SkyJacker or Full Traction

[wayoflife]

Just a quick question bout the Bolt on Coil-overs by EVO since its being discussed here.

I keep hearing about people running those with the stock arms, I know it is advised to get new ones with them but, it wouldn't be the end of the world running the coil-overs with stock arms, and adjustable trac bars?

As mentioned, you can do it just fine. Up front, you would want adjustable front lowers so that you could add a bit more positive caster and, if you have a 2-door, you would want rear uppers so that you could set your pinion angle after you get a new rear drive shaft - something you will need sooner than later. But no, it wouldn't be the end of the world.

 

[NAUJK]

Awesome thank you very much! I am thinkin Phase 2 is to start replacing those kinds of components to get ready to go bigger in the future.

 

[RanchoRubi]

I’ve been running the 4” Full Traction long arm kit with a set of 37” Falken Wildpeaks on my JKU for almost 2 years. Here is a short list of some of the trails it’s been on: Rubicon, Several trails in Moab, Clawhammer (Hammers), Dishpan, Bullfrog, Holcomb Creek, Last Chance Canyon, Nightmare Gultch and Swamp Lake and most recently Sidewinder trail along with many others, some numerous times.

The Jeep has run this lift for 32000 miles and only one thing broke. The left front lower control arm Clevite bushing on the cross member side failed. Repair cost $20. This included $6 for the bushing and labor to have it pressed on the control arm.
Overall this kit has performed well and I have been very happy with it. Steve at FT has been very good to me and I appreciate all the time he spent explaining the benefits of running his long arm kit. Here is a list of the pros and cons I have experienced since the kit was installed.

Pros IMHO:

1. Extremely Durable
2. Good handling for a coil spring suspension
3. Good ride characteristics on the highway
4. Good flex for a coil spring suspension
5. Low maintenance cost
6. Completely bolt on kit
7. Absolutely no bump steer

Cons IMHO:

1. Rear lower control arm brackets hang down too low. You will be dragging them over rocks at some point. However, they have held up well and can take a beating.
2. You will lose about 2” of ground clearance at the cross member compared to some other lift kits. This is because the kit comes with a new cross member that the front lower control arms bolt to. However, the cross member comes with a skid plate that offers excellent protection to vital suspension components and the cross member. The skid plate is available separately if you ever need to replace it.
3. The kit comes with a drop pitman arm. Two problems I have personally experienced with this are excess stress on the sector shaft caused the sector shaft bushing to wear and develop side-to-side play. This resulted in a loose feeling in the steering and a slight fluid leak when turning under extreme off road situations. Your Jeep will be extremely hard to steer when crawling over rocks. :yup: I have since upgraded the steering to a PCS ram assist and installed an EVO sector shaft brace and love it. If you decide to get the kit, talk to your installer about a drag link flip kit. Either way you go, eventually you will want to upgrade your steering. It makes a huge difference, believe me! Very important. Regularly check the pitman arm nut torque. The nut WILL come loose over time.

Other items I recommend you consider (with and lift kit you buy):
1. Lower control arm skids (axle side)
2. Front axle gussets
3. Front axle sleeves or backbone truss
4. EVO engine oil pan and trans pan skid plates

This pic will give you and idea of how much flex to expect if you run a set of Bilstein 5100 series shocks.

View attachment 13335

I’m currently saving money for the EVO bolt on coil over kit because from what I’ve seen what this kit can do on the trail and what I’ve heard on how well the Jeep rides after having it installed, my back will thank me. 

Good luck with your Jeep and post some pics. :thumb:

Jeep fan is very thorough in his write up. I would add a few points. Most long arm kits except for EVOs will compromise clearance at the frame mount points. Not a big deal, but you will scrap and hit them on some rocks. That's why I went FT shorties. I have the Evo bolt on coils, and have replaced the clevite bushings at the frame mounts within two months of getting the coilovers because of the flex. The solution is probably Johnny joints at the frame mount. If I did over I would go with either currie or evo arms because of their joints. If you aren't going coilovers, then the FTs will work great. Good luck with your build.

 

[wayoflife]

Jeep fan is very thorough in his write up. I would add a few points. Most long arm kits except for EVOs will compromise clearance at the frame mount points. Not a big deal, but you will scrap and hit them on some rocks. That's why I went FT shorties. I have the Evo bolt on coils, and have replaced the clevite bushings at the frame mounts within two months of getting the coilovers because of the flex. The solution is probably Johnny joints at the frame mount. If I did over I would go with either currie or evo arms because of their joints. If you aren't going coilovers, then the FTs will work great. Good luck with your build.

Your FT arms are fine but, the next time you need to address your bushings, I'd recommend that you have a set of Johnny Joints installed if you can. It'll take some fab work but, it might be worth it.

 

[piginajeep]

Your FT arms are fine but, the next time you need to address your bushings, I'd recommend that you have a set of Johnny Joints installed if you can. It'll take some fab work but, it might be worth it.

It's not easy, but you can cut the housing off and replace it with a Currie JJ housing. In the end it might be easier and cheaper to buy Currie arms and sell the FTS ones.

 

[wayoflife]

It's not easy, but you can cut the housing off and replace it with a Currie JJ housing. In the end it might be easier and cheaper to buy Currie arms and sell the FTS ones.

Yeah, you're probably right :crazyeyes:

 

[Hock Edition]

i love my FT would not get any other lift.

 

[Jersey_Devil]

I hope you don't misunderstand my comments regarding Skyjacker's products as "badmouting" because I am simply stating what I have seen. Every single person I've known who's had their kit does not have it on their Jeep anymore. Most of these people had suffered breaks to their track bar mounts due to the design of their brackets, have suffered spring sag and significant squeaking due to the polyuretane bushings they like to use. If you've not had any issues with their products, perhaps they've made changes to improve things.

Unfortunately, their bushing cannot handle the kind of flex that EVO coil overs offer.

No, there has been numerous ppl I've noticed that bad mouthed them, I just never understood why because I've had nothing but success with their stuff. Maybe because I'm not out climbing rocks all the time, we got more mud holes than anything around here... Wish we had all those rocks here! Guess I'll finally put the Skyjacker lift to the test when I goto Rausch Creek! Hopefully I don't break! And God NO, no where near as much flex as the EVO C/O sys.... (saving my pennies)

 

[RanchoRubi]

It's not easy, but you can cut the housing off and replace it with a Currie JJ housing. In the end it might be easier and cheaper to buy Currie arms and sell the FTS ones.

Yeah. I agree with you and WOL. I've been wrestling with those two choices since I found out what the added flex on the EVO coilovers provided.
But no regrets. so far the FT and EVO products have exceeded my expectations and stood up without a problem.