Mopar control arms vs drop brackets for 2 inch springs

[King Nothing]

I’m looking at piecing together a “poor man’s” mopar lift kit by just buying the springs and Bilstein 5100s. I’ll be using 2 inch spacers for the rear. I’m hoping the Mopar springs provide more than 2 inches of lift in my sport S to eliminate/minimize the rake. Are the Mopar lower control arms enough to get the caster corrected or would I be better off going with control arm drop brackets? Functionally is there any reason to use the $300 drop brackets vs the less expensive ones for strictly road use?

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[JT1]

If you don't plan on running/buying adjustable control arms (you can use either uppers or lowers) then get the geo brackets.

Which kind you run is totally up to you, but the ones that are not in pieces are slightly harder to install. I run the metalcloaks and they took a minute to get lined up.

 

[Minty JL]

The Mopar LCAs take like 20 mins with swap out. I did with with the wheels on the ground, didn't even need to jack it up

 

[Hootbro]

Leave the rear spacers off if you want to minimize/level the rake. Doing 2" springs up front and putting 2" spacers in the rear is just going to cancel each other out if the front end rake is what you are trying eliminate.

I did a poor mans lift also of using the Synergy 2" front springs and the front LCA from the MOPAR lift and also the extended sway bar end links from the same kit. Left the rear alone and it level it out pretty good. Did get a little bit of front rake back putting a bumper and winch on though.

 

[King Nothing]

The Mopar LCAs take like 20 mins with swap out. I did with with the wheels on the ground, didn't even need to jack it up

Understood. What I’m asking is if the drop brackets are a superior way to correct caster. If they aren’t I’ll buy the control arms because they’re cheaper, but if the brackets are the better way I’ll do those

 

[King Nothing]

Leave the rear spacers off if you want to minimize/level the rake. Doing 2" springs up front and putting 2" spacers in the rear is just going to cancel each other out if the front end rake is what you are trying eliminate.

I did a poor mans lift also of using the Synergy 2" front springs and the front LCA from the MOPAR lift and also the extended sway bar end links from the same kit. Left the rear alone and it level it out pretty good. Did get a little bit of front rake back putting a bumper and winch on though.

I’ve been led to believe that the Mopar springs should give me more than 2 inches on a sport since they’re rated for 2 inches on a rubicon. I’m hoping for 2.75-3 inches out of them and if they don’t give that I might add the .75 inch level on it. I already have a 2 inch spacer lift all the way around. I want the rear where it is and the front to be around an inch higher

 

[jeep1]

Understood. What I’m asking is if the drop brackets are a superior way to correct caster. If they aren’t I’ll buy the control arms because they’re cheaper, but if the brackets are the better way I’ll do those

You can correct caster either way but the brackets will absolutely give you a better ride. By dropping the control arm you maintain the original geometry of the suspension (ie... LCAs are parallel to the road, not angled down)

Brackets really only get a bad rap for rock crawling because they hang down which means it's one more thing to get smashed. For daily driving or overloading, they are the better option.

 

[Minty JL]

Understood. What I’m asking is if the drop brackets are a superior way to correct caster. If they aren’t I’ll buy the control arms because they’re cheaper, but if the brackets are the better way I’ll do those

Superior......well that's some subjective terminology at best.

In regards to time(labor), money spent and outcome......the Mopar LCAs win with the same effect AND zero added weight

The drop brackets.....more time(labor), more money, more weight and same effect..........guess only you can decide.

 

[Gren71]

im with @jeep1 in that the brackets provided a more noticeable improvement. I currently have BOTH the MPP LCAs and the geo brackets. No idea what my caster number is but the JT drives WAY better than it did with just the LCAs on.

 

[King Nothing]

You can correct caster either way but the brackets will absolutely give you a better ride. By dropping the control arm you maintain the original geometry of the suspension (ie... LCAs are parallel to the road, not angled down)

Brackets really only get a bad rap for rock crawling because they hang down which means it's one more thing to get smashed. For daily driving or overloading, they are the better option.

im with @jeep1 in that the brackets provided a more noticeable improvement. I currently have BOTH the MPP LCAs and the geo brackets. No idea what my caster number is but the JT drives WAY better than it did with just the LCAs on.

This is the info I’m looking for. I hadn’t really considered the potential ride improvement from getting that lower control arm at a better angle. Now, I’ve seen brackets from $100-350. Will any of them work or should some be avoided?

 

[Gren71]

This is the info I’m looking for. I hadn’t really considered the potential ride improvement from getting that lower control arm at a better angle. Now, I’ve seen brackets from $100-350. Will any of them work or should some be avoided?

Relatively certain I have the rancho but i cant remember for sure. I haven't seen any threads complaining of any of them failing or having quality issues.

 

[JT1]

Understood. What I’m asking is if the drop brackets are a superior way to correct caster. If they aren’t I’ll buy the control arms because they’re cheaper, but if the brackets are the better way I’ll do those

They can both accomplish it. The brackets hang down a couple inches, so if you are running a small tire, you may scrape them.

The geo brackets will maintain the stock ride quality by keeping you LCAs level. But at 2" of lift, they won't have much angle anyway.

Mopar LCAs have a different style bushing than the factory ones, they look like they will flex better.

 

[chorky]

Mopar LCAs have a different style bushing than the factory ones, they look like they will flex better.

This right here is also a important consideration. Big time flex will come with aftermarket arms that have better joints. But, knowing what flex possibilities are and are not between the stock arms and the MOPAR lift arms could be a deciding factor for some. I would be interesting to see if the MOPAR arms do offer different flex abilities as the rear end is still the same and might then become the weak point.

 

[JT1]

This right here is also a important consideration. Big time flex will come with aftermarket arms that have better joints. But, knowing what flex possibilities are and are not between the stock arms and the MOPAR lift arms could be a deciding factor for some. I would be interesting to see if the MOPAR arms do offer different flex abilities as the rear end is still the same and might then become the weak point.

Stole this picture off this site, but you can see the differences in the bushings, OEM on the left Mopar lift on the right.

 

[jeep1]

This is the info I’m looking for. I hadn’t really considered the potential ride improvement from getting that lower control arm at a better angle. Now, I’ve seen brackets from $100-350. Will any of them work or should some be avoided?

I've run both the Rancho and AEV ones on various jeeps, both have gotten smashed around and held up well. Can't go wrong with either. I personally would avoid Rough Country, I don't like that they are not fully welded but rather two separate plates.

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