Jeep Parts > Technical Articles > Long Arm Lift Kits

Long Arm Lift Kits

Today's Jeep suspensions are the result of 60 years of engineering and experience. In its stock form, a modern Jeep with an experienced driver is capable of some very cool maneuvers. Eventually, though, tire envy sets in and you find yourself dreaming of the rocks you could have conquered if you only had the right equipment. Fortunately, aftermarket suspension kits are available to fit any Jeep and nearly any set of priorities. One popular modification you could make is the addition of long-arm lift kits, which allow your vehicle to accommodate larger tires while offering a more comfortable ride for the live cargo.

The largest factor which could keep you from clearing a rock or crossing a mud hole is your own axle. Raising the axle is simply a matter of getting larger tires. The second problem arises when you opt for a substantially larger tire than the one Jeep had in mind. If, for instance, you currently have 29" tires and want to graduate to 37" tires, you will have extra inches between your axle and the next boulder. Unfortunately, your wheel well may not have enough clearance to swallow the top half of the tire. This is where the lift kit comes in. A standard lift kit does what it says; it lifts the Jeep frame off of the axle by anywhere from 2 to 8 inches (or more in some cases). The extra space between the wheel well and the axle will accommodate the larger tire.

The only drawback to installing a standard lift kit is that lifting the frame creates steeper angles for the control arms. When the control arms are more vertically oriented, they don't absorb impacts as well, which could have eyeball-rattling results when going over bumps. If you use a lift kit which incorporates longer control arms, though, you can mount them further away from the axle. The added length allows the arms to remain more horizontal, so they can absorb more of the impact. A long-arm lift kit will be appreciated by both your Jeep frame and your eyeballs.

Choosing the correct lift kit for your Jeep will depend on your model and year, as well as the amount of lift you need. Another issue to consider is the amount of work you are comfortable with. A lift kit which can be completely bolted on is much easier for a shade-tree mechanic to manage than one which requires welding.

The following kits are available: