Potential Problem With Mopar Lift

[lsmaverick]

So about 8 months ago, we decided to go with the Mopar 2 inch lift on our JLU Sport. The kit came with the updated correction pads, but since day one, we've had issues with the spring rubbing against the driver-side sway bar link (see the photo below):

Now, however, it seems that we're having a different issue. Specifically, while driving around with the Jeep and turning the wheels fully driver-side, we hear some sort of grinding (like metal on metal) sound. This only happens when the wheels are fully turned driver, and the Jeep is in motion. Wanting to investigate a bit, I asked my wife to record a video of the Jeep while stationary and with the wheels being fully turned. Now this is our first ever Jeep, and we wouldn't even pretend to have much experience or knowledge about it (trying to learn more every day), but it looks to me like the lower part of the same sway bar link is rubbing against the tie rod at full turn. I uploaded a video for reference:



From this photo, it looks like there's a rubbing mark where the link meets the tie rod:

Has anyone with the Mopar lift had this happen to them? I'm thinking about bring it back to my mechanic, but this definitely doesn't seem normal.

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[Trauma PA]

First question? Who installed your lift?

 

[lsmaverick]

First question? Who installed your lift?

A local mechanic that specializes in Jeeps. Bought the lift on Amazon and took it there for the install.

 

[EZMFE]

JL Front Spring Correction Pad

Since it is no fault of the installer, you may have to pay for some correctional pads to be installed or install them yourself.

 

[lsmaverick]

JL Front Spring Correction Pad

Since it is no fault of the installer, you may have to pay for some correctional pads to be installed or install them yourself.

I was thinking exactly that. You think the correction pads will fix the issues with the tie rod in the video?

 

[lsmaverick]

I have the Mopar lift, a couple things I see in your picture, and it could just be the camera angle, but Mopar springs are slightly bowed and yours looks like it’s bowes towards end link, it should be bowed towards the wheel, secondly your end link looks to be straight and the ones on mine have a bend in them. Here’s pic. Granted mine is rubicon, so might be slightly different set up on suspension however yours looks like somethings not right.

I think that's just the camera angle. Here's the link from a different angle:

 

[EZMFE]

I was thinking exactly that. You think the correction pads will fix the issues with the tie rod in the video?

Mine tie rod is about 1" from that mount at full turn. Wonder if the installer changed the Steer Stop Adjustment or if that would help.

 

[lsmaverick]

Your right I see the bend in your end link now. Was it that close to your stock springs?

Definitely wasn't. If I remember correctly, the Mopar lift came with new end links so none of that is stock.

 

[lsmaverick]

The only thing I can think of is the bow in spring is off, isolator looks right.

Yeah, it's definitely not bowing the way it should. I'll get in touch with my mechanic to see what can be done .

 

[WvJeeper]

I think that's just the camera angle. Here's the link from a different angle:

Something is up with your isolator. I just installed mine today and mine looks much thicker than yours. Below is a pic of mine from the same angle as yours. Maybe yours is the old style, crushed, or damaged somehow.

 

[Roky]

Something is up with your isolator. I just installed mine today and mine looks much thicker than yours. Below is a pic of mine from the same angle as yours. Maybe yours is the old style, crushed, or damaged somehow.

Yep, good catch, I couldn’t see that in the other picture, they only go on one way, but could have them mixed up driver, passenger.

 

[lsmaverick]

Something is up with your isolator. I just installed mine today and mine looks much thicker than yours. Below is a pic of mine from the same angle as yours. Maybe yours is the old style, crushed, or damaged somehow.

Yeah, really good catch, thanks! The difference is night and day. I may just go for the RK pads linked above.

 

[Trauma PA]

Lots of things come to mind here. The springs are not interchangeable, meaning each spring has a specific location. The front driver's side spring cannot go on the front passenger's side and vice versa. Same thing goes for the rear springs. Make sure you check the tag which has the part number on each spring and make sure it matches up with the corresponding mounting location on the Mopar install directions. Also, the original stock rear sway bar links should have been moved from the rear and remounted to the front. The original front sway bar links should have been tossed to the side or in the garbage. The Mopar kit supplied new rear sway bar links which replaced the original rear ones that were moved to the front. I'm not convinced replacing the spring perch is the answer here to your issue. I didn't trust anyone else to install my lift other than myself for the very reasons which you are now going through. If you lived nearby I'd crawl under your Jeep in a NY second and help troubleshoot. Those swaybar links should not be making contact with your spring. Something is off but again I'm not convinced the solution is to replace the spring perch. Is there a noticeable bow in your springs? I'll be back home on Monday and will be able to crawl under my Jeep and get a better perspective of what you have going on. More pictures at different angles may help also. Hang in there. There's a solution.

 

[WvJeeper]

Lots of things come to mind here. The springs are not interchangeable, meaning each spring has a specific location. The front driver's side spring cannot go on the front passenger's side and vice versa. Same thing goes for the rear springs. Make sure you check the tag which has the part number on each spring and make sure it matches up with the corresponding mounting location on the Mopar install directions. Also, the original stock rear sway bar links should have been moved from the rear and remounted to the front. The original front sway bar links should have been tossed to the side or in the garbage. The Mopar kit supplied new rear sway bar links which replaced the original rear ones that were moved to the front. I'm not convinced replacing the spring perch is the answer here to your issue. I didn't trust anyone else to install my lift other than myself for the very reasons which you are now going through. If you lived nearby I'd crawl under your Jeep in a NY second and help troubleshoot. Those swaybar links should not be making contact with your spring. Something is off but again I'm not convinced the solution is to replace the spring perch. Is there a noticeable bow in your springs? I'll be back home on Monday and will be able to crawl under my Jeep and get a better perspective of what you have going on. More pictures at different angles may help also. Hang in there. There's a solution.

You can clearly see he has different or damaged spring perches in the photos I put up earlier causing excessive bowing. Also, maybe it’s just something different with the newer mopar lift, but mine came with brand new front and rear sway bar links. Both front and rear old ones were thrown out.

And I completely agree with you on doing the lift yourself. I don’t trust anyone with my stuff. Some of the things “professionals” will tell you and do are just flat out unbelievable sometimes.

 

[lsmaverick]

Lots of things come to mind here. The springs are not interchangeable, meaning each spring has a specific location. The front driver's side spring cannot go on the front passenger's side and vice versa. Same thing goes for the rear springs. Make sure you check the tag which has the part number on each spring and make sure it matches up with the corresponding mounting location on the Mopar install directions. Also, the original stock rear sway bar links should have been moved from the rear and remounted to the front. The original front sway bar links should have been tossed to the side or in the garbage. The Mopar kit supplied new rear sway bar links which replaced the original rear ones that were moved to the front. I'm not convinced replacing the spring perch is the answer here to your issue. I didn't trust anyone else to install my lift other than myself for the very reasons which you are now going through. If you lived nearby I'd crawl under your Jeep in a NY second and help troubleshoot. Those swaybar links should not be making contact with your spring. Something is off but again I'm not convinced the solution is to replace the spring perch. Is there a noticeable bow in your springs? I'll be back home on Monday and will be able to crawl under my Jeep and get a better perspective of what you have going on. More pictures at different angles may help also. Hang in there. There's a solution.

Really appreciate all the help!

There's a definite bow in the spring, at least three driver's side one. The funny thing is that the passenger side hasn't been giving me any issues at all. Also, it was a while ago, but if I remember correctly, the kit came with replacements for both the front and rear links.

I'll try to take more photos later today of both sides and will double check the tags on the springs.

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