Dobinson 4 inch lift problem

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Joined
Dec 29, 2024
Threads
5
Messages
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Location
Texas
Alright here we go, so i ordered the full dobinson 4 inch lift kit. MRR shocks, springs, castor correction plates/bushings, sway bar drop brackets for front and back, bump stop extensions, steering stabilizer, upper and lower trailing arms, adjustable pan hard rods. So i went with a local off road shop that I’ve used in the past to install the kit. Now here’s the problem I’m having, when mocking the kit up while it was up on the lift the guys noticed the tie rod didn’t clear the radius arm. So we called dobinson and one of their “call centers techs” ASSURED us it would clear once the shocks and everything were mounted and the vehicle was sitting on the ground at normal ride height. And that if i wanted more clearance i could opt to shave an 8th of inch of the radius arms but that it wouldn’t be necessary. So fast forward to install being pretty much done minus the tie rod being hooked up, they lower the vehicle and wouldn’t you know the tie rod is not even close to clearing the radius arms. Can’t even get the thing bolted up. Looks like about 1/2-3/4 of inch would have to be grinded off in order to have the clearance needed. Nowhere did i read when buying the kit that this would be an issue. So im curious Has anyone else ran into this problem? I know i can buy new radius arms, radius arm drop down brackets etc to get the clearance i need but that’s kind of besides the point. I’ve already spent 6k on the kit alone so having to purchase more parts that dobinson never said I’d need to make it work is kind of crazy. Thanks for any input in advance.
 
Did you install both castor correction plates and caster correction bushings?
 
It’s most likely the castor plates!
Spring don’t change the relationship of the tie rod to the control arms.
The 1/2 to 3/4” seems like a lot.
Why was the tie rod removed that’s not necessary to install a lift kit.
 
That’s why I like the @landtank plates they rotate the axle instead of just raising the front.
 
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Nothing works as well as custom control arms.
 
Yessir both were ordered and installed.

Well, there is your problem. Remove the caster correction bushings, and go back to OEM bushings.

I believe the plates are all you need and they add about 5° degrees. You can measure your current caster to see if it is in spec or not. You might have too much currently.
 
It’s most likely the castor plates!
Spring don’t change the relationship of the tie rod to the control arms.
The 1/2 to 3/4” seems like a lot.
Why was the tie rod removed that’s not necessary to install a lift kit.
I agree, but that’s what its looking like its going to take. Now obviously it’s a shot in the dark until the grinding actually starts but i think it’ll defintely be more than an 8th of an inch. What bothers me the most is this isnt mentioned anywhere when purchasing the kit. Otherwise i would have found a way to circumvent the issue before hand but that’s neither here nor there. So Land tanks design is better?
 
I had to look up Dobinson's Caster bushings and plates for the 80 series. I might not have picked the exact parts....

They can have a several positions: 0° to 2.5° and recommended for 0 to 3" lift.
variable up to 2.5° of caster adjustment, suitable for 0" to 3" of lift

The caster plates add 5°, and appears to be used for 5 to 7" lifts.
used when vehicle lift height is 5" to 7

Using both adds too much caster, rotating the axle too much.
 
So Land tanks design is better?
I think so.
Well, there is your problem. Remove the caster correction bushings, and go back to OEM bushings.

I believe the plates are all you need and they add about 5° degrees. You can measure your current caster to see if it is in spec or not. You might have too much currently.
I agree with this.

And don’t grind more the the casting mark off the top of the control arms
 
I had to look up Dobinson's Caster bushings and plates for the 80 series. I might not have picked the exact parts....

They can have a several positions: 0° to 2.5° and recommended for 0 to 3" lift.


The caster plates add 5°, and appears to be used for 5 to 7" lifts.


Using both adds too much caster, rotating the axle too much.
That makes complete sense. Definitely not designed to be used in conjunction with one another. even though they were both recommended by the vendor lol I’m pretty new to all this so i completely missed that. Guess ignorance makes me equally as responsible lol
 
thinking about it, the bushings might allow you to remove caster, assuming the plates added too much. If the shop installed the bushings to add caster, instead of removing caster, then that would cause over rotation issues with the axle, creating interference issues with the radius arms.
 
Lose the caster bushings, ideally buy Delta's radius arms, but for a more budget friendly option, use caster plates.

Never had anything resembling decent durability out of caster bushings and they're very likely not enough for a 4" lift on their own.
 
That makes complete sense. Definitely not designed to be used in conjunction with one another. even though they were both recommended by the vendor lol I’m pretty new to all this so i completely missed that. Guess ignorance makes me equally as responsible lol
All the info has been gone through here many times ! I see that your new but all you have to do is ask or do a google search and it will bring you right back to MUD with multiple answers to any question :cool:

AGAIN don't grind more then the casting marks off the tops of the control arms !!
 
Stay far away from caster bushings they really don't work well and must be replaced more frequently that the factory bushes. I know the caster plates work but going with the Delta arms is really a no brainer. I had CBs in mine at first and when I went to the Delta arms, what a difference!
 
If no brainer equals "price is no object", then well, yes, Delta arms are a no brainer.

I run Landtank caster plates on my 80 because my 80 budget isn't sufficient to afford Delta arms.
I run them also.
Mostly because the Delta arms were not available at the time.
And the LandTank plates work great at what there designed for ! Correcting caster
 

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