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Control Arms/front drive shaft length 5-6 lift

xElwayj

NAXJA Forum User
I have a 99 xj. It has the chrysler 8.25 rear. I currently have the RE 3.5 spring packs in the rear and Rough Country 3" coils w/ RE 1.75" spacers in front. It sits level. Drive train is corrected with AA SYE and Tom Woods rear CV Shaft. I have stock upper control arms with Rough Country LCA's (not adjustable). My goal is to lift about 1.5" higer to go from my 31" tires to 32" without trimming and without experiencing drivetrain problems. For the rear I am going to add RE blocks to the spring packs to get the added height. I'm discarding all Rough Country stuff and replacing it with RE 4.5 springs in front and will add the spacers if needed to level it out.

Question #1: Will my current drive train set up in the rear handle 5" of lift w/o getting vibration?

Question #2: Will I need to get a longer front cv shaft, or will the stock handle 5" of lift?

Question #3: Do I need adjustable Upper C.A.'s, or will the stock work at that height?

Question #4: I know I should get adjustable LCA's but I would like to save the $$ and just lengthen the current Rough Country LCA's. What length from eye to eye for 5" of lift?

I know I will need to extend the brake lines etc. Any other things I need to think about? Will I need a drop Pitman at 5" in the front? I know I will need to adjust my trac bar. Thanks! -Chris
 
xElwayj said:
I have a 99 xj. It has the chrysler 8.25 rear. I currently have the RE 3.5 spring packs in the rear and Rough Country 3" coils w/ RE 1.75" spacers in front. It sits level. Drive train is corrected with AA SYE and Tom Woods rear CV Shaft. I have stock upper control arms with Rough Country LCA's (not adjustable). My goal is to lift about 1.5" higer to go from my 31" tires to 32" without trimming and without experiencing drivetrain problems. For the rear I am going to add RE blocks to the spring packs to get the added height. I'm discarding all Rough Country stuff and replacing it with RE 4.5 springs in front and will add the spacers if needed to level it out.

Question #1: Will my current drive train set up in the rear handle 5" of lift w/o getting vibration?

Question #2: Will I need to get a longer front cv shaft, or will the stock handle 5" of lift?

Question #3: Do I need adjustable Upper C.A.'s, or will the stock work at that height?

Question #4: I know I should get adjustable LCA's but I would like to save the $$ and just lengthen the current Rough Country LCA's. What length from eye to eye for 5" of lift?

I know I will need to extend the brake lines etc. Any other things I need to think about? Will I need a drop Pitman at 5" in the front? I know I will need to adjust my trac bar. Thanks! -Chris

Here's a chart for LCA/UCA Length - you'll need slightly longer arms to keep from getting a vibe up front, but the shaft length should be okay.

As for vibes, I'd expect them - but you should be able to change/install shims to correct.


Lift......................LCA............./............UCA
********Decimal**Fraction**Decimal**Fraction
Stock........15.75.......15 ¾........15.00.......15
2”.............15.92.......16............14.88.......15
3”.............16.09.......16............14.92.......15
4”.............16.33.......16 3/8......15.03.......15
4.5”..........16.47.......16 ½........15.11.......15
5”.............16.62.......16 5/8......15.21.......15 ¼
6”.............16.97.......17............15.44.......15 ½
7”.............17.36.......17 3/8......15.74.......15 ¾
8”.............17.81.......17 ¾........16.09.......16
9”.............18.30.......18 ¼........16.50.......16 ½
10”...........18.82.......18 ¾........16.96.......17
 
okay, you will need both upper and lower control arms. they don't necessarily need to be adjustable; however, it is helpful in setting camber alignment to the dime... you may also need some new or want to upgrade to ss rear and front brakelines. i would recommend it. basically, it sounds like you're trying to piece together some RE parts, which is definitely a good decision over any rough country product.
your front shaft should be fine and the rear should be ok too. there may be more vibes though.
Also, if you plan on lengthening you lower control arms, you may as well make them adjustable. its not as important to have adjustable upper control arms at that height.
don't forget the new shocks. i would highly recommend the Rubicon manufacturing shocks. they may be pricey, but they are way better than anything i've ridden on. little stiffer than OME shocks.

Brandon,
Look out, it seems like you're cathcing the case of inchitis. i started at RE4.5 and now i sit after settling at around 7" i used a mixture of rusty, currie, and RE parts. this seems to be the best setup for me.
 
XJack said:
Here's a chart for LCA/UCA Length - you'll need slightly longer arms to keep from getting a vibe up front, but the shaft length should be okay.

As for vibes, I'd expect them - but you should be able to change/install shims to correct.

Lift......................LCA............./............UCA
********Decimal**Fraction**Decimal**Fraction
Stock........15.75.......15 ¾........15.00.......15
2”.............15.92.......16............14.88.......15
3”.............16.09.......16............14.92.......15
4”.............16.33.......16 3/8......15.03.......15
4.5”..........16.47.......16 ½........15.11.......15
5”.............16.62.......16 5/8......15.21.......15 ¼
6”.............16.97.......17............15.44.......15 ½
7”.............17.36.......17 3/8......15.74.......15 ¾
8”.............17.81.......17 ¾........16.09.......16
9”.............18.30.......18 ¼........16.50.......16 ½
10”...........18.82.......18 ¾........16.96.......17

Here's another chart for LCA/UCA. The numbers are slightly different, but it also comes from an unknown source so it should be every bit as accurate.

Lift......................LCA............./............UCA
********Decimal**Fraction**Decimal**Fraction
Stock........15.75.......15 ¾.......15.00.......15
2".............15.88.......15 ¾.......15.13.......15
3".............16.03.......16...........15.30.......15 ¼
4" ............16.25.......16 ¼.......15.52.......15 ½
4.5"..........16.38.......16 3/8......15.66.......15 5/8
5" ............16.52.......16 ½.......15.81.......15 ¾
6".............16.85.......16 ¾.......16.16.......16 ¼
7".............17.24.......17 ¼.......16.55.......16 ½
8" ............17.67.......17 ¾.......17.00.......17
9".............18.14.......18 ¼.......17.49.......17 ½
10"...........18.66.......18 5/8......18.03.......18

One word of warning: neither of these charts factor in reality. Your mileage may vary. :shhh:
 
Wait!!!

Here's another one. This was also found on the internet, so it should have the same accuracy as the other two.

Lift......................LCA............./............UCA
********Decimal**Fraction**Decimal**Fraction
Stock........15.75.......15 ¾.......15.00......15
2".............15.97.......16...........15.00......15
3".............16.17.......16 ¼.......15.10......15 1/8
4".............16.43.......16 ½.......15.26......15 ¼
4.5"..........16.59........16 ½......15.37.......15 3/8
5".............16.75.......16 ¾.......15.49.......15 ½
6".............17.12.......17 1/8.....15.78.......15 ¾
7".............17.54.......17 ½.......16.13.......16 1/8
8".............18.00.......18...........16.52.......16 ½
9".............18.51.......18 ½.......16.97.......17
10"...........19.05........19..........17.46.......17 ½


You may have to buy three sets of control arms...

or maybe just average the numbers from each table...

or wonder if charts that don't take reality into account should be trusted ;)
 
:confused1: With that many control arm length choices, find/build yourself some adjustibles and line it up as close as possible before the alignment.
 
:wow: I just measured the center to center bolt hole diameter on my Rusty's UCA and it was 15 7/8". The LCA was right 17".

Kinda an average!! ;)
 
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