99xjjeeper

Like the title says, trying to decide between a shackle relocation or a control arm drop bracket. I have a 99 xj with a zone 4.5 lift and 33s. If that helps. Any advise would be greatly appreciated

xjfirefighter

Either one is going to improve ride quality. Just depends on if you want it to ride smoother in the front or rear. What does your shackle angle look like? If its not bad I would say cad

99xjjeeper

It's not 90 but it's damn close

xjfirefighter

How about your front lca's? I don't remember how bad of an angle mine were back at that height

freegdr

If you have longer control arms drop bracket wont be usefull In the front .relocating shackles add lift along with better shackle angle .

99xjjeeper

Don't really want to add and lift, but as long as it's only around .5 inch or so that won't bother me. I have longer lca in the front that came with the kit. So with longer lca a cad won't help?

Rollincoal420

There is shackle relocation kits that add no lift. When my jeep was at 4.5 with short arms, they wr kinda steep but not too bad. If I was in this dilemma at the time, I would have done something about my shackle angle first. My will buck like a wild Bronco if I didnt c and expect the bump

Blaine

The only issue you will have with the drop brackets and fixed length longer LCA's is it is going to push the bottom of the axle forward.. I have a 4.5 RE express lift with drop brackets, I run adjustable uppers and fixed length longer lowers. I had no issues because I dialed the caster and pinion angle in with the upper arms. BUT it did move my wheelbase forward about an inch or more, clearances are very tight but I don't have anything contacting as far as steering, trackbar and diff goes.

I have both the drop brackets and the shackle relocation and the ride quality is comparable to when it was stock. If I had to do one or the other I would do the shackle relocation first, with the intention of eventually doing the drop brackets as well.

Jbh97009

Do the shackle relocation. I have hd off roads 'no lift' brackets and they are great.
And if it was me I would then save up for long arms, I see them on Craig's all the time. Hell I bought a full, 100% complete rough country long arm 6.5" lift for $600 on Craig's... If I already had a lift like you do I could have sold off everything but the long arms and sub frame and had very nearly free long arms....

Atmos

skip the CAD's. go straight to long arms and never look back. if you can't afford them now then do the relo's first.

Cnwxj

Just my .02, doing the drop brackets first really helped me get my front end right. I hated the way it rode. I have 4.5 lift also.

Codenamefa

I would say do the shackle relocation first and save for a long arm setup, when you are all done you will love the ride difference compared to a cad with a shackle relocation.