jcComanche86lb Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 Hey guys just wanted to share my latest project. I really couldn't justify buying new adjustable lower control arms due to their price so I decided to make some. I know this is a touchy subject due to possible safety issues but tell me what u think. And almost welded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HardRox-MJ Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 ummm if it was me i would NOT run those..... u could have done a couple things u could have just welded a peice of plate to the bottom of ur stock arms and have pretty well the same thing thats in ur pics less the bend but if it was me i would have used 2 1/2 " round tubing with atleast 1/4" wall for strength cause there is alot of pressure on ur lower arms..... and they would look allmost identical to BDS arms or rough country fixed arms... with a little bend in them bushing are only like $20 for 4 and I'm sure a couple feet of tubing should be easy to accuire i think just from the pics u have to much bend on the lower part of the arm..... if anyone in my area ever got caught runnin somthin like that on the road it would be an automatic tow and impound on ur rig ... this is just my opinion and not ment to be an @$$ if i sounded like one lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcComanche86lb Posted September 25, 2011 Author Share Posted September 25, 2011 I expected to get a reply similar to that. I really don't mean to sound stubborn but I still plan on at least trying them. I know the proper way to make but without a tubing bender I started running out of options. After reading stories about people actually grinding wj lower control arms to clear their axle brackets I figured mine couldn't be any weaker than those. I made the out of .25" plate expecting to make them stronger than stock. Even though they do angle about 35 degrees to clear the brackets on my axle I still figure the weak point to be the axle brackets. I do agree with you about the proper way to make them but every design has weak points in them. I would figure bending tubing would cause a weak point also. And there isn't much surface area to weld the tubing to the bushing housing. Or as in adjustable control arms the threaded area would seem to be the weak point. Hope I don't seem like I'm shooting down your advice, I just like talking about the subject. Thanks for the advice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HardRox-MJ Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 now with my experaice with 4 diffrent jeep in the past year i ran a zj on rc ajustable arms with no bend in them just plain straight tube with threaded johny joint and i never broke one and my trail riding isnt mud or mild stuff its rocks bigger then my tires etc so she got beat on... and not once did i even losen the nut on it ..... then my xj and my other v8 zj were on home brew tube arms built exact same as bds fixed slight bend but was made out of allmost 1/4 wall and did the same wheelin big rocks lots of drops and never even kinked one .... but keep in mind u get pretty well the same drop on shorts arms even if they r stright or even a slight bend in them their isnt much diffreance at all IMO.... but the slight bend in a tube arm isnt gunna make it weak and the rc ajustable arms there is enough thread in the stock that ur not gunna break it but no harm in trying them ... but i would be worried about breaking one and then havin all the strain of ur front axel on the upper arms... and if a upper arm lets go while ur drivin ur whole housing will roll right under ur jeep and u will have no steering etc and cause an accident.... i rolled a front end on my old xj when i ripped a control arm bracket off but luckely it was on a trail coming off a rock so it just stoped in its tracks but like i said I'm not tryin to beat ur build up by anymeans... just offerin advice ...this is how we all learn diffrent things. :) ... keep us updated on how they work... would like to see pics when complet done and on ur mj sittin level and maybe twisted up on a rock or somthin cheers! Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mnkyboy Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 They look like rancho arms except the ranchos were made from a boxed tube rather then pieces. I think your arms will work but with OEM bushings they won't flex very well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 After reading stories about people actually grinding wj lower control arms to clear their axle brackets I figured mine couldn't be any weaker than those. You asked for opinions, here's mine. Do you have a clue about how much material you have to grind off the WJ arms to clear the brackets? About 1/4" on the rear lip. Nothing is weakened, and it's not a "story". The WJ control arms, even with that bit of grinding, are far stronger than the originals due to the enclosed tubes and much beefier bushings. No integrity is compromised by the grinding. While I do admire your initiative spending all this time and effort in am attempt to fab new and improved LCAs and then retaining the rotten bushings I fail to see any logic in this LCA mod, both for safety and economical reasons. It's cheaper and more importantly safer to use the WJ LCAs. Advise you to keep your rig off-road only if you plan on using your mod. