Cheapest Long Arm Setup?

[Mjobession]

Picking up my Comanche soon and wanting to plan a lift for it while I'm waiting. I was wondering what you guys think the cheapest long arm setup is? What I mean is buy a complete kit or can you piece one together for cheaper?

 

Here's what I found so far:

For the rear it would just be a SOA

 

http://www.rustysoffroad.com/rustys-long-arm-lower-front-control-arms-high-clearance-xj-tj-zj.html 

 

http://www.rustysoffroad.com/rustys-long-arm-upper-front-control-arms-xj-tj-zj.html

 

http://mudflaps.com/i-7093397-rubicon-express-re1345-coil-springs-jeep-xj-5-5-jeep-zj-4-pair.html

 

http://www.4wd.com/Jeep-Lift-Kits-Jeep-Lift-Kits-Suspension/Bilstein-5100-Series-Shock-Package.aspx?t_c=1&t_s=90&t_pt=3306&t_pn=S%2fDShockingBIL5100

 

http://www.ironrockoffroad.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=IROR&Product_Code=IR-STBCK

 

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/catalog.php?catalog=164&partnum=DDL646&a=Search%2Bfor%2BDEEZA%2BDDL646

 

http://www.ironrockoffroad.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=IROR&Product_Code=IR-SBLUB

 

http://www.summitracing.com/int/parts/dhb-h38636/overview/

 

http://www.summitracing.com/int/parts/dhb-h38620/overview/

 

The total so far is $1101.68

 

 

What else can you guys add?

[Lee21490]

You might want to pick up a pair of swaybar quick disconnects.

 

Might want new u'bolts for the rear also

[Mjobession]

You might want to pick up a pair of swaybar quick disconnects.

 

Might want new u'bolts for the rear also

I forgot to add the u-bolts and the pads but its still pretty cheap I think anyway.

 

http://www.roughcountry.com/sway-bar-disconnects-1128.html

Probably end up using these instead

 

Thanks for the reminder!!

[Automan2164]

Cheap and lifts are generally two terms that shouldn't be used in the same sentence... Cheap and long arms? Forget about it.

 

I've been contemplating the BDS 4.5" LA for my MJ.

 

Rob

[Automan2164]

Another thing... Be wary of any that use side gussets on the crossmember... As many made for the XJ do not take into account the extra cab supports that our MJ's have. You will have to cut the brackets or the supports depending on what you end up doing.

Rob

[Mjobession]

Another thing... Be wary of any that use side gussets on the crossmember... As many made for the XJ do not take into account the extra cab supports that our MJ's have. You will have to cut the brackets or the supports depending on what you end up doing.

Rob

I know it sounds bad when they are in the same sentence but I could only afford so much while I'm In school (Electrical Engineer). Ill probably save up over the summber and buy a good long arm setup. I just don't have the money for a nice BDS lift. I was planning on building the crossmember but it all depends on what I end up doing. Thanks Rob

[Incommando]

Why long-arms? They work great if that is what you need but please be realistic about how you want to use your MJ. There are trade-offs and compromises to both LA & SA. If you are realistically going to be hitting the off-road scene hard then LA's may be the way to go. If it is going to primarily a street truck there may be better ways to go.

 

For the rear SOA here is a great kit that gives you some seriously upgraded parts:

Barnes 4wd axle swap kit D44 3” tube                                                                                $128                  http://www.barnes4wd...ombo_p_129.html

Pick your tube Diameter: 2.75” for stock XJ axles or 3.0” for 8.25 swap. Includes perches, high quality u-bolts, spring plates, & shock mounts. I swapped to bent & curved shock mounts for free

At least consider their spring perches at $26 as the give you axle location options and spring wrap resistance.

[mnkyboy]

Thats the route I took for my D60, I went with Ruffstuff because I caught them on sale but they are basically the same thing Barnes sells.

 

[Incommando]

You can't go wrong with Barnes or RuffStuff. 

[mnkyboy]

Barnes, ruffstuff, and Ballistic are my main go to places for builder parts.

[Mjobession]

It's going to be driven maybe a couple days a week, but the majority of the time its going in the trails. I realize that going from a little lift to a LA setup is a huge step but I would need the capability of the LA to make it through some of the trails. I live in northern ontario and there are some nasty trails about 30 mins north of me and I always dreamed of having a trail capabile rig. Ill be in trails like Sault Trussel Offroad Park and a couple other privately owned courses. The grounds you see at Sault Trussel is what I will be dealing with

[Incommando]

I am jealous of where you get to wheel

[Mjobession]

Its fun but it isn't at the same time. It gets expensive when you hang out with those guys

[Mjobession]

I'm just curious what you guys think pf what I got listed. Have any of you had experience with any of these parts?

