Ok, about 3 weeks ago I had a "Northridge 4X4" OME long travel lift installed at a local 4X4 shop. I was extremely happy about it. Once maybe twice when I hit a bump with the rear passenger tire I heard a loud THUNK! coming from that area.

Last Wednesday I had a Coast rear drive shaft and new TF rear upper control arms installed by the same 4X4 shop. The geometry is perfect! Axle is centered EXACTLY, everything lines up that is supposed to line up etc. Told the shop about the THUNK! and they inspected everything and said at full droop on the lift the passenger rear tire contacts the sway bar link. They found nothing else suspicious. I have inspected this and I see NO rubs etc. on the tire or wheel. David at Northridge feels that there is very little chance it could be the kit if properly installed which I think it is.

Tonight at low speeds never exceeding 45 mph the rear end was THUNKING! all over the place. Once when I hit a bump with the right rear tire, once when turning left after stopping and once when accelerating from a stop.

I believe in my shop and I also have complete faith in Northridge. I have pulled and tugged on all the rear suspension parts, checked the drive shaft, inspected the wheel and tire on the right rear (NO damage). It goes back to the shop on Monday anyway but does anyone have any other suggestions as to what this might be? I am at a loss and with all my recent mods do not want to damage (or worse wreck) something just because it loosened up after the install. Suggestions will be appreciated!

 

can you post up some pics of your set up?

maybe some fresh eyes will notice something.

also - is your profile up to date? (eg. 33s vs 35s --> pinch seam/rock rail contact)

 

They said that when the wheel was at full droop there was contact with the tire, but you are hearing the noise during compression.
Something is making contact when you are compressing in that corner. Look at the swaybar link bolts and other bolts in the area... if one is put in backwards the extra threads may be hitting the bottom of the frame.
Maybe have a buddy jump on the bumper behind that wheel while you look for the possible impact point.

 

pinch seam makes noise if it rubs like a thump

 

If this is what I think it is the 4X4 shop is gonna sh**! Look at the TF bump stop extensions. Does it look like they mounted the rt to the lft or both backwards?

Driver side:


Passenger side (the one making the noise):

 

hmm cant tell from that picture

 

actually they did it backwards

 

quick question and this is just from observing the picture but are your rear bump stops on the axle facing the right direction? im 90% sure there suppose to face the other direction.. they may cause the little yellow bump stop pad to hit off the side and cause you to bottom out which is the thump or its the metal right above it hitting your bump stop pad on the axle.. if i had to take a quess then that would be it.. those are teraflex bump stops with ur lift and the instructions tell you to mount them the other way..

 

Those bump-stops are definatly on backwards. The thunk you hear is probably you're trac bar hitting the right one.

 

Yeppers! They will have the JK for a week starting Monday to install a Ripps SC. Hope they don't put it in backwards!


(David at Northridge was right AGAIN!)