H3T Hans3T's Tuff Country Build

[benlaud87]

i had a squak on mine which ended up being a loose bolt on my bumper. hopefully yours is as easy of a fix as that. if you push down on the front or bounce on the veicle a little you might be able to tell where the noise is coming from.

 

[Hans3T]

Hmm, I am not sure that it would be my bumper making that noise, but you never know. I will have to do some "bouncing" as you suggested.

I am fairly confident, however, that it is coming from something that moves/pivots when I turn my wheels. Hmm....

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[06 H3]

get your fiance to jump up and down on the front end and you get underneath barney, just follow the sound...

 

[seventwozero]

I'll be receiving a BS in Management & Entrepreneurship with a minor in Marketing.

Don't be discouraged by the market. Where there is a will, there is a way. I know a lot of my buddies have sort of put their tails in between there legs and plan on just moving home and finding part-time junk... Stay vigilante, throw a lot of lines out, and a fish will bite.



I'm sure if you asked my old man what my major was, he might say that!! :wink:

Not to get too far OT but Hans is right on point, any other sort of thinking will only get you no where.

Oh, the lift looks great Hans! I've always had a think for those 3T's and the slantback.. ya know.. a behind closed doors with a bottle of lotion sort of thing.

:giggle:

 

[Portager]

TMI! I'm not letting you anywhere near my T.

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[Hans3T]

get your fiance to jump up and down on the front end and you get underneath barney, just follow the sound...

LMAO!! I don't think she's heavy enough! Maybe she and her 2 sisters! :wink:

That is a good point though - I will do that when I'm back in VT. I'm keeping my old man company on a business trip in WV and Barney got is first ever stay in the garage back home!

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[Hans3T]

Not to get too far OT but Hans is right on point, any other sort of thinking will only get you no where.

Oh, the lift looks great Hans! I've always had a think for those 3T's and the slantback.. ya know.. a behind closed doors with a bottle of lotion sort of thing.

:giggle:

Thanks kindly, 720! I've had a couple bites, and actually have a 2nd interview next week. I'm keeping my guard up and spirits bright. :cheers:

As for the complement...thanks so much! Glad to see I'm not the only guy with that condition! :wink: :giggle:

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[Hans3T]

TMI! I'm not letting you anywhere near my T.

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Hahahaha... Yours is white, so at least stains....ehhh...nevermind.

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[kflips]

TMI! I'm not letting you anywhere near my T.

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What's wrong with a little turtle wax

 

[Portager]

What's wrong with a little turtle wax

I don't apply turtle wax behind closed doors with a bottle of lotion.

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[alrock]

Bushings, bolts, ball joints. Lots of stuff can make that noise. Just gotta get the truck moving and listen for the noise. You may be able to see the issue if it is a loose bolt as there's probably shiny metal in that area.

 

[Medic_Morgan]

P


Sent from my iPhone

 

[Hans3T]

Just to sort of update this thread...the squeaks still come and go, but I'm pretty used to it now. Everything functions and that is the important thing. I keep telling myself it will never be 100% perfect... it's a truck and its gonna squeak some. Life goes on. Haha!

So yeah, things are good.

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[bebe]

Bebe's SOA is probably better suited to IFS guys...it uses tahoe-based main leaf.

It does not - and every SOA, whether OEM or aftermarket is done for lift and clearance.

I have a stock OEM leaf pack with an added second leaf that is from a Tahoe (Tow Package).

SOA is SOA - has nothing to do with IFS or SA.

What are you talking about?

 

[05Mudiak]

FYI. we have been getting a froint end rattle for a while now. I shot it down to the sway bar end links are worn (heim joints) and now the rear just started ratteling too. Its the rear sway bars bushings going to pull both apart this week and see if I can get a local source to replace the worn parts. I assume Tuff Country uses the cheapest parts they can get their hands on. Lifts been on now 2yrs and about 20k'ish miles

 

[4speedfunk]

What are you talking about?

Bebe, I was talking about your original SOA (way back when you had the stock front IFS). I thought you used a late model Tahoe main spring that was flatter...to limit the amount of rear lift you ended up with? I could be wrong...this was years ago.

Anyway...my point was: Those folks wanting to do an spring-over rear while keeping their stock IFS, might want to look into using a flatter (Tahoe) spring. After all, the SOA is gonna give you 6.5" and you can only crank the stock front up so far. So even with chopping and re-welding the front hangers...the stock springs might still be too much rear lift for the stock IFS.

 

[06 H3]

I agree....if your gonna spring over it use the rancho front portion if your keeping the ifs. I like this setup so far

 

[4speedfunk]

Exactly. Like the GM "Moab Edition".

 

[bebe]

Bebe, I was talking about your original SOA (way back when you had the stock front IFS). I thought you used a late model Tahoe main spring that was flatter...to limit the amount of rear lift you ended up with? I could be wrong...this was years ago.

Anyway...my point was: Those folks wanting to do an spring-over rear while keeping their stock IFS, might want to look into using a flatter (Tahoe) spring. After all, the SOA is gonna give you 6.5" and you can only crank the stock front up so far. So even with chopping and re-welding the front hangers...the stock springs might still be too much rear lift for the stock IFS.

The Original SOA kept the H3 springs intact. We didn't switch to the Tahoe second leaf until after the second version which added not only the second Tahoe leaf but the overloads and the shims.

My first SOA had a net lift of 4" the second gave me 5" net.

The key was to subtract the lift by removing the hangers and putting the OEM rear shackles back on. I'm still running the OEM shackles.

A 4" lift in the rear and a 2.25 inch torsion bar lift gave me the stock 1.75" differential front to rear for a stock "rake". It worked great!

 

[4speedfunk]

Okay...my bad. Thanks for the clarify. My SA rig sits very high, and I would like to lower it about an inch...but that might require some fender trimming to keep the 37"s. Unlike your IFS...I have very little up-travel due to the oil pan and frame rails. So, I can't really "stuff" my front tires up into the fenders. I'm still in the "tweeking" phase and trying to find the sweet spot between road manners and off-road capability. I'm extremely happy with where I'm at now but, anytime I can lower my COG and tighten up the suspension, I'm all for it. I'm not an extreme wheeler, and I built this rig to lean towards the mild side. Although now that I'm done with the SAS, I find myself creeping deeper & deeper into some hardcore stuff!

 

[Hans3T]

So I have had the lift on for 10K miles and change, and I have had a very stiff ride. It has been that way the whole time as far as I can recall. A lot of Rancho folks say how nice their rigs ride after lifting, so I must be missing something or be surrounded by truth-stretchers! :wink:

Will different shocks help smooth things out?

06H3 said he may have some ideas...lay it on me, bud!

 

[06 H3]

first things first. What was the original ride like? What was it like with the add a leaves? Then the deavers and now? Trying to determine when it started to change first.

 

[Hans3T]

Since the lift went on, the front has always been harsh. The add-a-leaves were HORRIBLE. The Deavers are firm, but not as bad.

Stock rode like a dream. :wink:

 

[06 H3]

Deavers are firm as they were made to hold 400lbs over stock but better then the add a leaf pack. Can u send me some pics of the tc setup? I've never seen it.

Some initial things that come to mind.

First the bumpstops aren't oem so their dampening may be worse. Second I wonder how the torsion bar sits. Is it on a drop bracket or oem location? Is it straight or at a downward angle to tc crossmember?

 

[Hans3T]

I'll snap some pics...