adjusting arms on front

[lowrider]

ok i put a rustys 4.5 lift on my 98 cherokee. i have adjustable upper and lower arms and now im trying to get it set up right and having problems. top of the spring looks good, the bottom kinda bowes toward the front--- does this mean i need to pull the lower arms in some with the top? any help would be great since im new to this still.

[alwaysxj]

you need to roll the pinnion up it sounds so i would say take the lower arms out and the upper in. i think. someone will chim in on this soon.

[muddeprived]

ok i put a rustys 4.5 lift on my 98 cherokee. i have adjustable upper and lower arms and now im trying to get it set up right and having problems. top of the spring looks good, the bottom kinda bowes toward the front--- does this mean i need to pull the lower arms in some with the top? any help would be great since im new to this still.

Focus on your wheelbase, caster, and pinion angles. Set the caster so it's stock-ish and then check the pinion angle and make sure it's within a good working angle and then make sure you have the correct wheelbase. Sacrifice some caster for a better pinion angle if you have to.

What are the length measurements of your upper and lower arms right now?


I found this on the web:


This is a list of the desired control arm lengths for the lift height you have. Measurments are taken from hole to hole on the control arm. This is the same for both XJ and MJ over all years.

LCA = Lower Control Arm
UCA = Upper Control Arm

Stock
LCA - 15¾"
UCA - 15"

2"
LCA - 16"
UCA - 15"

3"
LCA - 16"
UCA - 15"

4"
LCA - 16 3/8"
UCA - 15"

5"
LCA - 16 5/8"
UCA - 15¼"

6"
LCA - 17"
UCA - 15½"

7"
LCA - 17 3/8"
UCA - 15¾"

8"
LCA - 17¾"
UCA - 16"

9"
LCA - 18¼"
UCA - 16¼"

10"
LCA - 18¾"
UCA - 17"


For 1/2" lifts take the difference from the one above and below. So for example a 4.5" lift would be LCA - 16.5" and the UCA - 15".

And here is the lengths WITH RE drop brackets.

4"
LCA - 15¾"
UCA - 15"

5"
LCA - 16"
UCA - 15¼"

6"
LCA - 16"
UCA - 15½"

7"
LCA - 16"
UCA - 15¾"

8"
LCA - 16¼"
UCA - 16"

9"
LCA - 16½"
UCA - 16¼"

10"
LCA - 17"
UCA - 16½"

These are just ballpark figures. All jeeps are different so this would be a good starting spot and then you can fine tune it so it's perfect.

[4.3LXJ]

Sounds like you need to drop the pinion down. The spring bowing toward the front means the axle has too much positive castor. It is a good thing you have adjustable arms. Use Muds measurements and then go from there

[lowrider]

thanks for the specs mud. they helped a lot today. started on it at 10:00 am finished about 6:00 with a short pool break and havin to go get the upper arm bolts retapped. test drive seamed good will find out in the morning on the way to work

[96xj]

thats always the best test drive " on the way to work "