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Lift, now harsh ride, vibration...

2900 Views 12 Replies 9 Participants Last post by  roastbeef
I recently installed a 3" aal and torsion crank lift on my 1998 Frontier XE 4x4 kc, 4cyl. After installing the AAL in the back and cranking the torsion bars in the front I have a drive train vibration accelerating in only 1st gear, as soon as you shift, or accelerate to 2nd gear speeds it dissapears. Also I noticed that the ride is much harsher, I think I am going to need new shocks for the lift and probably the proper UCAs, When I lifted the truck to get the full 3in in the front I did buy some low profile bump stops. I'm thinking the rear aal will kind of break in over time and get a little softer..

Other than these two problems the truck is awesome now, i have tons of ground clearance front and back, going through deep snow is no problem with the 31 wranglers I have...
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You will need new shocks. The vibration might be a alignment issue, and the aal will soften up. Glad you like your truck
vibrations are prolly from your CV

and yeah, the AAL is harsh
new shocks are a must
Just curious, how can it be my cv axles if the truck is in two wheel and the lockouts are set to free position
Just curious, how can it be my cv axles if the truck is in two wheel and the lockouts are set to free position
ohh word, you got manual hubs?

my bad, i thought you had auto hubs... in that case it might of been the hub too but not anymore
harsher ride...vibrations.......welcome to lifted trucks!!!!
Knee-jerk response: check your u-joints on the rear driveshaft as well as the carrier bearing. Now that the truck is lifted up a bit the angles on the driveshaft are a bit higher so it may have exposed a wear issue with those parts.

As for the harsh ride, you have the front end cranked up too much. I know it is hard to accept but cranking it up the full 3" puts the upper control arms so close to the bumpstops (low-profile or not) that it does not leave much down-travel. 3/4" of space between the control arm and bumpstop is recommended. Longer shocks are not needed for the front if you do not change control arms. Longer ones for the rear should be installed.
Ok I will check the u joints, and the carrier bearing was replaced about 2k ago, so I am sure its still of (especially from a 200$ part from nissan....). Maybe a 1 piece driveshaft would be a good investment..

I will get pics up tomorrow for sure...
Here are the pics with the lift and some new Wrangler Authoritys, 31x10.5x15.

I attached a pic before the lift stuck in some snow with stock 235/70/15s too.

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So check this out. I too have a very rough ride with my 3 inch lift. I get mixed responses like its a truck or thats how lifts ride... I think thats BS. I had my tb pined with low pro bump stops got the lift i wanted had it aligned. the ride is so rough i almost bounced off the road the other day. I have a half of an inch between the bump stops and the uca. Im at a point where i think i have to bring my front end down and get another aligment just to make the ride decent again. As far as the back everyone tells me that the leafs will settle, we will see.... Any advise apreciated
Knee-jerk response: check your u-joints on the rear driveshaft as well as the carrier bearing. Now that the truck is lifted up a bit the angles on the driveshaft are a bit higher so it may have exposed a wear issue with those parts.

As for the harsh ride, you have the front end cranked up too much. I know it is hard to accept but cranking it up the full 3" puts the upper control arms so close to the bumpstops (low-profile or not) that it does not leave much down-travel. 3/4" of space between the control arm and bumpstop is recommended. Longer shocks are not needed for the front if you do not change control arms. Longer ones for the rear should be installed.
^ he knows what he is talking about.

and on the subject of lifted trucks riding harsh- they don't ride harsh at all. budget lifts have compromises- ride comfort is the first to go.
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