jeep-N-montero
Formerly black_ZJ
- Location
- Bountiful
Well, I want to buy a set of adjustables and was looking for feedback on the pros and cons between different brands out there.
selecting control arms
- Thread starter jeep-N-montero
- Start date
grandmaster
Let the build Re-begin
- Location
- St. George, Utah
Stop searching, claytons hands down. Unless you weren't looking at going LA. Then I think RE has some great ones, JKS also has some but haven't heard to much about them.
jeep-N-montero
Formerly black_ZJ
- Location
- Bountiful
I'm fully aware of the long-arm setups available, thank you. But that is not what I was asking.
so you are looking for short arms? you didn't actually state that so no need to be snippy.
I would either run the Teraflex adjustables or RE -- I am running both and have had no issues
waynehartwig
www.jeeperman.com
- Location
- Mead, WA
IMO RE or Currie. My Currie setup that I have now is much smoother/softer/quieter riding than my RE setup I had before. The Currie Johnny Joint is a lot more forgiving than the RE super flex joint - rubber bushing vs delron. Both are rebuildable for cheap - IMO this is the key for arms - are they rebuildable and how much. RE's super flex joints are adjustable, whcih is real nice. Currie's are, but with shims. Both are right about the same cost.
jeep-N-montero
Formerly black_ZJ
- Location
- Bountiful
Right now I'm running stock uppers with RE fixed lowers that are almost 9 years old. The Springs are IRO 4.5in with their rear trac bar and a Teraflex front trac bar. I was talking to Mike at RE today and he said I could get away with running the fixed lowers on the front and all others adjustable. Problem is that being 9 years old the front lower bolts are rusted inside the sleeve and will end up needing to be cut out to replace the worn joints, so might as well just replace them with new adjustables anyway. Plus mine are the old style anyway. JKS would be my first choice if they were not so expensive. IRO will sell me all 8 adjustables for $600, take a look and tell me what you think http://www.ironrockoffroad.com/Merc...en=PROD&Store_Code=IROR&Product_Code=IR-A_CCA And they owe me a favor so I get free shipping.
jeep-N-montero
Formerly black_ZJ
- Location
- Bountiful
And sorry for my attitude earlier.
grandmaster
Let the build Re-begin
- Location
- St. George, Utah
Its all good, you just didn't specify in your earlier post, and IMO if you were going to go long arms it would be Claytons hands down. I guess my question is what are your plans for the jeep? Do you need the adjustables or can you just wait, save the 600 bucks and put that towards a LA kit?
jeep-N-montero
Formerly black_ZJ
- Location
- Bountiful
Well, I hate driving it how it is most days due to everything not being lined up where it should be. And don't plan on going higher than 4.5in high or larger than 33's. At this point, just getting adjusted where it should be will make a world of difference. And I don't think I will ever have 3 grand to spend on Clayton's, worth it but I would invest in my future first, sorry. I bought mine in 99 and lifted it less than 6 months later with used TJ coils. I even had the opportunity to ride in one of the first long-armed ZJ's in Colorado and possibly the country built by Rockware back in 2000 as seen here http://rockware.net/jeep.html Shoot, I remember when Kevin was designing his first set of sliderz. Just saying I have followed the slow progress of ZJ aftermarket parts and know the advantages of a nice long-arm upgrade, I just haven't had the money to do it and find it hard to justify.
I put some fixed lowers in the front when I added the 2" spacers. I also used some adjustable uppers and I have to say that I like the ride a great deal better than stock arms. I don't intend to go any higher with my ZJ (effectively 3" with the spacers and Upcountry springs...), and while I'm on 31s, they look a little small, I MIGHT go to 32s. I will also someday, go fixed lowers and adjustable uppers in the rear too.
*IF* I were to go longarm on the ZJ, I'm torn between the TNT/Treks setup and Claytons. I believe both are very well designed kits. But both are quite pricey. I'd only go longarms on the ZJ if it were more trail oriented than street. Personal preference.
*IF* I were to go longarm on the ZJ, I'm torn between the TNT/Treks setup and Claytons. I believe both are very well designed kits. But both are quite pricey. I'd only go longarms on the ZJ if it were more trail oriented than street. Personal preference.
