BlackXJay

1999 xj 4x4

I'm running about 4 inches of lift. RE states they are best used with vehicles with 5 inchs of lift. Will using these drop brackets negatively effect my short arm set up by dropping the angle lower then stock?

bad_idea

Probably will. Throw a 1" coil spacer in the front and some shackle relocation brackets out back should lift around an inch also.

I have 5" of lift on mine w/ CADs. I am very happy with the ride, very smooth.

BlackXJay

Yeah I have a 3 inch lift with 1 inch coil spacer and 1 inch lift rear shackles already so I dont want to go with a bigger spacer. I guess I'll wait to throw them in.

TRCM

You have to have enough lift so that after the brackets are installed, the axle end of the lower control arm sits lower than the frame end....that is why they say 5".

I have the rough country brackets, and 4.5" of lift, and my lower control arms are almost level, with the axle end being maybe 1" lower than the frame end.

unidentifiedbomb

Why would you want to put those on?

bad_idea

As you lift higher on short arms the axle shifts back closer to the back of the wheel opening. Also, the more severe the angle of the LCA the worse the ride. Mine rides smooth as a Cadillac with the CADs. Tire is also centered up in the wheel opening.

Doesn't flex as much as a long arm setup but is significantly cheaper/easier.

SFNM94XJ

My experience with RE drop brackets:
Lift height is governed by the height of the coils (and spacers).
Drop brackets lower the angle of the control arms & move the wheels further forward in the wheel wells.
They improved the ride noticeably. I used the drop brackets when I had 3" & 4" of lift.
Definitely worth doing with short arms; it was an easy install.

unidentifiedbomb

If you see rocks they do great as anchors.

bad_idea

Not everyone uses their jeep as a rock crawler. Mine is used a lot for driving on the beach, muddy trails, and a couple times a year I make the four hour drive to Uwharrie to see some rocks. Mines not a DD anymore, but it was a smooth ride when it was my DD. For myself (and I feel confident saying a high percentage of jeep owners) CADs are a great deal. Especially compared to 3+" of lift with short arms and no CADs.

Compared to long arms - cost. $185 vs $1100. I'll accept the short comings of CADs for the $915 cost savings.

TRCM

And if you have 1/2 a brain and drive like you actually know your vehicle, they won't be an issue anyway.

Red vehicles also attract cops and tickets...but I ain't got one yet in my red cherokee.....................oh, maybe it's cuz I drive like a sane person.

Ironwagon

IMO, people blow that out of proportion. I ran every trail I could with 35's in JV, Rubicon, etc., and never once hung up on the brackets.

TRCM

AGREE........that's what I was getting at.....the front & rear diffs also hang up, but you know where they are so you drive to avoid dragging them over a high spot.

A very small amount of planning ahead and it's no longer an issue.

JeepXJExpo

I had a 4.5" lift and had the drop brackets and the supports for them. Worked just fine. I had adjustable arms as well to make sure my suspension stayed correct.



As a few have said on here, if you wheel it and come off rocks, yes, they will hit but they are stout pieces and I landed on rocks plenty of times with mine and they are just fine.



I'm actually selling my setup if you don't already have the pieces of your own. PM me if you wanna talk about it more.