billy_ritter Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 I'm getting ready to put on a 5.5" lift on my comanche with short arms. I heard that the drop brackets for the Cherokee would work but i cannot use the support, due to the way my stock brackets are made. I was looking at a set of rough country brackets. Is this true, or is there a company that makes them specifically for the Comanche? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mnkyboy Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 Rocky road outfitters sells drop brackets for the comanche,I'm sure others do too. http://www.rocky-road.com/xjcad.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cracker Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 You can use what you have there. The additional OEM welded on supports on the LCAs can be removed then you can use the supports you have for your drop brackets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redneck23ms Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 i'm running the rough country drop brackets on my mj. i modified the braces so that they would work with the stock lca support. i had to cut off one side of the rough country braces and drilled a new hole farther back. they don't sit perfectly flat on the frame or perfectly square on the drop brackets but has been working fine for me so far. i'm probably going to get the braces and brackets welded to the frame in a few places to keep them from moving any. as i don't have alot of faith in the self tapping bolts that come with the braces. here are a few pics of how i made mine work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfpdm Posted October 23, 2009 Share Posted October 23, 2009 You can use what you have there. The additional OEM welded on supports on the LCAs can be removed then you can use the supports you have for your drop brackets. Why the hell would you do that to put on a cheaper design? The reason only a few produce a bracket for the MJ is one, the stock control arm mount is a lot stronger than the XJs and can support the added stress, and two, low demand. Now before you say what do you know, I've kicked the crap out of this dead horse. Do a search with "RRO" and you'll find plenty on the drop brackets. Now another thing since on the soapbox, I've heard this a couple of times about the self tapping screws not going to hold up on the braces. Now of course you know the brace, when fitted tight against all surfaces, acts as part of the frame, right. If it's not flat up against them then ditch them because they are just a piece of crap bolted in place. Now when they are installed right, those grade 5, self-tapping screws believe it or not, will be enough. Those bolts are not holding thousands of pounds in place but are there to keep the brace tight against the frame as stated above. Nothing is pulling at them to rip them from the frame however, they will face shear forces. Since the shear strength of those bolts is about, uhm, 15000-16000 lbs. per square inch, you're going to have to hit something really hard to shear them off. At that point your going to be pulling your head out of the dash and what's left of your suspension out of your @ss. Now even if your brace were to say fall off while wheeling or going down the road, its not what is holding the drop bracket on so you shouldn't panic, unless you run over it and blow out a tire. Now that I've got that out of my system, if your still wanting a brace for your drop brackets, fab one up or have someone build one for you. RRO's braces are really a good design and could easily be duplicated with something similar. Far as the drop brackets, themselves, go with a brand that you trust. I personally wish I had. :cheers: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cracker Posted October 23, 2009 Share Posted October 23, 2009 You can use what you have there. The additional OEM welded on supports on the LCAs can be removed then you can use the supports you have for your drop brackets. Why the hell would you do that to put on a cheaper design? The reason only a few produce a bracket for the MJ is one, the stock control arm mount is a lot stronger than the XJs and can support the added stress, and two, low demand. Now before you say what do you know, I've kicked the crap out of this dead horse. Do a search with "RRO" and you'll find plenty on the drop brackets. Now another thing since on the soapbox, I've heard this a couple of times about the self tapping screws not going to hold up on the braces. Now of course you know the brace, when fitted tight against all surfaces, acts as part of the frame, right. If it's not flat up against them then ditch them because they are just a piece of crap bolted in place. Now when they are installed right, those grade 5, self-tapping screws believe it or not, will be enough. Those bolts are not holding thousands of pounds in place but are there to keep the brace tight against the frame as stated above. Nothing is pulling at them to rip them from the frame however, they will face shear forces. Since the shear strength of those bolts is about, uhm, 15000-16000 lbs. per square inch, you're going to have to hit something really hard to shear them off. At that point your going to be pulling your head out of the dash and what's left of your suspension out of your @ss. Now even if your brace were to say fall off while wheeling or going down the road, its not what is holding the drop bracket on so you shouldn't panic, unless you run over it and blow out a tire. Now that I've got that out of my system, if your still wanting a brace for your drop brackets, fab one up or have someone build one for you. RRO's braces are really a good design and could easily be duplicated with something similar. Far as the drop brackets, themselves, go with a brand that you trust. I personally wish I had. :cheers: Cheaper design? What are YOU talking about? It is the idential design as the XJ underneath the LCA brace. It is stronger with the brace but not a lot stronger. A lot stronger? Please. It does use the same XJ lower control arm so it can't be THAT much stronger. The additional support was designed for a single LCA and not a bracket (drop bracket) that integrates with the UCA. With this in mind the additional bracing is not necessary on the bottom anymore. Sure it is nice but why reinforce an item that is not going to fail? The drop bracket support that comes with the drop bracket is more than adequate. If he has the parts there so just use them. Why spend more money than one has to? Self tapping screws can work extremely well when installed right. There are few sheets of sheet metal under the frame rail they can bite into it. If you are concerned about this, just put a couple of 1" welds on it to hold it in place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfpdm Posted October 23, 2009 Share Posted October 23, 2009 Ok, so let me get this right. From this statement, The additional OEM welded on supports on the LCAs can be removed then you can use the supports you have for your drop brackets. You want him to cut off the factory welded steel supporting the lower control arm mount like what is outlined in red, and reduce the strength of the mount to bolt on the braces that are designed to be used with