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4 Wheel Drive/SUVs/jeep wrangler suspension not level

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Expert: - 9/1/2006


Question
I have a 88 wrangler yj,it has 98,000 original miles. i purchased the vehicle about a yr ago. I installed a 4" rough country suspension lift. and noticed the right rear sits about 1 1/2" off from the other side.i called rough country suspensions and the said to make sure the leafs were on the right side not swapped from the front. I have checked and the part #'s from the leaf springs and thy are in the right spot. I cant see anything obvoius under the vehicle. Is there any other ideas that may correct this problem or help me find out the difference in ride height in the rear. Thanks "rick"

Answer
Ricky,

First thing to do, is to measure the front and rear springs to make sure they are all the proper length.  Then measure the distance of the centering hole/pin from each end of the springs to make sure that the springs are not offset.  Most Wranglers springs have the centering hole in the center of the spring pack, and not offset.  The front and rear springs are, normally the same length, but the rear usually has one more leaf than the front.

Next, make sure that the centering pin/bolt in the spring pack is not broken, and that the head is seated in the spring purchase, and that the hole in the purchase is not elongated, or worn.

Like I said, do some measuring, it is possible that they have sent you a wrong spring pack, even if the numbers match.

Carl

4 Wheel Drive/SUVs

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Carl Brandt

Expertise

Will discuss suspensions, lifts, lockers along with tire suggestions. Trail ratings and possible requirements needed for specific type of trails. Safety equipment and what you should carry with you. Certified off-road instructor. I am not a mechanic, and 4-Wheeling is a hobby, so if I can't answer a technical question it is due to my mechanical knowledge being related to vehicles that I have owned, or have worked on. I do not have manuals on all vehicles.

Experience

40 plus years of 4 wheeling in a variety of vehicles. At the present time, my major off-road rig is a 94 Jeep Wrangler with a spring over and a 1 1/2" suspension lift. This gives me a total lift of 7" or so. I have lockers front and rear. I have removed the track bars, and sway bar for maximum articulation. I am running a stock 2.5 ltr 4 cylinder with a Jacobs ignition along with a cold air high flow filter. It has 4.56:1 gears with a Dodge NV4500 transmission along with a 3.8:1 Atlas II transfer case. This gives me a final ratio of 105:1 in low gear/low range. Other vehicles I own, are a 96 Ford F-250 with a 6" lift, posi rear end, 36" Hummer tires, 5 speed with a fuel injected 460 ci engine, an 87 Samurai with an 8" lift, Ford 9" rear end with a spool, Chevy Dana 44 front end with an electric locker, 5.88 gears, 16% reduction in high range and a 6.5:1 low range with 35" Baja Claws, and a stock 2003 Grand Cherokee Overland. Trails I have run are the Rubicon (10 times), Dusey Ershim, Fordyce Creek trail, McGrew trail, several trails in Moab, Utah along with local monthly runs.

Organizations
Lost Coast 4x4's Cal 4-Wheel Corva UFWDA Blue Ribbon Coalition

Education/Credentials
Certified off-road instructor - Certificates in engineering/electronics

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