3 inch lift to 4.5 inch lift problems

sootie · Feb 12, 2015

what do you mean "nothing" when you drop the radius arms down??

6" block in the rear has nothing to do with hard parts in the front. sway bar extensions are good to have but changes nothing between radius arm mounting positions.

ya-its about 3hrs work tops in your driveway...

junglejoe · Feb 12, 2015

It didn't change anything is what I meant. Still all over the road when you hit bumps. "I" know it wont change anything too as far as adding the blocks... but just to eliminate the excuses... still haven't got my truck back yet.

junglejoe · Feb 12, 2015

Ok.. just went and picked the truck up..so lets break this down all in one. Had a rough country 3 inch lift installed, had a 4 inch block in the back, dual steering stabilizers, drop bracket for the track bar. Truck drove like a Cadillac, or a Lincoln in this case. Soo.. wasn't high enough for the look I wanted. Ordered a 4.5 inch lift. new drop bracket for track bar, taller springs, got the radius arms in the bottom hole on the drop bracket for those, aligned(does not pull either direction) until you hit bumps, then you better hold on to your ass! It's all over the road, steering wheel tries to snatch right out of your hand and it will if you don't have a grip on it. The shop sends a pic to rough country because the coils springs are still bowed.. they say.." that's not right". Well no chit Sherlock!! I compared the thickness of the 3 inch springs to the 4.5 inch springs. The 3 inch springs are thicker than the 4.5 inch springs. Shouldn't that be the other way around? Going to change out the springs tomorrow with another set of 4.5 inch springs and see if those are bowed too... if they are, taking this chit off my truck, putting my stock stuff back, and I'll order from a different manufacture and do it myself.

junglejoe · Feb 13, 2015

I woke up and looked outside... freakin snow!! Didn't even know this chit was coming... but anyway, put the 6 inch blocks back there..still didn't work as some of you said and hell, I even knew that it wouldn't matter..

sootie · Feb 13, 2015

looks better with the 6" block so thats a plus...

junglejoe · Feb 13, 2015

I think you may be right sootie! Just a question for anyone that knows... I can grab the front coil spring with my hand, amost acys like there isn't any weight on it... just seems awful "loose" or "weak". I would think the weight of the truck would have that spring more solid.. Can anyone grab their coil and pull on it and see if it seems loose or moves? It doesn't move as far as sliding , just doesn't seem right.

junglejoe · Feb 14, 2015

I didn't take my truck back, springs didn't come in... but here is a shot of each spring and the steering stabilizers... I'm going to get a video of me shaking the springs with very little effort..is that normal? Doesn't seem like it would be!

junglejoe · Feb 15, 2015

Is it "possible"... that the drop pitmen arm isn't needed with the 4.5 inch kit or they put the wrong one on? Just asking questions... Put a tuner on it last night, don't do that with front end problems! ALMOST messed up my wheels by a curb because the beech is all over the road from the motor torqueing. It's parked until the other stuff comes in for the front end.

KTM300 · Feb 15, 2015

The angle of your track bar compared to your drag link doesn't look right to me. Take a close up pic of your track bar drop bracket and your drop pitman arm so we can see what you have. If it is purely bump steer (only happens when you hit a bump) you most likely have a geometry problem between your track bar and drag link.

CUZICAN · Feb 15, 2015

I was just looking at the rough country kit on their site, and noticed it comes with a track bar drop, but does not come with a drop pitman arm, if that is accurate, then that will definitely cause bump steer. You don't drop one without dropping the other.

nvrsatisfied84 · Feb 15, 2015

You need to put stock pitman arm back on and make sure the offset washers on the track bar are to the passenger side. The track bar bracket does not drop the track bar but moves it over to keep draglink in line with the track bar. The bracket is same on 3 and 4.5 kits because it uses offset washers to move the bar over to recenter axle. With the way it is setup now you are having bump steer because the two different angles of the bars.

junglejoe · Feb 16, 2015

I'll get a better pic today... The kit didn't come with the drop pitmen arm, but the shop said it needed one, so I ordered one. I rode like a dream until the 4.5 inch AND the drop pitmen arm went on.

And yes, it ONLY does this on bumps and dips in the road and going over sharp hills There is a road here that is like a roller coaster ride and that is defiantly a no with this truck!. If the road was flat and smooth, it would be good to go, doesn't pull in either direction.

Going to put the stock pitman arm back on and drive it...

junglejoe · Feb 16, 2015

Here is some pics...anyone else have a 4.5 lift with 35's that can measure the gap from the tire to the fender?

junglejoe · Feb 16, 2015

Couple more..anyone see anything weird?

NotStock · Feb 16, 2015

You have a drop pitman arm but no drop track bar bracket. That was the track bar bracket they have for leveled trucks. You need the correct drop track bar bracket for the pitman arm.

junglejoe · Feb 16, 2015

The guy said he switched out the drop track bar bracket... so it doesn't look like it?

nvrsatisfied84 · Feb 16, 2015

rough country does not use a drop its a offset track bar bracket on the 3 and 4.5" kit to retain the stock pitman arm. Put ur stock pitman arm back on and it will be fine ive done these kit with no issue's

junglejoe · Feb 16, 2015

Ill have him put the stock one back on tomorrow, was suppose to switch the springs out just to see, I'll have him do the pitman arm first. I just don't have time to or I would have done it myself. I will report back with results..

junglejoe · Feb 20, 2015

Ok... the verdict is in! Rough country's 4.5 inch lift does NOT use a drop pitman arm as some of you said! Even though some of the pencil pushers at rough country told me to buy it! There is a $100 bill shot to hell for nothing! Thanks for the help! Truck rides and steers like a Cadillac again!