RE 4.5 Xtreme lift on a YJ...questions

[will_m]

I was at the PA Jeep show and I started to CRY LIKE A LITTLE BOY HAVING A TANTRUM. http://jeepsunlimited.com/ubb/frown.gif http://jeepsunlimited.com/ubb/frown.gif http://jeepsunlimited.com/ubb/frown.gif I saw a bunch of lifted Jeeps in all sizes and I felt left out with my poor stocker with sagging springs. Plus I want to feel like I can get over obstacles and not scrap the entire collection of factory skid plates I have. SO, now I want my lift. I was looking at the RE 4.5" xtreme for my YJ. It seems to have everything but I am highly concerned about driveline vibes. They say the kit comes with a t-case lowering kit. My question is has anyone else used this kit on a YJ WITHOUT an SYE? If someone else says it works then I might "pull the trigger" and get it. If not, then I'll wait till I can afford both the lift and SYE kit and driveshaft from Tom Woods. Not sure if I want the JB SYE kit or Tom Wood's new kit that uses a tailshaft he machines himself. Differance of about $200.



------------------
Will
89 YJ 4.2L auto, Tuffy Console, Alpine Security, Hardtop, Bestop Sunrider

[money pit - YJ]

I am running the RE 4.5" lift now with no SYE. I installed the TCase drop kit, but I still have some pretty massive driveline vib's. I am saving up for the SYE...

------------------
Matt

1992 Wrangler 4.0L (just swaped from a 2.5L) :)
A/C (Texas is hot)
RE 4.5 Extreme Duty Lift
4:10 gears
BFG 33X12.50 MT's on 15X8 AR 767's
K&N with stock TJ tube
Next Mod: SYE...got any suggestions on brands?

[WillYJ]

Advice about SYE given to me from JPNXJ, who has installed every type of SYE, was that the JB setup was best. If you have the cash, it is supposed to be worth it.

------------------
'92 Sahara. 4.10s, Lock Right front, 2" Body lift, 1.25" shackle lift, Jacob's Omni Magnum, homemade air tube w/K&N filter, 31" BFG A/Ts, Shooter's custom d-ring brackets, Magnaflow cat-back, HD rear driveshaft. Just bought: TJ fender flares and spare D35 axle shafts.Willy's Jeep Web (http://members.home.net/mikensarah1)

[Mark YJ]

Hey Will, I have the RE and love it. With the t-case lowering kit I have a very minimal vibe. My 92 has a manual tranny and 33" TSL's. I'm saving up for JB SYE. But right now it is just fine without and I have done some pretty good wheeling with it. I think you'd like the RE kit.

------------------
Mark Engebretson
92 YJ,4.0, 4.5" RE Ext. Duty, 33" TSL's

[Charly]

I'll second....err...uh...third the sentiment regarding the JB kit. It is a bigger, stronger shaft (so is the AA and Tera) vs. a re-machined stock shaft. But then again i don't recall hearing about anyone breakiong their shaft.

Personally I'm going to get the JB ....with a Tom Woods shaft of course.

let us know how the 4.5 kit install goes. http://jeepsunlimited.com/forums/images/ubb/biggrin.gif

Good Luck,

Charly


------------------
95 YJ 2.5l, 5 speed, OME 2.5" lift, MORE 1" bodylift, TJ flares, 31" BFG AT KOs, JKS "Quicker" Discos and tele-track bar, Yellow Optima, K&N, Accel Wires, CB, Durabak-ed tub, hand throttle, muddy in dash speaker screens, a smattering of recovery gear, and common sense (well, most of the time). AND: 8.8 waiting for cash to swap in, and a York compressor to keep it company.

[Darel]

My bud just put that lift on his YJ, and used the drop kit for a few weeks while he saved up for the AA SYE. He didn't have any vibes, and if he'd have put the caster shims in right from the get-go he'd have had no problems whatsoever.
It's a really nice, well-thought-out kit. The springs are extremely high quality. Throw the disconnects out the window, they're junk. I have them on my TJ and never even use my sway bar b/c they're such a PITA. BTW, did you YJ guys with SYEs have to get your spring perches re-welded?
D

------------------
His:
'98 TJ, 4" RE/Rusty's/Teraflex lift, 34x10.5 Super Swampers. Rating: 278
1967 International Scout, currently ungergoing frame-off resto. Rating: 000
Hers:
'97 ZJ Limited, 4" Rusty's/f-r lift, 32" BFG AT/KOs. Rating: 145
Check out some pics here:
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/Login?User=dfm51@hotmail.com&Password=&Album=Incoming

[WillYJ]

Darel-- Don't quote me on this, because I don't have an SYE yet, but I believe that the necessary angle corrections can be done using axle shims under the leaf springs. Pretty easy to do.

