Control Arm questions.

[casual]

With 5.0" of lift & DB should I be getting adjustable upper & lower or fixed??
I've got a 2wd beam up front, so front pinon angle isn't a worry.

Can I get fixed lowers & adjustable uppers?
I'd perfer adjustable uppers so I can change the wheel base a little but is it ok to run fixed lowers?
Any thing I should think about with fixed lowers? pro's & con's maybe?

 

[1990JEEPXJ]

adjustable uppers wont effect wheelbase, lowers will. if you can do it why no get all adjustables to get wheelbase and caster just right?

 

[casual]

Cash is the main reason. its like $500 for a set of adjustable uppers & lowers.

My main concern is what length I need. I was told that if I use drop brackets I would need shorter length arms? Idk maybe I misunderstood.
Jim where are you when I need you lol.

 

[1990JEEPXJ]

i hear ya. arms are not cheap. heres a chart of recommended lengths with DB's.

at about 5" of lift your arms will be close to stock length.

http://www.yuccaman.com/jeep/re_db.html

 

[casual]

Ok so I can get a fixed upper in stock length..maybe a tiny bit longer if I can find one. And then get adjustable lowers.

I'll be using RC drop brackets & welding them on so I'll be damn close to stock lengths.
Thank you for that link. The only one I've seen like that shows what arm length you would need if you were lifted. Never stated w/ drop brackets.
Thanks alot /thread

 

[Speedbump96]

i wouldnt weld the drop brackets on in case you decide to go long arm because u will have to cut ur lower control arm brackets off

 

[slappomatt]

well if you go long arm don't you remove the stock mounts anyways? I plan to when I long arm mine.

 

[WESJxj]

I had to remove my stock arm mounts before installing full traction long arms.

 

[BoringDave]

Cash is the main reason. its like $500 for a set of adjustable uppers & lowers.

My main concern is what length I need. I was told that if I use drop brackets I would need shorter length arms? Idk maybe I misunderstood.
Jim where are you when I need you lol.

I would save up and get long arms. The reason I say this because I have the RC drop brackets. I have now found in order to get the alignment correct I need both upper and lower adjustable control arms. I have 4 1/2" lift springs with stock uppers and 16 1/4 on center fixed lowers. According to the instructions I should only need stock lowers. When I tried to run them the alignment shop could only adjust the caster to 0 or .5 before running out of adjustment. So I installed my fixed arms that came with my lift kit. They then could get it to 4.5 but now my wheel base is all jacked up and it still drives kinda bad.

Dave

 

[1990JEEPXJ]

hes not going to mixing stock arms with fixed aftermarket arms. hes getting one set of fixed aftermarket that are the proper length and one set of adjustables to be able to dial everything in, taking the DB's into account. drop brackets are a great solution if you have either of those already on hand. yes if you were buying drop brackets and 4 new adjustable arms it would be expensive and not really worth it unless you got them used or on sale for a good deal.

 

[BoringDave]

hes not going to mixing stock arms with fixed aftermarket arms. hes getting one set of fixed aftermarket that are the proper length and one set of adjustables to be able to dial everything in, taking the DB's into account. drop brackets are a great solution if you have either of those already on hand. yes if you were buying drop brackets and 4 new adjustable arms it would be expensive and not really worth it unless you got them used or on sale for a good deal.

Oops Misunderstood! I know I must have done something wrong if I have stock uppers and lowers for a 4.5" lift at max adjustment and still have only 4 1/2deg caster.

Dave

 

[Speedbump96]

i would deffinitly save up for long arms there well worth it and there great for go fast and crawling you really cant go wrong

 

[NorCalChris]

Long arms are better, but drop brackets are cheaper. I have DBs and I can tell you know, get adjustable lowers before uppers. I have 5.5RE coils and Re adjustable uppers dont adjust short enough to Align properly. I need to get a set of adjustable lowers. Look at ironman offroad 4x4 fab. they have some good looking stuff and prices. heres their adjustable lower and upper kit.

 

[Speedbump96]

see the thing about that is by the time you buy the short arm kit adjustable uppers and lowers then you have about 350-375 tied up in shipping then u have to buy the drop brackets which are close to 300 your about at the price of a long arm kit which most kits depending on who you go with a long arm upgrade is about anywhere from 700 to 1000

 

[1990JEEPXJ]

but you can find good deals on DB's and arms from people that went long arm. i got my RE DB's with braces for $150. and i already had adjustable uppers and lowers so that was a no brainer.

like me and norcalchris have said, the proper arm length is the trick.

 

[NorCalChris]

yea My rc drop brackets were 150, and last time I checked they are 180 new. Its deffinetly a cheaper alternative. I really want a good three link kit, but I dont have the money. Last year or so my rig has only seen snow and a few trips to hollister hills, everything else was Daily driving it. so for me the drop brackets were the fix.

 

[Cache96]

http://www.ironrockoffroad.com/Merc...=IROR&Product_Code=IR-X_LAK&Category_Code=PFX

599 for front long arms, the ride will be great with these..

I have them on my ZJ and love them. They usually have free shipping specials every other month. Go register at www.jeepforum.com and when you order from IRO you get a 10% discount on shipping if you dont want to wait for a coupon.