Front suspension...

[XJNick]

1076802

Hi

I'm working on the front suspension on my '88 cherokee. I'm installing the Rusty's 3" XJ lift kit. I've got the new coil springs installed (but still compressed using coil spring compressors). Now, the instructions say to reattach the upper control arms to the axle. My upper control arms don't come close to lineing up, so I had someone help me twist the axle a little towards the back of the Jeep, and then the holes still would only line up a little bit :-x :-? . My questions are: 1) Are there any tricks to get these control arms to line up enough for the bolts to go back in? 2)Should I spend a ridiculous amount of money on new adjustable upper control arms? 3) if I got new control arms, would they badly effect the suspension (since I've read that you don't replace them on a 3" lift)?

Any help/ideas/suggestions are welcome. :-D

Thanks
-Nick

edited by: XJNick, Jul 18, 2003 - 05:39 AM[addsig]

 

[XJNick]

1076909

Anyone?? :-? [addsig]

 

[Sound_Man]

1077050

Put those top control arms back on and take off the bottom ones. You will want a set of adj. lower arms. if you look at this http://www.thedragonsden.net/jeep/lcalimit.jpg you will see why the lowers need to be replaced. you will also need to get an adj. track bar to get the axle back under the jeep in the proper position.

Best thing to do is pull the springs back out and put the top arms back. Disconnect the lowers on the drivers side at the axle and on the pass. side at the frame ONE AT A TIME! When you get the springs back in use the stock jack to push the axle into position between the shock and the lower control arm mount. Make sure that you are not using exsseive force on the shock or you will screw up the shock. The reason for doing it at the axle on the drivers side is this. The bolt was put in before the front driveshaft and will hit the axle as you try to remove it. The stock LCA will bind on the shock mount with a 3" lift as you can see in the picture.

The lower arms will bind on the shock mount once it is jacked up with the new suspension. The track bar will as well in it's mount on the axle and it will pull the axle over to the drivers side pretty bad. This is all easy to fix with an adj. track bar. You will also need to adjust the steering linkage. Let everything move to where it needs to be and then look at the position of the steering wheel. Adjust the steering linkage until the lower pitman arm is pointed straight back and the steering wheel is back to it's normal position.

As you do this make sure that you do not put any stress on the brake lines for the front end. Loosen the retaining screw and drill a new hole for it to mount on. Straighten out the brake line and make it follow the same path as the shocks. You will see what I mean as you do this.

I hope this helps you out.
[addsig]

 

[XJNick]

1077128

Yes, that helps. Thanks sound man!

What I did though is enlarge the holes about 1/4" towards the axle, and used big washer swhen I reassembled the control arms. I can see what you mean about the LCA hitting the shock mounts, but I'm going to try things this way. If I have vibration or any problems, I guess I'll be investing in new control arms .

-Nick [addsig]