Lift Problems

[Shagoneer]

I'm currently installing a lift on my 81 Wagoneer and I'm having a few problems. It's a 3 inch Rough Country (I know first mistake buts It's all I can afford, I'll upgrade to Big Dicks in a few years). I got the front passenger leaf in place just fine, but the drivers side just wont go in. It looks as though my drive shaft is at its limit and wont let the axle move into place. From what I've read there should only be problems with the drive shaft if its a 4 inch lift or more. Does anyone know what I should do?

[Tad]

I've never had an issue with a 4" kit and the front drive shaft.
I disconnect the front drive shaft at the diff since there is a fair amount of prying, kicking and cussing involved.

How are you supporting the rig? frame on jack stands?
Floor jacks? Bottle jacks?

I usually do the frame on jack stands and bolt the springs to the axle first, loosely but not flopping all over the place.
I do the rear spring bolts first, then the fronts.

[Shagoneer]

Ive got the frame on jack stands. The axle on a floor jack.

[pcoplin]

The axle won't drop enough, or can't jack back up?

[Shagoneer]

Axle wont let the spring eyes get in place

[Tad]

Get some type of round pry bar/big screw driver in there from the inside, you are close, you just need to bump it a little and get the bolt in.

[leadsled01]

How about some pics of the jeep after the install. Rough Country has a good price for their spring kit.

[derf]

Yeah, the driveshaft shouldn't be holding anything back. You've probably hit the lip where the grease has built up inside the shaft. If you take the shaft off and pull on it, it will completely come apart without any real effort at all.

Get something in to pry on that spring eye and get it into place. That's where you're going to see more resistance to getting the spring into place.

And when you're done don't forget to put a little more grease into the driveshaft.

[Shagoneer]

Apparently the ROugh country instructions were printed wrong. I had the leafs backwards. Shouldn't surprise me after the instructions said to ensure vehicle was NOT properly supported

[Shagoneer]

Also, I lost 4 of the nuts to the sand in my work area does anyone know what size they are so i can replace them

[Tad]

Stock were fine thread 9/16" stover nuts (they will not back off) but I have seen lift kits come with different nuts and occasionally course thread.

[Shagoneer]

I have the nuts that attach to the U Bolts, its the nuts that help hold leafs to the body that were lost

[Stuka]

Was just going to common that that spring was backwards, but see you figured it out. The big eye goes to the rear.

[Tad]

I have the nuts that attach to the U Bolts, its the nuts that help hold leafs to the body that were lost

Understood, I'm not very good and finding/posting pic's from my phone yet.