Will i need new LCAs with drop brackets

R

redyouch

NAXJA Forum User
what i plan to do is install a set of RE drop brackets, and i was wondering if i would need new control arms. i am planning on running 4.5" of lift. would this be fine with the stock arms? thanks in advance.

-chris
 
well... I got abou 5" up front and I'd recommend doing it the other way around: get new LCA's and forego the brackets for now. The brackets will end up being anchors and you will keep banging them on stuff :D Anyways, on my 98 with the 5" I got RE fixed LCA's and adjustable UCA's and after alignment all is fine :D
 
I bought my MJ with a 4" lift and drop brackets on it. I only had 30x9.5" tires and drug the brackets all over the place when wheeling (at the time I had factory LCA's). I've since upped the lift to 7.5", have RE LCA's and retained my drop brackets for ride quality. Not a bad deal IMO.
 
I've since upped the lift to 7.5", have RE LCA's and retained my drop brackets for ride quality. Not a bad deal IMO.
Click to expand...

What tire size are you running? Did the larger size tire help with the dragging on stuff?
 
LAWNMAN323 said:
I bought my MJ with a 4" lift and drop brackets on it. I only had 30x9.5" tires and drug the brackets all over the place when wheeling (at the time I had factory LCA's). I've since upped the lift to 7.5", have RE LCA's and retained my drop brackets for ride quality. Not a bad deal IMO.
Click to expand...

are you just running the drop brackets with the support brackets? oh and do you have any pics of your truck.
 
jeepmj_tj said:
are you just running the drop brackets with the support brackets? oh and do you have any pics of your truck.
Click to expand...

ment to say with out the support brackets, since the mj already have a factory buit in brace.
 
I have a Comanche that had a Trailmaster lift and brackets on it when I bought it. The lift is about 4". With 31" tires the brackets hit every rock on a trail. I'm taking them off. I wouldn't recommend them with less than a 6" lift, and even then they'll be a problem.
 
I have a Comanche that had a Trailmaster lift and brackets on it when I bought it. The lift is about 4". With 31" tires the brackets hit every rock on a trail. I'm taking them off. I wouldn't recommend them with less than a 6" lift, and even then they'll be a problem.

A friend in the North Atlantic Chapter runs the same brackets with a 5.5" lift and 33" tires. He recently ripped one bracket off the frame on a trail ride in Massachusetts. If you must do brackets, get the RE ones with the gussets.
 
I've gone back to this page many times. At the bottom, you will find some good info on required lengths for both UCA and LCA depending on the lift.

More Cherokee stock specs.
 
iv got 4.5 lift, and drop brackets and its fine with me, doesnt get caught up on anything too much while im runnin 32's
 
1064scottlift1.jpg
That's the only pic I have - I chose buying a welder over a digital camera, go figure. My scanner is acting up.

I am running 33" tires. Do I drag on the brackets still? Maybe once in a blue moon, but rocks are hard to find around Michigan. I mostly hit mud and trails, and this setup works for me. I had the 4" Trailmaster lift to start with the brackets, or I would have went longarm probably. I bent the hell out of the LCA bracket when I rolled my MJ this summer, but paid a pretty penny to get it bent back (wasn't aware of the supports).

As always, it comes down to how hardcore you are when wheeling when deciding what setup will work for you. Good luck.
 
I am shocked that everyone hits there drop brackets so much. At 6" with 33's I have only banged mine on a rock once. redyouch, If your ride is really crappy now I would say get the RE drop brackets and don't run them with out the braces I have a friend that runs the Trail Master drop brackets with no braceing and one of his lower mounts is bent back a good bit. Now he has to go to long arms. If your ride is ok just get some stronger aftermarket control arms. If you do drop brackets first you can use the stock arms but you will eventually need better arms. Later, Eric
 
I did the drop brackets installation about two months ago. Didn't do any off-roading until last Sunday, but plenty of paved kilometers. The ride is like stock, so yes, I would recommend them if you are interested in a decent driving XJ.

