TJ long arm questions

[Echom8]

Hey everyone,

Looking for some input, recently picked up a 2005 Tj rubicon came with a recently installed rough country 6” long arm kit. Looking to lower it to a 4-4.5” lift. Would like some feedback on if the rough country kit long arm system is worth keeping in general or to swap it out for a different brand kit? Tried looking up some videos on YouTube and haven’t seen much besides a video recommending to swap out the joint to rockjock joints once these go out. Also looking for some feedback on coil/shocks. Been looking at metalcloal 4” dual rate coils and shocks or rock krawler triple rates but open to feedback. Looking to run 35” tires, jeep will mostly be used in AZ so lots of sand, and high desert rocky trails.

Thanks for all advice!

 

[Chris]

All bolt-on long arm systems are trash.

You'd be best off swapping it out for a 4" RockJock / Savvy short arm lift.

 

[Echom8]

All bolt-on long arm systems are trash.

You'd be best off swapping it out for a 4" RockJock / Savvy short arm lift.

Only problem with that is all the lower arm brackets have been cut off already, just looked up the savvy kit and the mid arm kit looks pretty interesting if I’m going to have to weld new mounts on anyways.

 

[bbaldwin237]

All bolt-on long arm systems are trash.

You'd be best off swapping it out for a 4" RockJock / Savvy short arm lift.

I think they typically cut off control arms brackets for the long arm kit. If so you'd be stuck with a long arm unless you had new bracketry welded on.

Edit: OP near me to it

 

[Chris]

Only problem with that is all the lower arm brackets have been cut off already, just looked up the savvy kit and the mid arm kit looks pretty interesting if I’m going to have to weld new mounts on anyways.

If you're going to spend the time and money there is no better option than the Savvy mid-arm kit, especially for 35s.

I can testify myself as to how good it works!

 

[jjvw]

Only problem with that is all the lower arm brackets have been cut off already, just looked up the savvy kit and the mid arm kit looks pretty interesting if I’m going to have to weld new mounts on anyways.

You just bought the thing. Unless there is something specific about the long arm you know you do not like, live with it for a while before tearing the suspension apart.

Lowering the ride height is mostly a matter of springs, shocks, and pinion angle adjustments.

 

[Echom8]

If you're going to spend the time and money there is no better option than the Savvy mid-arm kit, especially for 35s.

I can testify myself as to how good it works!

Definitely keep my eye on the savvy kit. Was hoping to get the ride height sorted out (coils/shocks) and all some other supporting parts (steering/swaybars) before I replace relatively new parts.

 

[Echom8]

You just bought the thing. Unless there is something specific about the long arm you know you do not like, live with it for a while before tearing the suspension apart.

Lowering the ride height is mostly a matter of springs, shocks, and pinion angle adjustments.

Agreed, not looking to swap the links out right away, looking for opinions for the coils/shocks

 

[AdventurePig]

I hear a lot of folks crap on long arm setups(and i’m sure for good reasons). Ours is a RE kit with the tri-link rear truss.

My take:

Ride on the highway: 7/10
Ride on surface streets: 7/10
Flex offroad: 8/10
Durability: _/10 (been fine so far for 1.5yrs but time will tell.

Honestly, it rides/tracks/behaves VERY civilized and predictably in my opinion, to the extent that my wife driving it as a DD for a few days was a complete non-event.

So, i agree with the above poster - give it and yourself a chance to get to know each other. Maybe it’s exactly what you want, or maybe a mid-arm will be the bee’s knee’s.

For me, i love how 4” of suspension lift and 2” of body lift looks/operates/behaves on 35’s

 

[Echom8]

I hear a lot of folks crap on long arm setups. Ours is a RE kit with the tri-link rear truss.

My take:

Ride on the highway: 7/10
Ride on surface streets: 7/10
Flex offroad: 8/10
Durability: _/10 (been fine so far for 1.5yrs but time will tell.

Honestly, it rides/tracks/behaves VERY civilized and predictably in my opinion, to the extent that my wife driving it as a DD for a few days was a complete non-event.

So, i agree with the above poster - give it and yourself a chance to get to know each other. Maybe it’s exactly what you want, maybe a mid-arm will be the bee’s knee’s.

For me, i love how 4” of suspension lift and 2” of body lift looks/operates/behaves on 35’s

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Appreciate your feedback, looking to get mine to similar setup as what you’re running. This is my second TJ and have 0 experience with long arm set ups. Excited to get some wheel time and see how it compares. Got a killer deal on this rubicon, definitely not the kit I would personally buy so trying to get some feedback and recommendations for coils/shocks.

 

[jjvw]

I hear a lot of folks crap on long arm setups. Ours is a RE kit with the tri-link rear truss.

...

Most have no idea where the analysis and critiques are when comes to short, mid, and long arms. Changing the arms and mounting points is a solution to a specific type of problem. Nothing in this thread from anyone is pointing at that problem as a thing to address. Therefore, there is nothing to fix by changing arm length.

 

[AdventurePig]

Appreciate your feedback, looking to get mine to similar setup as what you’re running. This is my second TJ and have 0 experience with long arm set ups. Excited to get some wheel time and see how it compares. Got a killer deal on this rubicon, definitely not the kit I would personally buy so trying to get some feedback and recommendations for coils/shocks.

Looking forward to hearing what you figure out.

 

[lBasket]

 

[jjvw]

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Jerry's thoughts on long arms were focused on the least interesting complaints.

 

[mrblaine]

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The best part about that picture is it being taken with his camera.

 

[macleanflood]

Too soon?

-Mac

 

[astjp2]

So where is Jerry now? Last I saw, he was in Florida getting a concealed carry permit.

 

[Lou]

So where is Jerry now? Last I saw, he was in Florida getting a concealed carry permit.

He’s still on Facebook making sure people are checking their atf with the vehicle in neutral and not park.

 

[John Cooper]

So where is Jerry now? Last I saw, he was in Florida getting a concealed carry permit.

Florida for sure. He came up to Alabama and wheeled with a bunch of us misfits last year.

 

[NashvilleTJ]

Florida for sure. He came up to Alabama and wheeled with a bunch of us misfits last year.

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I think Jerry and @Woodrow share the same calves...