Issues with Skyjacker 4" lift

[socal_rob]

Any thougths on the Bestop Extendatrunk???

I've got a Skyjacker 4" Single-Flex lift on my 1999 TJ. I put the lift on about a year ago and so far things have been pretty good. It rides well and I haven't experienced any of the vibration issues I've read about on several forums. That said, I'm not wild about the lift. It's solid, but, from what I've read (now, after the fact), it doesn't sound like Skyjacker is the best choice. Oh well.

Overall I find the lift a bit "floaty" (not sure how else to describe it). It almost feels as if the body shifts, in a rolling fashion, from side to side. Any thoughts?

The other problem I have with the lift is that there seems to be a slight shifting of the front axle from side to side when braking quickly or accelerating. It feels like the axle moves ever so slightly. Again, it's a bit hard to explain. I just feel it when I'm driving. I found a forum somewhere online where several Skyjacker owners were complaining about this. One of them said that Skyjacker's track bar is crap and suggested replacing it with one from Rubicon Express. He said that fixed the problem for him. Has anyone else experienced this issue? Any thoughts on fixes?

While neither issue is too severe, they're enough to be annoying, especially on the highway. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Rob

 

[TwistedCU]

SKyjacker has soft spring rates, so a stiffer shock may help the "floaty" ride. If you already have a gas (or "nitro") shock you may want to try an adjustable.

Skyjacker makes good products, but I have also heard of the woes from their trackbar. Replacing it may help your front end issues, but first be sure to check your existing trackbar and all other joints/bushings for wear. It may be solved as easily as replacing a bad heim joint.

 

[jps4jeep]

Best rear-end?

seeing as I have a YJ and not a TJ, I can only help based on what I have heard. I do have a skyjacker lift, been installed now for at least 4 years, and I will never get anything else. My YJ can flex just as good if not better than some of the TJ kits out there. I have had people on the trail see me coming and ask me if I had coil conversion.

To echo what TC said... You might want ot consider a adjustable valving shock, the Rancho rs 9000 would probably be the least expensive for a IN-cabin adjustable set up. also Bilstein has just released a adjustable shock for a decent price, bt is not in-cabin control.

As for the front axle, sounds like a trac bar. make sure all the bolts are snug, iff needed, lift the front end up by the bumper and see if there is any play in the axle side to side, and see if thast play is in the trac bar itself or the points of mounting. also... I have heard that if you have adjustable control arms, and if they are a little out of even-ness, it can cause premature wearing of suspension bushings. if this is so, this would allow extra movement in the front axle.

 

[JeepMonkey]

RE: control arms

My '01 TJ with a 4" lift is all over the road too! I have the double flex kit with adjustable trac/control arms and heim joints at ever end. Mine will damn near change lanes going over a bump. I just thought I had to live with it. I plan on doing a long arm kit next year when I come home from Kuwait so I haven't bothered to make any changes to it yet. Good luck!

 

[LGR]

I got a double flex and had a few of the same issues that Jumppr had..I took down all the control arms and made sure they were all the proper length, i seen a few were off slightly and that seemed to fix the problem. The shocks in the double flex STINK. Get some new shocks and it shouldn't feel floaty. As far as the track bar, mine doesn't seem to have any issues at all.