Noise after lift, 97TJ, bump stop shaft & spring?

Hi,

Hearing a noise at about 25~30mph, during a slow left curve.
Sound seems to amplify when small bumps are hit also during a left curve at
same speed.



Over the Christmas break I installed a 4" lift on a 97 TJ, 4.0,
standard. After the lift was installed I took it to a suspension specialist
that aligned it and installed 2 offset ball joints. The offset ball joints
help to bring the alignment in better.



During the installation process I noticed a real close fit between the
passenger side front spring and the bump stop shaft at the top of the
spring. It almost looks like the bump stop shaft does not fit exactly in
the center of the spring. In fact the bump stop shaft seems to angle
towards the front of jeep, just missing the spring by about 0.25 inches.
Since the sound I have noticed some paint removed from the inside of the
spring and on the bump stop shaft.



Prior to the lift, I consulted with a number of jeepers concerning bump
stops and they indicated if I did not go over jumps or the jeep was not
dropped from any distance, they did not see the need for new bump stops.
So I opted not to put bump stops on this lift project.



Question on bump stop shaft that comes from the inside top of the fender to
about mid way down the spring.

1. Do I need this shaft? Could I take a metal blade in a Sawzall and
cut the metal bump stop shaft out, a little at a time as to not having to
remove the spring?



I would only need to remove about ½ of this bump stop shaft.



Thanks,

Paul

97TJ, 4.0, 5speed

Hi Paul,
The bump stops are there to take the hit that would destroy the
shock absorber.
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
http://www.billhughes.com/

pbarton wrote:
>
> Hi,
>
> Hearing a noise at about 25~30mph, during a slow left curve.
> Sound seems to amplify when small bumps are hit also during a left curve at
> same speed.
>
> Over the Christmas break I installed a 4" lift on a 97 TJ, 4.0,
> standard. After the lift was installed I took it to a suspension specialist
> that aligned it and installed 2 offset ball joints. The offset ball joints
> help to bring the alignment in better.
>
> During the installation process I noticed a real close fit between the
> passenger side front spring and the bump stop shaft at the top of the
> spring. It almost looks like the bump stop shaft does not fit exactly in
> the center of the spring. In fact the bump stop shaft seems to angle
> towards the front of jeep, just missing the spring by about 0.25 inches.
> Since the sound I have noticed some paint removed from the inside of the
> spring and on the bump stop shaft.
>
> Prior to the lift, I consulted with a number of jeepers concerning bump
> stops and they indicated if I did not go over jumps or the jeep was not
> dropped from any distance, they did not see the need for new bump stops.
> So I opted not to put bump stops on this lift project.
>
> Question on bump stop shaft that comes from the inside top of the fender to
> about mid way down the spring.
>
> 1. Do I need this shaft? Could I take a metal blade in a Sawzall and
> cut the metal bump stop shaft out, a little at a time as to not having to
> remove the spring?
>
> I would only need to remove about ½ of this bump stop shaft.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Paul
>
> 97TJ, 4.0, 5speed
>
>

I have the same problem with my bump stops -- the shaft is now pointed at
the spring... sort of. Anyhow, I got the same problem after installing a 4"
lift. I'd say it is due to the movement of the axle...

I don't get any noise until I go offroad, and when it flexes, the cup will
contact the spring with the occasional "sproing" noise. (don't know how else
to put it -- the spring gets hung up on the cup for a second the pops free).

Eric
99 TJ SE

"pbarton" > wrote in message
...
> Hi,
>
> Hearing a noise at about 25~30mph, during a slow left curve.
> Sound seems to amplify when small bumps are hit also during a left curve
> at same speed.
>
>
>
> Over the Christmas break I installed a 4" lift on a 97 TJ, 4.0,
> standard. After the lift was installed I took it to a suspension
> specialist that aligned it and installed 2 offset ball joints. The offset
> ball joints help to bring the alignment in better.
>
>
>
> During the installation process I noticed a real close fit between the
> passenger side front spring and the bump stop shaft at the top of the
> spring. It almost looks like the bump stop shaft does not fit exactly in
> the center of the spring. In fact the bump stop shaft seems to angle
> towards the front of jeep, just missing the spring by about 0.25 inches.
> Since the sound I have noticed some paint removed from the inside of the
> spring and on the bump stop shaft.
>
>
>
> Prior to the lift, I consulted with a number of jeepers concerning bump
> stops and they indicated if I did not go over jumps or the jeep was not
> dropped from any distance, they did not see the need for new bump stops.
> So I opted not to put bump stops on this lift project.
>
>
>
> Question on bump stop shaft that comes from the inside top of the fender
> to about mid way down the spring.
>
> 1. Do I need this shaft? Could I take a metal blade in a Sawzall
> and cut the metal bump stop shaft out, a little at a time as to not having
> to remove the spring?
>
>
>
> I would only need to remove about ½ of this bump stop shaft.
>
>
>
> Thanks,
>
> Paul
>
> 97TJ, 4.0, 5speed
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

If I remember right, the bump stop is just a press fit. You knocked it
loose by the sounds of it.

