I have a 4.5" RE lift with full packs and it seemd to ride pretty stiff. i can feel just about every bump in the road. the PO said the lift was put on in spring of '09. I just ordered a whole brand new polyurathane bushing kit for the complete suspension. Is there anything else that would cause this? I dont think it could be just the bushings but i really dont know. I dont even know if my bushings are bad but i got the complete kit for $87 shipped so why not. Any help would be great.

 

Your shocks may be seizing up or are a stiffer kind.

 

should i see about getting some new shocks?

 

i think the stiffness is cause for my passenger lower control arm bracket to snap in half

 

should i replace the shocks? if so what kind should i get?

 

is everyone to good to help me? almost 40 views and 1 reply? maube i should join a different forum. i though i could get some help here

 

it rides stiff because of your lower control arm angles. chances are in spring of 09 the truck got the shocks that came with the lift kit. they should still be good.

if you look under your truck you will see the lower control arms, the arms that go from the body of your truck to your front axle. from the factory they are almost parallel with the ground. since you lifted it they are on a decent angle now. now every time you hit a bump, they still bend upwards as normal, but since theyre angled, some of the impact is sent straight into the truck body, instead of the coil springs.

rough country actually sells a fix for this, with good results i hear. its their control arm drop bracket. drops the upper and lower control arms. $189 iirc.

 

the Rubicon Express Super Flex lift that i have does not come with shocks but im sure that they were still replaced but i dont know. I will have to look into the drop brackets. it kinda feels like its stiff in the rear as well. not only the front

 

you can run without shocks and it will still be stiff the same. you either need a long arm conversion or a kit like 84wagoneer said.

 

where can i learn more about a long arm kit? where can i get one? what do i need to do this? just control arms? please help so i can order what i need

 

Here. A long arm kit is a longer lower control arm set that links to a special crossmember that replaces the existing one under the transmission. Sometimes you get also a pair of upper control arms that link to the lower one in a "Y" shaped geometry. The advantages are better handling (what you are looking for) due to the better angle with the horizontal, and a better flex. Rough country offers a kit like this for 600$
http://www.roughcountry.com/jeep_xj_689U.html
The other solution is the drop brackets that 84wagoneer has suggested. These brackets relocate the lower control arm mounts (body side) to a lower position, so theat the angle with the horizontal is restored like OE settings.

 

ill give you my honest opinion about long arm kits. if youre going to get one, dont cheap out and get the rough country one. get one that is not a radial arm kit. you still want a 4 or 3 link long arm.

problem with the radial arm kit is that whenever you hit bumps, the axle travels up and down, but its also rotating with the arm as it moves up and down. with the 3 or 4 link the axle is still travelling somewhat normal, and isnt rotating with the suspension movement.

reason why this is bad is because your caster will be constantly changing when you hit bumps on the highway, and your truck will feel out of control. its a very uncomfortable feeling, and downright scary on gravel roads.

 

you can keep the OE upper CAs with just the lower RC long arms...

 

what do you guys think about the drop brackets? im kinda on a budget

 

not really.

plenty of people run the 4.5" kit on short arms and its fine. get a set of RE monotubes or old man emu shocks.