Lift height coming in much taller than advertised

[ParadigmDawg]

Thank you for all the info! Yes, he got me some great measurements and that gives me a lot to go back to TeraFlex with. My ride quality is not great. I know that with the lift and bigger tires it wouldn’t be the same but it has a vibration and is super bumpy and bouncy. The steering wheel goes nuts when I go over bumps like a trail road crossing. I do believe that is because of the excessive height.

1. The shop did do a full alignment. I’m not sure the specs. We went done working on it so I didn’t get all the info yet.

2. The tries are clearances with weights.

3. My tires are at 32 psi


Thank you so much for getting me all this info. Hopefully we can get it figured out soon.

Something is way off. I have a 25% improvement on the road over stock and 35% better offroad.

Did they install adjustable control arms?

 

[Brandy]

Something is way off. I have a 25% improvement on the road over stock and 35% better offroad.

Did they install adjustable control arms?

Yes, adjustable control arms and track bars. Wouldn’t the ride quality be worse because of how tall it is?

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Yes, adjustable control arms and track bars. Wouldn’t the ride quality be worse because of how tall it is?

Mine vastly improved on ride quality and body roll. Still feels completely stable over 90 mph.

 

[prodriquez]

This equation is off a little. It would really be ( ( new tire size - old tire size) / 2 ) + lift height. This is because only half of the tire diameter is below the axle centerline. So instead of:
( 2.27 ) + 2.5 = 4.77
it would be:
( 1.135 ) + 2.5 = 3.635

Doh, that’s why we show our work! Overkill is

 

[prodriquez]

Yes, adjustable control arms and track bars. Wouldn’t the ride quality be worse because of how tall it is?

Hi Brandy,

My wife and I each have 392’s and I have a couple of years driving one on 35’s and one on 37’s. Going from a 35” to a 37” is not big of a difference and it should only feel like you have 4 passengers in the Jeep.

I’m now on 1-tons and 40’s and now I finally feel a bigger difference… but that’s mainly because I had to change over to a PSC hydro-assisted steering kit.

 

[Brandy]

Mine vastly improved on ride quality and body roll. Still feels completely stable over 90 mph.

That is great news! It makes me feel so better and what to expect.

 

[Brandy]

Hi Brandy,

My wife and I each have 392’s and I have a couple of years driving one on 35’s and one on 37’s. Going from a 35” to a 37” is not big of a difference and it should only feel like you have 4 passengers in the Jeep.

I’m now on 1-tons and 40’s and now I finally feel a bigger difference… but that’s mainly because I had to change over to a PSC hydro-assisted steering kit.

Thank you. This gives me an idea of what to expect and not to expect. I thought mine didn’t feel right. Hopefully once we get the correct spring height and everything adjusted the right way it will drive better.

 

[@WhiteBronze392]

Probably not it but maybe the shop torqued the control arms while it was still on the lift and the binding of the bushings is holding it higher? I looked up the kit but couldn’t tell for sure what bushings it has.

I know this from experience when I swapped my front LCAs

 

[prodriquez]

Probably not it but maybe the shop torqued the control arms while it was still on the lift and the binding of the bushings is holding it higher? I looked up the kit but couldn’t tell for sure what bushings it has.

I know this from experience when I swapped my front LCAs

lol, I was thinking the same thing and I find that far more likely than a manufacturing error on the springs. Again, the alignment specs will reveal that one pretty quickly.

IIRC, I think the front to rear (hub to hub) should measure in at 119,” at ride height. Can someone confirm if I’m correct on that number? If so, the OP could do a simple measurement to determine if this is the cause of her problems.

 

[@WhiteBronze392]

lol, I was thinking the same thing and I find that far more likely than a manufacturing error on the springs. Again, the alignment specs will reveal that one pretty quickly.

IIRC, I think the front to rear (hub to hub) should measure in at 119,” at ride height. Can someone confirm if I’m correct on that number? If so, the OP could do a simple measurement to determine if this is the cause of her problems.

No idea on measurements but the first set of pics posted by the OP looks like the wheels are pulled toward center. Of course this would also happen with higher lift springs than the included wrong length/ non adjustable or not adjustable enough control arms in the kit were designed for I believe. I am starting to think this is on the shop not the manufacturer.

Hoping for the OP the fix is that simple

 

[ParadigmDawg]

No idea on measurements but the first set of pics posted by the OP looks like the wheels are pulled toward center. Of course this would also happen with higher lift springs than the included wrong length/ non adjustable or not adjustable enough control arms in the kit were designed for I believe. I am starting to think this is on the shop not the manufacturer.

