need help from any Skyjacker lift owners

[TomGolden]

Hello all,



I just had my 2 1/2" Skyjacker lift kit installed ysterday. I didn't tackle it myself, I had a local truck shop do it. On the way home, I noticed something solid hitting when I would hit sizeable bumps in the road and the front end would compress down significantly. When I got home, I looked under the front end and discovered that on each front side, the new coil springs are extremely close to a particular part of the stock suspension, I have no idea what the name of this piece is, hence the pictures to explain exactly what I mean. On both of the coils, although this is not seen in either picture, this piece of the suspension has made contact with the coils and scraped off the paint on the coils. This is obviously NOT GOOD



I have not had the front end aligned, that is tomorrow morning. So maybe this will be fixed then?? I would not expect so.



So, how come nobody else with a Skyjacker lift, or any other after market set of coil springs has ever had this problem? Actually, I hope someone has, so they can tell me what the heck to do about it on my truck.



Ok, I think I figured out how to post pictures here now. I crested an album, and here are the links. The first link is to my album main page, the other links are to the pictures of the drivers and passengers side coils and the problem areas highlighted by a blue box.



https://www.turbodieselregister.com/user_gallery/displayalbum.php?&userid=4954&albumid=215



https://www.turbodieselregister.com/user_gallery/displayimage.php?&photoid=1218&width=0

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/user_gallery/displayimage.php?&photoid=1219&width=0





Thanks all,

Tom

 

[Dave MacArthur]

Tom-



Those are your sway bar end links. It is hard to tell from the pictures but it looks like the sway bar must not be attached to the frame and is pushed back towards the rear of the truck allowing the contact. My guess is that they removed the sway bar and forgot to reattach the mounts at the frame. Look under the truck just behind the front bumper. The horizontal bar that those links (in your pictures) are attached to should be attached to the frame rails. I wouldn't drive it like that. You will bend up the end links for one thing. I would have a different shop look over the installation (like where you are getting the alignment) after the first shop fixes their mistake.



Dave.

 

[SS]

Tom,



I'm not a Skyjacker owner, but I did lift mine 3". The part that is contacting is the stabilizer bar (sometimes called a sway bar). It's main job is to minimize body roll in turns. It actually looks like the washer on the stabilizer bar link has touched the coil spring on yours. Mine are clear by well over 1".



By looking at the angle of the stabilizer bar link relative to the axle, I would guess that the lift kit comes with new control arms. If upper and lower control arms are adjustable (not likely) then they could both be shortened slightly to move the axle rearward and away from the stabilizer bar. It could change when they are doing the alignment, but probably not enough to totally eliminate any contact.



Maybe the stabilizer bar mounts on the frame could be moved forward? There's not much room there. I don't know if they offer stock length control arms? Their springs may be larger diameter than stock, but that's not the main issue. Sorry I can't help more.

 

[GKR]

I had the same problem when I had a 3" TuffCountry lift on my truck. The problem on mine was that as the axle was moved down (for the lift) it appropriately pulled down on the swaybar end link. Due to the shape of the sway bar end, it pulls it rearward into the coilspring. The problem got worse when I swapped out for Skyjacker 4. 5 springs and control arms. There are 3 different fixes. The first one I did was I used longer swaybar end links off a new Jeep TJ. I found them lying around the local four wheel drive shop after they had lifted the Jeep. This worked fine until I changed the way the shocks are mounted(shock hoops) which led to fix #2 I purchased a set of swaybar drop brackets (Skyjacker). They lower and move the bar forward where it is mounted at the frame returning the swaybar to its original relation to the axle. Of course, since I'm never happy, I changed the front end again (longer control arms, more lift, etc. ) and moved the axle an inch foward to center the tire in the wheelwell which led to fix #3. I shortened the swaybar ends and went back to the original endlinks. The simple fix was the TJ endlinks, attachment was "OK" but worked well. Sorry so long, you can imagine how long it took to actually do all this

 

[TomGolden]

Thanks guys

See, I knew someone would have had this problem. I got the Double Flex kit, which does include fully adjustable upper and lower control arms, with heim joints at both ends of each control arm.



I will absolutely mention that info to the alignment shop tomorrow morning. I may even call Skyjacker and order a set of those sway bar reloaction mounts that GKR mentioned.



I also had a new DT trac bar installed along with the Lift Kit, by the way.



But if the alignment shop can't really fix it, even by adjusting the new control arms, can I just totally remove the sway bar for a few days until I can maybe get some relocation brackets?



Thanks all. I'll post tomorrow night after the alignment is done to let you all know if the alignment shop is able to fix the problem in some way or another.



Tom

 

[Dave MacArthur]

Tom-



I missread your post. I thought you had the Skyjacker leveling kit which is just a spring swap. That is what I have. The leveling kit lifts the front about 2 to 2-1/4 inches. I still have plenty of room between my springs and stabilizer bar ends.



Dave

 

[GKR]

Tom,

I ran my truck for a few days while I was working out the swaybar fix. It was a little "looser" in the front end but still drove fine. Just remember, with the bar removed, it won't have that sportscar like agility these trucks usually have



Greg.

 

[RKohn]

GKR...

How much lift did the Skyjacker 4. 5's actually give you? I've got a set in the garage and not sure if I'm gonna use'm.



rick

 

[GKR]

Rick,

I got the 4. 5 inches of lift with the springs. I then lost 3/4 of an inch when I put my winch and grill guard on. I was real happy with the way the Skyjackers rode. I'm now running the new Superlift 5" springs and 3/4 " lower spring pockets. I think the Superlifts are actually a little softer rate.

 

[Big P]

Tom, I'm glad I found this post. I am thinking of having this same exact system installed on my truck, the Skyjacker 2 1/2" lift, not sure about the double flex or single flex though, and a DT trac bar. What size tires are you running? If it's not too much to ask I'd love to see a picture of your truck after the lift and the new tires. Thanks. BTW, it looks like the adjustable control arms are adjusted too long pushing the axle too far forward. The swaybar end links should be pretty close to being perfectly vertical.

 

[TomGolden]

MP, no problem. I'll take some pictures in the next few days. I am out of town Wens/Thurs on business, so I'll take pix on Saturday and post that night.



I am still running the stock tires - Michelin LTX M/S 265/85/R16.



The truck is sitting just about perfectly level now. I did NOT install the rear add-a-leaf saprings that came with the Skyjacker kit though. I also just ordered a set of front end sway bar reloaction brackets, which will hopefully get the darn sway bar back to where it should be.



I had the front end aligned Monday morning, and I talked with the tech and showed him what my concern was. Even after adjusting the upper and lower control arms, I still only have like 1/4" clearance between sway bar links and coil springs, so I'm hoping the relocation brackets will work the miracle I need.



Tom

 

[RKohn]

Really 4.5" ????

If I put those on I'll be going uphill all the time. So much for fuel mileage. Maybe I could jack the back up a little more to match. It's not like those 20" factory lift blocks are too tall. Axle wrap-up... what's that?

 

[EShaw]

Tom,

could you PM me and tell me how much the kit was less install?

Thanks,

Eric

 

[Big P]

I don't know Tom, 1/4" still does't sound right. Is it posibile that Skyjacker sent control arms for a 4. 5" lift? Just to be safe I'd give Skyjacker a call.

 

[TomGolden]

Eric, PM is on it's way to you.



MP, I might call Skyjacker after all. I ordered a set of sway bar relocation brackets from them yesterday, so will see if that helps.



Tom