how much do drop brackets drop?

[rkneeshaw]

So for example, I have a JD 3" kit and I measured the brackets compared to my stock brackets and confirmed that the JD axle and radius arm drop brackets drop the axle pivot bolts and radius arms exactly 2".

I'm curious, does anyone know how far a 4" kit drops the axle pivot bolts and radius arms compared to the stock locations? 3"?

 

[4x4junkie]

The Rancho 2.5" drops I have are exactly 2.5". I haven't heard of many kits differing from what the claimed lift is, though Skyjacker is a weird exception, the bracket for the driverside beam has holes at 4.25" and 6", the opposite bracket has holes at 3" and 5" (brackets are sold as 4" & 6" lift). I have no clue why they are that way (which somewhat narrows the range in height at which the wheels on both sides can be aligned properly).

 

[rkneeshaw]

that is very interesting.

I'm finding its difficult to estimate lift on the supercabs because of their extra weight. With my JD 3" kit I almost really need 4" or 5" springs to actually get 3" of lift. When I look at the pivot arm geometry I probably need another inch or so in order to get the pivot arm bolt about 1" higher than the centerline of my wheel hubs, which as I understand it is optimal positioning for the D35 TTB.

I guess this explains why many supercab guys use 6" coils with the 4" lift bracketry. But still strange that the skyjacker kit lifts at different heights from side to side....

 

[scotts90ranger]

just add some washers under the springs... much cheaper way to even things out than different coils

 

[4.0B2]

my 4" RC drop brackets drop about 3.5" total.. i measured them out of curiosity when i got the lift lol

 

[disciplerocks]

The Rancho 2.5" drops I have are exactly 2.5". I haven't heard of many kits differing from what the claimed lift is, though Skyjacker is a weird exception, the bracket for the driverside beam has holes at 4.25" and 6", the opposite bracket has holes at 3" and 5" (brackets are sold as 4" & 6" lift). I have no clue why they are that way (which somewhat narrows the range in height at which the wheels on both sides can be aligned properly).

My Superlift brackets are the same way. I have my passenger beam in the upper hole, but my driver beam in the lower.

 

[4x4junkie]

That's very strange...

You'd think all companies would drop both sides the same amount (like Rancho did).

Like Scott said though, the height can be easily fine-tuned with washers under the coils until it's at a height where you can easily align it (I'd put more focus on the driverside beam bolt being 1" above hub centerline, being that's the side with the diff, which affects your clearance the most).

 

[rkneeshaw]

Yup and thats what I did, I have about 1.25" of washers under the 3" JD springs to try to get the height back where it needs to be and I think I've got it spot on now. I'm just thinking I could actually use 4" or 5" coils and could nix the washers if I wanted... but washers are so much cheaper

 

[Bennybooster]

The Rancho 2.5" drops I have are exactly 2.5". I haven't heard of many kits differing from what the claimed lift is, though Skyjacker is a weird exception, the bracket for the driverside beam has holes at 4.25" and 6", the opposite bracket has holes at 3" and 5" (brackets are sold as 4" & 6" lift). I have no clue why they are that way (which somewhat narrows the range in height at which the wheels on both sides can be aligned properly).

How is the quality on the rancho drops?

 

[The_Dealer]

They don't make the rancho ones anymore I don't think.

 

[Bennybooster]

http://www.topguncustomz.com/Store/Gen2ProdDisplay.php?iview=170116436

These are tuff country, so probably about the same. If I get some Ill gusset them

 

[The_Dealer]

I'm having to mod my tuff country 2.5" drops. The drivers side is good for 2 3/4" drop, and the pass only about 1 3/4"

Don't know what the deal is with that, but the drivers side will align, but the pass wouldn't. I did as suggested and got a drop pitman but my camber on the pass side was still of. Decided to mod my drop bracket, and did some measuring and found out the driversside was dropped more then the pass. Just some food for thought

 

[4x4junkie]

How is the quality on the rancho drops?

Junk. The flimsy structure of the passengerside beam bracket on mine broke after two years of fairly mild use (there's pics of some Rancho failures in the Tech Library).

They need considerable reinforcement (boxing it all up) if they are to last any length of time it seems.