[GrizzzzBear]

I think that you should look into a Package Deal, which some makers offer. Made Especially for the MJ.

When I was searching, I found a few at around $900 for the Whole Package.

For Now, I have mine lifted about 6" with SA front and a SOA in the back.

I got extra Shock Plates for the Rear, cut-out the Axle round, Mounted between Axle & Springs. Works Great!!

[Mjobession]

I have looked at a few and I like TNT, and Clayton long arms. I'm thinking on the Clayton arms because of the reviews I have read about the Rusty's arms

[87mjdriver]

I'm in the same boat as you, ive been looking for a cheap LA set up, I'm at 8 inches with drop brackets, ive looked a lot at all the different LA setups, i really wanted a true four link non radius arm, but only found a few, and i found things i didnt like in those kits, so back to radius arms, i think I'm just going to go with claytons

[mnkyboy]

You could do a true 3 link. My brother has the Clayton 3 link, its pretty nice.

[Mjobession]

I'm in the same boat as you, ive been looking for a cheap LA set up, I'm at 8 inches with drop brackets, ive looked a lot at all the different LA setups, i really wanted a true four link non radius arm, but only found a few, and i found things i didnt like in those kits, so back to radius arms, i think I'm just going to go with claytons

 

The Clayton 3 link is a beautiful kit, and would probably be good for you

 

You could do a true 3 link. My brother has the Clayton 3 link, its pretty nice.

 

I really like how they have that setup but I don't think the local MTO will like it when they crawl underneath. Lift kits are "illegal" apparently but 1 out of 10 trucks here are lifted and I have some buddy's that have gotten away with a LA setup. Don't get me wrong I love 3 links and 4 links also but I just don't think I would be able to slide by. 

[Blue XJ]

Back when I built mine I went with the Rock Krawler XJ long arm kit.  I only needed the arms, since I was alreayd running a short arm lift, back then, it was a pretty decent price for the arms, not sure what their complete kit costs now though, seems lifts have really gone up in price in the last 5-10 years.

[Timeless]

Having past experience with the Rock Krawler 3 Link, it would be my recommendation.  I have never been a fan of a radius arm setup for crawling.  A radius arm set up and/or 4 link with track bar is great for situations where both sides of your front axle are moving up and down evenly...but for crawling on uneven surfaces, they just bind.  Factor in the unloading on steep hills because of no upper link(s), and their fate is sealed.

 

The RK kit can usually be had for around $700 shipped.  Some folks complain about their joints, but if they become a problem they can always be swapped out with whatever other kind of joint you want.  I personally never had an issue as I kept them well oiled.

[Timeless]

And OP, you do realize that if you buy those Rusty's arms separately, you still need to fab up brackets or a cross member, right?  You're really not going to be saving any money by piecing together pre-made parts.  Buy a complete LA upgrade or build your own.

[Mjobession]

And OP, you do realize that if you buy those Rusty's arms separately, you still need to fab up brackets or a cross member, right?  You're really not going to be saving any money by piecing together pre-made parts.  Buy a complete LA upgrade or build your own.

 

I was planning on building the cross member because I could do it for way cheaper then what they want for one. I found a Rusty's setup for a xj on sale for $690.00  thats with the arms and the cross member. I'm currently at $1217.34 for a complete LA lift (not including shipping). I personally think thats pretty good. I got the ability to build a 3 or 4 link setup for probably around $500 but I would not trust it on the road, plus I like warrenty  :brows:

[Incommando]

Having past experience with the Rock Krawler 3 Link, it would be my recommendation.  I have never been a fan of a radius arm setup for crawling.  A radius arm set up and/or 4 link with track bar is great for situations where both sides of your front axle are moving up and down evenly...but for crawling on uneven surfaces, they just bind.  Factor in the unloading on steep hills because of no upper link(s), and their fate is sealed.

 

The RK kit can usually be had for around $700 shipped.  Some folks complain about their joints, but if they become a problem they can always be swapped out with whatever other kind of joint you want.  I personally never had an issue as I kept them well oiled.

Does this 3-link kit ( or the 4-link, if you know) truly bolt-on to an MJ? So many of these XJ things actually need some mods due to the differences in the MJ architecture is why I was curious. 

 

The $599 IRO kit includes the cross member too.

[reece146]

Where did you hear that lifts are illegal in Ontario?