My xj is currently sitting in the front on 4.5" coils and re fixed lcas and stock uppers. Im fairly dissatisfied with the ride quality and want to look in to cad brackets. No I'm not going to fork over $700 for serious long arms. My question is do the brackets move the control arm mounting locations forward any? Will I need adj upper control arms? Will the fixed lowers be tool long? Any help is appreciated thanks.

 

I'm in the same boat you're in right now. I'm gettin the rc lca drop brackets, I have the rc fixed lowers, and these drop down brackets I'm certain allow u to retain the fixed lca, since your ride height isn't affected by the drop brackets you can still use the stock uppers as well.

 

And obviously the caster angles are still going to be adjustable since the brackets allow you to still use those shims behind the lca

 

I have RE fixed lcas with RE drop brackets. The kit came with fixed uppers but since i got it off a mixed bundle with a 3.5" rusty's kit the uppers didn't work i decided to keep my stock uppers. I would rather have adjustable's as it does move the axle 1/2" forward. As far as ride quality I feel like since the lift the ride quality has just gotten better. I can't complain at all though I can't compare how it would of been with out them since I put it all on at once.

 

Wait so you already have drop down brackets

 

no you whould not need adjustables the drop down just drops them strait down. and it will bring your ride quality back to just about factory. but there is nothing that compaired to the long arm upgrade. but for what your looking for it should do just about everything

 

I bought a complete full pack rusty's kit with the RE drop bracket and arms off craigslist. When I installed them you can tell that the axle is moved a bit. Though it just moves it down the instructions do state it will move the axle around 1/2", and if you have fixed control arms the distance from the stock location is farther away than the drop brackets location just by the angle of the mounts

 

I have cad, fixed lowers, adjustable uppers Im sure it's moved forward but I don't really notice it. I'm also at 4.5"

 

re drop brackets do not move the arms forward.

Surprised no one has asked this yet, but what shocks are you using?

 

Just the rc ones. Yes I know they are bad, but I would rather get my control arms closer to parallel with the ground plus better flex than to get bilstines or whatever.

 

crappy shocks = crappy ride

 

I still think the brackets would help a lot. So you would buy better shocks over cad brackets and new uppers for a 4.5" lift?

 

At 4.5" the angles aren't that severe, so I don't think DB's are the the solution.

Even the most expensive lift in the world is going to ride like crap without the right shocks to dampen the terrain.

My $.02

 

Ok. I'll think about that. Thanks