kyledye25

Ok so my 96 xj is starting to clunk a bit. Over bumps and what not. It's a 96 auto 4.0 4x4. I have 2 inch spacers up front and 2.5 in the back. Control arm bushings are basically shot. Just started clunking in the past 2 months. Getting a little worse. U joints are all good....replaced but the axle u joints. But there's no play. One in transfer case drop as well till I can an sye.

My question is this....what type of control arms should I get? I will most likely get 3 inch coils soon but then that's it. No more lift. I like it the way it is now. Should I buy the adjustable control arms or just replace then with OEM? I.searched a bit but not much came up. Thanks.

Gee oh Dee

What kind/how much wheeling do you do?

Are you going to stack the spacers on the 3" coils, or are you doing coils only for a total of 3" lift?

If your going to go 3" at max the OEM LCAs should be fine for most, but if you have the cash adjustables would be good. Maybe even GC lowers.

kyledye25

Thanks for the quick response. That's the info I'm looking for. No spacers on the 3" coils. It's just the rear right now sits a tad higher. So I figured 3 inch coils would even it out a bit. Really no off roading. I have owned it 2 rears and it has seen mud twice. But no serious stuff. It's a daily driver. So not much off roading. So would the grand Cherokee ones work? I may just do OEM replacements. But if the grands would help I would go with them. Thanks again.

Gee oh Dee

The GC arms have a bend in them to help with wheel clearance.

kyledye25

Oh I see. But would stock oem cherokee control arms be fine? Will they pull my axle back at all? I just want to make sure I do it right...which is why I am considering the adjustable control arms. But they are pricey and I would like to get new ones asap. If I am perfectly fine now, with the 2 inch lift, to go buy stock replacements then I will. If the 3 inch mark is where its pushing it...then I may just wait on the adjustable ones. Then piece it all together later when I get the money. I plan on replacing a bunch of stuff soon. Everything it worn and the last thing I want is to have something break. So slowly but surely stuff will get replaced. I just hate the clunking I get while driving. Really worried me untill I read on here its just the control arm bushings that are shot. Then I racked it up and sure enough they dont look pretty.

gilbertxj466

Yes, at three inches the axle will be pulled back with oem arms. You can try it, but youll get a much better ride with adjustable control arms, garuanteed!!

kyledye25

Alright. Thats what I need to know. Thanks! I think I will go with Rustys as soon as I get the money. They arent the most expensive but I only hear good things about rustys. So im going with them. Thanks for the info gentlemen!

SeriousOffroad

Re adjustables FTW!

Gee oh Dee

It wont be pulled back enough to make a noticeable difference. I know this first hand.

I'm on just over 3" of lift with OEM arms and I can flex enough to pull a coil and walk away with it. My coil is still centered in the bumpstop, I have no death wobble or bump steer, and it rides just fine.

Again, this is all first hand experience, as this is the setup I currently have on my XJ.

kyledye25

Wow. Good info. Then I will most certainly just by some stock replacements for now. Thanks for all the help fine sir!