Best rear control arms for the money?
- Thread starter thegame7
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y=mx+b
New member
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
New member
X2. Quality Advice.
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
New member
[MENTION=83833]thegame7[/MENTION]
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.
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.
[MENTION=83833]thegame7[/MENTION]
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
New member
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.
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..
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I actually have considered getting the lengths dialed in and building a new set without heim joints..
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miller507
New member
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.
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
New member
[MENTION=83833]thegame7[/MENTION]
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.....
layball:
BlackWorksInc
New member
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
New member
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.
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
Member
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
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
BlackWorksInc
New member
Should be fairly similar. I think the rear axle links, both upper and lower are basically the same between the GX470/460, 4th/5th Gen, and FJ Cruisers. I never really checked to see if the part numbers changed or not, but I doubt the physical arms are any different.
I know for sure that late model FJ Cruiser lower trailing arms work on a 4th gen, because the welded/reinforced ones I posted earlier came from a 2014 FJ and have been working great on my 4th gen for years!
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