Tire rubbing

[Jeep86]

Hey guys I have a stock 1986 MJ and just put 31inch by 10.5s mudTires on and I am having some rubbing on the lower control arms and am not looking to get a lift right away will Spacers take away some of that rubbing 

[Marine1Texas]

yes 1 inch spacers will work. I have no lift and run 31x10.5s with the 1 inch spacer for about 25 years now no rubbing at all

[Jeep Driver]

WJ control arms.

[gogmorgo]

If you go too much spacer you'll push them into the fender liners. 

WJ control arms have a curve to accommodate larger tires. 

[Pete M]

as an extra benefit the WJ arms are stronger and have better bushings then stock MJ.    

 

 

[Pete M]

[Jeep Driver]

 

[HOrnbrod]

16 minutes ago, Jeep Driver said:

 

Aftermarket. 

 

To all:  the WJ LCAs will mount either way. Which way did you mount yours? Oval bushing forward or rearward?

Edited 6 minutes ago by HOrnbrod

[coolwind57]

I went oval rearward.  I think I read that somewhere is why I did it that way. 

[Jeep Driver]

27 minutes ago, HOrnbrod said:

 

Aftermarket. 

 

To all:  the WJ LCAs will mount either way. Which way did you mount yours? Oval bushing forward or rearward?

Edited 6 minutes ago by HOrnbrod

I pulled my first set of a PnP WJ, they were shot, I put them on the way I took them off the WJ. 

Guess I never thought about reversing them. 

There is some fore to aft movement with the oval end, that's why I shaved some off the top so it would not come in contact with the axle tube. 

 

These are on the wife's XJ now. 

[HOrnbrod]

14 hours ago, HOrnbrod said:

To all:  the WJ LCAs will mount either way. Which way did you mount yours? Oval bushing in forward or rearward?

 

I mounted them with the oval bush on the axle end. No idea why, it just seemed more logical. They sure made a positive handling difference over the stock LCAs. Should have done the WJ uppers too instead of just rebushing the original setup.

[Minuit]

The WJ has the oval bushing on the axle end. I have the oval on mine at the frame end. Maybe I'll flip them around and see if it makes any difference.

[coolwind57]

3 hours ago, Minuit said:

The WJ has the oval bushing on the axle end. I have the oval on mine at the frame end. Maybe I'll flip them around and see if it makes any difference.

More power to ya, Brother.  There ain't NO WAY I'm going to get under there and take it all lose to fight that bolt alignment issue again.  The LCAs weren't as bad as the UCAs, but it still was no picnic.

 

I'm very happy with the effect of having these WJ LCAs on over the stock.  Do let us know if you experience any difference.  it the difference absolutely blows your mind, then I may consider sucking up my pride and rolling back under there.  

[coolwind57]

Jeep86, you may consider doing the uppers too if you're under there and feeling froggy.

[DesertRat1991]

8 hours ago, coolwind57 said:

More power to ya, Brother.  There ain't NO WAY I'm going to get under there and take it all lose to fight that bolt alignment issue again.  The LCAs weren't as bad as the UCAs, but it still was no picnic.

 

I'm very happy with the effect of having these WJ LCAs on over the stock.  Do let us know if you experience any difference.  it the difference absolutely blows your mind, then I may consider sucking up my pride and rolling back under there.  

 

I researched all kinds of tips and tricks to line up the bolt holes, came across everything from using ratchet straps hooked to the bumper to clamping a 24" pipe wrench to the axle.  In the end, this guys advice worked just fine for me:

 

  

[HOrnbrod]

NOW you tell me.   Wonder if this would work on a 2WD.  I used a floor jack in the middle just to get the body weight off the axle then a pipe wrench when I did mine, wasn't too bad.......

[Minuit]

Maybe I'm just lucky, but I never really had THAT much trouble getting the axle lined back up. I used the factory bottle jack to move the axle around (I could just leg press the axle around but the jack gives you more control), combined with a floor jack right behind the mount. I recall the driver side lining right back up, the passenger side was a little more difficult. My old LCA bushings were severely worn and installing new ones pushed the axle further out - that probably accounts partly for why it's such a PITA sometimes.

 

If it makes my MJ handle and/or ride better by turning the control arm around I'm gonna do it.

[coolwind57]

1 hour ago, Minuit said:

If it makes my MJ handle and/or ride better by turning the control arm around I'm gonna do it.

 

Like I said, I'm actually down for it...but I want to hear about your results first.  

 

As I mentioned above, the Uppers were much more difficult than the lowers.  The passenger side uppers took two bottle jacks and a come-along wrapped around the front axle bearing housing.  The driver's side only one of each.  I found that it took patience as well as some creative bottle jack positioning mostly.  I had added stress because I had to have the truck up and running to drive my wife and then myself to work early the next morning.  Add that anxiety and it wasn't the most pleasant experience, as you might imagine.