I'll chime in here:
Personally, I'd stay away from the JKS arms. Not only due to price, but their construction is remarkably similar to the adjustable arms Teraflex used to make, ~4 years ago. They did put good rubber bushings at both ends, but the swively part in the middle is still present, which retains the wear problems.
The current Teraflex arms have a rubber bushing at one end, and the spherical joint at the other, so you get the flex of the joint as well as the vibration/noise damping of a bushing.
If you're looking at used options, RE, Currie, or current-style Teraflex will all make you happy.
Personally, I'd stay away from the JKS arms. Not only due to price, but their construction is remarkably similar to the adjustable arms Teraflex used to make, ~4 years ago. They did put good rubber bushings at both ends, but the swively part in the middle is still present, which retains the wear problems.
The current Teraflex arms have a rubber bushing at one end, and the spherical joint at the other, so you get the flex of the joint as well as the vibration/noise damping of a bushing.
If you're looking at used options, RE, Currie, or current-style Teraflex will all make you happy.
Looks like Teraflex is doing a special on ZJ lower LA kits. http://www.teraflex.biz/products/zj-grand-cherokee-long-arm-kit.html
ZUKEYPR
Registered User
- Location
- 651.78 miles East of the Rubicon
Ask this question on a few different sites and you'll get cmopletely different answers; all sites are biased and prejudice to one brand or another. Having said that I have short arms with nearly 5" of lift. I got the rod ends and they are terrible, wore out in less than six months and I greased them monthly religiously. Go with anything that has the currie johnny joints, plus you'll be hard pressed to find better customer service than what they will give you. I know a few that have the JJ's and it makes a really big difference. If you have a thick wallet I would go with TNT's long arm kit and chance out the ends for JJ's. That kit is really engineered well.
Zombie
Random Dead Guy
- Location
- Sandy Utah
Short arms go either Tera or Currie.
Comparing the joints between my old RE joints and the Currie JJs in my Clayton arms was absurd. The Tera joints are just as beef, and offer more options with their modular joint system.
Comparing the joints between my old RE joints and the Currie JJs in my Clayton arms was absurd. The Tera joints are just as beef, and offer more options with their modular joint system.
waynehartwig
www.jeeperman.com
- Location
- Mead, WA
IMO $600 for 'stock' arms is way too much....
jeep-N-montero
Formerly black_ZJ
- Location
- Bountiful
Did you even look at the options, or just glanced at the top picture and assumed?? 8 upper and lower adjustables for $600 is a steal, look at the page again if you missed them.
waynehartwig
www.jeeperman.com
- Location
- Mead, WA
You've been getting pretty snippy in this thread asking for advice... Yes, I saw them. The arms are using stock bushings (why I said 'stock' arms) that aren't even $10 each. So 8 arms, that's 16 joints and even being real conservative, that's not even $160 in joints. Yeah, I'm still not impressed. If you want arms that have 0 flex in them, keep what you have and make them longer/stronger for less than $100 in material.
If you want opinions, then ask and keep quiet. But if you already have your mind made up and don't want them, then don't ask.
Being a twit to Wayne is not the best way to get a good deal being that Wayne has the best Customer service and some of the best prices out there for parts I would think one would be "Polite" and maybe respond with..
"So you say $600 is steep? what can you hook me up with Wayne"
I will put my money on the fact that Wayne could hook you up with some nice arms for a very good price..
~
If you are worried about cost I would just fix your current lowers up with some new bushings and order a set of adjustable uppers from teraflex
jeep-N-montero
Formerly black_ZJ
- Location
- Bountiful
Well, if Wayne had disclosed what he does or stated he sold parts it might have saved a lot of discussion. I don't know him nor what he does. His original "stock arms" comment made it seem as though he didn't read down to see that they are adjustable arms at a decent price. My Jeep is my primary driver in the winter and the idea of having rubber bushings at both ends does sound appealing due to lower NVH and being able to replace them with OEM bushings. I realize they won't flex as well as a jointed end, but how much flex would I really be sacrificing?
Wayne, what do you have to offer?
Wayne, what do you have to offer?