I will be installing my Rough Country 4" lift next week sometime and I have a question.

I bought the JKS adjustable track bars (frt and rear) in order to stay away from the brackets. Do I still need to install the longer pitman arm now or just leave the stock one on? From what I have read on here I seem to get mixed opinions. Which way will provide the best handling characteristics?

 

IMO a drop ptiman usually screws things up unless you have a trackbar bracket as well. Since you are using the adj. track arm I think you will be ok stock. Just look after you get the lift on and see how far off your track arm and steering link are from being parallel to eack other. If you use a frame mounted track arm bracket, consider using the drop pitman also. that way they are parallel to each other and more parallel to the ground. I think that is probably the best performing way, but I don't know for certain.

 

Just installed this kit last saturday. I couldn't get the pitman arm off using the tools I had, so I had to drive it for a couple days with the stock pitman arm, but with the trackbar bracket already installed. The steering was extremely twitchy. Intalled the drop pitman arm tuesday morning and everything went back to like it was stock. I'd say return the adjustable trackbar and roll with what came in the kit. I'm happy to say the least.

 

You need pitman arm and drop bracket together. I got all of that up front. I wouldn't run the pitman without the drop bracket. It is pointless without it.

 

I could be wrong in my thinking, but that is what I think also. I would never run a drop pitman without a drop bracket, but I would rather run an adj. track arm than an extended bracket. Search the forum for broken track bracket and see how many threads you find. Some brackets are pretty tough, some make the track arm rip the factory mount off their axle. I would only go frame mounted if you go that route. IMO the nicest setup is likely the way FT does it in their Long arm and ultimate kits... they use a drop pitman along with an adj. track arm, and a frame mounted drop bracket. I think that is best because it keeps both the trackarm, and drag link pretty parallel, the axle centered, and both bars pretty flat in relation to the ground. All that is just my opinion. take it for what it is worth. less than nothing.

 

Well I guess at this point I will install the drop pitman arm as well as the track bar brkt (frame mounted). Since I already have the adjustable track bar I will use that as well.

Does this sound right to everyone?

Thanks for the input.

 

sounds good to me.

 

did you get the complete 4" kit or just the basic? If you just got the basic i'd order some adjustable front lower control arms or atleast the ones that come with the complete kit so you don't have to use the cam bolts

 

RC trackbar bracket is a dropdown from the frame. It's bolted on with a lot of bolts. Part that attaches to the axle is stock.

 

I bought adjustable lower controls for the front and uppers for the rear. Thanks for the heads up though. I had read on here that the cam bolts were not the best way to go.

Can't wait to get this kit installed.