jsapko
New Member
I've been following this forum for a while, but never posted anything. It's time for me to come clean.
Last Oct. I decided I wanted to put a lift on my '05 Liberty. I told my wife I'd do it cheap, but it was time to replace the struts and tires anyways.
Long, long story short I originally went with the Rocky Road 2.5-3" budget lift (first of many mistakes). I then realized that my springs were shot too, so I thought why not get the OME HD springs all around (another rookie mistake). I got the rear springs in okay, but then discovered that there was no way I'd get the OME springs in along with the lift without replacing the UCA's, extending break lines, etc.
So then I bought the RR UCA's (another mistake) and replaced those and tried to install the OME 927's on the front with the new Rancho struts I had put on a couple months prior. After a few attempts at compressing the springs, there was no way I was gonna get the OME springs to compress enough to fit a standard strut.
I have a machinist friend who machined some strut arm extensions for me and we finally were able to get the new springs in along with the JBA Strut Spacer Plates and the .375" Clevis Spacers.
Once everything was installed and on the ground, it took me all of 30 seconds to realize I had about 1/2" of travel left in the struts. After I got it all aligned I noticed a knocking sound coming form the front passenger side wheel well. I re-torqued everything a few times to make sure something wasn't loose and it still make the noise.
The overall ride of the Jeep is nice...when it's loaded down. Last weekend I was pulling a trailer (about 2000 lbs) and it felt great. When I'm alone, I hear the knocking sound every now and then. I went with the HD springs all around because I want to replace the front bumper and have room to load down the back.
I know I need to replace the front struts, will the OME front struts work with the HD springs and JBA spacers? My gut feeling is the knocking sound is the strut bottoming out...but it's weird that it doesn't make that noise when the vehicle is loaded down (unless it's already bottomed out at that point).
If anyone has insight to what the noise could be, that would be sweet.
Some additional mods: I've installed the JBA Y Link Extension and the Front Sway Bar Quick Disconnects. All four wheels have Spyder Trax 1.25" wheel spacers and I'm running BFG All Terrain K/O's 265/70/17 (I've still got front rubbing issues despite my front bumper mods)
Thanks for any help.
Last Oct. I decided I wanted to put a lift on my '05 Liberty. I told my wife I'd do it cheap, but it was time to replace the struts and tires anyways.
Long, long story short I originally went with the Rocky Road 2.5-3" budget lift (first of many mistakes). I then realized that my springs were shot too, so I thought why not get the OME HD springs all around (another rookie mistake). I got the rear springs in okay, but then discovered that there was no way I'd get the OME springs in along with the lift without replacing the UCA's, extending break lines, etc.
So then I bought the RR UCA's (another mistake) and replaced those and tried to install the OME 927's on the front with the new Rancho struts I had put on a couple months prior. After a few attempts at compressing the springs, there was no way I was gonna get the OME springs to compress enough to fit a standard strut.
I have a machinist friend who machined some strut arm extensions for me and we finally were able to get the new springs in along with the JBA Strut Spacer Plates and the .375" Clevis Spacers.
Once everything was installed and on the ground, it took me all of 30 seconds to realize I had about 1/2" of travel left in the struts. After I got it all aligned I noticed a knocking sound coming form the front passenger side wheel well. I re-torqued everything a few times to make sure something wasn't loose and it still make the noise.
The overall ride of the Jeep is nice...when it's loaded down. Last weekend I was pulling a trailer (about 2000 lbs) and it felt great. When I'm alone, I hear the knocking sound every now and then. I went with the HD springs all around because I want to replace the front bumper and have room to load down the back.
I know I need to replace the front struts, will the OME front struts work with the HD springs and JBA spacers? My gut feeling is the knocking sound is the strut bottoming out...but it's weird that it doesn't make that noise when the vehicle is loaded down (unless it's already bottomed out at that point).
If anyone has insight to what the noise could be, that would be sweet.
Some additional mods: I've installed the JBA Y Link Extension and the Front Sway Bar Quick Disconnects. All four wheels have Spyder Trax 1.25" wheel spacers and I'm running BFG All Terrain K/O's 265/70/17 (I've still got front rubbing issues despite my front bumper mods)
Thanks for any help.