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Any advantage of aftermarket control arms

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Old 08-22-2014, 08:54 PM
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Default Any advantage of aftermarket control arms

Would there be any advantage of adding aftermarket upper and lower control arms on a stock height xj with sway bar disconnects off road?
Old 08-22-2014, 10:42 PM
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Aftermarket arms are usually stronger and disconnects will give you more flex, even on a stock rig. WJ arms are stronger than XJ arms and are almost a bolt on, plus they're cheaper than aftermarket arms.
Old 08-23-2014, 02:29 AM
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The stock control arms are stamped steel they flex under load and can bend of you push it hard enough.
Old 08-23-2014, 08:02 AM
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On Adj. control arms the flex joints allow just that movement.
Old 08-23-2014, 08:40 AM
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What would be the best to go with? Solid? Adjustable? Straight? curved? With Johnny joints / heim ? I see them priced from $129 a set to $300
Old 08-23-2014, 09:56 AM
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I'm just going to post this here because I'm still debating on starting a separate thread. When I installed my BDS 2" lift (new coils, shocks and AAL) I also installed WJ LCAs. Now I have a "creaking" when applying the brakes and slowing to a stop. I took it over to Evans 4X4 and he got under it while I rocked it back and forth. He said the pass. side LCA is rubbing inside the frame mount to a point where you can see the grind marks and shiny metal. My plan now is to get new LCAs and hope that solves the problem.
Old 08-23-2014, 12:32 PM
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Originally Posted by Jrozar
What would be the best to go with? Solid? Adjustable? Straight? curved? With Johnny joints / heim ? I see them priced from $129 a set to $300
You'd need straight ones if you are at stock height, and likely adjustable. I've never seen aftermarket non-adj. arms that are stock length. The adjustable ones I've seen collapse to stock length. I generally tend to think some sort of a flex joint (johnny, RE superflex, metalcloak Duraflex, etc) on one end and a bushing on the other is a good compromise between on-road comfort and axle articulation for a DD/Weekend warrior. If it is mostly a trail rig, I would lean more towards johnny joints at both ends to ensure that your control arms will never be a limiting factor in axle articulation.
Old 08-25-2014, 03:35 PM
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Originally Posted by roadraje
I'm just going to post this here because I'm still debating on starting a separate thread. When I installed my BDS 2" lift (new coils, shocks and AAL) I also installed WJ LCAs. Now I have a "creaking" when applying the brakes and slowing to a stop. I took it over to Evans 4X4 and he got under it while I rocked it back and forth. He said the pass. side LCA is rubbing inside the frame mount to a point where you can see the grind marks and shiny metal. My plan now is to get new LCAs and hope that solves the problem.
UPDATE: I installed new LCA's (tubular/fixed) and the "creaking" is gone. I now have a pair of WJ LCAs for sale
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