[thegame7]

Looking to upgrade and am wondering who makes the best aftermarket rear control arms for the money. Obviously not going to spend Total Chaos money here and I don't want heims (noisy). Also, is the factory panhard worth replacing too? Thanks dudes

[y=mx+b]

Originally Posted by thegame7

Looking to upgrade and am wondering who makes the best aftermarket rear control arms for the money. Obviously not going to spend Total Chaos money here and I don't want heims (noisy). Also, is the factory panhard worth replacing too? Thanks dudes

Unless you're really boogie-ing, the factory rear controls arms do alright. I have yet to run into binding issues when inspecting mine all flexed out.

Dobinsons makes some adjustable rear control arms with rubber bushings

Metaltech makes some adjustables with enduro joints on one side, rubber bushing on the other

Apache offroad is working on some rear links with poly bushings on either end and thicc tubes to prevent bending. don't think they're available for purchase

The best upgrade for the rear end setup would be a panhard correction kit. That will return your panhard to level, raise your roll center slightly, and decrease body roll

[Loose Axles]

Originally Posted by y=mx+b

Unless you're really boogie-ing, the factory rear controls arms do alright. I have yet to run into binding issues when inspecting mine all flexed out.

Dobinsons makes some adjustable rear control arms with rubber bushings

Metaltech makes some adjustables with enduro joints on one side, rubber bushing on the other

Apache offroad is working on some rear links with poly bushings on either end and thicc tubes to prevent bending. don't think they're available for purchase

The best upgrade for the rear end setup would be a panhard correction kit. That will return your panhard to level, raise your roll center slightly, and decrease body roll

X2. Quality Advice.

[thegame7]

Originally Posted by y=mx+b

Unless you're really boogie-ing, the factory rear controls arms do alright. I have yet to run into binding issues when inspecting mine all flexed out.

Dobinsons makes some adjustable rear control arms with rubber bushings

Metaltech makes some adjustables with enduro joints on one side, rubber bushing on the other

Apache offroad is working on some rear links with poly bushings on either end and thicc tubes to prevent bending. don't think they're available for purchase

The best upgrade for the rear end setup would be a panhard correction kit. That will return your panhard to level, raise your roll center slightly, and decrease body roll

I've just seen what happens when 1 perfectly placed rock hits a lower control arm and the uppers are just twigs. How are Rokmen control arms? Look beefy for the price

43017 - Rokmen Trail Series Lower Links for 03+4Runner/07-14 FJ Cruiser

[BlackWorksInc]

@thegame7

If you're just looking for extra strength on the cheap, look at the bushings of your lower links; if they're in good condition, maybe try what I did on mine:



Stitch weld on some trimmed angle iron, make sure you're doing alternating lengths of stitches to reduce the likelihood of warping the links; as I mentioned in my build thread, I probably went overboard on the welding; 1-2" stitches about 2-4inches apart probably would have been more than plenty.

[thegame7]

Originally Posted by BlackWorksInc

@thegame7

If you're just looking for extra strength on the cheap, look at the bushings of your lower links; if they're in good condition, maybe try what I did on mine:



Stitch weld on some trimmed angle iron, make sure you're doing alternating lengths of stitches to reduce the likelihood of warping the links; as I mentioned in my build thread, I probably went overboard on the welding; 1-2" stitches about 2-4inches apart probably would have been more than plenty.

Nice that would be easy. Did you beef up the uppers too?

[gm350reratliff]

Originally Posted by thegame7

I've just seen what happens when 1 perfectly placed rock hits a lower control arm and the uppers are just twigs. How are Rokmen control arms? Look beefy for the price

43017 - Rokmen Trail Series Lower Links for 03+4Runner/07-14 FJ Cruiser

Another vote here for the Rokmen arms. Maintenance free and quiet. Definitely beefy! I've scraped mine over jagged rocks numerous times and they just shrug it off.

[aemravan]

I bent a stock lower on a silly rock.. it didn’t take much.. I built my own arms with heim joints on both sides with some DOM tube .. it’s super strong but super annoying to constantly maintain .. the adjustability is definitely nice because I had to slide my axle back about 1.5” with my 35s. If I had to do it again and didn’t need to slide the axle back I would reinforce it like suggested above.. stock quality with added beef..

I actually have considered getting the lengths dialed in and building a new set without heim joints..


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Unner]

I just put rokmen trail series on my 3rd gen and I'm happy so far. Very beefy and a good price. For the panhard I second the panhard correction kit, just did that on my 3rd gen also and it's a very noticeable improvement in handling. No need for an aftermarket panhard bar.

[miller507]

If you play on rocks a lot something beefier would be a better, for me energy suspension did the trick because I like to keep things simple and if something brakes I can get an off the shelf solution in case I don't want to wait for parts to come in.

Been wheeling my 4R for quite sometime on my setup and can't say I've had any issues for the lack of any additional adjustments on my susp.

Got a few hits and scrubs on the arms but no bends so far.

Will be adding the PCK because we do need it on our rigs but that's pretty much it.

[miller507]

Originally Posted by BlackWorksInc

@thegame7

If you're just looking for extra strength on the cheap, look at the bushings of your lower links; if they're in good condition, maybe try what I did on mine:



Stitch weld on some trimmed angle iron, make sure you're doing alternating lengths of stitches to reduce the likelihood of warping the links; as I mentioned in my build thread, I probably went overboard on the welding; 1-2" stitches about 2-4inches apart probably would have been more than plenty.

This is actually a good idea, Great, now I got something I can do over the weekend.....

[BlackWorksInc]

Originally Posted by thegame7

Nice that would be easy. Did you beef up the uppers too?

I honestly don't see any specific reason to reinforce them against rocks since they're so tucked in there. Though you should check the bushings on those, I just recently swapped out my uppers from how badly torn up the bushings were.

I would also look into a Panhard Correction Kit, I have been pretty happy with the one I recently installed and I swear it has helped the rear end feel a bit less "wiggly" on tight turns (it's probably my imagination). I did do a quick write up on it a few weeks back or so.

[BackOff]

There has been a few on this site that have bent that lower arm playing in the rocks.

Another vote for the Rockmen here, i have had them on for a few years now, no noise no issues.

Did a set of the uppers from Rockauto, Mevotech, were under $30 at the time.
Actually thicker tubes than the OEMs...no issuses with them either.

[Hi-desertT4R]

My only basis of comparison is stock vs Dobinsons. I’ve had the Dobinsons rear adjustable lowers for a few months now. I kept the rubber bushings in them but they do include urethane if one wants to swap them. I like the bend at the axle end and the adjustability of them. Thick and super beefy too.

There seem to be a lot of great options out there though. Idk what’s really best for the money. Metal Cloak, Rokman, metal tech, Dobinsons all seem pretty competitive.

I am also running an adjustable Toytec panhard with heims. I’ll never do that again. I will be going with a stock bar and an eimkeith pck kit soon

[thegame7]

You guys convinced me to weld in the Eimkeith PCK yesterday Also re-valved my rear shocks to be more comfortable. Stoked on it!