Adjustable Rear Upper Control Arm Questions

[TJChed]

Morning. I have a '97 4L with 3" chassis lift and 1" body lift. Replaced the rear diff with a Dana 44 out of an '06. Added SYE, double Cardan drive shaft. Outboarded shocks, relocated lower shock mounts and also upper spring brackets. Running 35s. Have adjustable Core 4x4 LCAs (Tier 1), but need to push the diff rearward and set pinion so require adjustable UCAs also. I like Core, but price is $150 for a set of UCAs. Anyone have any experience with other adjustable UCAs at a price below $150? I see a brand on eBay called Emturbo Racing for $95, and another unbranded version for $98 with over 100 sold. Any thoughts on why I should not purchase these and save $50?

Another question - for those of you who have made this same conversion, what did you do with the brake line and emergency brake cables that attach to the stock UCAs? Just leave them hanging or did you secure them another way? If so, pls describe. Thanks, guys.

 

[Goatman]

Zip ties hold the brake cables. Put them back the way they were originally. I think some of the el cheapo brands are 100% China made. Is that bad? Not necessarily, but suspension and brakes are not the place to go super cheap on. Be sure what type of steel is used and what the bushings are made of. The word 'rubber' covers a pretty wide range of quality and durability.

 

[scottgraham]

I think some of the el cheapo brands are 100% China made. Is that bad?

Only if they've been shipped in the last seven days or so, hand me another Corona please.

 

[eastbloc]

Bruhh.... 50 buks ... 50, not 500.
I don't judge you, i have this moments too for various reasons... but it is 50 buks.
Eat ramen noodles and top off the tank with piss for a week, youll make it.

Is $50 worth the difference between put on and forget, and suspicious squeak or clank every time you turn or hit a bump?

 

[LONGJP2]

Based on the mods, I assume you actually wheel it. I wouldn't cheap out on CAs. If money's tight, watch for used (quality) ones. Keep in mind, even at half price, they will still be more than $150.00.

 

[TJChed]

You guys are all 100% correct. Wasn't thinking straight. After thinking about it a little further, I hate this whole made in China generally, and much of what they make is total crap under pressure, which is exactly what we do to our Jeeps - push their limits. As an American, have and will continue gladly to pay a bit more for Made in USA quality and product backing. That said, I contacted Core 4x4, and asked about scratch and dent since they are uppers and no one will see them.

Was able to purchase a set of scratch and dent rear UCAs with polyurethane bushings for $127, shipping included. Not only that, they shipped this morning. Thank you Spence at Core 4x4! All y'all consider their products. They are 100% in my book.

Remind me again: why did I ask this question in the first place? Wasn't thinking straight. Buy Quality. Buy American.
Thanks guys

 

[rubicube]

use plumbers tape to attach the cables....it's a metal strip with holes in it....

 

[TJChed]

use plumbers tape to attach the cables....it's a metal strip with holes in it....

I know the material. Do you just wrap it around the arm as tight as possible and secure it with nut and bolt through the brake line and brake cable?

 

[rubicube]

I know the material. Do you just wrap it around the arm as tight as possible and secure it with nut and bolt through the brake line and brake cable?

ya it works good I doubled it ,way better than zip tie....they rot jus cut to leant with snips.

 

[jjvw]

With the relocated shock mounts, how much shock travel are we talking about?

 

[Chris]

I'm so confused... are we complaining over $150 control arms? Because that is dirt cheap if you ask me.

I must be missing something.

 

[rubicube]

go to rock auto an get the rancho's ca's for less than $100 apiece.....

 

[TJChed]

With the relocated shock mounts, how much shock travel are we talking about?

The compressed length is just over 17" and the extended length is around 26-26.5" so about 9.5" of travel. I am thinking the basic Fox shocks because the body mounts at the top so neither body nor piston will hit the control arm bracket or the outboard shock bracket. If you are interested, Fox has a generic part no. 985-24-005 which exceeds these lengths so no bottoming or topping out.

 

[TJChed]

I'm so confused... are we complaining over $150 control arms? Because that is dirt cheap if you ask me.

I must be missing something.

Yeah.

 

[TJChed]

With the relocated shock mounts, how much shock travel are we talking about?

Actually, further on that, if you are thinking about the outboarding, there is a bunch I learned from doing it that isn't clear in the writeups because so many of these outboarding mounts are different. Kinda like, "had I known then what I know now." Let me know. Glad to give you what I learned.

 

[jjvw]

Actually, further on that, if you are thinking about the outboarding, there is a bunch I learned from doing it that isn't clear in the writeups because so many of these outboarding mounts are different. Kinda like, "had I known then what I know now." Let me know. Glad to give you what I learned.

If your outboarded and relocated shock mounts are allowing more than the factory ~8" of travel, then rubber or poly bushings aren't the preferred choices.

 

[BuildBreakRepeat]

If your outboarded and relocated shock mounts are allowing more than the factory ~8" of travel, then rubber or poly bushings aren't the preferred choices.

Unless you want to tear a mount off! I’ve seen it happen plenty.

 

[TJChed]

If your outboarded and relocated shock mounts are allowing more than the factory ~8" of travel, then rubber or poly bushings aren't the preferred choices.

Hmmm. Thank you for the input, but to which bushings are you referring? Shocks or control arms. Sounds like shock bushings. Don't recall if either of the guys at Rancho or Fox said anything about using a certain bushing material. Of course they might have said urethane and not poly. Don't recall. Guy at Offroad Warehouse said to buy Energy Suspension's product. Not sure what that is. That said, if not rubber or poly (which could be urethane), what is the preferred solution?

 

[jjvw]

Hmmm. Thank you for the input, but to which bushings are you referring? Shocks or control arms. Sounds like shock bushings. Don't recall if either of the guys at Rancho or Fox said anything about using a certain bushing material. Of course they might have said urethane and not poly. Don't recall. Guy at Offroad Warehouse said to buy Energy Suspension's product. Not sure what that is. That said, if not rubber or poly (which could be urethane), what is the preferred solution?

Control arms.

Poly=polyurethane=urethane.

Energy suspensions is a somewhat generic bushing supplier.

 

[TJChed]

Unless you want to tear a mount off! I’ve seen it happen plenty.

Shock bushings, then. Absolutely not wanting to tear anything off. What's the right set up? I haven't purchased the shocks yet, so can order whatever needed for optimal solution.