Front DS question
Thread Starter
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 422
Likes: 0
From: Plover, WI & Benson, AZ
Front DS question
With my 3" OME lift, the front drive shaft seems to be at a pretty steep angle coming out of the tc. The shaft itself isn't at much of an angle but the CV joint at the tc is. I notice a minor high speed vibration on the highway that seems to come and go. One minute it's there and then it smooths out completely. Could that be the CV joint? I've only got 3000 miles on the JK. I'm not supposed to have problems with it on a 3" lift, but do expect premature wear. Could it be a candidate for a front double cardon shaft?
JK Super Freak
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,001
Likes: 0
From: Central NJ
Where does the vibe seem to come from?
Do you have any adjustable control arms?
Looking at your profile you list the LT OME shocks. Did you get any additional components (eg full Northridge OME LT kit)?
Eventually you'll probably need some control arms and a front shaft. IMHO its not until my jeep was dialed in with CA's that it was enjoyable to drive again on the street. Before that I felt vibes & flightiness.
I'm sure someone with more technical knowledge will chime in but your angles may be off now hence the vibes.
As a side note re: your drive shaft, since you have an auto and the long travel OME shocks you'll eventually tear your boot if you wheel it hard (and obviously disconnected).
I've run pretty much all the OME coil configurations and didn't tear my boot until I switched to the long travel shocks from the standard. The LT shocks give you a lot travel - which is nice but can come at a price.
Do you have any adjustable control arms?
Looking at your profile you list the LT OME shocks. Did you get any additional components (eg full Northridge OME LT kit)?
Eventually you'll probably need some control arms and a front shaft. IMHO its not until my jeep was dialed in with CA's that it was enjoyable to drive again on the street. Before that I felt vibes & flightiness.
I'm sure someone with more technical knowledge will chime in but your angles may be off now hence the vibes.
As a side note re: your drive shaft, since you have an auto and the long travel OME shocks you'll eventually tear your boot if you wheel it hard (and obviously disconnected).
I've run pretty much all the OME coil configurations and didn't tear my boot until I switched to the long travel shocks from the standard. The LT shocks give you a lot travel - which is nice but can come at a price.
Thread Starter
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 422
Likes: 0
From: Plover, WI & Benson, AZ
I'm dialed in pretty good. See my Alignment post. I guess I'm leaning toward a replacement shaft because of the boot and premature wear. I also have to trim the front shid yet and could avoid that with a new shaft.
JK Jedi Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 11,463
Likes: 165
From: Austin <--> Colorado Springs
Check that rzeppa (at the tcase) and see if it is spitting grease already. Also, flex it and see just how close the boot gets to the corner of the tranny pan and to the crossmember skid.
Could it be a candidate for a front double cardon shaft?
Though it's likely you won't need one right away. You'll lose grease, and it will eventually start getting loud. That's when you'll know to replace it.
See post #6 here for some mods to help the front shaft last a bit longer
https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/show...vs.-Skid-plate