the XJ. Far as what you are saying here, Cheaper design? What are YOU talking about? It is the idential design as the XJ underneath the LCA brace. If the design was the same, there wouldn't be an issue with using XJ specific braces. Not sure what your trying to explain here, The additional support was designed for a single LCA and not a bracket (drop bracket) that integrates with the UCA. With this in mind the additional bracing is not necessary on the bottom anymore. Sure it is nice but why reinforce an item that is not going to fail? The drop bracket support that comes with the drop bracket is more than adequate. This may be that were talking apples and oranges and the thought was just lost in translation. :cheers: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cracker Posted October 23, 2009 Share Posted October 23, 2009 Ok, so let me get this right. From this statement, The additional OEM welded on supports on the LCAs can be removed then you can use the supports you have for your drop brackets. You want him to cut off the factory welded steel supporting the lower control arm mount like what is outlined in red, and reduce the strength of the mount to bolt on the braces that are designed to be used with the XJ. Far as what you are saying here, Cheaper design? What are YOU talking about? It is the idential design as the XJ underneath the LCA brace. If the design was the same, there wouldn't be an issue with using XJ specific braces. Not sure what your trying to explain here, The additional support was designed for a single LCA and not a bracket (drop bracket) that integrates with the UCA. With this in mind the additional bracing is not necessary on the bottom anymore. Sure it is nice but why reinforce an item that is not going to fail? The drop bracket support that comes with the drop bracket is more than adequate. This may be that were talking apples and oranges and the thought was just lost in translation. :cheers: :doh: Clearly you are not as intimate with a Cherokee or an MJ as you think you may be. Not what is outlined in Red. The whole peice right there is an additional bracket. Remove it and it is 100% an XJ bracket underneath. The extra reinforcing for the MJ is formed gusset plates that could be bought separately and added to an XJ. Remove it as it is not really needed with a drop bracket set up. The drop bracket set up already integrated with the UCA and the additional supporting brace behind it is more than adequate on its own to not need the formed gusset plates. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cal Posted October 23, 2009 Share Posted October 23, 2009 Cracker is dead on. I have both removed the MJ gusset to find the exactly same LCA structure an XJ has, and I have gotten the Chrysler LCA BRACKET GUSSET offered when your LCA mounts on an XJ crack and must be welded; which is the EXACT reinforcement that is installed on the MJ from the factory. Go dissect an MJ and you will understand. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfpdm Posted October 23, 2009 Share Posted October 23, 2009 :doh: Not what is outlined in Red. The whole peice right there is an additional bracket. Remove it and it is 100% an XJ bracket underneath. The extra reinforcing for the MJ is formed gusset plates that could be bought separately and added to an XJ.. Yes, I know that the additional bracket once removed leaves you with whats on the XJ. I mearly point out the red as that will be the design of what is left. What I was getting at is why you would want to remove the extra welded reinforcement when you wouldn't have too, to add a bolt on part. Remove it as it is not really needed with a drop bracket set up. The drop bracket set up already integrated with the UCA and the additional supporting brace behind it is more than adequate on its own to not need the formed gusset plates. Well I'll agree with you on this. Without the factory support in there, you need the brace. Clearly you are not as intimate with a Cherokee or an MJ as you think you may be. Well I guess I don't match your wisdom. Must of had someone else install this, So as to keep within the spirit of the forum, I'll leave it as that. We'll agree to disagree. Go dissect an MJ and you will understand. :) I think if you have seen my Build, and my part trucks, I've dissected them pretty well. :D :cheers: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cracker Posted October 23, 2009 Share Posted October 23, 2009 Clearly you are not as intimate with a Cherokee or an MJ as you think you may be. Well I guess I don't match your wisdom. Must of had someone else install this, So as to keep within the spirit of the forum, I'll leave it as that. We'll agree to disagree. With all due respect, bolting on suspension parts someone elses designed suspension parts doesn't mean detailed knowledge is gained. Go dissect an MJ and you will understand. :) I think if you have seen my Build, and my part trucks, I've dissected them pretty well. :D :cheers: Wonderful build. You brought that thing to life for sure. That is amazing work to bring it back to almost stock perfection. :cheers: We have different approaches. I run very little stock and avoid bolt on aftermarket parts. I make all my own suspension parts and won't buy anything but joints. You focus on leaving it stock. Different approach. All is good. :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dakal Posted October 23, 2009 Share Posted October 23, 2009 wowey zowey ! :waving: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfpdm Posted October 23, 2009 Share Posted October 23, 2009 With all due respect, bolting on suspension parts someone elses designed suspension parts doesn't mean detailed knowledge is gained. Agreed. :thumbsup: Wonderful build. You brought that thing to life for sure. That is amazing work to bring it back to almost stock perfection.:cheers: We have different approaches. I run very little stock and avoid bolt on aftermarket parts. I make all my own suspension parts and won't buy anything but joints. You focus on leaving it stock. Different approach. All is good. :thumbsup: I'd would love to get into the design and fabrication of my own parts but one step at time. Believe me, I'm not a real big fan of the RRO drop brackets but for now, they will do. It seems through this discussion, we are both in agreement that our passion is Jeeps. And thanks for the compliment on the build. I wish it was on the road so I could at least see if what I've done was worth it. Apologizes to the OP for dragging his thread off topic. :cheers: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ocskipper Posted October 23, 2009 Share Posted October 23, 2009 http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=1012414 It's not the manche but any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! -Skip :USAflag: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarracudaBlueXJ Posted November 4, 2009 Share Posted November 4, 2009 personally if i was going to run drop brackets on a comanche id either run the RRO with the comanche braces, or ditch the factory gusset and run rubicon express, i have their braces on my XJ and seem to be the most HD ones you can buy if you're not into fabbing you're own parts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now