Thinking About Building Superlift-Style Brackets

[boominXplorer]

how much does your front driveshaft clear by? I took some measurements with the 4406 now in and I dont think it will work. I am working on finding a front shaft now.

 

[MountaineerGreen]

how much does your front driveshaft clear by? I took some measurements with the 4406 now in and I dont think it will work. I am working on finding a front shaft now.

I can almost slip a finger under the driveshaft between the crossmember. Its tight but dosent seem to rub. There may be variations on driveshafts for different years of trucks, maybe you can look for a smaller diameter driveshaft?

 

[boominXplorer]

Yeah, but I think they are all the same. If I have to make a new crossmember I'm cool, I dont have tortion bars

 

[MountaineerGreen]

Boomin,
look on page three and you can see a pic of my driveshaft clearance over the crossmember.

Can anyone help me out with the noise/vibration?

 

[boominXplorer]

When my alignment is off at all she vibrates bad but then again I run X-terrains.

 

[MountaineerGreen]

Well, I havent gotten it aligned yet, I guess that could be it, but it drives fine and its only speed related it seems. Going slow I dont have any noise. The sound is almost like metal to metal- hard to describe.

 

[Stic-o]

First I would say get the alignment done. That, then eliminates that. It sounds like something turning, because you said it does not start till 40-45. does it go away again at higher speeds? Double check your brakes too. I see you changed to a manual case so that eliminate the front driveshaft or cv's. Maybe a outer bearing? It has to be something you touched, did you bolt the calipers back on all the way? Really though get a alignment first thing, that could really be all of the problem.

 

[MountaineerGreen]

First I would say get the alignment done. That, then eliminates that. It sounds like something turning, because you said it does not start till 40-45. does it go away again at higher speeds? Double check your brakes too. I see you changed to a manual case so that eliminate the front driveshaft or cv's. Maybe a outer bearing? It has to be something you touched, did you bolt the calipers back on all the way? Really though get a alignment first thing, that could really be all of the problem.

The sound never stops above 45 unless I hit the brakes, then it quietens down. I double checked my brakes yesterday, everything is in the right place and works fine. The outer bearing is the first thing I thought, but would it go away with deceleration if the bearing was bad?

I am going to go spend a few hours poking around and see if I can find what it is today. Its drivable as is, but sounds like Im running some worn out mud tires. An alignment is first thing Monday! Which means I have to get my front end the height I want with the torsion bars today, after the alignment I can’t mess with it.

What I was mostly concerned about was me cleaning my diff out causing problems. I guess since one thinks that could have been it, its not likely. I sprayed it out with brake parts cleaner like I did my rear end to get all the stuff out of there from cleaning off the old gasket. My oil level is good, I double checked that.
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Thanks for the help and input, Im off to turn some wrenches.

 

[MountaineerGreen]

Superlift Poser Pictures

Here it is, all done-

Front fenders measure out 37 1/2" tall at the center of the wheel

 

[FROADER]

Looks good, great job!

 

[MountaineerGreen]

Im in good shape now, I got an alingment this moring and it all came out perfectly. The tech said it was close just caster ( I think) and toe in was off. He adjusted it in about 15 min and it drives fine. I got the lifetime alignment since Ive had two alinments within the last two months, I figure it will pay for itself before long.

I still have that noise at highway speeds, Im beginning to think a wheel bearing is bad? Maybe I finished it off by moving it around? Im going to have to look into the sound some more. I have quite a few variables now with the 4406, different driveshafts and the lift.

It could be that the extra angle added some vibration to the driveshaft and the case is vibrating against the gas tank bracket.

 

[MountaineerGreen]

Problem found- front driveshaft is too long, was wedged between the transfer case and front diff. Removed it an no more sound. I have to either shorten the drivehshaft or get it done. Can I do this myself, or do I need to get it done??

 

[FROADER]

Check this out. Drive Shaft Shortening

 

[MountaineerGreen]

Yeah I read that thread some time ago, it looks simple and straight forward enough. What I don't know is how would I balance it? And I dont have a band saw to cut it off straight. I do have a chop saw, but I dont know if I can get it to cut perfectly straight. Any suggestions?

 

[Stic-o]

glad to hear you figured it out I was going to tell you to try remoiving that shaft to see if it changed anything, but when I read you changed cases, I didn't think it would be a problem

 

[MountaineerGreen]

The lift kit pitched the front diff, I assume to make the angle more lift friendly. That made the driveshaft too long to fit in between. It was tight in there before the lift, but now it just barely goes in fully collapsed. I am going to get 2" chopped out of it to fix the problem. There is a shop that will do it for $45 locally.

 

[IZwack]

I'd just have the shop shorten it. 2" seems a lot tho

 

[MountaineerGreen]

Well the slip joint fully compressed barely goes in there. The slip joint allows for 4-5 inches, and the axle is rigidly mounted, so it never moves. I figured 2" would give me room to put it in easily. You think I should take less out??

 

[IZwack]

Its really up to you - just measure twice and cut once

 

[MountaineerGreen]

Its really up to you - just measure twice and cut once

I took it to the guy and we decided just a touch over an inch will do it. He had a whole pile of driveshafts he had modified there, so I figured he knew what he was doing. It will be ready tomorrow afternoon- I'm ready to get this truck stuff wrapped up, its been going on for about a month now. I need a break, and the wife said I was done too. :frustrate