Noise after lift, 97TJ, bump stop shaft & spring?

Hi,

Hearing a noise at about 25~30mph, during a slow left curve. Sound seems to amplify when small bumps are hit also during a left curve at same speed.

Over the Christmas break I installed a 4" lift on a 97 TJ, 4.0, standard. After the lift was installed I took it to a suspension specialist that aligned it and installed 2 offset ball joints. The offset ball joints help to bring the alignment in better.

During the installation process I noticed a real close fit between the passenger side front spring and the bump stop shaft at the top of the spring. It almost looks like the bump stop shaft does not fit exactly in the center of the spring. In fact the bump stop shaft seems to angle towards the front of jeep, just missing the spring by about 0.25 inches. Since the sound I have noticed some paint removed from the inside of the spring and on the bump stop shaft.

Prior to the lift, I consulted with a number of jeepers concerning bump stops and they indicated if I did not go over jumps or the jeep was not dropped from any distance, they did not see the need for new bump stops. So I opted not to put bump stops on this lift project.

Question on bump stop shaft that comes from the inside top of the fender to about mid way down the spring.

1. Do I need this shaft? Could I take a metal blade in a Sawzall and cut the metal bump stop shaft out, a little at a time as to not having to remove the spring?

I would only need to remove about ½ of this bump stop shaft.

Thanks,

Paul

snipped-for-privacy@houston.rr.com