Overview
The Rugged Ridge 18273.01 is a heavy-duty weld-on front lower control arm axle mount for Jeep Wrangler TJ and LJ models. It is designed to replace and upgrade the OE front lower control arm axle mounts on 1997-2006 Wranglers.
The brackets use greater wall thickness combined with a welded reinforcement plate to give the axle extra support when driving off road. Because they are weld-on brackets, the job is a fabrication task rather than a bolt-on swap.
Key features
- Designed to replace and upgrade weak OE front lower control arm axle mounts.
- Greater wall thickness than the factory mount.
- Welded reinforcement plate for added axle support.
- Heavy-duty weld-on design for a secure mount when driving off road.
- Manufacturer fitment list covers 1997-2006 Wrangler TJ and 2004-2006 Wrangler LJ, with trims named for each.
Weld-on work and axle prep
Weld-on axle mounts take their strength from the weld as much as from the metal. A clean, fully fused bead along the bracket edges matters more than the thickness of the mount, so the welder should start with bare metal and fixtures that hold the bracket square to the axle.
Front lower control arm mounts see repeated loading from the axle, so inspection after the first off-road season is worthwhile. Check the mounts, welds and the bushings at the control arm ends for cracking or movement, and re-check the control arm alignment if the axle has been moved.
- Clean the axle to bare metal before welding
- Use a fixture to keep the bracket square
- Inspect welds after the first off-road season
- Re-check alignment if the axle has moved
Specifications
| Brand | Rugged Ridge |
|---|---|
| Part number | 18273.01 |
| UPC | 804314123864 |
| Mount type | Front lower control arm axle mount |
| Construction | Heavy-duty, greater wall thickness, welded reinforcement plate |
| Installation | Weld-on |
Vehicle fitment
It fits the 1997-2006 Jeep Wrangler (TJ), including the 65th Anniversary Edition, Rubicon, SE, Sahara, Sport and X trims. It also fits the 2004-2006 Jeep Wrangler (LJ) Unlimited and Unlimited Rubicon. It does not fit the 2007-2018 Wrangler JK.
Confirm your vehicle’s year, model and trim before ordering.
Installation notes
These are weld-on mounts, so they need a welder able to fabricate onto the axle. Have a qualified welder do the work and inspect the welds before off road use.
What’s included
Check the package contents against your installation before starting, including the number of mounts and any hardware needed.
Not included: the welding needed to attach the mounts to the axle.
