I need to identify the make of my control arms, specifically the "flex joints","JJohny joints" etc. so I can rebuild them. I have searched high and low and have been unsuccessful at identifying them to date.
Help me identify these lower control arms
- Thread starter TH99TJ
- Start date
I don't recognize them, but the JJ side, does it matter? Those look like Rock Jock (Currie) Johnny Joints, go to Rock Jock and get JJ rebuilt for the correct size, and you should be off to the races.
willis36
Member
Those are JJ's on one end and a rubber bushing on the other end.
You can just grease those JJ's with Red Line CV-2 grease and put them back together. The grease only goes on the inside where the ball rotates.
"Jonny Joint" was stamped into each one of mine. So easy to Identify. At that point https://www.rockjock4x4.com/search?keywords=jj rebuild kit
OP
OP
I will say those kits look pretty dang close. My issue is during my searching to find out what the heck I have, I have been told the kits are not interchangeable between manufactures. Rock Jock has dimensions on their site so I will measure what I have and see if they are the same. The problem is the bushing could still be a different thickness or OD even with the correct ball dimension between manufacturers. Too thick and I am stuck trying to turn them down in the lathe, too thin and I'm trying to find/make a shim. PIA!!!! AND no markings on the forgings at all doesn't help.
Go to a good hardware store and find some spacer bushings. Add one or two to the assembly to mash the worn poly race into the ball where it belongs. I needed to file the outside a bit to fit them into the housing.
OP
It has been 3 years since I messed with these things, I put another set of arms in and moved on to the next project., That said, if memory serves, the polly is worn "front to back" vs side to side so smashing them down only netted a small improvement. Honestly thought I would have it long armed by now, delays ugg. I don't know if putting them in the hydraulic press and giving them an attitude adjustment that way would just squish the hell out of them and reshape the pocket as needed or do something I don't like LOL.
Well, this is a $3 fix for your unknown arms that can't make anything worse. That's better than wasting money on long arms. 🤣
OP
I had a set just like that at one time. Rough country arms I rebuilt with synergy bushing and Curry J joints.
I do have a set of rebuild kits in the garage for the smaller JJ joints if you want to double check size.
Looks like you are not too far from me.
I do have a set of rebuild kits in the garage for the smaller JJ joints if you want to double check size.
Looks like you are not too far from me.
KennethS
TJ Enthusiast
OP
I will probably have to get in touch on those rebuild kits. Yeah were not too far away from each other. If I could have gotten out of what I was doing last Friday, I would have rode with RINC. Speaking of, did you figure out his issue?
OP
More flex without destroying the rubber. The JJ is a metal ball inside of a polly bushing. So it basically just rotates in it;'s cup as your suspension flexes until the metal hits metal in an extreme case. but as with any polly bushing, they transmit more noise and feel into the chassis as compared to rubber bushings. Trade offs.
Yes , he had some nasty wires back by the tank. One shorted out and popped the fuel pump fuse. I cleaned it all up and got him back on the road.
KennethS
TJ Enthusiast
Thanks for the info. I ask because my lower adjustable arms look a lot like the ones in this thread but have 2 piece rubber bushings. I noticed there’s a groove just inside the bushing area that looks like it’s for a retainer / keeper for a JJ. Thought I might be able to replace the rubber bushings with a proper size JJ.
OP
That's interesting, are you thinking someone stuffed regular bushingd into a JJ , maybe they wore out and the guy didn't know any better kinda thing? Are they rubber or black polyurethane?
KennethS
TJ Enthusiast
They are black, probably polyurethane.
The arms were new, bought many years ago from an AZVJC member with connections to Daystar. So maybe they were experimental or replacement bushings for a JJ arm? I dunno.
Old bushings and inside of arm.
The arms were new, bought many years ago from an AZVJC member with connections to Daystar. So maybe they were experimental or replacement bushings for a JJ arm? I dunno.
Old bushings and inside of arm.