At what size lift needs upper and lower adjustable control arms

[pitbull4x4]

As the title says, what size lift do I need adjustable upper and lower control arms on front dana 30 ??? Looking at either 3 inch or 4 1/2.

Swapping my 89 MJ 2wd to 4wd. This will be a daily driver but get some off roading.

I'm staying with the S.U.A. in the rear but looking into getting new springs.

[Jackrabbit41]

I have about a 6 inch and I went a few months on stock control arms with control arm brackets. Never had any problems. Just switched over so o didn't have to worry about breaking them

[Jackrabbit41]

Just get rubicon express CAD drop brackets from Amazon and you'll be dandy

[Eagle]

I have about a 6 inch and I went a few months on stock control arms with control arm brackets. Never had any problems. Just switched over so o didn't have to worry about breaking them

 

But the drop brackets are designed to return the control arms to stock geometry with a 4-inch lift, so your 6-inch lift with brackets is equivalent to a 2-inch lift as far as control arms are concerned.

[pitbull4x4]

Thanks

[Eagle]

As the title says, what size lift do I need adjustable upper and lower control arms on front dana 30 ??? Looking at either 3 inch or 4 1/2.

Swapping my 89 MJ 2wd to 4wd. This will be a daily driver but get some off roading.

I'm staying with the S.U.A. in the rear but looking into getting new springs.

 

As the title says, what size lift do I need adjustable upper and lower control arms on front dana 30 ??? Looking at either 3 inch or 4 1/2.

Swapping my 89 MJ 2wd to 4wd. This will be a daily driver but get some off roading.

I'm staying with the S.U.A. in the rear but looking into getting new springs.

 

You can live with stock control arms at 3 inches. Beyond that, either get drop brackets (if it's just for street use) or spring for adjustable control arms.

 

Even at 3 inches I'd recommend an adjustable track bar.

[Incommando]

I used adjustable uppers & bent fixed lowers for a 4.5" lift and an adjustable track bar with good results on 5.5" lift

[HOrnbrod]

 

As the title says, what size lift do I need adjustable upper and lower control arms on front dana 30 ??? Looking at either 3 inch or 4 1/2.

Swapping my 89 MJ 2wd to 4wd. This will be a daily driver but get some off roading.

I'm staying with the S.U.A. in the rear but looking into getting new springs.

 

As the title says, what size lift do I need adjustable upper and lower control arms on front dana 30 ??? Looking at either 3 inch or 4 1/2.

Swapping my 89 MJ 2wd to 4wd. This will be a daily driver but get some off roading.

I'm staying with the S.U.A. in the rear but looking into getting new springs.

 

You can live with stock control arms at 3 inches. Beyond that, either get drop brackets (if it's just for street use) or spring for adjustable control arms.

 

Even at 3 inches I'd recommend an adjustable track bar.

 

 

^^^  At 3" there's enough room for additional shims behind the LCAs to correct your caster back to specs, so no adj. arms are necessary. 3" will also shift the axle a bit more than 1/2" off-center, so an adjustable track bar should be installed.

[dragordie]

   

Lift                Lower Control Arms   Upper Control Arms

              

 Stock                  15.75                            15 ¾

2”                        15.92                            16

3”                        16.09                            16

4”                        16.33                            16 3/8

4.5”                     16.47                            16 ½

5”                        16.62                            16 5/8

6”                        16.97                            17

7”                        17.36                            17 3/8

8”                        17.81                            17 ¾

9”                        18.30                            18 ¼

10”                      18.82                            18 ¾

[cruiser54]

   

Lift                Lower Control Arms   Upper Control Arms

              

 Stock                  15.75                            15 ¾

2”                        15.92                            16

3”                        16.09                            16

4”                        16.33                            16 3/8

4.5”                     16.47                            16 ½

5”                        16.62                            16 5/8

6”                        16.97                            17

7”                        17.36                            17 3/8

8”                        17.81                            17 ¾

9”                        18.30                            18 ¼

10”                      18.82                            18 ¾

You beat me to it!!

[DirtyComanche]

 

 

As the title says, what size lift do I need adjustable upper and lower control arms on front dana 30 ??? Looking at either 3 inch or 4 1/2.

