short vs. long arm

[Mxpx182lit]

ok, i keep hearing stuff about the lift limitations of a short arm suspension, and im not sold. right now on my tj i have a 4 inch suspension, a 1 inch body, and 2 inch coil lift, with short arms. I have no problems right now running 33's, but will the problems become more appearint if i run 37's?

 

[Snitty]

no, the problem isn't related to the tire size, it is related to the lift length... i'm not quite sure what you are saying about your lift.. you say you have a 4 inch suspension lift, with a 2 inch coil lift... which happen to the the same thing... can you explain a little better?

 

[Mxpx182lit]

i meant a 2 icnh coil spacer lift. This combined with the body lift and the suspension lift give me about 7 inches of overall length

 

[Bounty__Hunter]

The body lift is not a factor when considering control arm length, just worry about the combined height of the coil and spacer.

That much coil height with short arms is dangerous and increases the chance of death wobble. That much lift will cause the short arms to be too near vertical, which causes 'tire jacking' onroad and off. This is the increased tendency to lift a front tire under throttle, more pronounced when turning. It can be an attention grabber onroad, but can quickly put you on your lid offroad.

The long arms with a large lift allow the axle to cycle in a much more natural arc, allowing the suspension to soak up movement.

 

[Mxpx182lit]

so would it be possible to cut off the old control arm mounts and weld them further back? Im in high school and low on funds.

 

[jeepdude832]

I got front and rear longer arms for 160 on ebayI had a three inch lift and 2 inch coil spacers now the wobble is gone with the new arms

 

[Tug-n-pull]

Don't go playing Dr. Frankenstine when it comes to you suspension in high shool shop class. Youmay wake up dead from it. Study the how to's and been there done that trail of mistakes and wins befor you go cutting and welding. Good luck tug

 

[Snitty]

you can't move the arms back really... they are only a certain length, and even with the adjustable arms, then can only go back so far... the coil, arm, and their positions at the frame make a triangle... and with their given lengths, there is only one position they can go...

like bounty said.. when you lift too much, the arms move close to vertical... and their arc will move more forward and back than they would move up and down... and if they are moving forward and back.. the springs will have no purpose... you're gonna need a long arm kit my friend

 

[Bounty__Hunter]

so would it be possible to cut off the old control arm mounts and weld them further back? Im in high school and low on funds.

The stock control arm mounts are kinda thin and weak to withstand cutting from the frame and welding back on, you need much heavier metal for this. It's not as simple as it sounds, coil suspension geometry is difficult to set up. You also need longer heavy control arms. The kits are expensive, but the geometry has already been figured out. The Full-Traction kit looks decent, many more out there.