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Noise after TF leveling kit

8K views 33 replies 11 participants last post by  cjs16jku 
#1 ·
Hi all! I put a teraflex leveling kit (spacers 2" front 1" back) on my 16 jku this past weekend and I've already noticed a noise in the front end. It almost sounds like the shocks are fully extending. Something to note is that I bought the spacers from a guy on here but he kept the sway bar links so I found a pair of stock rear sway bar links for really cheap on Craigslist so I put them up front. Has any one else experienced this? Any ideas? Thanks for the input!
 
#3 ·
Make sure the coils are properly seated in the lower mounts. There's a small notch the and of the coil will seat into. Otherwise check the torque on swaybar links, shock mounts, especially the lower shock mount, Trac bar. You should be fine with the rear links on the front unless it's sitting your sway bar too high above level. But it still shouldn't cause any noise. U just run the risk of spinning your sway bar if u don't disconnect off-road. Best bet to reseat coils. If everything else checks out it could be a possibility that your shocks are hitting full extension over big bumps. U can order Teraflex front shock extensions if it is.
 
#5 ·
My swaybar links were hitting the frame cross piece (looks like a round pipe extending from side to side" whenever I would go up my driveway or over speedbumps. I had to sawzall off about a 1/4" from each side. Sprayed a little bedliner paint on the raw edge and no more squnk noise from the front end.

On a side note, Teraflex sells the sway bar links separately from the kit.
 
#7 ·
My swaybar links were hitting the frame cross piece (looks like a round pipe extending from side to side" whenever I would go up my driveway or over speedbumps. I had to sawzall off about a 1/4" from each side. Sprayed a little bedliner paint on the raw edge and no more squnk noise from the front end.

On a side note, Teraflex sells the sway bar links separately from the kit.
Thanks! I'll definitely check it when I get home. I'll look for the teraflex links too.
 
#6 ·
Check to see that you torqued the sway bar links correctly. One of mine came a little loose after I did this install. Ever bump I hit, it sounded like what you are describing.
 
#10 ·
Its likely your front swaybar is rubbing on the round crossmember sticking out of the frame. Mine did, a grinder fixed that problem. Took me a bit of poking around to figure out what it was too.

oops,,,i see that was mentioned above already.
 
#11 ·
Its likely your front swaybar is rubbing on the round crossmember sticking out of the frame. Mine did, a grinder fixed that problem. Took me a bit of poking around to figure out what it was too.

oops,,,i see that was mentioned above already.
Thanks for the response. I got in late and wasn't able to check it out. I'll check on it in the morning.
 
#23 ·
You could always go the other way and grind the stud of the sway bar link down if there's enough to make the difference.

After you start doing more mods you'll get over the fear of drilling and grinding the jeep[emoji14]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I thought about grinding the stud but after simulating a bump in the drive way yesterday, the nut on the sway bar link is also hitting.
 
#26 ·
I'm pretty new to wranglers but not mechanics. I installed the TF leveling kit on my 2016 Willys. The difference between mine and your jeep (besides 2-dr on mine) is mine had rubicon shocks. I also installed Spidertrax 1.6" wheel spacers.

The picture of the coil spring and isolator/puck you sent shows the coil not sitting on the isolator correctly. That could be because the axle is down and the axle has moved some though.

I did not loosen my track bar or control arms when I installed the kit either.

I also noticed that the longer TF swaybar links caused the swaybar not to be level but angled up. This causes less room for the top of the swaybar link from hitting. Look to see if your swaybar is angled up and not level as it should be.

I removed my TF leveling kit yesterday and installed the TF 2.5" coil spring lift with shock adapters. Suppose to use the rear swaybar links on the front as stated in the instructions. I measured the stock rear links against the TF links that are installed with the TF leveling kit and they are within 1/4" difference in length. I kept the TF leveling kit links on. The sway bar is now perfectly level.

Just a couple of things to look at. You really shouldn't have to grind anything to get the kit to work with no noise in my opinion.
 
#29 ·
I DID loosen the trackbars and control arms when I install the 2.5" lift. I took the jeep around the block and then retorqed. Lying under the jeep and retorqing the lower control arms to 125 foot lbs by yourself is not recommended! Get some one to help. Took me too much effort and time by myself doing it. One of those things you say Never Again. Not until the next time. Hah!
Do you by chance have a picture of the spring should look like on the isolator if it is on there correctly? I appreciate the replies. I would really love to fix this without having to spend more money on it. Would putting the stock front sway bar links back on help any? Or would it drastically affect handling for the worse?
 
#28 ·
I DID loosen the trackbars and control arms when I install the 2.5" lift. I took the jeep around the block and then retorqed. Lying under the jeep and retorqing the lower control arms to 125 foot lbs by yourself is not recommended! Get some one to help. Took me too much effort and time by myself doing it. One of those things you say Never Again. Not until the next time. Hah!
 
#30 ·
Sorry I dont have a picture as I took the leveling kit off to install the 2.5" lift. Google Teraflex leveling kit CPO and watch his video of his TF leveling kit. You can see how it all looks together.

Have you looked at the angle your swaybar is at? I do believe that is contributing to your problem. I never went over any big bumps so the top of my links never hit anything. But I was aware of the possibility. The stock springs on my Jk were 14/55 so pretty weak. I almost put some 17/58 springs on with the leveling kit but went with the lift instead.

Maybe some adjustable links is something to look at to get the swaybar at the correct angle is the way to go for you.

My coil spring sat into the isolator pretty flush. What does the other side look like?
 
#31 ·
Sorry I dont have a picture as I took the leveling kit off to install the 2.5" lift. Google Teraflex leveling kit CPO and watch his video of his TF leveling kit. You can see how it all looks together.

Have you looked at the angle your swaybar is at? I do believe that is contributing to your problem. I never went over any big bumps so the top of my links never hit anything. But I was aware of the possibility. The stock springs on my Jk were 14/55 so pretty weak. I almost put some 17/58 springs on with the leveling kit but went with the lift instead.

Maybe some adjustable links is something to look at to get the swaybar at the correct angle is the way to go for you.

My coil spring sat into the isolator pretty flush. What does the other side look like?
I'll Google that video and watch it. As far as the angle, it's pretty level. The 17/58 springs are what is on mine so I don't think increasing the the number would whlp much. The only time it rubs is when I go over big bumps or speed bumps. I'll look into the adjustable links.

From what I could tell the other day when I was inspecting it, the other side looks pretty much the same but the sway bar isn't hitting the spring mount.

Sorry about the delayed responses. I'm on graveyard. I really do appreciate your help.
 
#34 ·
So I ended up putting the stock sway bar links back on and it fixed the problem. The sway bar is now angled down a little bit but not enough to worry me. Especially since for right now it's just a daily driver for the most part. If I do go on any trails, I'll just disconnect them. Thank you all for all the help!
 
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