Yup, another dumb qurestion

[smithe1811]

So until very recently ive had to rely on the word of the PO who only knew what that PO told him about my truck, and that was that it has a 3 inch lift, now recently I met with another board member who had just lifted their MJ 3 inches and side by side my truck was very noticeably higher. so my first question is how can I measure to figure out how much lift I have and number two is the front end has those crappy brackets that hang way down(refer to pic) and I want those gone, what will I have to purchase to lift my front end without those?

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Thanks,

Erik :beerhead:

[LEAD_NOT_FOLLOW]

Those "crappy brackets" are control arm drop brackets. Why do you want them gone? They lower the mounting location of the control arm, thus decreasing the angle that your control arms are at. This in return makes it ride much better in the front.

 

Many will gladly loose a bit of ground clearance with control arm drop brackets to get the better ride. If you take them off and move your control arms back up you'll notice a big difference in ride quality. Personally I'd leave them but that's just me...

[smithe1811]

i guess that shows my ignorance :dunce: i think I'm just worried that they will catch on something, ill probably leave them after that info. guess now ill just try top make the height match the rear. thanks! just need to figure out how migh my lift is now. :thumbsup:

[Eagle]

i guess that shows my ignorance :dunce: i think I'm just worried that they will catch on something, ill probably leave them after that info. guess now ill just try top make the height match the rear. thanks! just need to figure out how migh my lift is now. :thumbsup:

They will -- those things are rock magnets if you go off road. There are copies out now, but the drop brackets were first offered by TrailMaster in a 4" lift kit, and at 4" of lift they maintain the control arm angles at stock specifications. Which is great for street use, and LOUSY for trail use, especially if you're doing any rock crawling.

 

I had 'em -- my '88 came with a TrailMaster lift. I hated them. I took the kit off, returned the truck to stcok height, and it was one of the best decisions of my life. Yours looks like it's at about 4", too. The brackets would be okay if you go up another couple of inches, or if you never go off-road. If you wheel that rig, you'll probably grow to hate them as much as I did.

 

The FSM "official" way of measuring ride height is from axle to frame. I have posted the specs from the FSM a couple of times, including once not too long ago. Try a search and you should be able to find it.

 

As a rough approximation, since you still have the flares, measure from the center of the hub straight up to the bottom edge of the flare. Stcok measurement is 17-1/2" for the front, and about 20-1/2" for the rear. But the axle-to-frame method is more accurate.

[smithe1811]

I do some moderate wheeling, no rock crawling or anything and i havent hit them on anything so far so ill probably keep them on there. as for more height i just want the front to match the back, so spacers?? BTW, is there anything you don't know Eagle?

[project88mj]

he does not know my middle name :clapping:

 

muhahaha

[Eagle]

he does not know my middle name :clapping:

 

muhahaha

Heck, some days I don't know my own middle name.

 

No, I don't know everything and don't make any claims to. I've just been around Jeeps, especially XJs and MJs, for awhile longer than most of you.

[Eagle]

Here's a repeat of the "Official" way to measure ride height, from the MJ FSM (Factory Service Manual). Actually, not in the FSM but in a book of IS bulletins that came with it:

 

Front: Measure from top of axle tube to underside of frame rail, inboard of the coil spring. Do NOT measure from the diff housing or shift motor housing. 2WD models should be 6-3/4" plus or minus 1/2". 4WD models should be 7-3/4" plus or minus 1/2".

 

Rear: Measure the vertical distance between the top of the axle tube and the underside of the frame rail inboard of the jounce bumper. 2WD models should be 8.2" plus or minus 1/2". 4WD models should be 9.2 inchws plus or minus 1/2".

[dasbulliwagen]

It might just be easier if you found some XJ rear spring shackles and dropped the rear an inch. That way you won't have to go through taking all the front end stuff apart and have to get an alignment. Just an idea! :thumbsup:

[MrSimon]

I agree, looks to be about 4". The back looks like its maybe 1" higher than the front. If you plan to put anything in the back like a spare tire and tools, it might level right out. If not, a spacer up front will do the job nicely.

[smithe1811]

Here's a repeat of the "Official" way to measure ride height, from the MJ FSM (Factory Service Manual). Actually, not in the FSM but in a book of IS bulletins that came with it:

 

Front: Measure from top of axle tube to underside of frame rail, inboard of the coil spring. Do NOT measure from the diff housing or shift motor housing. 2WD models should be 6-3/4" plus or minus 1/2". 4WD models should be 7-3/4" plus or minus 1/2".

 

Rear: Measure the vertical distance between the top of the axle tube and the underside of the frame rail inboard of the jounce bumper. 2WD models should be 8.2" plus or minus 1/2". 4WD models should be 9.2 inchws plus or minus 1/2".

 

So according to that(provided i measured properly) i have 4.75 inches of lift in the front and only 2.3 in the rear? and for the heck of it i measured the distance between the wheel and the wheel well and its 1.25 inches in difference between the front and rear.