Would there be any advantage of adding aftermarket upper and lower control arms on a stock height xj with sway bar disconnects off road?

 

Aftermarket arms are usually stronger and disconnects will give you more flex, even on a stock rig. WJ arms are stronger than XJ arms and are almost a bolt on, plus they're cheaper than aftermarket arms.

 

The stock control arms are stamped steel they flex under load and can bend of you push it hard enough.

 

On Adj. control arms the flex joints allow just that movement.

 

What would be the best to go with? Solid? Adjustable? Straight? curved? With Johnny joints / heim ? I see them priced from $129 a set to $300

 

I'm just going to post this here because I'm still debating on starting a separate thread. When I installed my BDS 2" lift (new coils, shocks and AAL) I also installed WJ LCAs. Now I have a "creaking" when applying the brakes and slowing to a stop. I took it over to Evans 4X4 and he got under it while I rocked it back and forth. He said the pass. side LCA is rubbing inside the frame mount to a point where you can see the grind marks and shiny metal. My plan now is to get new LCAs and hope that solves the problem.

 

You'd need straight ones if you are at stock height, and likely adjustable. I've never seen aftermarket non-adj. arms that are stock length. The adjustable ones I've seen collapse to stock length. I generally tend to think some sort of a flex joint (johnny, RE superflex, metalcloak Duraflex, etc) on one end and a bushing on the other is a good compromise between on-road comfort and axle articulation for a DD/Weekend warrior. If it is mostly a trail rig, I would lean more towards johnny joints at both ends to ensure that your control arms will never be a limiting factor in axle articulation.

 

UPDATE: I installed new LCA's (tubular/fixed) and the "creaking" is gone. I now have a pair of WJ LCAs for sale