Just had installed a OME lift and JKS adjustable track bar. Also moved rear sway bars links to front and installed OME "panhard bracket" Installer suggested "cambolts" (SPC Performance part #82390) to adjust caster rather than spending the $$ for adjustable control arms. Seems to drive perfect, nice and stable with no shimmy or DW issues, but is this a good long term solution or should I reconsider new control arms?

 

This is one of the most controversial topics in this forum, only second after removing dampers that Jeep unneccessarily included in the steering sytem and maybe if the brakes are too big and should be ground down to accommodate 14" rims.

If you stay on the pavement, the cam bolts will probably be OK, otherwise you run the risk the bolts becoming loose and cams rotating and possibly wallowing out the CA brackets.

Also consider that installing the cam bolts requires modifying the CA bracket. A modifying that is not simply (but not impossibly) reversed.

The OME is great lift. Do it just by installing some CAs. The JKS ones are excellent choice.

 

Don't use cam bolts if you plan on wheeling your Jeep. The above post is correct change the control arms =permanent fix.

 

As the matter of fact, the cam bolts will cost much much less than the replacement control arms, but the installation of the cam bolts maybe need modification on the control arm brackets, however, if you still planning to upgrade the stock control arms in the future, the current modification on the control arms bracket will need some welding work to get back to normal, so that the new control arms can be installed.

 

Oh no! Not again!

 

Just don't do the cam bolts. Your Jeep seems to run just fine doesn't it? I would leave it alone. I am not going to be installing my cam bolts on my 2" BDS lift that I am getting Monday. If I have steering issues, I will get a set of control arms.

 

as mentioned, cam bolts will allow you to make minor adjustments to your caster and for dirt cheap but it is far from a solution that i would recommend. in order to install cam bolts, you will need to have your front lower control arm mounting holes at the axle cut from square holes into rectaungular slots. on pavement, you should be okay with this setup but if you wheel your jeep, the bolts will come loose over time and this will allow your axle to slide around in the slots. trust me on this one, i have seen it happen time and time again. of course, this will screw up your alignment and that ain't a good thing. also, once this is done, reversing the process is not easy but not impossible.

 

Thank you all for your great advice and feedback, I didn't realize this was such a hot topic and I apologize for not searching deeper into the forum before posting. Unfortunately, the lift has already been installed with the cambolts, the installer never mentioned that he had to permanently modify the control arm brackets. My faullt for not asking earlier. I thought it would be OK for a while (or maybe longer) and would have spent the money at the time had I known...

What's the best solution for me? I will purchase the JKS contro; arms, I assume I just need lowers, or both upper and lower? Obviously I need to go to someone else to fix the damage, this guy runs a pretty well respected shop here and I trusted him, guess that's why God made JK-forum!

 

Just saw this a few threads down. Do you guys think the AEV control arm brackets might be a solution to this issue?

 

When you get the lower control arms installed, the guy will have to weld on some beefy washers to make the holes in teh control arm mounting brackets round again, instead of the rectangular shape.