You 'really' need the bump stops or you will soon start breaking parts.
If you even come down a little too hard crossing a ditch and twist up
the axle you can/will blow a shock right up through into the back seat
area. I saw that once on a non Jeep lifted wrong.

I have seen the shock stay solid and the frame snap in several older
vehicles.

The same goes for droop. I have even snapped off one of my CJ's shock
mounts when my rear wheel dropped into an unseen hole and over extended
my spring.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

pbarton wrote:
>
> Hi,
>
> Hearing a noise at about 25~30mph, during a slow left curve.
> Sound seems to amplify when small bumps are hit also during a left curve at
> same speed.
>
> Over the Christmas break I installed a 4" lift on a 97 TJ, 4.0,
> standard. After the lift was installed I took it to a suspension specialist
> that aligned it and installed 2 offset ball joints. The offset ball joints
> help to bring the alignment in better.
>
> During the installation process I noticed a real close fit between the
> passenger side front spring and the bump stop shaft at the top of the
> spring. It almost looks like the bump stop shaft does not fit exactly in
> the center of the spring. In fact the bump stop shaft seems to angle
> towards the front of jeep, just missing the spring by about 0.25 inches.
> Since the sound I have noticed some paint removed from the inside of the
> spring and on the bump stop shaft.
>
> Prior to the lift, I consulted with a number of jeepers concerning bump
> stops and they indicated if I did not go over jumps or the jeep was not
> dropped from any distance, they did not see the need for new bump stops.
> So I opted not to put bump stops on this lift project.
>
> Question on bump stop shaft that comes from the inside top of the fender to
> about mid way down the spring.
>
> 1. Do I need this shaft? Could I take a metal blade in a Sawzall and
> cut the metal bump stop shaft out, a little at a time as to not having to
> remove the spring?
>
> I would only need to remove about ½ of this bump stop shaft.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Paul
>
> 97TJ, 4.0, 5speed
>
>

I'm surprised none of the Jeep kits come with axle straps.

Dave Milne, Scotland
'91 Grand Wagoneer, '99 TJ
"Mike Romain" > wrote in message
...
> The same goes for droop. I have even snapped off one of my CJ's shock
> mounts when my rear wheel dropped into an unseen hole and over extended
> my spring.
>
> Mike
> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

They rely on the anti sway bars on the TJ's to limit droop, especially
in the rear. The CJ's springs are usually stiff enough to limit the
droop. I caught it by surprise....

Mike

Dave Milne wrote:
>
> I'm surprised none of the Jeep kits come with axle straps.
>
> Dave Milne, Scotland
> '91 Grand Wagoneer, '99 TJ
> "Mike Romain" > wrote in message
> ...
> > The same goes for droop. I have even snapped off one of my CJ's shock
> > mounts when my rear wheel dropped into an unseen hole and over extended
> > my spring.
> >
> > Mike
> > 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> > 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Corvettes, use axle straps to limmit the articulation on tight
turns, to less than what the shock absorber gives it, something totally
in the other direction of what we want in a Real Jeep.
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
http://www.billhughes.com/

Dave Milne wrote:
>
> I'm surprised none of the Jeep kits come with axle straps.
>
> Dave Milne, Scotland
> '91 Grand Wagoneer, '99 TJ

Not totally in the other direction at all - you make it limit the axle
travel to just before the coil spring pops.

Dave Milne, Scotland
'91 Grand Wagoneer, '99 TJ

"L.W. (ßill) Hughes III" > wrote in message
...
> Corvettes, use axle straps to limmit the articulation on tight
> turns, to less than what the shock absorber gives it, something totally
> in the other direction of what we want in a Real Jeep.
> God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
> http://www.billhughes.com/
>
> Dave Milne wrote:
> >
> > I'm surprised none of the Jeep kits come with axle straps.
> >
> > Dave Milne, Scotland
> > '91 Grand Wagoneer, '99 TJ

You mean tie the spring in at both ends like the cushy ride Bronco:
http://www.billhughes.com/dualshocks.jpg ?
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O


Dave Milne wrote:
>
> Not totally in the other direction at all - you make it limit the axle
> travel to just before the coil spring pops.
>
> Dave Milne, Scotland
> '91 Grand Wagoneer, '99 TJ