Making control arms, advice needed.

Post by **LEXX** » Thu Jan 15, 2004 7:48 pm

I just about to start making a set of Control arms for the Jeep and wondering who you guys use to get all your jonny joints, rod ends etc from.

Any suggestions or comments on making control arms would be appreciated, do's and don'ts etc.

I have a lathe and all associated tools to do the job just never made control arms before and wondering if there is anything "special" I should be looking out for.

Post by **modman** » Thu Jan 15, 2004 8:05 pm

maybe you could practice and make a set for me?? :lol:

Post by **duncan** » Thu Jan 15, 2004 8:50 pm

there easy i have been using 1 inch shed 80 pipe and threading one end with a 1inch BSF thread so that you can adjust your castor and push the diffs forward the arms on the TJS are realy short compared to the other ones i have made for GQS but real easy of set the eyelets on the diff ends so that at full articulation the arms dont strike the bracket that the shock mounts to

Post by **fatassgq** » Fri Jan 16, 2004 6:42 am

I have calbah orbit eyes in my truck and they are :cool:

They are the 70 or near that O.D but I think you can get smaller ones.
They are rebuildable and to my mind are the better looking ones around.
Believe it or not they where the cheapest ones I found when I got mine also.
Big balls sell something (for more $) that look the same and there are a few others with variations on the same (chaos or whatever they are called now, and then there are the yank ones too)

Cheers
Brian

Post by **LEXX** » Fri Jan 16, 2004 7:28 am

Thanx guys, seeing calbah is just up the road I'll look into it.

Just after thoughts on the ends, do I run joints at both ends, rubbers one end and jonny joints the other. Which end to I put the jonny joints, the diff ends I'm presuming but just want to make sure.

I know they seem like newbie questions but I wanna get some decent advice from guys who have done it and actually used it "in the field" and can steer me towards some decent sites, reading material etc?

Thanx in advance guys, this is coming along nicely. WHne I start next week be assured I'll post pics

Post by **Wendle** » Fri Jan 16, 2004 7:50 am

poly/rubber bushes won't restrict you travel at all if you are sticking to the standard geometry. cheaper and more street-friendly.
what is the diamteter of the bolts that hold the links in the jeep and how wide are the mounts?

Post by **LEXX** » Fri Jan 16, 2004 11:28 am

Yep sticking to the standard geometry. I've already got a set of long arms on so I will be making another set of them at the right length.

Really I'm interested in suppliers and what I shold be using on each end as it is a daily driver, I'll probably just grab stuff form Cheezy but always like to explore as many options as possible.

Post by **Wendle** » Fri Jan 16, 2004 11:34 am

if it is a daily driver, just use poly or rubber bushings. i have done the whole heim joint/rod end thing and they just don't last. the calbah type joints are probably better though.
for bushings just go to any suspension place armed with your ID, OD, and width, and see what they can offer you. then find a tube with the right ID to hold them.

Post by **LEXX** » Fri Jan 16, 2004 11:39 am

Wendle wrote:if it is a daily driver, just use poly or rubber bushings. i have done the whole heim joint/rod end thing and they just don't last. the calbah type joints are probably better though.
for bushings just go to any suspension place armed with your ID, OD, and width, and see what they can offer you. then find a tube with the right ID to hold them.

This was my first thoughts, try and get some bushings that are easily avaliable as Tera ones can be a bit pricey.

Thanx Wendel advice is much appreciated.

Post by **Wendle** » Fri Jan 16, 2004 11:55 am

also try ARB to see if they stock a replacement bush kit as well. the Old Man Emu stuff is pretty good quality and cheaper than alot of other brands.

Post by **LEXX** » Fri Jan 16, 2004 7:46 pm

None of you other suspension guru's got anything to add.

I was contemplatingdoing an A frame rear, now this I do need some direction with, as in geometry etc.

ANYONE else beside the ever helpful Wendle?

Post by **modman** » Sat Jan 17, 2004 3:50 pm

do a search on here and pirate, read all weekend!!!
look at the thread from fatass 75 - removing rear leafs and adding coils.
get petersons 4x4 july 2003, a very helpful article indeed.
good luck.

david

Post by **ODD BALL** » Sat Jan 17, 2004 8:55 pm

LEXX wrote:None of you other suspension guru's got anything to add.

I was contemplatingdoing an A frame rear, now this I do need some direction with, as in geometry etc.

ANYONE else beside the ever helpful Wendle?

I have fabed the first Long arm XJ here in Alaska by grafting a TJ Rubicon Express kit to the front. The arms I run have rubber at the axle and the joint at the frame/unibody. We have a lot of long gravel crek beds here and some drop offs as high as 2" can be hit with a good amount of speed. I will never go back to a short arm! My mate 00TJ, is running a GM 14 bolt rear axle we just swaped in this past spring and atthe same time we triangulatednthe rear to ditch the rear Track bar. You shouild be able to do it with some research. Good luck& post some pics when you start.

Post by **duncan** » Sat Jan 17, 2004 11:37 pm

OME dont do anything bar replacment for original bushes i tried a couple of suspension places her in WA came up with a couple of different types of bushes all depends on what you want to do for ease of fitting will be making some soon if you have any plans or could get some measurement of your long arms and mounting brackets could you please forward them to me as a couple of guys over here want to run this kind of set up

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Making control arms, advice needed.

Making control arms, advice needed.

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