I have 4.5" coils with a spacer for about 5.5" lift on stock LCA's.
As you can see, the coils are bowed due to the LCA's being too short.
It actually appears to ride and perform just fine but I know I can make the geometry much better.

My question is, are the stock ZJ's arms longer? If they are, is the difference enough to be worthwhile? Or would I be better of just buying some custom arms?

 

At 5.5" you should really have new uppers and lowers. Just get some that are made for your size lift, or adjustables.

 

you really need drop brackets at that height if you are planning to stay with short arms.
you can use stock arms with drop brackets but something beefy would be better. get stock length fixed, or adjustable.

 

Drop brackets if you don't wheel

Long arms if you do.

 

i wheeled with RE drop brackets on 5.5 inch and it wheeled great, drove great and was very reliable. never got hung up on the drop brackets ever and our terrain is full of roots, rocks and fallen logs.

but when i went to long arms, it really felt the same, even flexed pretty much the same, just better to have long arms.

 

I owned one rig with drop brackets

Never again

Drug over every rock there was

 

Well, I've had this jeep for quite a while and I've never gotten hung up. I don't wheel too hard because I have to drive it home but long or drop, either will be an improvement.
I believe Iron Rock makes custom length fixed arms for a good price.
What is the best bang for the buck in the long arm choices?

 

Check out B. Lee's 3 link

 

x2 what I'll do when I get the money.

 

decent kit... 7/8" heims... Bleh

 

I am at the same lift height and I have the iron Rock offroad uppers and lowers and it works pretty well. I have not notice and down sides to them but I would like to add drop brackets one day.

 

if you're talking about b lee, they will custom make it with almost any type or size joint.

 

Why is it better to have long arm vs. drops?

 

Clearance.

Long arms move the mount point back giving a better angle, and thusly, better geometry. Drops just move it lower, for a comparable effect, but at the sacrifice of clearance.

 

I was looking through your pictures, your interior looks great, good job.
Our Jeeps have similar specs but mine look a lot bigger. I guess thats because I have cut fenders?!?