So its time for a new lift for my 2002 TJ. The current short arm kit is causing some serious death wobble and handling problems, after 5 years. After spending buckets of money on my front end trying to solve it. I have accepted the fact that a long arm is past due. This is my daily driver and weekend wheeler.

I am looking to achieve 6" lift so I can run 37's. I have d44's with 35 spline axles and lockers. 5.5" of lift, part procomp part other.

I want to do my own custom long arm kit. After looking at all of the kits that are off the shelf, I cant decide if I need to use all hiem joints like Skyjacker uses, or poly bushings like RE uses in combination with their plastic spherical joint.

Some folks say that if I use strictly hiem joints, that I will be replacing them every couple of months from all of the on road driving. At $75 a piece, that doesnt appeal to me, but im not so sure they will wear out as fast as they say. Others say that the bushings are too soft and will wear out, and cause play in the suspension causing ride quality issues. Like what I am dealing with now.

Any arguments one way or the other would be greatly appreciated.


Thanks,
David

From personal experience; all heims rides like poop, bushing on one end and a heim/flex joint on the other is much better.

The type of suspension you build will play a factor in what combination you will use (ie: 3 link, 4 link, radius, ect).

Definetely not radius arms. I am not sure if I want 3 or 4 link. It is a daily driver for another year. So a 3 link might be a little wild on the interstate.

Definetely not radius arms. I am not sure if I want 3 or 4 link. It is a daily driver for another year. So a 3 link might be a little wild on the interstate.

3 links arent wild on the express way. i have done a few 1.5 hour stints on the express was in my rig on 39.5"s that has a 3 link front.

i would go flex joints and maybe bushings depending on what style of suspension you are planning on using.

the bushings will absorb some shock if im not mistaken also... but wont all heims just bind also?

any ways i have radius arms and i dont get the huge deal with them. mine do great. handle good and flex with no bind. :confused:

http://www.genright.com/images/content/Susp_banner_w_text_sm.jpg

his 3 link looks stable on the high way

Poly at one end & heim,or johnny joint at the other, works for mine... Heim's at both end's seems like the gains would be minimal and actually cause more binding in some situations.. my $.02
I'd do a 3 link, if possible do a 4 link. I ran a wishbone 3link up front for about 2 years with 39tsl's and it worked ok, but it didn't see much if any highway time. Currently run a triangulated 4link and like it a lot better off road though its pure trailer queen

for a dd i would think poly/poly would be best if im not mistaken... im in the same boat :(
im about 90% on-road...but as for that 10% :smokin:... i'm lean'n towads ballistic flex joints on the axle end and poly at the frame.
(axle build in sig)

are you going to use threaded tube or bungs? im stuck on that too..

Im probably going with the weld in bungs. I have no idea what a machine shop would charge to cutthreads for me, but I think it would be easier to do the weld ins. Unles you go with the aluminum arms from Summitt Machine, then those are made to order and come threaded. A little more $$, but they dont get bent.

Im probably going with the weld in bungs. I have no idea what a machine shop would charge to cutthreads for me, but I think it would be easier to do the weld ins. Unles you go with the aluminum arms from Summitt Machine, then those are made to order and come threaded. A little more $$, but they dont get bent.

thorbecke brothers (http://www.suicidedoors.com/catalog/4-link-parts/4-link-tubing) has threaded links for pretty cheap...im more concerned with ease of installation/adjustablity and strength.