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Max lift before I have to change contol arms?

simonsxj

NAXJA Forum User
I am wanting to run 31" tires on stock rims. What is the minimum lift I can run and what is the max I can run without changing the control arms? Any help would be great. Thanks,

Simon
P.S. Where would I find photos of an XJ with 31" and small lift?
 
u could run up to a six inch lift if u want to!!!! will be fine!! norcalxj did it and he wheeled it like that too!!!! it was bling bling!!

stoney
 
simonsxj said:
I am wanting to run 31" tires on stock rims. What is the minimum lift I can run and what is the max I can run without changing the control arms? Any help would be great. Thanks,

Simon
P.S. Where would I find photos of an XJ with 31" and small lift?

31" tires should have at least 2-3" of lift.

Stock control arms are fine up to 2" for lowers and 3" for uppers in my book.

People have GOTTEN away with all kinds of things but the above is suggested from years of dealing with lifts on XJs.

mark
 
Mark Hinkley said:
Stock control arms are fine up to 2" for lowers and 3" for uppers in my book.

:eek:
 
eh, egg out the holes in the frame ends of the LCAs a hair to dial in caster and then run it.

there's so many variations in manufacturing that some can get away with 6" just fine on stockers and others have to change them at smaller heights.

you're talking about something where a 1/4" can make a world of difference ;)
 
I have a temp lift of 4" and 31-12.50 X-terrains with stock control arms top and bottom. No problems and rides suprisingly well :)
 
I ran my MJ at 4.5" approx (3" coils & 1.75" spacers) with OEM CAs and steering as a DD/trail rig... with no handling issues to howl over. I ran 33x12.5 BFG MTs.

Most folks have higher standards of handling though...so YMMV.
 
In general you want a 3" lift for 31" tires.

I have been running stock control arms on a 4.5" lift for a long time. I am able to set castor well and it drives ok, but it is not a daily driver. There is no way that I would run stock arms over 4.5" of lift simply because they are weak and you should use something stronger for that much lift.

Michael
 
stoney was thinking of stock length with no drop bracket....... you can run 4" of lift with the stock lowers and for the uppers i have seen people run 8" of lift.
 
Stock arms are real strong :rolleyes:

standard


standard



Real hardcore stuff. :laugh2:


PS Jes thanks for the picture! :D
 
I never thought they were strong (you can tell just by looking at them) I just wondered about needing them at 2 and 3"s of lift.
 
At 3" of lift, it's questionable. Your only talking a 1/4" on the LCA's center of hole to center of hole. UCA's don't come into play until 5" of lift or higher. Here's a chart to help you decide.

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

As for your tire question, 31's fit nicely with 3" lifts.
 
Not to mention that when the stock LCA stops the axle droop by binding against the axle bracket/spring perch (which will happen with any shock that can extend two inches more than stock) it is trying to rip the bracket off the axle.
 
WOW! Thanks guys. Right now I am low on money. I will be building heim joint control arms out of .120 wall chrommoly tubing when I get the money. I won't be running stock arms forever. I think I will build some 3" spacers and relocate the the rear shackle, with a small block and then go from there. Thanks for the info.
 
XJBill said:
At 3" of lift, it's questionable. Your only talking a 1/4" on the LCA's center of hole to center of hole. UCA's don't come into play until 5" of lift or higher. Here's a chart to help you decide.

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

As for your tire question, 31's fit nicely with 3" lifts.
where did you find this info?
i am also running 31`s with a three inch lift and getting ready to go to four.....so is it ok to chang the lca and leave the uca stock? or will that throw any bad handling characteristics into the game?
 
xjhm said:
where did you find this info?

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
QUOTE]

This is not information, it's mis-information; sometimes known as SPOBI.

Wipe out the numbers from 5" on up, add a few disclaimers such as it should only get you in the ballpark and it doesn't allow for forward movement of the tire when stuffed, then it might be useful.
 
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