1/2" Cradle Drop - Fabbed and installed

kjhawaii · **Posted:** Sat Sep 23, 2006 5:47 pm

Aloha All - Well I finally have a chance to take care of some of the KJ todo List.

Since I knew I was going to take it apart I thought Id try the crade drop that I was discusing in 4x4 discusion. When Al told me the list of possible issues I thought I take it easy and go 1/2" at a time. I skeched out a plan using 1/2"x2" bar stock, 8" long with a 3/4" hole on one end and faxed it to a metal shop. Yesterday I picked them up. this morning I painted them and proceeded to dissasembe the KJ.

Currently have 11 1/2 inches at lowest point at skid plate - So losing and inch or so is no big deal

Since a picture is worth 1000 words......

I used 4 bar peices total

My To DO List Is
1 - 1/2 Cradle Drop
2 - Finish Welding and install Bumper/Hitch Mount
3 - Pull fender and pop out dents
4 - Clean fender well
5 - replace modified Wheel Well liners
Wish I had als arms as I install them now as well.

For the 1/2 drop I made no other modification ie - no trans drop, no steering adjust. Just dropped the crade 3/4" and slid them in, bolted back up using the factory bolts - Will need longer bolts for 1" drop.

I will post results as I find them - good or bad

2006KJSPORT4x4 · **Posted:** Sat Sep 23, 2006 7:28 pm

Awesome kjhawaii...look forward to hearing what the results are on this....seems very intresting...hope it works for ya....

tommudd · **Posted:** Fri Sep 29, 2006 2:59 pm

Great idea keep us informed as to how it handles, changes things, etc.

kjhawaii · **Posted:** Fri Sep 29, 2006 3:17 pm

Update

So far it has had no noticable problems aside from it looks like my Toe In went out (expected though).

Ive had contact with my upper arm and springs before the drop and still have contact now. (When droop into holes)

Bump steer seems a bit better and the lower arms are definatly more level.

Only put on 100 miles or so, will update when I adjust Toe and put some real miles on it. KjHawai

Jeepin Al · **Posted:** Fri Sep 29, 2006 3:52 pm

Good Job, the flat steel runs the length of the cradle?, there is no break except at the collapse area?, as I said the cradle does lend some support to the unibody. Also check to make sure you have enough od depth of your steering rod into the rack. Meaning there is a slip joint between the rack and steering rod. By the way do not weld the steering rod to the rack, I tried to tack mine just to be sure it didn't slip out, well the metal on that section of the rack is not steel, and it melted a big hole in the steering rod, not good a new steering rod set me back $150.

If you go any lower, you will need to either relocate the upper arms, or come up with a safe spacer between the spindle and upper ball joint.

Al

kjhawaii · **Posted:** Fri Sep 29, 2006 4:41 pm

Quote:

the flat steel runs the length of the cradle?

No I used 4 peices of 1/2"x2" bar stock, 8" long with a 3/4" hole on one end. I sat under there for a while before I designed the parts and It appeared 8 inches of bar stock would cover all of the cradles crossmember support areas.

Quote:

there is no break except at the collapse area?

Yes there is a break, I have to measure to tell you how much of a break
Cradle Length minus 16" equals length of break.

I loosend the steering joint mounting bolts before I did the drop, Dropped it about 3/4 inch one side at a time, slid in the bars, It bolted back togather nicely.

Quote:

safe spacer

Can you explain a bit?

Say Al, what are your thoughts on new lower control arms or modifing a Dodge Truck a-arms to fit.
I get so jelous looking under Toys and Dodge trucks
Infact at seems to me one might be able to get away with

For the Front of KJ
Upper and Lower Arms (Lowers since are more flattened provide the lift) (Uppers to prevent coil contact)
High Velocity Angle CV Joints
Possible Cradle Drop
All the rest is stock (Springs struts etc)

Calvin56 · **Joined:** Fri Jul 08, 2005 1:59 am **Posts:** 345

That looks great, I might try that when I get home- are you going to try and up the drop after so many miles?

broncsrule · **Posted:** Sun Oct 01, 2006 1:22 pm

Sorry for the ignorance... Is the cradle drop done to get better cv angles? What are the benefits?

