Rough Country drop bracket install w/ pics

Just got thru installing my RC drop brackets. As several others have posted I had trouble with my lca fitting in the mount box. The drivers side was very tight. I had to pry with a screwdriver and use a floor jack to force it in. The passenger side was worse. I took lca off (stock arm-never wheeled-perfect condition) and measured the arm and the RC bracket. The bracket was almost 1/8 " too narrow (or the metel sleeve in the stock mount was to long). I got a bucket of water and ground the lca sleeve and soaked to keep the rubber from getting too hot. Trial and error till it would fit. I am not blaming RC. It could be that the sleeve in the lca was too long. The RC drop brackets are very well made and I am satisfied with them. The RC drop brackets, 1.75" spacer, and adjustable trac bar is a lot of work for and old 61 year by himself. Honey, where's the ALLEVE?:laugh3:
 
I just fitted a set of these over here in Oz after reading about them here for the friend.
The only thing I would recommend differently to the instructions is using a 5/16" drill for the bolts and start the threading by tapping the end of the socket extension while turning it by hand until you feel it bite. Then use you ratchet to drive it in the rest of the way. The smaller drill size give a much stronger bite into the frame.
Also another advantage of the shorter braces over the RE ones I have is that they don't spring out of alignment if you drop your cross member and haven't fitted the extra bolt like I show in the write up.
http://www.go.jeep-xj.info/HowtoREdropbrackets1.htm
 
Has anyone used these with JKS control arms? I'd be interested in seeing how they fit with those - after reading about some people having problems getting their control arms to fit in the brackets....

GRIMUS99XJ, any insight on this? were your drop brackets made with a specific control arm or bushing in mind?
 
They were built with our control arms and bushings however I have sold a few sets to guys with jks and re control arms and little to no issue with fitment. It is my belief that besides the arms being pretty snug going in brkt everythng else is good
 
Chris @ GATR said:
The RE moves the frame mount point farther forward, reclaiming some of the lost wheelbase. Again, think about the geometry of the "radius arm" setup and look at my drawing. The pivot point is still off from where it needs to be. I am not saying it isn't a decent idea, I am just stating my concern with the RC design. Again, RE has never been chincy in the design/manufacturing process, so I would definitely consider the RE over the RC.
Click to expand...

Why do people keep saying this? Have you held both inyour hands next toeach other? I have. They are the same thing.hasta
 
tinnocker30 said:
Just got thru installing my RC drop brackets. As several others have posted I had trouble with my lca fitting in the mount box. The drivers side was very tight. I had to pry with a screwdriver and use a floor jack to force it in. The passenger side was worse. I took lca off (stock arm-never wheeled-perfect condition) and measured the arm and the RC bracket. The bracket was almost 1/8 " too narrow (or the metel sleeve in the stock mount was to long). I got a bucket of water and ground the lca sleeve and soaked to keep the rubber from getting too hot. Trial and error till it would fit. I am not blaming RC. It could be that the sleeve in the lca was too long. The RC drop brackets are very well made and I am satisfied with them. The RC drop brackets, 1.75" spacer, and adjustable trac bar is a lot of work for and old 61 year by himself. Honey, where's the ALLEVE?:laugh3:
Click to expand...
After reading this post and doing some thinking and a little bit of research I have come to two conclusions. First not everyone has a "Honey" to get them ALLEVE nor do we send ALLEVE with the kits LOL. In all honesty the only thing we can find that is causing this is the bolt going through the drop brkt in original mount is getting torqed to specs before lower arm is put in (NOW THIS IS OUR FAULT DUE TO INSTRUCTIONS TELLING YOU TO) We have now corrected the instuctions and this should fix the issue of the LCA being snug. We are also putting crush sleeves in the kit to stop this from happening in the future.

Thanks Jason
 
Last edited:
Well I have started putting these on my MJ so far it’s been an easy set up. I only have the driver side almost done I need to finish tighten every thing a put my upper control arm on. Then it’s off to do the passenger side.
So here is a pic of the driver side:
310971116.jpg

And here is the passenger side.
310971115.jpg

My upper control arm on the passenger side:
310971112.jpg

See how steep of an angle my arms were at compared to what they will be. And yes it did push my front axle forward like an 1” or so but this was great since my arms were to short for my lift this will but the axle back to about stock if not a little more forward than stock.
 
