TJ Control Arms

ncsutj

ncsutj

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2005
Location
Concord
99 TJ
Noticed both lower control arms have slide to the drivers side on the bushing. Frame end is worse than the axle end. These are Ironman Fab control arms and were bought new and installed around June of this year.

What would cause this? Axle not centered under frame?

First 2 pictures are frame end. Last 2 axle end.
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Seems like a bushing that isn't anchored well in the arm. I'd definitely call Andy and see what he says .He stands behind his stuff 110%
 
Well... Is the axle centered...?
 
Hope to get in the garage this weekend and do some measuring.

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ncsutj said:
Hope to get in the garage this weekend and do some measuring.

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Click to expand...

You should be able to eyeball it. Look at the tire exposure on the driver's side vs that on the passenger side. If they're grossly different, that may be contributing to the problem.

Generally speaking, I agree with Jody. It seems like there's something weird going on with the bushings. But that doesn't mean they didn't have help.
 
I'm measumeasuring around an 1/8 - 3/16 offset to the passenger side.

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That's probably not enough to fubar the bushings unless you really punish it.. so I'm sure Jody & Shawn on that one, bushing fault. Though I'm sure the offset doesn't help matters.
 
Time for a 3 link!
 
shawn said:
Fuck a 3 link. That's a good way to break things.
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So the thousands of people out here with Jeeps and buggies are all wrong and worthless for running a 3 link?
 
77GreenMachine said:
So the thousands of people out here with Jeeps and buggies are all wrong and worthless for running a 3 link?
Click to expand...

Just the ones who use too small fasteners and inadequate mounts.
There are tremendous forces applied to the upper mounts and as a result, the hardware.

How do I know? I once broke a pinion yoke with my crankshaft when a frame end mount fatigued.
 
I believe @Chris_Keziah has also learned the importance of properly sized mounts and hardware.

Obviously the factory mounts won’t yield anything good, but a properly done 3 link with good joints and grade 8 hardware will work very good. And can be done for about the same, maybe slightly more than an off the shelf long arm kit.
 
Last edited:
I called Andy and send him some pictures. He said the bushing had failed and would send me 4 new ones. Said he had seen this one other time and it was from a batch of bad bushing.

Hats off to @IronManAndy for standing behind his products and offering to send replacement parts.

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