DO I NEED NEW A-ARMS WITH LIFT???

ridah011 · **Posted:** Sun Dec 21, 2008 7:48 pm

I am getting ready to lift my Libby and was somewhat confused on whether or not to get the JeepinbyAl A-arms? I am only lifting it 2.5 inches probably with Rusty's Offroad 2.5 Kit. Any reason to do them or not do them? Also while I was just thinking about it, anyone know if the Daystar 2.5 Poly kit is any good and what would be the best recommendation? I appreciate the input.

Robbrez · **Posted:** Sun Dec 21, 2008 7:56 pm

i would say yes with a lift because stock a arms hit the springs with a lift which causes premature ball joint failure. with new a arms you do not get premature tire wear and you get more clearance so there is no banging noises..Jeepin by al arms are great

jeepkj02 · **Posted:** Sun Dec 21, 2008 7:56 pm

Better off getting a set of OME HD springs and Rancho shocks. A-arm helps getting your front end into factory alignment. But otherwise not really necessary with only 2.5" of lift. Once you get over 3" (a frankenlift) you will need it.

daspes · **Posted:** Sun Dec 21, 2008 8:04 pm

You do not NEED new 'A' arms with a 2.5" lift. Only really when you hit the 4"+ mark. They will help you correct the geometry back towards factory specs though. IMHO (and most others as well) Do yourself a favor and pick up OME's instead for not much more. The Rusty's springs are the same rate as the factory springs, and they will sag eventually. How fast and how much depends on your driving, and how often you wheel. The OME however, will not, are designed for the KJ and right much better.

Robbrez · **Posted:** Sun Dec 21, 2008 8:07 pm

daspes wrote:

Do yourself a favor and pick up OME's instead for not much more.

x2

jsc7002 · **Posted:** Sun Dec 21, 2008 8:24 pm

daspes wrote:

You do not NEED new 'A' arms with a 2.5" lift. Only really when you hit the 4"+ mark. They will help you correct the geometry back towards factory specs though. IMHO (and most others as well) Do yourself a favor and pick up OME's instead for not much more. The Rusty's springs are the same rate as the factory springs, and they will sag eventually. How fast and how much depends on your driving, and how often you wheel. The OME however, will not, are designed for the KJ and right much better.

X2 on both the a-arms and OME HD coils

ridah011 · **Posted:** Sun Dec 21, 2008 8:27 pm

will they bang like I have been reading in the forum once I lift and keep the stock A-arms or will an alignment get it back to specs?

daspes · **Posted:** Sun Dec 21, 2008 8:32 pm

All lifts make some noise for the first couple of hundred miles, while unload and compress, that is usually the noise heard. It's part of the settling process. Keep an eye on the arms, ball joints, and springs, and after 500 miles, re-torque all bolts, if you hear banging and thumping after that, then you have a problem. A good alignment shop who know how to do any lifted 4x4 shouldn't have a problem getting your front end straight.

Robbrez · **Posted:** Sun Dec 21, 2008 8:33 pm

ridah011 wrote:

will they bang like I have been reading in the forum once I lift and keep the stock A-arms or will an alignment get it back to specs?

i believe that the will bang... the jeepinby al a-arms are 3/8 larger than the stock ones specifically so that they do not bang..someone correct me if i am wrong on this

05_renegade · **Posted:** Sun Dec 21, 2008 8:36 pm

i have stock arms on my frankenlift and so far all is good and no banging.

daspes · **Posted:** Sun Dec 21, 2008 8:37 pm

Robbrez wrote:

ridah011 wrote:

will they bang like I have been reading in the forum once I lift and keep the stock A-arms or will an alignment get it back to specs?

i believe that the will bang... the jeepinby al a-arms are 3/8 larger than the stock ones specifically so that they do not bang..someone correct me if i am wrong on this

You are correct to a point. The JBA arms are longer, and one of the problems they correct is possible rubbing on the spring. But with a 2.5" lift that usually won't happen. The majority of lifted KJ's here are still running stock A arms with no problem, Myself included. My Frankie gave me 4.5" of lift, though it has settled down to 4" even. No contact at all with my A arms.

