I have some new lower front and upper front adjustable control arms from Metalcloak that I want to swap out with the stock arms. I have heard and read that as long as I change one arm at a time, one side at a time that I wouldn't need to jack it up or use a floor jack to support the axle. It would be pretty straight forward.
My question is though, my lift that I have on now used a bracket in order to retain the factory control arms. Both the upper and lower are connected to this bracket, therefore I think I will have to disconnect both the upper and lower at the same time to remove the bracket then install the control arms. Will this be ok to unbolt the lower and upper at the same time with my jeep on the ground?

 

Things will go much smoother with it off the ground. I changed mine a couple times on the ground, just uppers at the same time, or lowers at the same time. Have a come-along or good ratchet strap on hand to help re-position your axle.

 

It will be MUCH nicer if you use a floor jack and stands. Mostly because you have to take off the brackets to insert new control arms into position... Have you thought about leaving the brackets and installing the new control arms at near stock length?

 

I changed mine out on the ground. Easy swap. I took the lowers off and used a floor jack to support the pinion. Used the jack to line up the holes for the lowers then did the uppers one at a time. Took about 30 minutes.

 

I thought about that but it kinda defeats the point of the adjustable control arms. Also, they are low because the bracket drops the stock arms, I want to get them up and out of the way.

 

Yes my concern is that I have to unbolt both upper and lower on the side I'm working on in order to move the drop bracket. I just want to make sure that will be ok, or what precautions should I take to make sure it goes smooth?

 

I don't think I'd unbolt them both at the same time. I see an axle moving ( my luck it would anyways) and a spring shooting out and hurting you or someone else. Safest bet would be just use floor jacks and jack stands. Safety first IMHO.

 

So if I jack my jeep up, support it on jack stands and support the axle at the pumpkin, I'll be alright removing both the front upper and lower control arms at the bracket?

 

I put some pressure on the pinion with the floor jack while I unbolted them. With the rig on the ground the axle is not gonna move but a hair. Even without the jack.

That drop bracket is gonna make it a bit different though.

 

Yes. That's exactly how I change out my control arms. Lift the Jeep with floor jack on axle, place stands on frame, then lower jack, and do arms.