So I've decided frame stiffeners would be a good idea and I'm leaning towards buying the ruffstuff ones. I need to know, do you have to weld them in?? If possible I'd need to bolt them in( if I can ), and after I would have them welded. Also I have CAD, will all this work? The ones I have run under the TC cross member so it drops the TC 3/16. If I ad the frame stiffeners that would add another 3/16 totaling 3/8, right? So my idea is to cut( the CAD ), at the cross member and have them welded in. Is this a bad idea? I dont plan on ever getting long arms. What do you guys think? Thanks for the input.

 

i would just burn in the stiffeners, then bolt up the drop brackets. don't cut and weld those in.
and yes, you will essentially be dropping the t-case 3/16" but that won't matter, unless you're already running a t-case drop, then i would just shave that one down a bit.

and don't be sayin you'll never go long arms because you have drop brackets... that's what i thought at one time...

 

Anyone have any thoughts?

 

I agree with caged. bolting in the stiffeners wont allow the same rigidity as stitch welding them. I wouldn't worry about the 3/16ths drop. everyone who runs stiffeners get it.

 

I was just thinking though that the stiffeners plus the CAD would drop the TC 3/8. Thats quite a bit, no? Unfotunately I cant weld so I'd have to prep it all up, (bolt it in), then take it to someone and get it welded. Maybe I could use some kind of spacer to compinsate for the 3/8.

 

So you had the CAD before?? Is it really that big a difference between the two? What about highway driving, heard they can be a little squirrly. ( the long arms that is)

 

most T/c drop kits are 1-1.5". 3/8" isn't much at all. I would install it and if you have a vibration or issue then work on it from there, the easiest way would be to space the mount up between the mount and the trans.

 

Ya I was thinking that too. If I can get something 3/8 thiner and put that in in place of the original spacer then I'd be good to go.

 

Just clued in to what you meant by " space the mount up between the mount and the trans. I think I've got some small pieces of 3/16 kicking arond. Thanks for the idea!

 

I have never had control arm drop brackets before... but my long arms are VERY stable at highway speeds. my XJ drives a ton better with 6"lift and 35's then it ever did with a 4.5" lift and 31's or the 32's... long arms are a lot smoother and allow you to put your axle just how it needs to be (probably same place yours are now(if adjustable)

long arms are only an improvement IMO

 

long arms drive just as nice as short arms with drop brackets.
the whole idea with drop brackets is to get your control arms back at stock angles. the drop brackets do just that.
so do long arms, so i really didn't notice any difference while driving on the highway.