clayton uses square, nothing wrong with that. i have several friends who built theirs out of square. it's plenty strong. for lower arms i wouldnt use anything less than 1 3/4" 1/4" wall dom. i wouldnt do aluminum links for an xj. they are cool and light and awesome and all, but expensive.[/QUOTE]That is correct they are very expensive. you are probably right about the square being strond enough. I am use to big stuff, 1 tons and 44" tires and bigger. I am still a little new to the cherokee thing.

 

You have to establish a budget to decide what size/type and thickness links you want to use. Also the size joints you use kinda dictates the minimum size as well.

I am going to be running Ballistic 2.63 joints with 1.25 shank. So I am stuck going with 2"+ size tubing if I want any thickness in my tubing.

 

Now what about welding mounts to the stock crossmember ? It is strong enough?

 

I would also like to know about mounting mounts to the stock cross member, seen people do it but just not to sure about it.

 

Subscribed. In the process of doing this myself . I'm also going with the ballistic joints. I'm leaning on doing a radius arm setup. I should have the upper links done tonight

 

NO, the stock cross member is not strong enough. It's no where near strong enough.

It's thin stamped steel with 4 tiny bolts holding it up.

Please show me pictures of long arms mounted to the stock cross member.

 

a guy did a whole build write up when he made his own
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f58/ho...de-pvc-138831/

 

I've seen stock cross members used, but the body side mounts were not attached to the cross member.

 

Yes, he did. Completely the wrong way. Please don't build a LA set-up like this guy did in the link...

 

You mean that the links weren't mounted to the cross member at all?

That's fine. I still have the stock cross member on my Jeep. It's just there to hold up the transmission tho. I have link mounts on the unibody rails...

The stock cross member is not strong enough to mount your entire front suspension to.

 

correction I didn't look close enough in that builds picture,I didn't realize he did fixed upper radius arm links holy crap, that is the wrong way to do it thanks lowrange2. I mean more the material of his links seemed good his main design is just flawed to say the least ha! Clayton Offroad has a good design that you could transfer to DOM if you wanted or just stick to square tubing