I have just installed a 2in rough country lift, I absolutely love the look. One thing i was not expecting seeing as i have not read it anywhere, is that this lift stresses the front shocks to there limit, and going over certain bumps (which i try my best to avoid) it makes a pretty bad noise and pretty much rattles the whole jeep seeing as there's no shock left to absorb the bump. Any one else have this with this lift? it is a pretty bad noise. any suggestions on how to fix it? maybe a different shock? I'm thinking maybe i should have went with the daystar 1 and 1/2 inch lift. if only i had found out about this issue before getting the 2in lift.
need advice on rough country lift
HemiSteve
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No never have. But my lift is newly installed so nothing like that has ever come up
It sucks doesn't it!! Lol. The sound it makes is bad. At least now I know that it just isn't mine. Wish I would have knew about this little nuisance before I installed the 2inch kit..
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519 Posts
It didn't take long for mine to come loose, so it can't hurt to give it a shot and see. It'd clunk when it was coming loose.
2015 Patriot 2.4L 4WD High Altitude w/ 6-speed auto
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7 Posts
Same boat. 2" RC lift and it hits hard over some bumps not all. I got use to it honestly but it does freak you out when it happens. Concern always is that without that extra travel 'space' on the strut. could it be causing more damage then good.
Exactly, I bought the 1and 1/2 inch daystar kit and had my installer just swap out the front 2in spacers for the 1and 1/2 inch spacer and leave all the stuff from the RC lift in the back. looks pretty much exactly the same and the noise over certain bumps is completely gone. And I feel better about not hurting something else. Totally worth the extra couple of bucks for piece of mind.
2015 Patriot 2.4L 4WD High Altitude w/ 6-speed auto
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7 Posts
Makes sense I honestly may do the same. Just sucks that I literally just took them off to put new struts in and have to take them out again
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23 Posts
Very late to this conversation but I just had the Rough Country 2" kit installed last week. Looks great but I have the same hard bang on certain speed bumps. Tire size is 235/65R17 (Toyo A/T Open Country).
Question: Even with the extended strut from Rough Country's front spacers, would switching to a brand new Monroe front strut assembly potentially solve the hard bump?
![92718]( "92718")
Photos taken pre-alignment & camber adjustment by a good 4x4 shop.
An aside: After the RC install, I separately made two trips to Firestone Complete Auto for alignment. Wheels were aligned, but there was positive camber on the front end (wheels tipped out at the top) and they couldn't figure out how to get to neutral so I wouldn't burn my outer tread at a rapid rate.
![92719]( "92719")
You can see the front wheel tipped out at top. Camber bolt adjustment fixed it.
Since they don't specialize in lifted vehicle alignments, they didn't know what to do with the camber bolts that came with the kit and were installed on the front strut knuckles.
![92721]( "92721")
New camber bolt (Rough Country) is the shiny black one at top of the knuckle.
Took it to an off-road shop that deals and installs a lot of Rough Country kits, and he straighten out the toe for me like an expert. He also commented that he liked the new kit configuration with the rear lower control arms. Long story short, don't go to Firestone or any other retail alignment shop after getting your kit installed. A proper off-road / 4x4 shop that deals with a lot of lifts should know what they're doing.
Question: Even with the extended strut from Rough Country's front spacers, would switching to a brand new Monroe front strut assembly potentially solve the hard bump?
Photos taken pre-alignment & camber adjustment by a good 4x4 shop.
An aside: After the RC install, I separately made two trips to Firestone Complete Auto for alignment. Wheels were aligned, but there was positive camber on the front end (wheels tipped out at the top) and they couldn't figure out how to get to neutral so I wouldn't burn my outer tread at a rapid rate.
You can see the front wheel tipped out at top. Camber bolt adjustment fixed it.
Since they don't specialize in lifted vehicle alignments, they didn't know what to do with the camber bolts that came with the kit and were installed on the front strut knuckles.
New camber bolt (Rough Country) is the shiny black one at top of the knuckle.
Took it to an off-road shop that deals and installs a lot of Rough Country kits, and he straighten out the toe for me like an expert. He also commented that he liked the new kit configuration with the rear lower control arms. Long story short, don't go to Firestone or any other retail alignment shop after getting your kit installed. A proper off-road / 4x4 shop that deals with a lot of lifts should know what they're doing.
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66 Posts
And this is supposed to help how?
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66 Posts
Have the same problem with my 2" RC lift. Loud jarring bang when exiting a speed bump or dropping into a pot hole. I had the lift installed by professional 4x4 shop . They recommended the RC lift. When lift was installed it had the factory 17" all weather tires that came with the Jeep . The jarring bang was there with these factory size tires. Two wks later I had 245/65 17 A/T's installed . Tire size was recommended by RC. Still the same jarring/banging noise.
