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DIY Control arms

6757 Views 54 Replies 19 Participants Last post by  chadcooper55
I am long over due for control arms, at least lowers. I plan on making them myself, or at least have them made. I can get DOM tubing for pretty much at cost so I am really just in need of rod ends. That is where I am having a problem. I don't know if I want to do Johnny joints, bushings, or whatever else I could do. I have been reading up on other forums and I guess I haven't really found my answer.

So my question is, what size DOM tubing would be good for LCA's, what kind of rod ends will be my best option, and can I used factory CA mounts (frame/axle) or would I need new ones?

This Jeep will be my daily driver for about another year, at least just to get me through the winter so I can park my truck. I won't be doing any hard wheeling until I build one tons and such. So for the most part, it will see street use and mild trails.

I read that for a DD, it is good to run a JJ and a bushing on each CA. I also read that JJ's can wear out (or maybe it was heims) if used on CA's on a DD. I guess the road wear really wears them out. I like that you can rebuild JJ's, but I don't know who to get them from if that's what I end up going with. I want to do this right, and be able to use my rod ends again when I finally stretch the Jeep so all I would have to get is tubing.

My Jeep still has the stock CA's and the stock frame/axle mounts. The arms are bent up to hell, and I think the bushings are pretty much done for. Can I use the stock mounts on both frame and axle for JJ's/heims/bushings? I know the factory pressed mounts are junk, but like I said this will only be a DD through this winter so I'm not worried about them. No more hard wheeling until I get big boy axles.

That is all I can think of for now. I just want to be pointed in the right direction so I do this right the first time. Thanks for any and all help. It's greatly appreciated!
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I was thinking about just buying a set of new Currie arms. $1000 is a lot of money though. I feel like I could get away cheaper if I do it myself. But then again, it would be easier to just buy them and just throw them on.
When I did mine I used factory jeep lower control arm bushings pressed into .25 wall tubing I machined myself. Bushings were free and I used only used ones, including the ones originally on my tj from the factory. Maybe its luck, but I've never had one "blow out" or go bad (I made custom extended lower arms I ran for a while, then a radius arm setup, now custom linked).

As far as articulation, when I was testing for bind and fit, I had the rear center diff on my floor jack and had my 6yo daughter move the end of the axle from all the way up to all the way down to the floor (about 6" beyond my shock travel). Maybe having a double triangulated 4 link made for very little bind, the 3 link front was same way but used one heim for adjustment on the upper link frame side, it took more effort, but were talking a few pounds more force to move it.

I don't like rebuilding stuff, and the idea of having to rebuild loose joints seems like a lot of work. To pay that much for something I'll need to rebuild after a couple michigan winters or wheeling seasons...

My .02
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