Swapping my 89 MJ 2wd to 4wd. This will be a daily driver but get some off roading.

I'm staying with the S.U.A. in the rear but looking into getting new springs.

 

As the title says, what size lift do I need adjustable upper and lower control arms on front dana 30 ??? Looking at either 3 inch or 4 1/2.

Swapping my 89 MJ 2wd to 4wd. This will be a daily driver but get some off roading.

I'm staying with the S.U.A. in the rear but looking into getting new springs.

 

You can live with stock control arms at 3 inches. Beyond that, either get drop brackets (if it's just for street use) or spring for adjustable control arms.

 

Even at 3 inches I'd recommend an adjustable track bar.

 

 

^^^  At 3" there's enough room for additional shims behind the LCAs to correct your caster back to specs, so no adj. arms are necessary. 3" will also shift the axle a bit more than 1/2" off-center, so an adjustable track bar should be installed.

 

 

Providing when you go to undo the lock nuts for the adjuster fork 'thinger' they don't just break off...  It's a bit of a crappy design, at least if you're anywhere that has seen some salt.

[cruiser54]

I'm in Arizona. What is salt other than something on the dinner table, and what is rust? 

[HOrnbrod]

 

 

 

As the title says, what size lift do I need adjustable upper and lower control arms on front dana 30 ??? Looking at either 3 inch or 4 1/2.

Swapping my 89 MJ 2wd to 4wd. This will be a daily driver but get some off roading.

I'm staying with the S.U.A. in the rear but looking into getting new springs.

 

As the title says, what size lift do I need adjustable upper and lower control arms on front dana 30 ??? Looking at either 3 inch or 4 1/2.

Swapping my 89 MJ 2wd to 4wd. This will be a daily driver but get some off roading.

I'm staying with the S.U.A. in the rear but looking into getting new springs.

 

You can live with stock control arms at 3 inches. Beyond that, either get drop brackets (if it's just for street use) or spring for adjustable control arms.

 

Even at 3 inches I'd recommend an adjustable track bar.

 

 

^^^  At 3" there's enough room for additional shims behind the LCAs to correct your caster back to specs, so no adj. arms are necessary. 3" will also shift the axle a bit more than 1/2" off-center, so an adjustable track bar should be installed.

 

 

Providing when you go to undo the lock nuts for the adjuster fork 'thinger' they don't just break off...  It's a bit of a crappy design, at least if you're anywhere that has seen some salt.

 

The 'thinger' is called a LCA clevis and they are readily available in many places including HERE. The various thickness caster shims are available too, or you can easily make your own. I think the design works quite well for lifts under 4" and saves you some $$ too. :thumbsup:

[1989 comanche mj]

I use adjustable control arms on all my jeeps, including my 5.9 zj with only 2 inches of lift.  It gives you more tire clearance, more down travel, lets you get your front axle parallel to the rear axle and get the pinion and caster exact.  Also reduces tire wear and lets you move the wheelbase to get more tire clearance.  And you get new bushings.  No fun putting bushings in stock arms.   Its not as important for a dedicated off road truck.

[HOrnbrod]

I use adjustable control arms on all my jeeps, including my 5.9 zj with only 2 inches of lift.  It gives you more tire clearance, more down travel, lets you get your front axle parallel to the rear axle and get the pinion and caster exact.  Also reduces tire wear and lets you move the wheelbase to get more tire clearance.  And you get new bushings.  No fun putting bushings in stock arms.   Its not as important for a dedicated off road truck.

 

I think that's a waste of money using adjustable arms with a small lift. All the "pluses" you mentioned you can do just as well or better with a quality set of stock or even better WJ arms. Except for the front pinion angle, but that's not really a problem with a smallish lift on an MJ. A lot of the aftermarket adjustables are junk with junk bushings too unless you pay big $$ for the known good stuff. Krusty's come to mind for the junk stuff.....

 

But it's your $$ and of course you are entitled to spend it any way you want to.

[A-man930]

I've got the control arm drop kit on mine.  Can't complain.  

[pitbull4x4]

Thanks to everyone. Alot to look over