Rear Control Arm Build

[MStudt]

I'd be interested in a full set if price is right and quality is good

I'm going a different direction with these. I'm going to be returning the couple parts I bought and stepping up a bit in quality. These are going to be more expensive than the ones Toytec or Sonoran Steel as well. However, the quality will be well above either of theirs.

I'm between using a couple difference joints, and the decision will be made by time I get back from Colorado on the 2nd. Below are my two options.

Option 1:

• Ballistic Poly Bushing
• Ballistic Forged Joint

Option 2:

• Summit Machine Poly Bushing
• Summit Machine Flex Joint

 

[MStudt]

3/4 heims are fine on the uppers and the pan hard bar but you will want something bigger for the lowers. 7/8's minimum. I'm running 1.25's.

How did you reduce the bore on your 1-1/4" heims to accept a bolt that would fit our opening? The most I'm seeing are for 1" to 5/8" and then your at 2-5/8" total width.

 

[MStudt]

I can attest to the Medium Summit joints fitting perfect, i also have the assembly tool if you want to use it. I could mail it to you for assembly and setting of preload. Its a lot easier than using a hammer and punch. lol

What did you do about the 9/16" bolts? Did they fit, or did you have to drill out the mounts a bit?

 

[NateMob]

What did you do about the 9/16" bolts? Did they fit, or did you have to drill out the mounts a bit?

i dont remember having to drill out the mounts, not positive. I think i reused the stock hardware. Again not positive and no way to check being 8,000 miles from my rig still. So basically i am no help for a few more weeks, then, I'm back! :banana:

 

[MStudt]

i dont remember having to drill out the mounts, not positive. I think i reused the stock hardware. Again not positive and no way to check being 8,000 miles from my rig still. So basically i am no help for a few more weeks, then, I'm back! :banana:

No big deal. I'm going to order some medium Summit Flex Joints and their 2-3/8" Poly Bushings next week.

 

[NateMob]

Sounds awesome, i can see about having my wife find that assembly wrench if you want to use it before i make it back.

 

[MStudt]

Sounds awesome, i can see about having my wife find that assembly wrench if you want to use it before i make it back.

I"m just going to buy one. With my luck I'll need it right after I send yours back.

 

[TCMach]

I'm gonna be watching this carefully. I'm gonna be building a set here soon with ballistic joints. Square lower tube and round upper. Taking my inspiration from [MENTION=88391]NateMob[/MENTION]

 

[MStudt]

I'm gonna be watching this carefully. I'm gonna be building a set here soon with ballistic joints. Square lower tube and round upper. Taking my inspiration from [MENTION=88391]NateMob[/MENTION]

I was going to go with square lower tubes, but you're forced to use 2" OD tube for that. If you're thinking about getting Ballistic stuff, do it now through the end of the weekend. You'll get 15% off when you order $150 of more.

I'm going to finish up the ones I planned on doing first, and them go to the Summit Joints. I just ordered all the remaining pieces from Ballistic to finish it up. Just need to pick up a little DOM for the lowers and I'm set.

*Edit- Come to find out some of the parts I needed for the heim joint links are back ordered. Looked like I'll be ordering from Summit sooner than I thought!

 

[MStudt]

Pure goodness has been ordered! Now to decide if I plan on running 1-1/2 x .250 DOM box or 1-1/2 x .250 DOM tube. I guess it really depends if I can find my tubing notcher for box tube or not.

 

[steezemcqueen]

How did you reduce the bore on your 1-1/4" heims to accept a bolt that would fit our opening? The most I'm seeing are for 1" to 5/8" and then your at 2-5/8" total width.

The bore in a 1.25 heim is actually 1 inch. I had a machine shop make some misalignment spacers.

What did you do about the 9/16" bolts? Did they fit, or did you have to drill out the mounts a bit?

The bolt size is 14mm which is basically 9/16

 

[MStudt]

The bore in a 1.25 heim is actually 1 inch. I had a machine shop make some misalignment spacers.



The bolt size is 14mm which is basically 9/16

I decided to just go Summit Machine all around on these. In order to use heim I would have spend a lot more money trying to get them to fit. It's great that 9/16" will bolt right up though!

 

[MStudt]

Picking up some tube today, and the Summit Joints are being delivered today as well. I'll have some pictures tonight of the joints, and some pictures of the finished product this weekend.

 

[infamousRNR]

Is there any reason you shouldn't just beef up your existing arms with some metal tubes and weld the SHHHHHHHH out of them?.....

 

[MStudt]

Is there any reason you shouldn't just beef up your existing arms with some metal tubes and weld the SHHHHHHHH out of them?.....

I don't feel like messing around with trying to replace all 4 bushings on the lowers. I can most likely make 2 brand arms in less time than it would take to replace 4 bushings. I'd have to cut the DOM in half length wise and weld it back together in order to sleeve the existing links. Plus these will look a lot better, and perform a lot better.

 

[JBurt]

Just saw this. Good work. I remember that Jason did this a long time ago. If you do wind up selling them I'd be interested later down the road.

I like the flex joints. Are you going to put them on the frame end and the bushings on the axle end?

 

[NateMob]

I like the flex joints. Are you going to put them on the frame end and the bushings on the axle end?

I like them like this, I used that configuration with the arms that i built. The increase in articulation is noticeable with the Summit joints at just one end.

You'll like the Summit Machine joints, the quality of products i received was really nice.

 

[MStudt]

Just saw this. Good work. I remember that Jason did this a long time ago. If you do wind up selling them I'd be interested later down the road.

I like the flex joints. Are you going to put them on the frame end and the bushings on the axle end?

I'm putting the Flex Joints on the frame side and the Poly Joints on the axle side.

The issue I'm running into with making these for other people is them coming after me if something were to happen. I trust my welding, but trusting people to not overly abuse things is hard to do. I might end up doing a kit with everything you need. You'll just need to get them welded up.

I like them like this, I used that configuration with the arms that i built. The increase in articulation is noticeable with the Summit joints at just one end.

You'll like the Summit Machine joints, the quality of products i received was really nice.

I'm pretty excite about these! Can't wait to get them welded up in the morning. I can't find my notcher anywhere so I'm heading to in-laws to use their Baileight notcher.

 

[infamousRNR]

these arms look awesome btw... very interested in buying some if you end up making some... it sounds like there are a couple of us interested.

 

[MStudt]

these arms look awesome btw... very interested in buying some if you end up making some... it sounds like there are a couple of us interested.

I really need to figure out if people are willing to pay more for high quality joints, or just stick with heim joints.

I'll get some pictures up tonight of the finished product.