Adding adjustable upper front control arms worth it?

[kapk22]

I have the mopar 2" lift on my 21 JLUR and 37s. I ended up replacing the four rear control arms with Clayton adjustables, as well as the front lowers. I left fixed front upper arms that came in the mopar kit and wonder if replacing them would make a noticeable difference. Any thoughts?

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[Roky]

I have the mopar 2" lift on my 21 JLUR and 37s. I ended up replacing the four rear control arms with Clayton adjustables, as well as the front lowers. I left fixed front upper arms that came in the mopar kit and wonder if replacing them would make a noticeable difference. Any thoughts?

The front upper arms are still oem, Mopar lift only supplies front lowers….. with the amount of articulation that you have with that kit, there’s very little, almost no misalignment in them.

If you’re running long travel shocks however, the uppers misalign quite a bit…..for example, here’s my upper arm at full droop….

So unless the frame side bushings are bad, ( axle side bushings aren’t in the arms) or you want to manipulate the axle ( increase wheel base, with maintaining good caster) then you really don’t have to replace them…….I would if it was me, only because that would drive me nuts…….lol.

 

[Philly_]

If youre going to replace the front uppers with adjustable, I would do the front lowers as well. This way the joints match and you won’t have any binding under extreme articulation on the Mopar set of the control arm bushings.

Essentially, the Clayton uppers are going to allow more flex in their joints than the Mopar lowers will. This means the Mopar lowers will see more stress than they would if the upper arm joints were a matching set. Same is true the other way around, so you’ll have to buy a matching set or replace a little faster than normal, anyways.

If you’re mostly on-road, you’re not likely to notice the limitations of the Mopar control arm bushings or see significant premature wear with mismatched arms. This will come the more you articulate the suspension.

 

[Roky]

If youre going to replace the front uppers with adjustable, I would do the front lowers as well. This way the joints match and you won’t have any binding under extreme articulation on the Mopar set of the control arm bushings.

Essentially, the Clayton uppers are going to allow more flex in their joints than the Mopar lowers will. This means the Mopar lowers will see more stress than they would if the upper arm joints were a matching set. Same is true the other way around, so you’ll have to buy a matching set or replace a little faster than normal, anyways.

If you’re mostly on-road, you’re not likely to notice the limitations of the Mopar control arm bushings or see significant premature wear with mismatched arms. This will come the more you articulate the suspension.

I assumed he had front adj lowers, maybe I read it wrong, lol

 

[Philly_]

I assumed he had front adj lowers, maybe I read it wrong, lol

I read it as having the longer Mopar control arms from their kit as front lowers and OEM front uppers, with Clayton rear uppers/lowers.

Either way, I think you and I are on the same page on the limitations of mismatched upper/lower control arms.

 

[kapk22]

The front upper arms are still oem, Mopar lift only supplies front lowers….. with the amount of articulation that you have with that kit, there’s very little, almost no misalignment in them.

If you’re running long travel shocks however, the uppers misalign quite a bit, example, my upper arm……..

So unless the frame side bushings are bad, ( axle side bushings aren’t in the arms) or you want to manipulate the axle ( increase wheel base, with maintaining good caster) then you really don’t have to replace them……. Iwould if it was me, only because that would drive me nuts…….lol.

I completely forgot the uppers weren't in the mopar kit. Thank you for the info

 

[kapk22]

I read it as having the longer Mopar control arms from their kit as front lowers and OEM front uppers, with Clayton rear uppers/lowers.

Either way, I think you and I are on the same page on the limitations of mismatched upper/lower control arms.

Sorry if I confused anyone. I do have Clayton adjustables on the front lower. I originally replaced the arms from the kit with Rough Country. It did not take long to find out that was a bad choice. I replaced them with the Claytons earlier last year.

 

[Philly_]

Sorry if I confused anyone. I do have Clayton adjustables on the front lower. I originally replaced the arms from the kit with Rough Country. It did not take long to find out that was a bad choice. I replaced them with the Claytons earlier last year.

No worries! It will likely be worth it to swap the uppers as well so everything matches and there is no unnecessary binding during articulation.

If you're not taking it off road, then it will be nice to dial in caster and center the wheel forward/backward in the wheel well, but not something you must have for a functional Jeep.

 

[kapk22]

No worries! It will likely be worth it to swap the uppers as well so everything matches and there is no unnecessary binding during articulation.

If you're not taking it off road, then it will be nice to dial in caster and center the wheel forward/backward in the wheel well, but not something you must have for a functional Jeep.

I guess I will get them then

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