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeepcoMJ Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 unsafe, and...I'm pretty confused here. how much time and $$$ did you spend making those? time is money. period. and used aftermarket LCA's are cheap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcComanche86lb Posted September 25, 2011 Author Share Posted September 25, 2011 I do have a new set of bushings I just didn't want to burn the new ones when I was welding. I used an old set to keep everything lined up. I actually rarely drive my mj nowadays due to my new job supplying me a service vehicle. My plan is to buy or build a set of control arm drop brackets pretty soon so these will be kinda just a trial project. I will stick to off road for now. Thanks for the concern that's exactly why I posted, thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcComanche86lb Posted September 25, 2011 Author Share Posted September 25, 2011 unsafe, and...I'm pretty confused here. how much time and $$$ did you spend making those? time is money. period. and used aftermarket LCA's are cheap. I havent spent anything yet accept for the bushings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeepcoMJ Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 material costs money. time costs money. add it all up at a reasonable hourly rate, with reasonable supplies cost (i.e. welding gas, wire, cutting wheels, torch gas/tips, plasma cutter tips, welding tips, as well as electric), and I bet you spent more than a set of control arms cost. fabrication isn't cheap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HardRox-MJ Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 yeah fixed aftermarket LCA's usally only go for 40 or 50 bucks wich is very cheap for a well built and tested mod..... but u mentioned LCA drops... i would advise not using them if u trail ride on anything rocky as they hang very low and get ripped off very easy and when u rip on off it usally takes ur whole mount right from frame... seen it happen a couple times but like everyone eles says add up what u spent in material and time and i bet ur past what aftermarket ones cost.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hump Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 I agree that the time was probably not as well spent as $100 on used arms, but seriously guys quit giving the guy a hard time. Your safety concerns are over the top. You are comparing one piece stamped factory arms to his monster garage quarter plate tank arms. There are no safety issues there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvusse Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 :agree: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HardRox-MJ Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 hump... i don't think anyone is givin him a hard time... just offerin advice like he asked... i know anything i said wasnt meant to give a hard time ... jusdt advice from one fellow wheeler to another.... :cheers: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcComanche86lb Posted September 25, 2011 Author Share Posted September 25, 2011 Whether or not they were worth the time or not I enjoyed making them and I think that's half the fun of having a jeep. Either way here is a quick update. Route pass complete and final cap almost complete. Hope to have the in tonight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 the design would be questionable if it was made from thinner steel, but I guess it should do fine the way it is. I would have tucked in a square plate inside the bend to help fight collapsing of the arm, but again, 1/4" should do ok. a straight arm would have been even stronger. :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mnkyboy Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 My only concern would be whether they will clear the shock mounts. Here is a stock arm at 3" and its pretty close to touching,you don't get much room in there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcComanche86lb Posted September 25, 2011 Author Share Posted September 25, 2011 That's the reason for the angle. I had to angle it so that it would not hit that bracket while flexing. Thanks to everyone for their input. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewfieMJ Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 I wouldn't be concerned with any strength issues , except maybe in the mounting areas on the axle and truck . But I would be concerned with "why didn't I just build long arms" issues . Your welding is alot better than mine ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcComanche86lb Posted September 25, 2011 Author Share Posted September 25, 2011 I have been planning either control arm drop brackets, long arms or radius arms but haven't decided yet. I plan on doing a 350/th350 swap next year so I don't want to build a crossmember that will need to be changed later. Long arms would be nice though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcComanche86lb Posted September 25, 2011 Author Share Posted September 25, 2011 All welded up and ready to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcComanche86lb Posted September 26, 2011 Author Share Posted September 26, 2011 Well fellas I got the first one in and I'm not sure what to think of it yet. I didn't have any paint for them so they're gonna stay bare for now. I did end u notching them so that they don't rub the axle bracket but other than that they fit great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
btm24 Posted September 29, 2011 Share Posted September 29, 2011 :cheers: Brandon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeep Driver Posted September 30, 2011 Share Posted September 30, 2011 yeah those sucker ain't go'n nowheres......LOL Nice :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87Warrior Posted September 30, 2011 Share Posted September 30, 2011 The problem you will have is in regards to the stock rubber bushings. They are not designed to twist. In stock form, when the axle articulates the factory U arm does the twisting. Keep a close eye on the axle and frame mounts. There is a good chance you could rip them off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now