As for catching up on rocks, well, I went through a rock field Sunday, and not once did the brackets hit anything. The only time I had them drag on something, was when I took the alternative route to a packed street and went through a small field, which ended up in a fairly high (maybe 40-50 cm), concrete step, which I went down with both wheels at the same time. Oh well, I know I need experience!

Overall, a good mod if you do not want to go the the long arms solution.

RE recommends that you use your stock arms with the brackets. or at least the stock arms length. I have Rusty's fixed lowers which are a tiny bit longer than stock, so I adjusted my uppers to stock length. With no caster alignment pads, I am around 5 degrees of caster and the truck drives much better than before, when it had 6.5 degrees.

Pictures below:

DSC02044.JPG


DSC02045.JPG


DSC02041.JPG

DSC02037.JPG


Rgds
 
Last edited:
SV1CEC said:
I did the drop brackets installation about two months ago. Didn't do any off-roading until last Sunday, but plenty of paved kilometers. The ride is like stock, so yes, I would recommend them if you are interested in a decent driving XJ.
Click to expand...
well it's all more comlicated then that.... I'd say that with longer arms (UCA and LCA) and the skyjacker coils my ride feels close to what my stock ride felt like.....

As for catching up on rocks, well, I went through a rock field Sunday, and not once did the brackets hit anything. The only time I had them drag on something, was when I took the alternative route to a packed street and went through a small field, which ended up in a fairly high (maybe 40-50 cm), concrete step, which I went down with both wheels at the same time. Oh well, I know I need experience!
Click to expand...
well...... I don't know about your rock fields.... but when I go out to play (and I play on the smaller rocks comparing to others) I drag my underside.... now that was with about 3" ~ 3.5".... so figure now that I am at 4.5"~5" if I was to put the drop brackets on I'd be back to square one... and the angles don't look too bad on the longer arms (I got RE fixed arms) but if I want to go 5"+ I think I'd get RE adjustable lowers (already got adjustable uppers) and try to stay away from the drop brackets as long as I can....

The long arms are a mixed blessing as well.... even though they give great flex... they kind of hurt you in the breakover angle.... I have seen about couple guys use them as an excuse not to attempt an obstacle that others have tried..... Yes what they said does make a bit sense, but we still gave them hard time about it :D
 
I have seen about couple guys use them as an excuse not to attempt an obstacle that others have tried..... Yes what they said does make a bit sense, but we still gave them hard time about it


Could you expand on this a little?
 
David Taylor said:
I have seen about couple guys use them as an excuse not to attempt an obstacle that others have tried.....

Could you expand on this a little?
Click to expand...

I knew I will get myself into trouble opening up that can of worms...... :D Obstacle was widowmaker in Moab and it was kind of steep with close to a 90 degree transition from near vertical to nearly flat (ok... maybe 110)..... the long arm guys claimed that they would just end up dragin on the arms as the tires fell over the top as there was a bit of a hole right over it. Now I will put the disclaimer that I should have put in the previous post:
"My opinion is that it was more of an excuse then anything, and I have only repeated what I heard and till I see either way I will withdraw my judgement of them" :D

Btw, I know what thing.... I dragged my LCA body mounts there as I got dragged up... and I know that if I had drop brackets I'd bang the hell out of them (I got it on video so I am 100% sure of the drag :D).
 
I'm still running 31s on mine with the DBs, and I don't hit very often at all. I ran Hell's Revenge and Kane Creek in Moab, and the rear diff hung up instead of the DBs on the tight spots. (only one!) The drop brackets were a non-issue on mine anyway.
The ride is SO much better, too.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

B
Long Arm
Replies
2
Views
246
maxbraketorque
M
D
Locker / Posi combo for trail rig
Replies
13
Views
541
Evan03
E
X
Drop Brackets to fix bent frame mounts?
2
Replies
31
Views
1K
Bent
Bent
NCCherokee
JK tube doors on XJ with pics
Replies
4
Views
188
NCCherokee
NCCherokee
G
DIY budget 3" lift
2 3
Replies
41
Views
1K
phydeaux33
phydeaux33
Back
Top