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RE 4.5 inch lift

Y

yellow_dolphin

Legacy Registered User
City
Melbourne
State
fl
I just install the lift this weekend but I have a couple of questions. Can someone with the RE 4.5 inch lift please post a picture of the rear shackle arrangement (that came with the kit)? I am not sure if I was given the correct shackles and/or if I install them correctly. A picture is worth a thousand words.

Also, should I have shims for the front differential?

Thanks!
 
Pic is huge, sorry.

This is with no weight on the rear springs, but you can see the shackles...

attachment.php
 
Thanks for the picture. It seems like RE shipped boomerang shackles for a YJ with the lift. I am not sure what to expect, but the ride seems more bouncy that I expected. I will try and post a pic tonight of what I have.

In the mean time, would you mind measuring the distance between the outer holes on your rear shackle?

Thanks again!
 
5" I wouldn't think shackles would have much of anything to do with the ride.

"Bouncy" sounds like a shock issue more than a spring issue. What shocks do you run?
 
Is this installed correctly?

Here is the rear shackle that I have (1st pic). It also measures 5". Is it installed correctly?

Also, the last pic shows the front brake line. Is there a better way to route that line?
 
????

Is It Me Or Do The Rear Shocks Look Like They Are Upside Down??? DID I SAY REAR SHOCKS?? FRONT SHOCKS!!!
 
Hmmmmm....they do appear to 180 degrees.
For the rear shackle, mine were not boomerang style, and the Currie Boomeranges I have on my YJ are in the (<) direction not (>)...
 
Duffman said:
Hmmmmm....they do appear to 180 degrees.
For the rear shackle, mine were not boomerang style, and the Currie Boomeranges I have on my YJ are in the (<) direction not (>)...
Click to expand...
I agree. I don't have boomerang shackles, but, from what I've seen, they look backwards.
 
Yep, those shackles are in backward. need to rotate 180 degrees around the vertical axis.

Boomerang are not needed on CJ. They were designed for YJ's to get more distance when using a longer spring like one in a 4.5" lift. Also by mounting them the other way in the rear of a YJ that center pin will hit the frame when the vehicle is unloaded and keep the shackle from inverting and getting stuck in the opposite direction.

Like when you catch air or drop the wheel into a hole. You need to remember that on a YJ the top pin is located in the center of the rear frame and that dog leg helps to get the extra distance without contacting the rear cross member.

Not that it will hurt on a CJ. Just that you could have gone with a straight shackle with the same eye to eye distance. Actually the stright one would have been marginally stronger.

Carl
 
Thanks everyone for the input on the rear shackles. What you saw is what was shipped with the kit. Not sure if it was an error from their part or that is what they are shipping now.

Carl, thanks for the spacial orientation, that really helped. So to summarize that, you are saying keep the closest two holes at the top (like they are) but flip from > (opening on front) to < (opening on rear), hence the rotating 180 deg about the vertical axis.

The other open questions are:

Do I need to shim the front differential?

In the front (per the 3rd pic), the brake lines are between the shock and the tire. Is that ok? Or should I look at running the brake line between the shock and the frame then to the caliper?

Someone mention my shocks being backwards? Does it matter to have the can up or down?

Thanks again!
 
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As far as I know, only certain shocks can run with the body in the upward position. Most are designed to run with the body down and the shaft up. What happens if the shock is run upside down is the valve sucks air and looses effectiveness. Could be the cause of your Bouncy ride. Try flipping the shocks so the body is down, run them a few days that way and see if there is any improvement.
 
yellow_dolphin said:
Carl, thanks for the spacial orientation, that really helped. So to summarize that, you are saying keep the closest two holes at the top (like they are) but flip from > (opening on front) to < (opening on rear), hence the rotating 180 deg about the vertical axis.
Click to expand...

Yes, That is correct.

yellow_dolphin said:
The other open questions are:

Do I need to shim the front differential?
Click to expand...

That really depends on the alignment. Very hard to tell from the pictures. In general though the output for the front Diff. should be directly along the axis of the vehicle. Meaning if you rotate the pinon so that the u-joint cross is up and down the flat faces where the straps mount should be prefectly vertical, or pretty close.

If it is drivable take it to an alignment shop and get them to read the caster. Should be in the 6 degree range. Get the figure from them and then order a shim to get you in the correct range. Plus or minus 2 degrees should be OK. Less than 4 degrees caster will give you very twitchy steering. Also keep in mind that as the springs settle you may need to swap to a different shim too.

Realistically if you need to add more than a 6 degree shim you may need to look into different shakles or adjusting the angle of the Diff. mounting points. Usually a 2 or 4 degree shim is enough. Be sure to use steel shims. The aluminum ones will crack over time and fall out. Very bad for the U-Bolts.

Carl
 
John N said:
I agree. I don't have boomerang shackles, but, from what I've seen, they look backwards.
Click to expand...

Correct, they are backwards... wrt the brake line, we're pretty much screwed... I solved most of the problem by ty-wraping the hose to the shock body, it's not like a SUA will get 9" of flex!

I have RE 4.5" Extreme Duty springs and love them... been an RE customer since they opened their doors, those folks know jeep and know how to treat a customer right.
 
Shocks Not Shackles!!!

Lots Of Talk About The Shackles But My Question Is In Your Last Pic The Shocks Are Mounted Upside Down And I Think That May Have Alot To Do With The Bouncy Ride Your Talking About....
 
Shocks

According to RE their Monotube shocks, RXJ508, that I have in the Jeep can be mounted with the shaft up or down. That's what says in the instructions and that is what they said when I called them. Their twin tube shocks are sensitive to orientation.

However, if there is a reason why those monotubes should be reversed, please let me know. Explain.
 
According to M.O.R.E., your rear shackles are upside down and backwards - In the rear, the long side should be up. For the front, short side up.
 
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