Strokermjcomanche Posted December 27, 2016 Share Posted December 27, 2016 First ,here's some background info : 1988 with OME 2934 lift coils , stock UCA's , Dana 30 with 31x10.50x15 tires with stock gambler wheels . I'm in the process of installing my dana 30 4:10 axle along with new WJ LCA's , I've already cut the sleeves to the proper width and attempted to install the LCA's with the oval bushing on the frame side and the round at the axle side . So here's where the problem starts , the top of the control arm is hitting the axle housing on both the shock bracket and the bracket that is directly below that, where the bolt that holds the LCA on goes through . It's not like it's barely touching either , I'm to the point where the truck is now starting to lift off of the jack stands and I think even if I get the bolt in the axle side of the LCA that I will get very little travel before they make contact . So what course should I take ? Notch the LCA for more clearance and weld it back together . Use drop brackets to make the control arm sit more level . I know people in the past have said to cut the axle bracket , but with the lift I don't see that being enough clearance and weakening the strength of the brackets too . Other options / opinions / thoughts? It's too dark to take pics right now , but I can tomorrow if it helps you to see what's going on . Thanks in advance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted December 28, 2016 Share Posted December 28, 2016 Hmm. I didn't have any of those those problems, but am 2WD, maybe that makes a difference. Also you are taller than I am - your Jeep I mean. :yes: Did you check out Gojeep's writeup? May give you a hint. He used drop brackets though........ http://jeep-xj.info/HowtoWJcontrolarms.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desbennett004 Posted December 28, 2016 Share Posted December 28, 2016 I just installed aftermarket LCA'S last week, can't say I had that problem, but I can say that the second arm was a real bear to get in. It didn't look like it would even come close, but I used a big pry bar to rotate the axle a bit, as well as shift it sideways. Then it slotted right in. Took some work though. Sent from my SM-N900W8 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted December 28, 2016 Share Posted December 28, 2016 is this the clearance you're talking about? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strokermjcomanche Posted December 28, 2016 Author Share Posted December 28, 2016 Hmm. I didn't have any of those those problems, but am 2WD, maybe that makes a difference. Also you are taller than I am - your Jeep I mean. :yes: Did you check out Gojeep's writeup? May give you a hint. He used drop brackets though........ http://jeep-xj.info/HowtoWJcontrolarms.htm That was one of write ups I had seen . Like you said , I think it's a combination of the height and lack of drop brackets . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strokermjcomanche Posted December 28, 2016 Author Share Posted December 28, 2016 is this the clearance you're talking about? Yes , but also the bracket underneath that ( which the lower arm is currently hitting .) The bracket in your picture is the one I'm least concerned with , the other one won't have much left once it's clearanced Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikekaz1 Posted December 28, 2016 Share Posted December 28, 2016 Can I ask, why not use a more "traditional" angled/bent fixed/adjustable aftermarket control arm? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strokermjcomanche Posted December 28, 2016 Author Share Posted December 28, 2016 Can I ask, why not use a more "traditional" angled/bent fixed/adjustable aftermarket control arm? Sure you can ask . I'm looking to clear my 31s at full turn so they won't rub . I'm open to install arms that are bent like the WJ ones that are tubular etc . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted December 28, 2016 Share Posted December 28, 2016 can you share a pic of the interference? I also trimmed the control arm where it was contacting the cab body. I had no lift and all my trimming was purely for theoretical offroading perfection so I got full droop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikekaz1 Posted December 28, 2016 Share Posted December 28, 2016 hmm interesting... only the factory WJ arms have that inward bend. all the aftermarket replacements even WJ specific exempt that feature. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted December 28, 2016 Share Posted December 28, 2016 Can I ask, why not use a more "traditional" angled/bent fixed/adjustable aftermarket control arm? Sure you can ask . I'm looking to clear my 31s at full turn so they won't rub . I'm open to install arms that are bent like the WJ ones that are tubular etc . Yep, tire clearance is their main purpose, but I also got a hell of a handling improvement up front due to the tubular WJ arm's better rigidity and the beefier bushings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knucklehead97 Posted December 28, 2016 Share Posted December 28, 2016 Can I ask, why not use a more "traditional" angled/bent fixed/adjustable aftermarket control arm?Sure you can ask . I'm looking to clear my 31s at full turn so they won't rub . I'm open to install arms that are bent like the WJ ones that are tubular etc . Yep, tire clearance is their main purpose, but I also got a hell of a handling improvement up front due to the tubular WJ arm's better rigidity and the beefier bushings. same here. My front end overhaul of WJ arms, ZJ steering, and a newer style 2wd axle improved my steering SIGNIFICANTLY. