Do I Need a Long Arm Lift Kit for My Jeep?
When it comes to installing a lift kit for your Jeep, there are many different factors that you must consider. You’ll want to choose the right fit for your style, but you’ll, more importantly, want to choose the right fit for your chosen Jeep. Let’s delve into a little more detail:
What Exactly is a Lift Kit?
A lift kit is exactly what the name suggests. It allows you to lift your Jeep higher to the height you prefer while you’re behind the wheel. It will replace your Jeep’s spring and shocks, increasing your ability to navigate through particular terrains. Take Wranglers, for instance – they’re known as off-roaders, but they won’t be able to get through every single piece of track. This is where a lift kit comes in as it raises the height and lets you drive through much tougher conditions.
Long Arm vs. Short Arm Lift Kits
Short-am lift kits are attractive to many drivers as they don’t require any welding or fabrication during installation. They typically come with everything you need, e.g., the shocks and coils. It can comfortably handle up to 3.5” suspension without affecting the vehicle’s quality. It does have its downsides, such it tends to be a much less smooth ride on pavements due to the stress on the suspension.
Long-arm lift kits are more expensive than short arm ones, but they are very popular still. They tend to provide a smoother ride than short arm lift kits. This is due to the type of suspension lift – it uses longer control arms that attach further to the back of the Jeep. It’ll take more space in order to reduce the overall angle. The better angles make the ride very enjoyable for those behind the wheel.
If you’re looking for a Jeep Lift Kit of 4” or higher, then the long arm is for you. They tend to be more difficult to install as they need an entirely new set of control brackets. New ones need to be welded on as well as several other driveline and suspension components.
Pros And Cons
Each lift kit has its pros and its cons. It’s just a case of weighing up the good and bad elements and applying them to your way of driving. It’s also wise to consider them when you ponder what you’re going to do with your Jeep going forward.
The positives with regard to short arm kits are that the installation process is very straightforward and will not take too much time or effort. That can’t be said about the long arm as it’s quite an expensive process with long, drawn-out steps in order to get things handled. When you possess a short-arm lift kit, you’re able to move onto a long-arm if you so wish. The same cannot be said about the reverse – once you head into the long-arm kit, it’s virtually impossible to revert back.
In terms of the ground clearance, they both do a great job, but the long-arm will provide much better – as well as better wheel travel and articulation. The long-arm will allow drivers to produce a much better ride, even on difficult trails and terrains, whereas you will be more likely to get yourself stuck on rocks compared to a ride with the short-arm lift kit!