It seems like those who go for the AEV lift really are not interested in maximum articulation - so if that is the intent, then someone who wants articulation with a geo bracket style lift will be disappointed since that is not the intent. From everything I have seen and read anyway. That being said it still gives lift so it is still an overall benefit. I am looking at this kit myself specifically to KEEP the factory OEM arms, gain lift, and a higher rate spring. OEM arms will have much better NVH reduction than any of the aftermarket components from all the reading and watching that I have done. Because OEM uses a bonded rubber clevite bushing where most aftermarket arms us some other material or multiple types of material. Some do have a 'soft' rubber bushing, or a combination of that with another joint style. You could use aftermarket arms in conjunction with the brackets but that would depend on how short the aftermarket arms can get. Remember the brackets are designed to correct geometry with the factory length arms. So as long as an aftermarket arm can shorten to the same length as a factory arm then it shouldn't be an issue, and in that case it would in theory provide more articulation. But it would not necessarily be more articulation than just those aftermarket arms and no brackets in the first place.
Man... the same topic keeps coming up. Apologies if this comes off rough, not trying to sound like a jerk here but geo brackets are NOT designed to give MORE articulation. That is not the intent at all. They are SPECIFICALLY designed to use OEM factory arms, provide lift, and correct geometry. OEM arms are designed to have good NVH reduction. They are NOT designed for maximum flex. So the argument that brackets and OEM arms are not good for max articulation is trying to take a square peg and complain when it doesn't fit in a round hole. I don't understand this fettish about how if somebody doesn't have maximum articulation then their lift is junk. Thats not the intended purpose for lifts based on geo brackets. I also have heard a lot of people say the same thing about "it will get hung up on rocks and bashed to pieces" but yet so far I have not seen any pictures or videos of such. It is no different than a stock JT with no lift at all - because essentially the only change is the frame and suspended components are raised. So by that measure then why is everyone not talking about how badly they have bashed their factory control arm mounting brackets? IMO this lift style is NOT intended for hard core rock crawling.
I’d never put drop brackets on something that will be wheeled. Even if it doesn’t hang as low as something else, it’s still being changed to be lower and that’s more stuff to get in the way and get hung up on. Same reason you do a high clearance t-case skid vs using a t-case drop even though you’re dealing with something higher than other things that are lower.
Valid point and a very important one. But it begs the question - what kind of terrain were you in? It has been expressed multiple times now that those who choose the geo bracket style lift do not run hard core rock trails every weekend. Now if you experienced this on a rough and less maintained forest service road, then yeah there is a problem - but I'm willing to bet this was done on a rather large rock obstacle?I see where you’re coming from about the other components being lower. But if you check how big obstacles are typically tackled, most of the time is by having the tire go over it, and have enough clearance on the side or have trusty sliders to pivot/finish passing the obstacle. With this in mind, the lower control arm in the front isn’t really important being so close to the front tire, likewise for lower rear. But the bracket sits behind the tire and would be in direct contact with whatever obstacle one would be passing over.
To illustrate, here are mine,
Front, hang low, no scratches:
Right behind it, you can tell those seen some adventure and are way higher:
Now for the rear, the lowest point has no scratches never seen a rock:
but the one in front of it did:
I hope this helps, ?
The very post that you quoted says specifically that the OP does NOT wheel his rig every weekend, but rather drives plenty of rough forest service roads and beat up paved county roads.
Right, I do not run geo brackets because I wheel my JT hard sinceI got it even stock. Just pointing out how worse that would be with them and agree with your statement. The shocks are SDI eclik
Gotcha. Makes sense. I think theres just a big miscommunication between geo bracket lifts and control arm lifts. I don't see them intended for the same use case at all. Maybe some do and have been disappointed and in that case it is certainly a valid point to make. I dont' wheel hard. OP doesn't either. It's actually very disappointing that Montana has very very few legit off road trails compared to other states.Right, I do not run geo brackets because I wheel my JT hard sinceI got it even stock. Just pointing out how worse that would be with them and agree with your statement. The shocks are SDI eclik
That post I quoted starts off with a paragraph about how low hanging brackets aren’t a big deal. I got distracted and provided the downside to them. Carry on.
Only tested one one trip so far, so I don't have valuable feedback for you im afraid. I'll just say that I would have kept the original one but when flexed hard it hangs lower than the diff so this design fixes that. Also, since I carry a camper in my bed I needed a slightly more rigid one, and this design also fixes the weak point where the OEM one is attached. Seems like running a heavier sway bar got some brackets broken in the past as they aren't strong enough to resist the additional tension.
