mfpdm Posted September 16, 2007 Share Posted September 16, 2007 Has anyone done this swap? I know you have to shave the ends down a little to make them fit the MJ mounts. I was going to get some RE adj. control arms but came across these. I like the extra tire clearance and the solid feel of them. Pros and Cons would be appreciated. :cheers: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockhardzj Posted September 16, 2007 Share Posted September 16, 2007 I know they are an great upgrade, but they are i think 3/4" longer than stock mj/xj ones, so they are great for a little bit of lift, and keeping the wheel centered in the wheel well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ORCA Posted September 16, 2007 Share Posted September 16, 2007 Pro: their bent :brows: Con: their dirty :shake: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TNT Posted September 16, 2007 Share Posted September 16, 2007 Check the tech section on http://www.madxj.com for a write-up that explains the slight mods you need to do to make them fit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted September 16, 2007 Share Posted September 16, 2007 I put them on my 90. They are the same length as stock MJ arms, but a hair wider so you need to trim the bushings a bit. before trimming is on the right, after is on the left: To get full flex, I also trimmed here on the arms: And here on the axle (where it touches the arm): Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfpdm Posted September 17, 2007 Author Share Posted September 17, 2007 I put them on my 90. They are the same length as stock MJ arms, but a hair wider so you need to trim the bushings a bit. before trimming is on the right, after is on the left: To get full flex, I also trimmed here on the arms: And here on the axle (where it touches the arm): So basically you just cut off what was sticking out pass the bushing sleeve and a little trimming. How much difference did you notice after you installed them and how much lift do you have on the 90 MJ? I have around 4 inches and was concerned about centering in the wheel well. Check the tech section on www.madxj.com for a write-up that explains the slight mods you need to do to make them fit. I read that one and didn't see anything about trimming other than the bushing. May have to read it again. I like the mods on his page and the nice write-ups. :cheers: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted September 17, 2007 Share Posted September 17, 2007 So basically you just cut off what was sticking out pass the bushing sleeve and a little trimming. How much difference did you notice after you installed them and how much lift do you have on the 90 MJ? I have around 4 inches and was concerned about centering in the wheel well. Well, the project isn't finished yet so I can't comment on the ride. I'm at stock 4wd height. If you've got 4", then you're going to need longer arms. The caster will be quite poor and the tire will be too close to the back of the wheel well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted September 17, 2007 Share Posted September 17, 2007 I put them on my 90. They are the same length as stock MJ arms, but a hair wider so you need to trim the bushings a bit. Pete, when you trimmed the bushing shaft, did you simply grind them down? Did the heat generated harm the rubber? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted September 18, 2007 Share Posted September 18, 2007 I used a cutoff wheel and hit it with water after every few seconds. I wasn't sure if there would be enough heat to harm the rubber if I just cut right through and I wasn't about to just try it and find out. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjeff87 Posted September 18, 2007 Share Posted September 18, 2007 I got a set that I gave to my neighbor to take into his shop at work and cut them on an industrial band saw. Someone else in the shop grabbed them and did the work, and they cut the bushing flush with the outside edge of the arms, and on one of them actually slipped and cut into the arm itself about 1/16" :headpop: Worst part is he didn't cut the inner bushing that the bolt rides in.....said he wasn't sure how short I wanted it to be :headpop: :headpop: after I TOLD my neighbor to only take off .48" (or whatever the metric equivalent is, I forget now). Not sure if the one he hacked is useable or not..... :headpop: :headpop: :headpop: Jeff (no, I'm not bitter or anything) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfpdm Posted September 19, 2007 Author Share Posted September 19, 2007 Well, the project isn't finished yet so I can't comment on the ride. I'm at stock 4wd height. If you've got 4", then you're going to need longer arms. The caster will be quite poor and the tire will be too close to the back of the wheel well. I'm really like at 3.5 in. up front and 4.5 in. back. It has the stock MJ arms on right now and sits pretty good. I was planning on some RE adj arms anyway (especially now that I have a set of RE 4.5 springs on the way) but I had remember that these were a good upgrade. I thought they would be a bit longer. :( What about drop brackets or is it not worth the trouble? Oh well I guess they will be in the classified section soon. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
86FUBAR Posted September 19, 2007 Share Posted September 19, 2007 i think drop brackets and those arms would be a good combo , and since u already have those arms i say go for it and spend the saved money els were like on a locker or something useful. but please lets not get started on drop brackets again :brows: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 Got the WJ lowers on today, not too bad of a job. Had to grind away a bit as Pete mentioned so it wouldn't hit the mount on top at the frame end. Biggest problem was the axle moving when discoing the old arms. The good old bottle jack saved my arse there. Funny, on the passsengers side the axle moved forward; on the drivers side the axle moved backwards. No more tire rub, and the new arms help smooth out bumps, but the biggest difference is that it corners much flatter now; hardly any roll any more. Well worth doing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracker Posted September 29, 2007 Share Posted September 29, 2007 i think drop brackets and those arms would be a good combo Thanks for the encouragement, cause that's exactly what we're doing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oizarod115 Posted September 29, 2007 Share Posted September 29, 2007 thanks hornbrod for the effects... sounds like thats what i'll be doin to my truck when i can get the 2" spacers in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted September 29, 2007 Share Posted September 29, 2007 thanks hornbrod for the effects... sounds like thats what i'll be doin to my truck when i can get the 2" spacers in. Noticed when I removed my old LCAs they were all buggered up on the bottom up from lifting with the jack. No damage, but scarred pretty good. I've searched my FSM and can not find: what are are the "correct" lifting/jacking points on the MJ frame? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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