Skyjacker lift kit - now rear axle is forward

[psvines]

I recently installed a Skyjacker 4" lift kit on my 97 supercab 4WD Ranger.

There is a lot of vibration in the rear drive shaft when accelerating, and the rear axle is clearly forward of center. The wheel base should be 125" and it measures just over 124".

The new leaf springs came with shims, which when removed did slightly improve the vibration.

Anyone else experience this with the Skyjacker leaf springs?

 

[engdept]

Did you install the springs the correct way? If you installed them backwards, then that is your problem.

The vibration IS NOT the shims, but the 2 piece driveshaft. You need to swap in a '98+ Ranger extended cab 4wd 1 piece driveshaft. It will eliminate the vibration. You also need to put the shims back on the axle so it gives you the proper pinion angle.

 

[psvines]

Springs are definitely correct, long ends towards the rear and with shims, the thick part of the shims were towards the rear.

After I was stumped, I brought in my professional mechanic. He removed the shims to improve the pinion angle.

I've considered a new drive shaft, but would first like to resolve the current problem, which ideally shouldn't exist for the price of the Skyjacker kit.

Thanks for the ideas.

 

[kevinsranger]

I've considered a new drive shaft, but would first like to resolve the current problem, which ideally shouldn't exist for the price of the Skyjacker kit.

Thanks for the ideas.

the problem wont go away without changing the driveshaft, you can make it better by lowering the crossmember that the carrier bearing is mounted to. thats your only options.

 

[engdept]

I've considered a new drive shaft, but would first like to resolve the current problem, which ideally shouldn't exist for the price of the Skyjacker kit.

Thanks for the ideas.

The ONLY way to eliminate the vibration is to eliminate the carrier bearing in the 2 piece driveshaft. To do that you need a 1 piece driveshaft.

 

[84projectFORD]

or as stated above drop that carrier down but the one piece would be easier

 

[4x4junkie]

Lowering the crossmember only produced a minimal improvement in my experience, but swapping the driveshaft eliminated it completely.

The pinion angle is better without the shims, I think they only get used on 108" WB Rangers, I've found they are not needed on anything else.

 

[psvines]

woohoo!
I finally replaced my '97 2-piece drive shaft with a 1-piece from a '98. I did not have to remove the cross member nor trim the skid plates. So far it appears to have enough clearance. And the vibration in 1st and 2nd when accelerating no longer exists.
Once again a happy Ranger owner!

 

[ghost_rader]

woohoo!
I finally replaced my '97 2-piece drive shaft with a 1-piece from a '98. I did not have to remove the cross member nor trim the skid plates. So far it appears to have enough clearance. And the vibration in 1st and 2nd when accelerating no longer exists.
Once again a happy Ranger owner!

i recently did this on my 94, and had similar results, owever when flexing it out the driveshaft does hit the fuel tank skid plate. i am dropping it to trim it very soon. just incase you have the same problem.

 

[crawlin91]

new u conversion u joint and old t case flange for 1 piece driveshaft

with 6" of lift I would have alot of vibration and I would have to lower my carrier bearing. and rather than guess and check to find the right pinion angles I just swapd in a 1 piece.

98 and up fx4's were all equipped with these driveshafts and are a bolt in swap.(unless you need different flanges), I got mine free from the same guy who sold me the used superlift. I used a conversion 1310-1330 ujoint with the front flange off of the original 2piece shaft. I just cut out the piece holding the carrier bearing completely (its not a strucural part of the frame) as well as shaving an inch or so off of the front 2/3 of the skidplate. Which you will have to do if lifting as the shaft will contact both when the rear droops. I was flexing her out last night and discovered more rubbing so I cut a little more off the skid today.

check the pic below you can see some of the "crossmember" I trimmed another 8 inches back as it was still rubbing at this point