, and he was OCD about that. He did not use a 1.5" spacer up front either, so something is wonky with the OP's build. Maybe @ac_ will chime in with more details.

 

[naddogtj]

-26psi in the tires
- torqued the bushing ends on ground.
-Emailed Artec and they said there might be like 3/4" difference from stock height.
- the shocks are from the 4" kit so they are too short for the front...
- 4" spring all around AND 1.5" spacer in front only.

Its my project and I figured I would just buy a 4" kit from trailmaster (my brother had a 4" trailmaster in his 98 tj years ago and it ran nice) then half way through I thought Id put a 1.5" spacer all around and build my own arms.... then Im like I should just pull the springs and shocks , sell the 4" kit and buy the springs and shocks I want . Anyways long story short Im just trying to figure out the height thing. When I get a chance Ill pull it all back out down to springs and rework it

 

[AndyG]

It's good for one to be a little high in the back...helps with cargo. 1" isn't much. Run it.

 

[naddogtj]

Its 2.5" higher in the back

 

[ac_]

I have a 98 TJ with the 4 inch Currie, and a Ford 8.8 rear end as @JMT said. Mine has about a 2 inch rake, but I did it on purpose because I tow a trailer. Actually, I put the springs in with no spacers (other than the stock ones) and drove it around for a while to see where it would settle, and it didn't settle much, but it left me with a 2 inch rake. I decided not to put spacers in the front because, I tow a trailer with it camping, and when I load up the trailer it sags about 2 to 2.5 inches to almost level.

So just to get this straight, you put 1 inch spacers in the front, and you still have a 2.5 inch rake in the rear? How are you measuring that? As stated earlier you should tighten everything down with the weight of the jeep and not while it is on the jacks.

As far as the ride it is going to be a bit stiffer than stock. Although mine is stiffer, It isn't bad like an old leaf sprung YJ. Mine is more like maybe a mini truck. I mean it isn't as smooth as stock, but it will go 80 on the freeway with no issues. It rides more like a truck than a car, but not a bad truck. Some of the ride could be the shocks you are using. I can't tell from the pictures.

Also when you get a second show us pictures of the profile of the Jeep as it sits now.