I intend to go back to the install shop to see what they recommend . In my opinion , it is either the shock travel or how the lift is mounted. But that is just speculation. Anyway , it needs to be addressed as I fear possible damage from the pounding .Or at the minimum I will have a rattle trap in short order
P.S. I lifted the Jeep for light off road use. Also install a class three reciever hitch for jet ski towing. I have been able to purchase the front and left gas tank skid plates and plan to install as soon as I get the mounting hardware. Unfortunately , the right gas tank skid plate is not carried anywhere. Anybody have one to sell?
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143 Posts
Mine was a failed front shock absorber đź‘Ť
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1 Posts
Greetings all, this is my first post here.
I purchased a 2017 patriot in December.
I just put on a rocky road lift which I believe is 2 1/8.
I found this post while researching tire sizes that are available now with the lift.
just as a note to any installation at least with the rocky road lift….
they give you two bolts per wheel for the sway bar link extensions. I only needed to use one bolt in each wheel, as the sway bar link occupies the other hole.
I did note that it is important to make sure you install this bolt with the threads facing outward!!!, so that the threads do not hit the sway bar. ***
Other than that which is an important observation to make when installing, when removing all four wheels and placing in the space or Lift I noted that all four wheels are Struts. Not shocks.
since the spacers go on top of the struts and lift the body, there should be no additional strut travel within your struts.“When you guys are saying or speaking of “shocks” I’m not sure exactly what you mean?
regardless, there is no additional travel as the struts are Not extended or collapsed, you’re simply putting a plate above them.
I put in my lift and went to take it for an alignment. It sounded a little Clunky so I checked it when I got home and that’s when I observed how the bolts were Hitting against the sway bar. I could see the sway bar link was scarred from impact so check yours!!!! I also noted that one of my sway bar links appear to have been a little loose when I put it in. So I tightened it up. After that when test driving for about 20 minutes, it felt amazing quiet and tight as it did before the lift installed.
Just wanted to pass that along.
I purchased a 2017 patriot in December.
I just put on a rocky road lift which I believe is 2 1/8.
I found this post while researching tire sizes that are available now with the lift.
just as a note to any installation at least with the rocky road lift….
they give you two bolts per wheel for the sway bar link extensions. I only needed to use one bolt in each wheel, as the sway bar link occupies the other hole.
I did note that it is important to make sure you install this bolt with the threads facing outward!!!, so that the threads do not hit the sway bar. ***
Other than that which is an important observation to make when installing, when removing all four wheels and placing in the space or Lift I noted that all four wheels are Struts. Not shocks.
since the spacers go on top of the struts and lift the body, there should be no additional strut travel within your struts.“When you guys are saying or speaking of “shocks” I’m not sure exactly what you mean?
regardless, there is no additional travel as the struts are Not extended or collapsed, you’re simply putting a plate above them.
I put in my lift and went to take it for an alignment. It sounded a little Clunky so I checked it when I got home and that’s when I observed how the bolts were Hitting against the sway bar. I could see the sway bar link was scarred from impact so check yours!!!! I also noted that one of my sway bar links appear to have been a little loose when I put it in. So I tightened it up. After that when test driving for about 20 minutes, it felt amazing quiet and tight as it did before the lift installed.
Just wanted to pass that along.
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66 Posts
Well after living with the banging from the RC 2" lift. I contacted RC about it. They said that they have never heard of this issue (?) and wanted me to send them an audio of the sound! Well I wasn't quite happy with that response since it has been an issue that is posted on the web for a while now.
After a year of living with this teeth rattling bang I just purchased the RC loaded struts on Ebay . I haven't installed yet as they just came in today.
So, after purchasing the lift kit and having a shop (4wheel) install for around $750 total and now paying another $335 for struts , I decided to install myself (at least try). So cost for a 2" lift will be over a grand ! Not sure of the value there.
P.S. I also used RC recommended tire size (see RC site) for a 2" lift and the tires still rub. :/
After a year of living with this teeth rattling bang I just purchased the RC loaded struts on Ebay . I haven't installed yet as they just came in today.
So, after purchasing the lift kit and having a shop (4wheel) install for around $750 total and now paying another $335 for struts , I decided to install myself (at least try). So cost for a 2" lift will be over a grand ! Not sure of the value there.
P.S. I also used RC recommended tire size (see RC site) for a 2" lift and the tires still rub. :/
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41 Posts
You may want to look at Post #29 from HemiSteve. He seems to have solved the problem.
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15 Posts
Hey, I know I’m late to the Convo but I currently have a 2012 Latitude Patriot seeking to get a lift as well, I’m currently stuck on rather what lift to get I like the higher clearance however fear of same happening to mine if I just install the 2Inch RC lift as well. Any suggestions? I know you said you ordered and installed the daystar 1 1/2 inch lift for the front and kept the 2inches in the back. What was all included for the back only and if you still have the car how has that gone over time?
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