tommudd · **Posted:** Sun Dec 21, 2008 8:53 pm

now my view point after several thousand miles

First go OME springs much better for the long haul

Second I agree with daspes, jcs7002 and others, YOU DO NOT NEED upper arms like some have said above, they are a nice addition but not needed, mine ran over 70,000 with the stock arms and they are still good yet, and NEVER had any BANG, just got a deal and bought Als

Third, find a good alignment person who will take the time and align the KJ right, too many of the big name shops will not take the time to align it properly and will tell you they can not and thats BS, they can be

Remember 1/3 of what you read is from people who have never owned anything that is 4WD before so they are scared of every little squeak and rattle they hear, and then get on here yelling the sky is falling :shock:

of course there is some noise, but it is just parts moving around a little.

Do it right the first time and you will be happy for a long time as well

whoops did I step on any toes during this post if so I am sorry for stepping on them but not for being truthful :wink:

Robbrez · **Posted:** Sun Dec 21, 2008 8:56 pm

i stand corrected

adamkrz · **Posted:** Sun Dec 21, 2008 9:08 pm

After installing my lift my alignment guy ( best around ) could not get it exactly back to factory specs but said it won't cause abnormal tire wear.

3 years later i installed the 4.5 jba arms and had it aligned perfect, also the slight noise I had when turning left went away.

XR · **Posted:** Sun Dec 21, 2008 9:29 pm

You oughta hear my '02KJ with 140K and a Frankie.It'll make ya feel good about your Jeep.Creak-POP-bang. :shock:

Oh yeah stock upper A-Arms.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Sun Dec 21, 2008 9:35 pm

My '02 KJ with the "non-softride" coiled SkyJacker lift,3.75" of lift, could not be aligned with the OEM arms(not even close,I did the alignment and I'm certified to do so).Added JBA's UCA's and now I can align my KJ right in the center of the specs,oh I have the GenII JBA UCA's and not the GEN4.5's.

jwalker · **Joined:** Wed Aug 29, 2007 7:43 pm **Posts:** 41

I have the popping and cracking sounds in the front AND rear. (mine is Frankenlifted) If it was only the front, I would assume it is the a-arms. But what's up with the rear?

I took it to the Jeep Dealer. They said I had some slack in the control arms and I could replace them if I wanted to but at this time, if I could stand the noises, it wasn't hurting anything so I could just leave them be.

Any opinions on this?

Robbrez · **Posted:** Mon Dec 22, 2008 4:20 pm

make sure your getting the allignment done at a reputible place because i had to go back to the place where i got my tires and wheels from for them to re-do it because it was awful..finally after the third time i took it to a allignment shop that does big trucks (firetrucks dumptrucks etc) anc it came out perfectly..they even gave me a print out sheet of where it was when i brought it in where it is supposed to be and where they got it to be and mine came out perfect..brought the bill back to the place i got my tires and had them pay for the allignment. :evil:

and this was with al gen 4.5 arms not even stock so i would assume you would have a hard time realligning it with the stock arms. but not impossible

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon Dec 22, 2008 4:26 pm

Thats what I keep telling everyone Robbrez, most shops will not allow enough time for the tech to align it OR the tech sees a lift and runs away. They can be aligned it just takes a little more time and know how

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Mon Dec 22, 2008 6:27 pm

tommudd wrote:

Thats what I keep telling everyone Robbrez, most shops will not allow enough time for the tech to align it OR the tech sees a lift and runs away. They can be aligned it just takes a little more time and know how

Since every KJ is just slightly different then the next some may or may not be able to align period even with JBA's arms.I have run into that.Just remember that caster and camber on the KJ is only changed by the 2 cam bolts that attach the LCA's and that is where the biggest problems arise.You gotta pick between caster being in or camber being in,camber wins since having caster out of adjustment will not wear tires like camber can.The KJ is not alone is this aspect either,same goes the newer('89-'07) GM pickups and SUV's that have been lifted or have had the torsion bars turned up,nearly impossible to get into alignment.

DO I NEED NEW A-ARMS WITH LIFT???

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