Mopar LCA swap

[nU7OuxIx]

You have nothing new there. Mine was the same. The more weight on the front, the more the front drops, the lower it sits, and the higher the caster number goes. The more lift you get the lower the caster goes. The reason Geometry Correction Brackets were invented.
Mine was the same after installing a bumper and winch. Caster went up. Then I put in 2.5” springs lost caster again. I have since put a heavier front bumper and caster has increased again. I’ll be installing MC Geometry Correction Brackets soon to dial in the front.

That's interesting because people are shocked that my caster is so high when I haven't swapped the LCA's out.

When you had the bumpers, winch, and stock springs, did you swap out to the longer mopar LCA's? If so, what was your caster?

Like everybody, I'm trying to optimize my driving experience. I'm just wondering if I should leave things as is since my caster is close to what people try to shoot for, just down a half degree.

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[Roky]

Yes I did. The Jeep is about 2 years old and came from the factory with steel bumpers. I put the winch on shortly after I got it so everything should be settled now.

Yeah, the weight of winch is likely where your increased caster is coming from. I still think you will benefit from the Mopar lcas……

 

[blnewt]

Yeah, that’s likely where your increased caster is coming from. I still think you will benefit from the Mopar lcas……

Yeah, I think I'd still get them. My caster was a bit over 6 after I added the Mopar lift LCAs to my Rubicon spring setup, I then added spacers for another 1.5" of overall lift. My caster is now around 5-ish and I much prefer the extra degree I had prior to those spacers. Jeep not wandering but not as locked in as prior, have to use a hand rather than just a finger on the wheel to keep it tight running 75.

 

[nU7OuxIx]

Yeah, the weight of winch is likely where your increased caster is coming from. I still think you will benefit from the Mopar lcas……

What about pinion angle? What should I be seeing as a range of acceptable?

Thank You!!

 

[Roky]

What about pinion angle? What should I be seeing as a range of acceptable?

Thank You!!

Pinion angle will not be an issue with the small amount you’ll be increasing….. Also with the FAD the front drive shaft will not be spinning in 2 wd, only in 4wd… you likely wont be going fast enough in 4wd to see any vibration…..guys can say what they want about the FAD, but it has allowed us to run higher caster than we could in the JKs…..resulting in a better handling rig, when everything else is dialed in of course…….

 

[jav_eee]

Pinion angle will not be an issue with the small amount you’ll be increasing….. Also with the FAD the front drive shaft will not be spinning in 2 wd, only in 4wd… you likely wont be going fast enough in 4wd to see any vibration…..guys can say what they want about the FAD, but it has allowed us to run higher caster than we could in the JKs…..resulting in a better handling rig, when everything else is dialed in of course…….

what is “FAD”?

 

[Roky]

what is “FAD”?

Front axle disconnect…..

 

[Jtphoto]

That's interesting because people are shocked that my caster is so high when I haven't swapped the LCA's out.

When you had the bumpers, winch, and stock springs, did you swap out to the longer mopar LCA's? If so, what was your caster?

Like everybody, I'm trying to optimize my driving experience. I'm just wondering if I should leave things as is since my caster is close to what people try to shoot for, just down a half degree.

Yes I also added the LCAs. It made a bit of difference but not too much.

 

[jav_eee]

Front axle disconnect…..

Oh! So current model gladiators have that? (Sorry for the ignorance my last jeep was a TJ. It’s been a while…)

 

[Roky]

Oh! So current model gladiators have that? (Sorry for the ignorance my last jeep was a TJ. It’s been a while…)

Yeah, I think everything except the 392 has it…..

 

[nU7OuxIx]

Yes I also added the LCAs. It made a bit of difference but not too much.

I think I'll probably do it but I want to get some miles in after my alignment. It was too windy over the weekend to see really how it feels. I also lowered my PSI to 35 but the TPMS is reading 37, so I'm playing the game of which gauge is right.

After they aligned it, my initial reaction is that it feels better but it wasn't totally fixed. I feel like all these little things add up where they are slowly improving but it's not a single thing that has caused me to be like 'yup, that was it'.

After this week, I'll have more time behind the wheel to see how it feels. And knowing that I can add the LCA's without wrecking everything else makes me feel better. I'm just tired of spending so much time on this and wondering if it's just me or if that's how Jeep's are.

 

[Jtphoto]

I think I'll probably do it but I want to get some miles in after my alignment. It was too windy over the weekend to see really how it feels. I also lowered my PSI to 35 but the TPMS is reading 37, so I'm playing the game of which gauge is right.

After they aligned it, my initial reaction is that it feels better but it wasn't totally fixed. I feel like all these little things add up where they are slowly improving but it's not a single thing that has caused me to be like 'yup, that was it'.

After this week, I'll have more time behind the wheel to see how it feels. And knowing that I can add the LCA's without wrecking everything else makes me feel better. I'm just tired of spending so much time on this and wondering if it's just me or if that's how Jeep's are.

Ignore the TPMS and drop your tires to 28psi. Believe me, just try it. You will be surprised how nice it will handle.

 

[blnewt]

I think I'll probably do it but I want to get some miles in after my alignment. It was too windy over the weekend to see really how it feels. I also lowered my PSI to 35 but the TPMS is reading 37, so I'm playing the game of which gauge is right.

After they aligned it, my initial reaction is that it feels better but it wasn't totally fixed. I feel like all these little things add up where they are slowly improving but it's not a single thing that has caused me to be like 'yup, that was it'.

After this week, I'll have more time behind the wheel to see how it feels. And knowing that I can add the LCA's without wrecking everything else makes me feel better. I'm just tired of spending so much time on this and wondering if it's just me or if that's how Jeep's are.

What tire gauge are you using, I've found my TPMS seems pretty close within 1 psi w/ my gauge. I use a Jaco like this
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B010A6B6KG

 

[STW]

As you can see in the picture, Mopar lift LCA is slightly longer than the stock LCA (measured by about 1/4 inch). In case you are interested in doing this mod, the part number for Mopar lift LCA is 68322798AA. If you want to use a new set of bolts and nuts, they are 6512085AA (bolt, M16-1.5x104mm) and 6104720AA (nut). The torque specs are 190 ft-lb. The 103 and 125 ft-lbs floating around the internet are from the old JK smaller bolt and nut specs, JL has a larger bolt so the torque should be much higher.
.....

The other think you can see in the picture is that the stock LCA (top) has the hard rubber bushings, and the .25" longer Mopar LCA (bottom) doesn't appear to have any bushing. You can see in this OP photo the absence of a bushing. I have these longer Mopar LCAs so have noticed this in person, but the photo shows it too.

Is there any need for a rubber bushing for the longer Mopar LCAs? Is it OK to install the longer Mopar LCAs with metal to metal contact between them and the LCA mount flanges on the frame and axle? Or will the result in metal to metal grinding?

Lots of aftermarket adjustable LCAs seem to have no bushing either, and I understand that rubber bushings there can bind and reduce articulation at the extremes. What is the best practice for avoiding metal to metal grinding and the corrosion that would result?

 

[nU7OuxIx]

What tire gauge are you using, I've found my TPMS seems pretty close within 1 psi w/ my gauge. I use a Jaco like this
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B010A6B6KG

I'm using a Joe's racing tire gauge. It's much more accurate than the slime one I used to use.

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