AutoAudioXJ said:
Why do people keep saying this? Have you held both inyour hands next toeach other? I have. They are the same thing.hasta
Click to expand...

I haven't but it seems that adjustable CA's would correct any of those problems.
Sure I want long arms but these are definitly within my price range as I am already lifted 5.5" and bounce all over the freeway.
The only thing that would discourage me is hanging up on rocks but I think I could learn a different line and be fine. "GRIMUS" you will be haring from me within about 2 weeks.
 
man im glad i found this thread! ive been heavily considering picking up the RE drop brackets but you cant beat $200! I still have some more research as i am going to be doing 3 or 4 upgrades along with this. A+ thread!
 
i finshed installing the drop brackets today on the Comanche.:party:
311547451.jpg


311547446.jpg

here is the best before shot that i have:
295874284.jpg


and after:
311547443.jpg
 
Last edited:
Rockhound89 said:
i finshed installing the drop brackets today on the Comanche.:party:
311547451.jpg

311547449.jpg

311547446.jpg
Click to expand...

Look at them pizza cutters!
 
yeah and for the most part they well go any where I like them better than my old 33x12.5 claws thats for sure. I am getting ready to go to a 34x10.5 LTB with a set of DIY4x beadlocks.
 
Just finished my install today. I left all the hardware loose (just enough thread for the nut).
Set my adj. RE UCA to 15.25" and the BDS Adj. LCA to 16.".
One of the easiest installs i've ever done. -B
 
I just finished installing mine this past Saturday. With 6.5" of lift this mod made a world of difference. No more big thumping under my foot when I hit bumps. I did find that my LCAs were both seized so I couldn't adjust them. I got them red hot, melted candles in the threads and couldn't get them to budge. They are at 16.85" which pushed my front axle out so far now that I can't reconnect my sway bar disconnects. When I swing it down it hits the coils. I like where the axle sits so I'll modify my sway bar now to make it work.
 
calvynandhobbs said:
I just finished installing mine this past Saturday. With 6.5" of lift this mod made a world of difference. No more big thumping under my foot when I hit bumps. I did find that my LCAs were both seized so I couldn't adjust them. I got them red hot, melted candles in the threads and couldn't get them to budge. They are at 16.85" which pushed my front axle out so far now that I can't reconnect my sway bar disconnects. When I swing it down it hits the coils. I like where the axle sits so I'll modify my sway bar now to make it work.
Click to expand...


what length are your uppers set to? with the lowers set too long and the uppers not long enough, the pinion may be pointing down too much.
 
what length are your uppers set to? with the lowers set too long and the uppers not long enough, the pinion may be pointing down too much.
Click to expand...

I can't remember off the top of my head, but I went by the directions with the drop brackets that gave me some starting points for LCA and UCA lengths. When I couldn't move the LCAs in at all I adjusted the UCAs out to have the same difference as the RC directions gave as a starting point so basically since I could adjust the uppers I essentially just moved my entire axle about 3/4" out further. The pinion angle looks good and my springs are sitting real nice.
 
calvynandhobbs said:
I can't remember off the top of my head, but I went by the directions with the drop brackets that gave me some starting points for LCA and UCA lengths. When I couldn't move the LCAs in at all I adjusted the UCAs out to have the same difference as the RC directions gave as a starting point so basically since I could adjust the uppers I essentially just moved my entire axle about 3/4" out further. The pinion angle looks good and my springs are sitting real nice.
Click to expand...
Hey Roger, its Denton
How did thosevparts work out for you??
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

B
Trackbar drop bracket brace
Replies
3
Views
251
wbnickens
W
B
Long Arm
Replies
2
Views
244
maxbraketorque
M
B
AW4 pan gasket replacement with RC longarm
Replies
6
Views
115
maxbraketorque
M
T
Steering Wheel Vibration
Replies
9
Views
358
techno
T
X
Drop Brackets to fix bent frame mounts?
2
Replies
31
Views
1K
Bent
Bent
Back
Top