[MilitaryJK4455]

Ok, first, im wondering what the point is in replacing the factory control arms when the only benefit to the aftermarket ones is that they have grease fittings? is it really worth it? and second, What is the deal with the cam bolt on the front lower control arms? why cut into your frame to fit that cam bolt in when you can just use the factory hardware and it works just fine. Thats where i am right now with this lift. I got the front end taken apart and the lower control arms put in then ran outta time. But im going back at 9am tmrw to try and finish the job. I hope that i am competent enough to do this right.... Is it really as hard as im making it out to be or am i just over thinking it way too much?

[MilitaryJK4455]

Really? nobody has any info on this?

[wv2jeep]

The holes must be ovaled out to adjust the caster angle of your front end.If you put the bolt back in the stock location after the lift your axle will have a forward tilt,causing the steering to not want to straight.Just cut them out ,you can see where they are stamped with small a die grinder cutoff wheel or nock them out with a chisel.when you pot the cam bolt that came with the kit back in adjust it so the bolt is toward the front of the jeep in the ovaled out hole. drive it and see how it drives,if you aren,t happy take it and get it aligned or adjust it try over. hope that helps.

[MilitaryJK4455]

Nowhere near done but its a start.

From the side

A closer look, only lower control arms are on

Still needs to go on

Also needs to go on

35" BFG KM2's

17" XD spys

My AEV Procal and Jack thingy came in today too! This thing is really small!

Will try to take some more pics tomorrow since i will have more time.

[silbotta]

Awesome man

[MilitaryJK4455]

Thanks bro. Hope i can get it finished and done right tomorrow.

[river2c]

Originally Posted by Militaryman4455

Ok, first, im wondering what the point is in replacing the factory control arms when the only benefit to the aftermarket ones is that they have grease fittings? is it really worth it? and second, What is the deal with the cam bolt on the front lower control arms? why cut into your frame to fit that cam bolt in when you can just use the factory hardware and it works just fine. Thats where i am right now with this lift. I got the front end taken apart and the lower control arms put in then ran outta time. But im going back at 9am tmrw to try and finish the job. I hope that i am competent enough to do this right.... Is it really as hard as im making it out to be or am i just over thinking it way too much?

The stock control arms are not adjustable. Aftermarket front lower control arms are adjustable and used to increase castor. Cam bolts are not the preferred way of adjusting the castor. They can be knocked loose and you will lose your castor adjustment.

[MilitaryJK4455]

My aftermarket control arms arent adjustable. they are just bent tubes. other than the cam bolt they are in no way adjustable.

[river2c]

Originally Posted by Militaryman4455

My aftermarket control arms arent adjustable. they are just bent tubes. other than the cam bolt they are in no way adjustable.

The cam bolts can be used to adjust the castor to some degree but are not the preferred method on JKs. Once you have installed the cam bolts you can't go back to a standard adjustable control arm with joints without welding up the holes.

[Swagger]

Originally Posted by river2c

The cam bolts can be used to adjust the castor to some degree but are not the preferred method on JKs. Once you have installed the cam bolts you can't go back to a standard adjustable control arm with joints without welding up the holes.

Sure you can.....just use the same cam bolt.

[McKBrew]

Militaryman4455

Dude, you need to chill. Sometimes it takes more than 20 minutes to get your answer. I used to think that there were a bunch of Jeep Gnomes in a dark room who did nothing but answer questions, but I found out they are real people.

Chances are the guy withthe best answer is on the west coast and hasn't had his morning coffee yet.

[JLC08JK]

Originally Posted by McKBrew

Militaryman4455

Dude, you need to chill. Sometimes it takes more than 20 minutes to get your answer. I used to think that there were a bunch of Jeep Gnomes in a dark room who did nothing but answer questions, but I found out they are real people.

Chances are the guy withthe best answer is on the west coast and hasn't had his morning coffee yet.

When I first became a member here it took me awhile to figure out why the forum got so quiet around 8pm. And every morning the list of new posts was a full page long.
Then it hit me

[Xtremjeepn]

Originally Posted by river2c

Cam bolts are not the preferred way of adjusting the castor.

TJs had them factory, 1 ton Dodge trucks have them factory. I would say for the engineers at Chrysler they are preferred.

After market suspension companies have made us believe we need $500 of their adjustable product to move the castor 1/8". This was fine on a TJ that came with stamped steel weak control arms. On a JK there is no reason to spend all the extra cash. It's marketing hype.

Originally Posted by river2c

The cam bolts can be used to adjust the castor to some degree but are not the preferred method on JKs. Once you have installed the cam bolts you can't go back to a standard adjustable control arm with joints without welding up the holes.

You can use the cam bolts all you want and will adjust the castor as much as you need to for proper alignment.


I'm not sure why this kit comes with arms at all. The stock stuff on a JK is plenty beefy and comes with longer life bushings. Another case of marketing hype.

[MilitaryJK4455]

Got the front end done for the most part. Still have to reinstall the brake lines on the extended brackets and put in my dual stabilizers. Should finish up tomorrow with it all though! Update on pics

[MilitaryJK4455]

Well you could get it without the arms, and i think thats what i should have done. But the new arms are greasable polyurethane bushings but other than that it does seem about the same as stock. the way i look at it. If i brake something. i still have a replacement