Mopar LCA swap

[kilian73]

The only thing that’s difficult about this swap is the 190 lb/ft of torque you have to apply with the tires on terra firma. Not a ton of room to work the torque wrench so one little click at a time. Woof. Otherwise, it makes a great difference on the XR. Recommended.

I just got a JLUR XR and am looking to improve the handling. Which LCA's did you install?
I wasn't sure if the longer mopar LCA's that come with the 2" lift kit would be long enough, but hoping they are to save some $$.

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[blnewt]

I just got a JLUR XR and am looking to improve the handling. Which LCA's did you install?
I wasn't sure if the longer mopar LCA's that come with the 2" lift kit would be long enough, but hoping they are to save some $$.

I'd get em unless you plan further lift, should be just about right w/ those added, if not you're only out about$80

 

[NULL POINTER]

There is a few ghetto ways to remove tight bolts like putting a floor jack under the wrench and jack up the wrench to loosen, and you can always use your foot on a torque wrench as long as you can feel or hear the click when it meets the torque setting
But you didn't hear it from me
Glad you found your pants

Got them on without much fuss. I did have to go out and buy a swiveling impact socket to break the passenger side forward bolt loose, factory must have torqued that one to 300 ft/lbs . The other 3 were easy to get off. With a couple of clicks on the ratchet strap and the passenger side holes were lined up. No issues at all on the driver side, holes lined up perfectly. Getting to the 190 ft/lb mark was a beeatch. The deed is done.

Damn, this was worth it. The jeep will track straight now with no hands. It is much easier to keep it in its lane, even with a breeze.

So in order of improvements for wandering:
Lowering tire pressure from 37 to 34 cold - minimal change
Falcon Steering stabilizer - slight effect
Mopar track bar upgrade for 2018 jl - no effect
Drag link end replace due to wear - noticeable change
Steel gearbox replacement - noticeable change tighter steering no dead spot
Mopar LCA swap - noticeable change wants to stay in direction steering is pointed, no wandering so far. Best change for the money out of all of these except possibly the drag link end replacement.

I would call this successful. This was a worthwhile project. The bushings on the new LCA's look like they will be better than the old ones.

I would like to thank the OP, blnewt, and roky for their insights and encouragement. There were also many other great contributors to this thread. Thanks all.

 

[blnewt]

Got them on without much fuss. I did have to go out and buy a swiveling impact socket to break the passenger side forward bolt loose, factory must have torqued that one to 300 ft/lbs . The other 3 were easy to get off. With a couple of clicks on the ratchet strap and the passenger side holes were lined up. No issues at all on the driver side, holes lined up perfectly. Getting to the 190 ft/lb mark was a beeatch. The deed is done.

Damn, this was worth it. The jeep will track straight now with no hands. It is much easier to keep it in its lane, even with a breeze.

So in order of improvements for wandering:
Lowering tire pressure from 37 to 34 cold - minimal change
Falcon Steering stabilizer - slight effect
Mopar track bar upgrade for 2018 jl - no effect
Drag link end replace due to wear - noticeable change
Steel gearbox replacement - noticeable change tighter steering no dead spot
Mopar LCA swap - noticeable change wants to stay in direction steering is pointed, no wandering so far. Best change for the money out of all of these except possibly the drag link end replacement.

I would call this successful. This was a worthwhile project. The bushings on the new LCA's look like they will be better than the old ones.

I would like to thank the OP, blnewt, and roky for their insights and encouragement. There were also many other great contributors to this thread. Thanks all.

Great report back, glad it went well, and hopefully many thousands of great miles in your new&improved Jeep!

 

[Mikester86]

Has anyone went back a week or so later and checked the torque again? If so, what was the result? Should blue Loctite or comparable be used?

 

[blnewt]

Has anyone went back a week or so later and checked the torque again? If so, what was the result? Should blue Loctite or comparable be used?

I put an exhaust loop skid on my drivers side so I had to remove the rear bolt on that LCA, it was still tight AF, I don't think there would be an issue if it is tightened to spec, although a little dab of loctite blue is rarely a bad plan.

 

[kilian73]

Hey all, I have read through this whole thread and there was some really great info here. I am getting my new LCA's installed tomorrow. I have a question that I don't think has been addressed though. It may be a very dumb question, or I may have missed it in this massive thread (I did skim some posts...)

I think I read in this thread that adding a spacer would lower the caster angle, is that correct? Does that mean that my having added a winch would also affect the caster in some way?

