Me and My '05 Limited, Riding On Air

[tommudd]

Since they tightened the UCA with no weight on them it would of course sat higher, ( plus they should loosen and retighten.
But you would not lose that much if everything had been done right

 

[Jim McClain]

Since they tightened the UCA with no weight on them it would of course sat higher, ( plus they should loosen and retighten.
But you would not lose that much if everything had been done right

Tom, I don't know if they tightened the UCA with no weight on it. I was only wondering if that would have an affect on the height, if they did. I'll drive over to the shop tomorrow and ask.

 

[GunnerSchenck]

And you're 100% they put your top plates on??

 

[Jim McClain]

Yeah, it's my lungs that went bad, not my eyes... well, my eyes are bad too, but I have glasses that work real good.

 

[Jim McClain]

Jeez, not more bad news... I took the Jeep on a rough road trip, about 15 or 20 miles. Got stuck on a drainage cut that led up a steep incline for a short time, but made it. Things like that make me think I should have winch on the list of future mods. I was half into the drive when I realized I forgot to get gas before leaving town and now the needle appears to be resting on E. No warning light or ding yet, so decide to keep going, thinking I am winding around the perimeter of the mountain and close enough to the back way into town. Couple miles later, I come to a flat with no outlet, except the road I came in on. Oops.

Just as I hit pavement, the low fuel light and ding came on. I am about 11 miles from the nearest gas station. I pull up to the pump and wipe the sweat off my forehead. Man!

As I am filling the tank, I get my tape measure out and measure the lift again. I have lost more height all the way around. Now it sits at 21⅛/21 front and 21 rear. That's an additional loss of half-inch everywhere, except the drivers front, which is only ⅜" lower. But that means my 3" lift is now only a 2" lift. Real disappointing.

 

[jeeplib05]

You either got defective parts, wrong parts, or the shop did something wrong
There's no way you could be down that much.. I would not be happy if I were you at this point
Being under 3" was a red flag that something was wrong but to now be at 2" that's crazy

 

[Myke]

Maybe its a bad bushing somewhere?

 

[Jim McClain]

Maybe its a bad bushing somewhere?

Can you elaborate on that? I had the bushings in the LCAs replaced and there was a lot of difficulty taking out the old ones, especially the strut fork one. The mechanic said he had to cut that one out. All the bushings were replaced with Moog.

 

[HoosierJeeper]

If the clevis bushing is compressed/worn out you'd loose some height but yours is new so that's not the issue. Did you double check the spring tags and make sure you got 927s?

 

[Jim McClain]

Did you double check the spring tags and make sure you got 927s?

I have no idea what spring tags are or where to find them.

 

[tommudd]

I have no idea what spring tags are or where to find them.

Springs have a little tag on them telling if 925s 926s or 927s etc

 

[Jim McClain]

When I looked at the springs, I only saw heavy, coiled wire. Nothing hanging off them or sticking to them that I noticed. What is this tag made of? How is it attached? Does anyone have a picture of a coil spring with a tag?

 

[Jim McClain]

Okay, I think I see what you mean by "tags." Here's a photo of the rear spring with a white tag wrapped around a coil. You should be able to see 48 when you view the photo full-size.

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That's a OME 2948 spring. I didn't see anything like that on the front coils, but maybe the guy who assembled the coilovers took it off. I don't know if he would remember something like that, but I'll ask. It's not visible in the photo I got of it.

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[dude1116]

I know it may be difficult...but can you get a picture of the whole measuring tape when you measure? It could just be the way you are measuring.

Try to rule out simple first :shrug:

Good time to put the tripod and the camera to use (assuming you have all of the above since you photograph a lot).

 

[profdlp]

Nothing to add that hasn't been covered, but wanted to lend some moral support. I am sure this will get straightened out, whether it is mislabeled parts, an installation glitch, or whatever.

Hang in there!

 

[Jim McClain]

...can you get a picture of the whole measuring tape when you measure? It could just be the way you are measuring.

I will resist the urge to feel insulted. You prob'ly don't know that I spent 35+ years with a tape measure permanently attached to my hip...

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Even made sure my employees made it a part of their uniform of the day...

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And I used it dozens of times a day in my work on floor coverings and remodeling construction.

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What's more, I know the difference between bad measuring... you know, the kind where you tell your buddies how big the fish was, or how you make yourself feel more adequate by how you measure penis size.

So, I understand how you might think I could get the measurements wrong on my lift. Although I didn't set up the camera and tripod - it's raining - I did get a couple shots with my cell phone that should assure you I did it right.

I held the tape tab against the top of the fender flare opening, right on the outer edge.

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Then bent the tape blade and rolled it down against the wheel, past the hub and read the tape where it intersects the center of the hub.

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The photo is at an odd angle and the Jeep isn't sitting on flat/level ground for the above shot, but today's measurements are exactly 21⅛" front-driver's side, 21¼" front-passenger side and 21" rear both sides.

I have taken the measurements exactly the same way every time. Reading the tape at the center of the hub is easier than reading the tape at some imaginary line at the arc of the fender flare opening (unless you put some painters tape on it, draw a line on it and leave it there until the project is finished). Pressing the end of the tape to the edge of the fender flare couldn't be easier. Then just read the tape where it crosses the center line of the wheel hub.

I hope you will agree that I measure correctly - and gave you reason to smile too.

 

[TwoBobsKJ]

Jim, you're awesome!

Love having you here on the JKJ board :favorites13:


Bob

 

[profdlp]

What model is that tape measure the young lady is wearing? I really like that one. Do you have any more of those? :hmm:

 

[Jim McClain]

Ah yes, those were the days. For a few years, way back when, I used to write promotional copy for Exotic Dancer Magazine and spent a lot of time with dancers in the Reno area. At the same time, I was into doing my own computer modding how-tos and tool reviews for pros in the home remodeling fields. That photo above was for a review of a Ridgid table saw. She wasn't actually an employee, she was a friend of my girlfriend at the time. I don't mind mixing things up a little bit.

Back in the 80s, my photo genre was glamour. During both of those periods, I never had trouble finding models. But when I put the word out that I needed a model for my Jeep lift series - I thought I had terrific ideas about photographing the measuring of the front and the back befores and afters - I couldn't find a model to save my life. "It's too collld" was the common refrain. Divas!

Thanks you guys. I really like hangin' out here in my old age.

 

[HoosierJeeper]

I'm on a trip now with the KJ without a tape measure, but tomorrow when I'm home I'm going to measure mine. 927s/948s with nothing besides a bit of clevis up front and 100lbs of winch hanging off the front.

I'll also dig through my old posts and see if I ever posted measurements of mine when I had 926s up front.