------------------
'92 Sahara. 4.10s, Lock Right front, 2" Body lift, 1.25" shackle lift, Jacob's Omni Magnum, homemade air tube w/K&N filter, 31" BFG A/Ts, Shooter's custom d-ring brackets, Magnaflow cat-back, HD rear driveshaft. Just bought: TJ fender flares and spare D35 axle shafts.Willy's Jeep Web (http://members.home.net/mikensarah1)

[Square Peg]

I have the RE 4.5" without a SYE installed yet. The kit does come with the T-case lowering spacers and degree shims for the rear spring packs. Mike Stumo at RE mentioned that you could also grind off a very small piece of the yoke end to help keep the two ends from touching and causing the vibration.
I do have a slight vibration, but it's not worth rushing out to buy a SYE for. Eventually I will add one, but it's not a priority yet.
FYI - I was the red YJ with the 3 baby seats in it at the show. I spoke to several people there if you were one asking questions ... it's still a good kit. http://jeepsunlimited.com/forums/images/ubb/biggrin.gif
------------------
95 YJ - 4.5" RE Extreme, 33x12.5 BFG MT's, stainless steel stuff, basic Jeep stuff, and the need for more stuff.

[This message has been edited by Square Peg (edited 07-25-2000).]

[will_m]

Originally posted by Square Peg:
FYI - I was the red YJ with the 3 baby seats in it at the show. I spoke to several people there if you were one asking questions ... it's still a good kit. http://jeepsunlimited.com/forums/images/ubb/biggrin.gif

Nope I don't remember yours (only went there Sunday morning. ) Do you or anyone else have pics of the t-case lowered on this kit so I can take a look see?




------------------
Will
89 YJ 4.2L auto, Tuffy Console, Alpine Security, Hardtop, Bestop Sunrider

[Vader]

I have the the SYE kit from RE and I changed the pinion angle w/ 6 degree shims. My BDS 3.5 kit came with 4 dgree shims but I thought that since they were planning on a t-case drop and not an SYE, and since I have longer shackles, I went with more wedge. It turned out to put my driveshaft right where I wanted it!!! Zero vibes!!!

------------------
Vader
95 YJ 6cyl manual
1.25 lift shackles
pre-runner bumper
33x12.5/15 mud kings
3.5" BDS susp lift
sye kit
P&G exhaust

[Ray H]

I installed the RE 4.5" and drove it for about 3 days before I ordered a RE SYE. I had slight vibes but mainly I was concerned about the severe u-joint angles. When I first installed the kit, before the springs settled, with the frame on stands and the axle hanging, the top u-joint would bind against itself. I installed the t-case drop and it didnt bind anymore but it was very close so out came the wallet and in came a SYE.

------------------
XJ sport (stock), YJ (RE 4.5", SYE, 32x10.50 SS TSLs, True-trac, 4.56s, Hi-lift, Herculiner, U-bolt skids, steering box brace, J&L rear bumper & swing out, T/C diff skids):Next mod will be to the dana 35 rear end, havent decided what yet.

[Darel]

My bud has 4 dge shims in there now and it's not nearly enough. It seems a little dangerous to me to use much more shim than that.
D

------------------
His:
'98 TJ, 4" RE/Rusty's/Teraflex lift, 34x10.5 Super Swampers. Rating: 278
1967 International Scout, currently ungergoing frame-off resto. Rating: 000
Hers:
'97 ZJ Limited, 4" Rusty's/f-r lift, 32" BFG AT/KOs. Rating: 145
Check out some pics here:
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/Login?User=dfm51@hotmail.com&Password=&Album=Incoming

[Griffin]

How about 1 inch engine mounts? I've got those on my YJ (to offset a 1 inch Body Lift). Should that help much with vibes on the RE 4.5 lift?


------------------
-Griffin
93 YJ, Tuffy interior

[will_m]

Well, I think I decided that to do this right I am going to wait till I can get the RE kit and the SYE kit at the same time. No use in getting the lift and having vibes and not being able to correct the problem the right way. Guess I'll have to be satisfied with being a little stocker on the trail http://jeepsunlimited.com/ubb/frown.gif But when I get the lift I should get the 31" tires with it so I am looking at about $2000 total. Oh well, girlfriend helped me with the Sunrider this recent birthday so maybe she'll help me next year. http://jeepsunlimited.com/ubb/smile.gif



------------------
Will
89 YJ 4.2L auto, Tuffy Console, Alpine Security, Hardtop, Bestop Sunrider