Hoping for the OP the fix is that simple

The most effective route would be for Brandy to drop it off to me. I will have my shop fix it and then personally take it to Hot Springs Offroad Park and test it for up to 14 days for free.

 

[prodriquez]

No idea on measurements but the first set of pics posted by the OP looks like the wheels are pulled toward center. Of course this would also happen with higher lift springs than the included wrong length/ non adjustable or not adjustable enough control arms in the kit were designed for I believe. I am starting to think this is on the shop not the manufacturer.

Hoping for the OP the fix is that simple

Adjustable control arms, on a JL, can handle up to a 40” tire… so I absolutely think it’s the shop because longer springs, assuming the alignment was done correctly and they didn’t use balancing beads, wouldn’t have much impact on her On-road drivability.

As for as her front driveshaft, I just wouldn’t go off-road because it may slip out when she flexes out.

 

[Brandy]

Probably not it but maybe the shop torqued the control arms while it was still on the lift and the binding of the bushings is holding it higher? I looked up the kit but couldn’t tell for sure what bushings it has.

I know this from experience when I swapped my front LCAs

I did ask the shop about this. They did say that the control arms were torqued on the ground. Teraflex sent new springs so I’m hoping that will fix it.

 

[Brandy]

No idea on measurements but the first set of pics posted by the OP looks like the wheels are pulled toward center. Of course this would also happen with higher lift springs than the included wrong length/ non adjustable or not adjustable enough control arms in the kit were designed for I believe. I am starting to think this is on the shop not the manufacturer.

Hoping for the OP the fix is that simple

The springs are measuring the correct height on the Jeep per Teraflex. I’m thinking it is just a bigger lift than 2.5. Teraflex sent shorter springs. I’m having them installed on Thursday. Hopefully that will get it where is needs to be.

 

[Brandy]

Y’all have been so helpful! Thank you all so much for all the recommendations and information. I really appreciate it. Teraflex has sent a different set of springs. I will update as soon as I get the new springs installed on Thursday. Thanks again.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

The springs are measuring the correct height on the Jeep per Teraflex. I’m thinking it is just a bigger lift than 2.5. Teraflex sent shorter springs. I’m having them installed on Thursday. Hopefully that will get it where is needs to be.

Did you ever call a different shop and just ask some questions? I know that my shop mentioned that the 392s have the spring perch at different height and the lift height always come out higher than a regular Wrangler. I wonder if they adjusted what they ordered when I told them I wanted to go with a 3.5' lift and I just assumed it was the 3.5 kit.

Call (866) 713-2888 and tell Steve you want to talk to Brandon. They do a lot of Teraflex lifts, like several a week. Just tell them you are friends with Greg with the 392.

 

[Brandy]

Did you ever call a different shop and just ask some questions? I know that my shop mentioned that the 392s have the spring perch at different height and the lift height always come out higher than a regular Wrangler. I wonder if they adjusted what they ordered when I told them I wanted to go with a 3.5' lift and I just assumed it was the 3.5 kit.

Call (866) 713-2888 and tell Steve you want to talk to Brandon. They do a lot of Teraflex lifts, like several a week. Just tell them you are friends with Greg with the 392.

I did call Rebel Off Road and talked to Brandon. He was super nice. He asked me to email him all of my spring product numbers and he would talked to his rep at Teraflex. After I spoke with him Teraflex said they would send me a different set of springs so I was waiting to get those installed to see if it made a difference before I bothered Brandon any more. I believe he is at EJS right now. If these springs don’t work I will contact him next week and see if he has any other ideas.

Teraflex sent me the same springs that you are running. They are also running them on one of their 392s. They are not 392 specific but for the diesel 3.5 inch kit.

Thank you for all the information. You have been extremely helpful in figuring this out. I will let you know what happens tomorrow.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I did call Rebel Off Road and talked to Brandon. He was super nice. He asked me to email him all of my spring product numbers and he would talked to his rep at Teraflex. After I spoke with him Teraflex said they would send me a different set of springs so I was waiting to get those installed to see if it made a difference before I bothered Brandon any more. I believe he is at EJS right now. If these springs don’t work I will contact him next week and see if he has any other ideas.

Teraflex sent me the same springs that you are running. They are also running them on one of their 392s. They are not 392 specific but for the diesel 3.5 inch kit.

Thank you for all the information. You have been extremely helpful in figuring this out. I will let you know what happens tomorrow.

Perfect, you should end up right at 3.5" plus the tire increase.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

What is the verdict?

 

[Brandy]

The new springs from Teraflex did the trick. My Jeep looks and drives great! I guess that Teraflex RT2 kit just comes in much taller than the 2.5 advertised height.

Thank you so much for all your help. I really appreciate all the info and suggestions!