Hey all,
Will I need a drop pitman arm when installing the RE 3.5" lift? If so, which is a good one to get? Isn't the Grand Cherokee's an option? If so, what year on the GC?

Thanks again,
s

 

you dont need one

 

Yeah i think you only need to worry about that with a 4.5" or greater lift i have a 3.5" lift for about a year now on my xj with no drop pitman arm and no issues.

 

you really dont need a drop pitman on ANY xj

if you go tall enough to warrant one, you should be running large enough tires to be warrant running a stronger steering setup/stronger axle

 

X2 What a Pro

 

run a drop pitman if you run a longer track bar. the drop pitman will put the steering back in parallel with the track bar. unless you dont mind bump steer.

 

so, 84wagoneer, you're saying that if the track bar is longer after the lift, you need a dropped pitman arm? aren't all track bars "longer" after a lift, whether you get an adjustable one or redrill? i think the dropped pitman arm would be needed if you lower the body mounting point of the track bar, or am i wrong?

zedpapa

 

the cherokee dont need a pit arm drop unless you do a lot of off road

 

I don't think this is accurate.


If you drop the trackbar mount with a new lowered bracket, not get a longer trackbar, then you need to drop the pitman arm and vise versa.

I have RC's new adjustable trackbar and mount and it requires a drop pitman arm to keep both draglink and trackbar parallel.

But at 3.5" you don't need one.......unless you drop the trackbar mount.

 

track bars dont change length after a lift, they change angle. the "redrill" or aftermarket adjustable track bar puts the track bar angle back to stock specs. the drag link angle is also changed when you lift the front. if you want that angle to be parallel with the new redrilled or adjustable trackbar, the drop pitman arm comes into play. but then again i wouldnt worry about it until your past 4.5" or so.

 

so why did i have to lengthen my adjustable track bar? isn't that changing length? and i had to adjust the toe on my steering linkage and recenter the wheel. i'm not saying your wrong i am just trying to understand. the way i look at it, the angle of the track bar changed because of the lift, irregardless of the length of it. the axle is still farther from the body.

zedpapa

 

you are either confused or worded that incorrectly.

when you lift your rig you run a slightly longer trackbar to center the axle under the jeep. the angle does change, but as the trackbar angle changes with lift height, so does the drag link angle. if you are running stock steering with too much lift the ends will begin to bind on travel, which will warrant a drop pitman arm to lessen the angles. but a drop pitman arm alone will cause some degree of bumpsteer unless the trackbar angle is lessened an equal amount.

but if you are running enough lift to need to lessen your steering angles (5.5"+) you should probably be looking into a heavier duty steering setup that can handle tires large enough to warrant that height as well as the articulation.



incorrect

 

hmm yours makes more sense than mine haha. i was trying to get to that, i just couldnt make sense of it. doh. no more posting while drinking

 

LOL