shootmymime
New member
waiting-Waiting-WAITING :director:
Rear Control Arm Build
- Thread starter MStudt
- Start date
waiting-Waiting-WAITING :director:
MStudt
official vendor
Here's some pictures.
Here's to Flex Joints and Poly Bushings.
Welded up.
With everything in place and the factory link in the middle.
and a couple more from the shop
MStudt
official vendor
Adjustable will be an option. I'll most likely do fixed and adjustable arms. Getting adjustable arms wasn't something that I really cared about at the time, and I didn't want to spend the extra money the first time around. I'm still not sure on weather I should offer them as a weld together kit, welded kit, or both. I know a lot of people would be happy getting a kit and welding it up themselves to save some money. I also know some people don't have access to welder that will weld 1/4" wall tubing. I've got some thinking and painting to do this weekend. Hopefully I can have my mind made up by Monday and figure out some pricing.
NateMob
New member
Round vs Square, Looking good man! I reused the stock barrels on the axle end since i used OEM bushings, did your poly setup require new barrels? I think i want to swap to Poly at the axle.
How close are your welds to the outer edge of the barrels? I was TIGing so i had to be careful with the heat it was so close on the sides. What tube did you decide on in the end?
How close are your welds to the outer edge of the barrels? I was TIGing so i had to be careful with the heat it was so close on the sides. What tube did you decide on in the end?
MStudt
official vendor
Round vs Square, Looking good man! I reused the stock barrels on the axle end since i used OEM bushings, did your poly setup require new barrels? I think i want to swap to Poly at the axle.
How close are your welds to the outer edge of the barrels? I was TIGing so i had to be careful with the heat it was so close on the sides. What tube did you decide on in the end?
The barrels that came with the poly bushings are the same as the Flex Joints (9/16"). They work with the stock bolts if you want to retain the 17mm factory bolts, or you can use 9/16" like they were made for. I wanted to use TIG for this, but I didn't have enough gas in the tank. Using MIG worked out just fine, and most likely gave me a better finish since I've only TIG'ed a couple times in the past.
I ended up using 1-1/2" x .250 DOM for this. That is the largest size DOM you can use with these joints, unless you sleeve over them as well. The tubing was pretty close to the cups on these as well. However, I think square would have been a bit closer to the edge of the cups than round.
MojaveMadMan
New member
Adjustablility is going to be your selling point and why most people will buy them. While there are failures that have happened, for 98% of us we don't need these because we bent our old ones, but because we need to adjust for our lift kits and what not. At least thats why I want them...
I vote for hems. I am not sure why people think the "Johnny" style joints are for some reason better? Rebuildible isn't always a good thing which C-clips and come out and things like that. Think of what off road sport puts the most abuse on joints, baja hands down. You never see Johnny style joints on any Trophy trucks. We see uni-balls and hiem joints. There is a reason, they are strong as hell, they are adjusted very quickly and easily, and replacement is very easy. I vote adjustable heims all day long!!!
I vote for hems. I am not sure why people think the "Johnny" style joints are for some reason better? Rebuildible isn't always a good thing which C-clips and come out and things like that. Think of what off road sport puts the most abuse on joints, baja hands down. You never see Johnny style joints on any Trophy trucks. We see uni-balls and hiem joints. There is a reason, they are strong as hell, they are adjusted very quickly and easily, and replacement is very easy. I vote adjustable heims all day long!!!
MStudt
official vendor
You're correct, but the difference is off-road vs on road. Heims are hands down the best for off-road and for people that don't care about vibrations. The Flex Joints, Johnny Joints, and Duroflex Joints are better for on-road and have far less vibrations. I'll most likely end up doing a couple different options. Something more basic like heims, and a higher end like Flex Joints as well.
NateMob
New member
I wager the majority of any adjustability that is truly functional comes from adjustable uppers.
You cant lengthen the lower unless you want to reconstruct the back of the fenderwell and you are then lengthening the uppers also to keep things copasetic. Shortening the lower link to compensate for pinion angle seems like the wrong way of doing things to me. Adjustable uppers make kicking the pinion up a better option in my book and you have less headache keeping the wheel centered, saving you from munching on the front of the fender where your door doesnt allow for much trimming or getting into your rear bumper and body.
MojaveMadMan
New member
You are absolutely correct. I did a poor job of explsining. I would love to see a hiem on one side for adjustment and a fixed poly/flex joint on the other. You end up with vib reduction while still being adjustable.
You are correct that most of the adjustment needs to be in the uppers, but I know for certain some adjustment on the lowers can be benificial. No two cars are identical, so having the option to make small adjustments is a good thing. If it added extra cost or made the arms weaker to use an adjustable rod end I would be inclined to agree it's not worth the risk. But if it costs less, is easier to fab, and allows you to have the option I don't see the problem.
NateMob
New member
No problem man, I just thought this thread needed that clarification. You are obviously a bit more savvy and experienced with things like this than a lot here. You are definitely right on about small tweaks and no two rigs being the same. I know you've got the skills and means to build your own, when are you going to get started so we can see your setup with heims? :bigok:
MStudt
official vendor
[MENTION=88391]NateMob[/MENTION]
On that note. The new Flex Joints from Summit no longer use c-clips.
MojaveMadMan
New member
Ya I'll be honest, I don't have any personal experience with these joints, so I may be missing something... Just commenting from what I have seen in pictures of them. I have always used hiems or uniballs so you can call me partial!
MojaveMadMan
New member
Oh no worries dude, just sharing my opinion. I do however come from a serious baja background so I am a little biased sometimes. Thanks for the compliments though. I have some skills, worked professionally in the trade for a while, but I am no way an expert. Not to mention I have been in the Air Force for the last 8 years so I have been out of the game for some time in that sense.
I do plan on doing some in the next 12 months after I get a few bigger things done. I actually really liked the way you used OEM bushings in yours. I was planning on doing a set like yours with OEM on one side, and hiems on the other. 1.5" round tubing. It wouldn't look much different than what is out there already. Though I may add a little wrap of some sort around the bushing side to make sure I get enough grab.
[MENTION=98153]MStudt[/MENTION] has a great thing going here and we chatted a little about it in PM. I think if he can get together a good kit I might just buy his. I like the alternative rubber flex joint he was talking about using, that could easily take place of the OEM bushing. Like you guys mentioned, most won't use or really need adjustment so if he sells them with two fixed ends they will still be great for the vast majority of people. If he can do it with an adjustable hiem for the same price, that would be cool too.
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MStudt
official vendor
Mine just used the thick washer. They changed something on the latest design that has now removed the c-clip.
the great him
Elite Member
ok i want a set... id like the hybrid version with adjustable up top... subing to this for updates.
MStudt
official vendor
Alright alright! I'm going to offer Summit links and heim links. Of course the heim links will be adjustable. I'll also offer the Summit links both fixed and adjustable. Give me a couple days to get everything together. I'll start a new thread and post a link here for it soon.