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strokermjcomanche Posted December 28, 2016 Author Share Posted December 28, 2016 Here is where it's making contact with the lower bracket , this is with the front axle jacked up and it's barely lifted off of the jack stands . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hippie66 Posted December 28, 2016 Share Posted December 28, 2016 Do you have the axle raised to ride height? It looks like you gain clearance as the axle raises up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted December 28, 2016 Share Posted December 28, 2016 Here's a couple of shots of my left LCA. 1991 with OME 930 lift coils, stock UCA's, 2WD with 31x10.50x15 tires and stock turbine wheels .I installed mine with the wheels on, on the floor, no jack, and one side at a time. The axle didn't rotate at all, and had good clearance everywhere. Hope this helps.......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strokermjcomanche Posted December 29, 2016 Author Share Posted December 29, 2016 Do you have the axle raised to ride height? It looks like you gain clearance as the axle raises up.I have the axle jacked up in the center , with the upper control arms attached and the LCA bolt holes lined up on on both sides . There should be no difference between that and having it on the ground . And yes , I'd have more clearance as the axle moves upward . But when when going over bumps / potholes / trails etc I'm sure that there's going to be some serious clunking / banging going on . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strokermjcomanche Posted December 29, 2016 Author Share Posted December 29, 2016 Don , it looks like your brackets are designed differently . I'm unsure if it's because it's 2wd or because it's a newer style non CAD axle . It does appear that your control arms are more level than mine too . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted December 29, 2016 Share Posted December 29, 2016 :dunno: Sorry Adam, no idea on this one, except to try flipping the LCAs and have the oval bush on the axle end. IIRC some of the guys mounted them like that. Pete maybe? They will work fine either way, and they might fit with better clearance on your 4WD Renix rig by reversing them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minuit Posted December 29, 2016 Share Posted December 29, 2016 Unsurprisingly mine looks just like Don's. On one side I was able to get it to line up by jacking, and on one side I used the bottle jack to push the axle forward. That doesn't look like it would help you though. Might be due to the perspective but Don's control arm mounts look like they point "downhill" and yours look like they point "uphill". Of course, you don't have to worry about pinion angle on a 2WD but that's the main difference I see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted December 29, 2016 Share Posted December 29, 2016 Here is where it's making contact with the lower bracket , this is with the front axle jacked up and it's barely lifted off of the jack stands . now that is weird. how much lift? what do you have for upper control arms? my arms were installed in the normal orientation. clearance to that particular spot in the control arm mounts was tight, but my truck had no lift so if contact was to happen it would have been under droop and so I paid it no mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sinkrun Posted December 29, 2016 Share Posted December 29, 2016 I have factory WJ control arms on my 89 went by Petes pictures and have no issues either. I will go under it and take some pics later if the weather clears up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strokermjcomanche Posted December 29, 2016 Author Share Posted December 29, 2016 I have factory WJ control arms on my 89 went by Petes pictures and have no issues either. I will go under it and take some pics later if the weather clears up. Are you stock height or lifted ? I don't believe I'd be having these issues if I were stock height or a slight amount of lift Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hippie66 Posted December 29, 2016 Share Posted December 29, 2016 It will get worse with more lift, due to the increased angle of the arms. Have you bolted your wheels to the axle as mentioned above? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strokermjcomanche Posted December 29, 2016 Author Share Posted December 29, 2016 It will get worse with more lift, due to the increased angle of the arms. Have you bolted your wheels to the axle as mentioned above? Why would that make a difference ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hippie66 Posted December 29, 2016 Share Posted December 29, 2016 The lower the axle, the greater the angle on the arms. Bolt the wheels on, set the vehicle close to ride height and see what happens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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