Control Arm Drop Brackets Vs 4-Bar Link Lift kits

[Krobarr]

I've never lifted a vehicle before and am researching all kinds of lifts for my 2020 GRubicon. I notice a few kits and manufacturers use drop brackets. EVO advertises,"Drop brackets for the front control arms and a rear trackbar relocation bracket aids in getting proper geometry in the front and rear creating a smooth ride quality on a variety of different terrain." So far I'm leaning towards RK 4.5" Pro-X/Adeventure-X kits. Is there anyone reading this that has real experience with both styles of Lift Kits that can add some Pros and Cons to either EVO vs RK?

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[LostWoods]

Big question is what are you using the truck for?

Drop brackets just lower your arms which corrects the geometry back to spec but since they use the stock arms, you don't gain any articulation from it, you just lower the arc.

Longer/Adjustable arms allow for correcting geometry but also extending the arc and allowing for more articulation assuming the bushing allows for it. Additionally they tend to be heavier duty so they'll take more abuse than the stock parts.

If you are wheeling then adjustable arms are a good choice. If you are occasionally off road and mostly just want a stockish alignment, drop brackets are fine.

 

[Krobarr]

I'm fairly certain I want Long arm suspension and Coil Overs to reap the full benefits of a superior off-road suspension set up! I am merely wanting to hear from more knowledgible people Whether I'm missing something as there's a lot of drop bracket kits and I think it odd. I live in Alberta, Canada and we have a very wet climate with lots of opportunities for mud, rock, gravel, pretty much everything including lots of snow and icy conditions almost all winter and currently it is my daily driver. I will tow occasionally, but I'm a class 1 driver and will not have concerns with towing after modifications, not sure I'll ever try to tow 7,000 lbs, but if I do, it'll be successful, if it can be, or immediately stopped and a new plan figured out. Endangering others is not an option for my career as a Mobile Crane Operator. I do love off-roading and feel like I am more aggressive than most people I've wheel with. I tell all new people around me to not follow me unless they're sure they wanna be aggressive and not care about their paint job as I honestly don't! I am usually the one to go first and try things, Squeeze into tight spots and trails, but I'm also very calculating and great with angles and visualizing routes through adverse terrain. I've often heard many comments like, "You won't fit through there!" and then watched jaws drop as I've gotten into some tight places and successfully gotten out. Additionally, I can already see this truck eventually being hauled around on a trailer 10 years from now!

 

[Renegade]

If you off road in rocks, you may not like the drop brackets, as they reduce clearance. At 2-3” of lift, I also don’t find them necessary to preserve good handling.

 

[Krobarr]

If you off road in rocks, you may not like the drop brackets, as they reduce clearance. At 2-3” of lift, I also don’t find them necessary to preserve good handling.

Big question is what are you using the truck for?

Drop brackets just lower your arms which corrects the geometry back to spec but since they use the stock arms, you don't gain any articulation from it, you just lower the arc.

Longer/Adjustable arms allow for correcting geometry but also extending the arc and allowing for more articulation assuming the bushing allows for it. Additionally they tend to be heavier duty so they'll take more abuse than the stock parts.

If you are wheeling then adjustable arms are a good choice. If you are occasionally off road and mostly just want a stockish alignment, drop brackets are fine.

Brand new to this forum, I answered you, but not as a reply. Thanks LostWoods!

 

[LostWoods]

Yeah @Renegade is right about clearance... if you're going nuts with it then go with the arms. You don't really need to go full long arm kit on these trucks to get great travel so some standard adjustable arms up front with the coilovers and RK's 4-link rear sounds like what you're after.

 

[Krobarr]

If you off road in rocks, you may not like the drop brackets, as they reduce clearance. At 2-3” of lift, I also don’t find them necessary to preserve good handling.

Thanks Zac, that was one of my first thoughts. I see lots of these drop bracket kits are the same or similar price to RK's Adventure-X and PRo-X kits where they actually offer a 4-Link rear set up and if I'm understanding them correctly, the front is modified into a 3-Link on each side... Maybe that's incorrect, but I'm learning still!

 

[Renegade]

Thanks Zac, that was one of my first thoughts. I see lots of these drop bracket kits are the same or similar price to RK's Adventure-X and PRo-X kits where they actually offer a 4-Link rear set up and if I'm understanding them correctly, the front is modified into a 3-Link on each side... Maybe that's incorrect, but I'm learning still!

RK’s old stuff removed one of the front upper control arms but not on JL/JT, unless there is something new. A friend of mine has the RK Pro-X on his Gladiator, and it’s 5-link (including track bar) front. The rear Pro-X is triangulated and eliminates the track bar.

 

[Krobarr]

RK’s old stuff removed one of the front upper control arms but not on JL/JT, unless there is something new. A friend of mine has the RK Pro-X on his Gladiator, and it’s 5-link (including track bar) front. The rear Pro-X is triangulated and eliminates the track bar.

Yes that's the kit I feel would best suit my needs/wants.

 

[Renegade]

Yes that's the kit I feel would best suit my needs/wants.

The only thing I don’t care for about their kit is that the control arms are bent for ground clearance, but not tire clearance. This forces you to use a wheel with more offset than I would prefer.

 

[Krobarr]

The only thing I don’t care for about their kit is that the control arms are bent for ground clearance, but not tire clearance. This forces you to use a wheel with more offset than I would prefer.

Right, we’ll I’m running -12 offset on my 17” wheels so that likely wouldn’t be an issue.

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