T-case Drop

[Saharaboy]

When to do a drop?

I have been told both 2" and 3" as the breaking point for a drop of the t-case. I am at 2.5" and seem to think I have some drive line vibes? Should I drop it like 3/4 of an inch just to see if it helps? Also a drop jsut includes spacers to the frame and longer bolts right?

[ogerdgonz]

Yes all a drop involves is spacers for the skidplate to be lowered away from the frame rail. I know you are busy but before doing the drop you could always measure the driveshft angles at the case and axles on yours versus a stock one. You could then copy the angles onto graph paper and do the work of moving the top part of the triangle down 3/4 of an inch and draw the new lines, measure the angle and see if their is really any gains.

BTW Tell Kelly and Bill this site looks great. I really like the lack of ads on the side!!!!!!!

[nixxerRsixxer]

Drop kit is just spacers and longer bolts..

I have an RE 3.5" with .75" spacer up front (about 5" of lift net).. I also have a 1" MML + 1.25" BL and my t-case is not dropped.. (No SYE or CV DS) this is with a 4.0 5spd and Dana 35..

I have some vibes on hard acceleration.. but it still drives better than any other lifted Jeep .. lift has been on for about 2 years and has seen action in wellsville/yellow creek w/ 35 tires .. u-joints still seem to be fine in the d-shaft..

[Saharaboy]

Ya my u-joints are fine, I just know that something is causing some small vibes, nothing I haven't driven with for awhile now anyways, but was just thinking this might help it out. But who knows, I am sure I have a dozen other issues also

[Jeeptj1999]

On a tj 3.5" is about the limit in my opinion.

[Haggar]

Depends on the application/configuration of the TJ. Different transmissions are different lengths. The Dana 44 has a longer snout than the Dana 35, etc..

My on 98 TJ had one of the shortest possible, with the 5 speed and the Dana 44, I think 11-12" between the U-joint caps.. I needed a 1" drop with my RE 3" lift...

[Tonka]

I'll stop by with the angle finder one day.
takes a few minutes to fugure out how far off the angles are

[Saharaboy]

Originally Posted by Tonka

I'll stop by with the angle finder one day.
takes a few minutes to fugure out how far off the angles are

Thanks Eric

[JeepRat]

I have a 1" t-case drop kit for a TJ if you want to try it out. Come pick it up.

[C.K.]

Originally Posted by Jeeptj1999

On a tj 3.5" is about the limit in my opinion.

Thats about right. My first lift was about 3.5" to 4" and thats when I dropped the t-case. I did pull the spacers after a while and ran it in the stock location. It wasnt too bad but not really advised. With 2.5" you should be fine in the stock location.

[Saharaboy]

Ok so any other ideas where I am getting driveline vibes??

[nixxerRsixxer]

Originally Posted by Saharaboy

Ok so any other ideas where I am getting driveline vibes??

worn u-joint front d-shaft..

[C.K.]

I couldnt find where mine were coming from until I pulled the front shaft. All gone. Now I just strap it up when I go on long drives and keep it hooked up to the t-case.

Dont drop the tcase... do a motor mount lift instead...

[Tonka]

Originally Posted by biohazardbill

Dont drop the tcase... do a motor mount lift instead...

agree, but worst case we can drop the t-case super cheap. he may only need 1/4"

[Monkeyevil]

Really depends on how tolerant you are of vibes. An angle vibe will really only show itself at a certain speed... or a few speeds.

if you have a vibe that shows up at a speed, and just keeps getting worse the faster you go, your looking at a bad u-joint, centering ball, or unbalanced/bent shaft.

Remember that a 1310 joint is only good for 27deg. So with a ~5" lift at full drop with a stock length driveshaft you may be near or over that. Binding equals blown up stuff :)

[Hal9000]

Originally Posted by monkeyevil

Remember that a 1310 joint is only good for 27deg. So with a ~5" lift at full drop with a stock length driveshaft you may be near or over that. Binding equals blown up stuff :)

yeah i'm in that position myself since i lifted my rig 4.5" , XJ mind you, but yeah, u-joints binding is no good, i'm in need to drop the my t-case also at least a 1"

[Hal9000]

Originally Posted by biohazardbill

Dont drop the tcase... do a motor mount lift instead...

how much more involved would a motor mount lift be? I'm assuming they make lift brackets already? so you would just need to lift the engin up with a crane and replace the mounts?