Thanks in advance..

kjhawaii · **Posted:** Sun Oct 01, 2006 1:38 pm

Quote:

Is the cradle drop done to get better cv angles? What are the benefits?

Yes that is the theory - Better or at least closer to factory spec

CV Angle
Steering arm angle - Bump Steer -
Helps Alignment
Swaybar

Drove all around yesterday, still no problems yet. KjHawaii

OzLtd · **Posted:** Sun Oct 29, 2006 6:49 pm

Good job and looks very simple. but I cant help but think, we IFS KJ's need as much front clearance as possible and you are sacrificing critical front clearance for CV angle.

Surely theres a way to drop the front diff + diff tubes to get the same desired effect without losing clearance ? Elongate existing mounting holes ?

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Mon Oct 30, 2006 12:00 am

Yes and No - if he can add 1/2in extra lift and keep the original lift's - CV angles - then the height to the bottom of the skid plate will be the same - however he now has added clearance for larger tires which would then increase the ground clearance to the bottom of the skid.
However if he keeps the same tires - he has decreased ground clearance.
To improve clearance you must do both.

OzLtd · **Posted:** Fri Nov 03, 2006 4:18 am

ATXKJ wrote:

however he now has added clearance for larger tires which would then increase the ground clearance to the bottom of the skid.
However if he keeps the same tires - he has decreased ground clearance.
To improve clearance you must do both.

That is correct, so in my situation, considering I now have the 245/75/16's, if I were to perform this modification, I would be going backwards in the quest to gain clearance.

nolakj · **Posted:** Fri Nov 03, 2006 1:07 pm

How much would the 1/2 inch cradle drop help in using 265/75 or 32" tires? Is the main goal to get bigger tires on?

kjhawaii · **Posted:** Sat Nov 04, 2006 12:25 am

Update - 1/2 cradle drop is still doing fine and Ive done some wheeling

My reasons for doing the cradle drop were

1 - Bring things a little closer back to factory spec
Tie rod ends - Bump steer - wear on rack
Sway Bar
Lower Control arms

2 - I like the height of the lift - See post above - I was at 11 1/2 inches at the lowest point of skid plate
I beleive thats max lift without more serious issues - I need to remeasure for compare purposes

So to sum it up - just maintain lift height and improve drivability

3 - Ive never seen it done and thought it might be cool - so far so good

I still have issues with spring / upper arm contact and am working with Quinn to resolve
I guess Ill be buying Als Uppers soon as well. In fact I reccomend just getting the arms if you going up as high as I got.

Ok 2 more things - I have 8" rims 4.5 backspcae and 31inch 10.5 tires, I have full turn radious with very minor if any rub(I have the plastic wheel wells installed but trimmed and pounded)
http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=12864&highlight=

BFG AT KO 31 15 10.5 are great excellent tires, I am 100% happy with them, absolute no complaints, they do what they are designed for and run down the highway smooth, great stiff sidewalls, I can hit curves hard and fast with confidence then do rocks and trails without fear of sidewall punctures. Ok 1 small complaint..they have a tendecy to pick up small rocks/sticks etc and either flail them out or do the tap tap tap down the road, I have to pull over and pull the rock out. Thats one complaint I can live with

Peace Out - KjHawaii

bigp38 · **Joined:** Thu Nov 09, 2006 5:44 pm **Posts:** 23

can you go more than a half inch i want about 4 inches of lift any news on the liberator

michalf · **Posted:** Wed Apr 27, 2011 6:06 am

I know it has been a while, but is there any chance to get the photos back? This thread would be so much better with pics!

1sikKJ · **Posted:** Thu May 19, 2011 4:35 pm

Does anyone have the specs for the orginal cradle bolts (length, thread pattern)?

1/2" Cradle Drop - Fabbed and installed

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