My 22 jlur xr is a little squirlly on the back roads that I am always on and definitly wanders a bit on the highway. I only had it for a few days before the winch was installed and I don't remember what it drove like before that.

 

[blnewt]

Hey all, I have read through this whole thread and there was some really great info here. I am getting my new LCA's installed tomorrow. I have a question that I don't think has been addressed though. It may be a very dumb question, or I may have missed it in this massive thread (I did skim some posts...)

I think I read in this thread that adding a spacer would lower the caster angle, is that correct? Does that mean that my having added a winch would also affect the caster in some way?

My 22 jlur xr is a little squirlly on the back roads that I am always on and definitly wanders a bit on the highway. I only had it for a few days before the winch was installed and I don't remember what it drove like before that.

If your winch dropped your front end 1/2" but you end up adding a 1/2" spacer then no real affect on caster, if you don't add the spacer your caster will increase (since you shortened your lift). Just a rough estimate, but for every inch of lift you decrease caster by approx .75 degree (up to a point).

The Mopar lift LCAs will net about 1.5 to 2 degrees of caster increase. The Rubicons, and Sport/Saharas w/ Rubicon springs have a caster in the 4 degree range, so adding the longer LCAs put the caster in the sweet spot of 5.5 to 6 degrees give or take.

Hope that makes sense

 

[kilian73]

If your winch dropped your front end 1/2" but you end up adding a 1/2" spacer then no real affect on caster, if you don't add the spacer your caster will increase (since you shortened your lift). Just a rough estimate, but for every inch of lift you decrease caster by approx .75 degree (up to a point).

The Mopar lift LCAs will net about 1.5 to 2 degrees of caster increase. The Rubicons, and Sport/Saharas w/ Rubicon springs have a caster in the 4 degree range, so adding the longer LCAs put the caster in the sweet spot of 5.5 to 6 degrees give or take.

Hope that makes sense

Hey, thanks for the reply and help.

I have heard it takes time for the jeep to sag after getting the winch on, how long should i wait to measure the rake? It's only been on for like 2 weeks or so. My concern is I get the caster fixed with the lift LCA's, but then mess it up with a spacer.

 

[Mabar]

Hey all, I have read through this whole thread and there was some really great info here. I am getting my new LCA's installed tomorrow. I have a question that I don't think has been addressed though. It may be a very dumb question, or I may have missed it in this massive thread (I did skim some posts...)

I think I read in this thread that adding a spacer would lower the caster angle, is that correct? Does that mean that my having added a winch would also affect the caster in some way?

My 22 jlur xr is a little squirlly on the back roads that I am always on and definitly wanders a bit on the highway. I only had it for a few days before the winch was installed and I don't remember what it drove like before that.

I have a winch on my 2-door, JL Rubicon. It now drives great with the longer, lower control arms.

 

[blnewt]

Hey, thanks for the reply and help.

I have heard it takes time for the jeep to sag after getting the winch on, how long should i wait to measure the rake? It's only been on for like 2 weeks or so. My concern is I get the caster fixed with the lift LCA's, but then mess it up with a spacer.

I put my steel front bumper, then my winch after installing my Rubicon springs (along w/ the longer LCAs), I dropped about a 1/2", I ended up putting in a Rugged Ridge 3/4" spacer up front and all is well in looks and the drive I can run down the hwy tracking straight at 80 mph w/ one finger on the wheel (as long as there's no wind, lol)
Here's a pic of the winch/bumper, then w/ the 3/4" spacer, not real noticeable but worked out great IMO.

 

[Jazzicon]

The bolts are marinating in PB Blaster now. Big boy pants are ready, and steel jock strap, too A variety of tools are laid out ready to go to work. It's gonna be interesting. Hope the weather cools down a bit. Thanks for all the answers.

You got this! ???

 

[kilian73]

Got the LCAs in today and it definitely isn't as squirlly on the backroads. Do these readings look normal/ok? How big a deal is .4 difference from one side to the other? Should I take it back in?

 

[blnewt]

Got the LCAs in today and it definitely isn't as squirlly on the backroads. Do these readings look normal/ok? How big a deal is .4 difference from one side to the other? Should I take it back in?

Wouldn't worry about that at all, there's going to be variance. Glad you're happy w/ the drive, it's a great bang for the buck!

 

[Markham]

? those are on there good. I could not for the life of me do this on the ground with no leverage. I’m going to get an impact wrench that I’ve been meaning to get anyway.

With an impact wrench, it looks like I can reach 2 of the 4 nuts. Using it on the bolt side of the other 2 going to be a problem? I know I’ll need more torque on a bolt compared to a nut.

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