Does anyone know anything about CavFab control arms?

[burdetter16]

I’m look for adjustable control arms but I’m on kind of a tight budget and I came across these today: cavfab.com.

They have flex joints, a lifetime warranty, and they only come in at $600!

I’m curious if anyone else has these arms or had experience with this company? Or if you have any suggestions for other control arms around $800 or less, shoot those out too (I know, I know, buy once cry once. I’m not willing to cry over $1800 for Curries right now though).

Thanks!

 

[Chris]

I’d go with Core 4X4 arms for that price. Johnny Joints are what you’ll want.

Also remember that lifetime warranties are meaningless unless you’re dealing with a company who is going to be around for said lifetime.

Considering I’ve never heard of these guys before I suspect they won’t be around forever.

Either buy once and cry once or keep saving your money like a responsible person. That’s my best advice

 

[JMT]

I bet Cav Fabs can tell you about them.

 

[jjvw]

Rod ends and split bushings. Form your opinions from that.

 

[freedom_in_4low]

I've heard of the company but don't know anything about them. My only comments:

1) no one seems to do flex joints as well as Currie/Rockjock. Those could be quality heims or they could be garbage, and at that price point one of those options is more likely than the other.
2) I wouldn't touch anything with a straight polyurethane bushing like what appears to be in the fixed ends on those lower arms unless your rig is 100% street or you risk ripping off control arm mounts.

 

[jeepguyOC]

I'm running their steering setup, it's a lot more stout than my previous ORO setup. Overall very happy with the quality of the components.

 

[jjvw]

I'm running their steering setup, it's a lot more stout than my previous ORO setup. Overall very happy with the quality of the components.

Their crossover steering creates bump steer. I'm thinking CavFab is selling us more garbage.

 

[jeepguyOC]

Their crossover steering creates bump steer. I'm thinking CavFab is selling us more garbage.

View attachment 469907

Have you used their cross over setup? I haven't had a problem here.

 

[jjvw]

So have you used their cross over setup?

Don't need to. I understand that the track bar and drag link need to function within a narrow range of a geometric relationship so as to not induce steering input as the axle cycles. CavFab hasn't done anything different that dozens of others haven't already done to sell poorly performing steering to those who do not understand what they are looking at.

Stock axles need to use stock steering geometry.

 

[burdetter16]

I'm running their steering setup, it's a lot more stout than my previous ORO setup. Overall very happy with the quality of the components.

Awesome, thank you! Are their hiem joints solid? That’s really the only part that makes me a little worried. I won’t be running crossover steering so that issue doesn’t effect me just curious on the quality of their stuff.

 

[jjvw]

Awesome, thank you! Are their hiem joints solid? That’s really the only part that makes me a little worried. I won’t be running crossover steering so that issue doesn’t effect me just curious on the quality of their stuff.

Here is some perspective. This is a nice FK rod end for $60. Add up how many would go into that steering and ask yourself if CavFab is charging enough money.

Then remind yourself that you are asking about the quality of a product from a company that knowingly sells bad steering.

 

[Rickyd]

Just say no. No to hiem joints and no to shitty steering

 

[jeepguyOC]

Awesome, thank you! Are their hiem joints solid? That’s really the only part that makes me a little worried. I won’t be running crossover steering so that issue doesn’t effect me just curious on the quality of their stuff.

I have run the hiem joints for only 6 months on this rig, so far they are holding up well. Time will tell. Considering the price I was going to upgrade the joints as needed. The solid bars are what I really was looking for after bending the hell out of my uTurn setup on my last TJ. I was commenting more on the stoutness of the bars more than anything else to give you an idea of the build quality.

 

[bluescapegoat]

Just to say something positive about CavFab here, I have their rockers and I think they're a great bargain.

Can't say I'd want anything to do with those arms...

 

[John Cooper]

CavFab is about 20 minutes from my house. I have talked to them on the phone and know where they are located.

They told me they have Johnny joints and will if you call and talk to them use JJ instead of the Heim joints.

I can't speak for their quality or anything like that, that's just what I told via phone conversation.

 

[jjvw]

CavFab is about 20 minutes from my house. I have talked to them on the phone and know where they are located.

They told me they have Johnny joints and will if you call and talk to them use JJ instead of the Heim joints.

I can't speak for their quality or anything like that, that's just what I told via phone conversation.

What about the split bushings on the other end that no one else has acknowledged? Will they replace those with either a cleavite bonded rubber bushing or a JJ? If so, that's great. Either way, that would be a completely different arm at a very different price point than what they offer for sale.

 

[John Cooper]

What about the split bushings on the other end that no one else has acknowledged? Will they replace those with either a cleavite bonded rubber bushing or a JJ? If so, that's great. Either way, that would be a completely different arm at a very different price point than what they offer for sale.

I didn't get that far with them. I will be going by and talking with them about sponsoring an event for a non profit near here.

I will ask this and more we I meet them.

I think they started out with the XJ crowd and have included the TJ as an afterthought.

Looks like now they are trying to get the JK, JL crowd.

 

[jjvw]

I didn't get that far with them. I will be going by and talking with them about sponsoring an event for a non profit near here.

I will ask this and more we I meet them.

I think they started out with the XJ crowd and have included the TJ as an afterthought.

Looks like now they are trying to get the JK, JL crowd.

The same considerations apply to the XJ crowd. The difference being that the XJ crowd seems to be even less discerning about quality and function than the TJ crowd often is. And then there is the mess of the JK and JL world....

 

[burdetter16]

So I reached out to CavFab to ask about the hiem joints and bushings they use. This was the response: “We change between vendors and do not release who makes our heim joints, but it is one of the few parts we don't make in-house. The bushings on the other side are a type of DOM sleeve and poly bushing.” Needless to say it does not inspire confidence that they are not willing to reveal what hiem joints they use.

Looks like I’ll save up longer for a more proven product. But that leads me to another question I have.

My stock control arm bushings are pretty blown out and I get a lot of handling issues on the road and some popping when turning and that worries me. Would it be a good idea to get some inexpensive factory replacements while I save? I have a 3 inch lift with adjustable track bars, stock t case and drive shaft with a t case drop.

 

[evanknows]

I talked to a dude that has bought full cav fab front everything on his tj with a 2 or 3 inch lift and has been running it for a long while with nothing but good news