upper control arm

cj7jeepguy · **Joined:** Tue May 06, 2008 7:32 pm **Posts:** 27

I just replaced passenger side upper control arm.(stock type) The balljoint was bad. Now i have a popping noise when it hits bumps. I can push up and down on the jeep and locate the noise coming from the 2 points that connect the arm to the frame. I have noticed that the bushings fit snug agianst the frame on the inner sides but there is a gap on the outer sides. Factoty arm touched both sides. I do not think that would matter though. Is it the new rubber needing to break in ? I rechecked the ball joint and made sure the bolts were tight. Could I have overtightened the bolts? The noise is annoying. Have driven 10 miles so far since new arm...I now have 102340 miles on my liberty. This is my first repair. I pull 3700 lbs popup with it no prob. pull my 16 foot astroglass( 115 johnson) also but boat trailer needs brakes it will push you in a quick stop. front driveshaft will have to be replaced soon.....................................................................went and messed with it agian. loosened front bolt some and noise is gone. those bolts are suppose to be tight right with locktight

Vranes17 · **Posted:** Fri Aug 20, 2010 2:05 pm

Is your jeep stock suspension?

long_tall_texan · **Posted:** Fri Aug 20, 2010 3:07 pm

Did you replace with a MOPAR replacement arm, or other lower cost alternative? I replaced mine a while back. I thought they were OEM brand arms based on the online ad. When I got them, I found out the "OEM Brand" was actually the name of the manufacturer. So they were cheap versions, (That I paid a cheap price for). But anyway, back to my point. I did find that these were not as high of quality as MOPAR ones. The bushings were undersized and they were not equal measurement from inside to inside, or outside to outside. That wasn't a problem for me though, since I removed the bushing to make custom ones anyway, and my custom ones are perfect fit.

So that may be your problem. If there is a gap, maybe put washers in there to take up the extra space.

By the way, the width of the Mopar OEM UCA bushing is 1.950"

cj7jeepguy · **Joined:** Tue May 06, 2008 7:32 pm **Posts:** 27

Sorry it has been so long in replying. The arm is after market arm. I lithium greased it real good and this helped. Will put washers to fill in gap soon. It isn't near as bad as it was. Have some squeak on big bumps still. Going to have to replace the drivers side next. Money just isn't allowing me to fix it like I would like right now. I think I have a 2 inch lift. Some one added about 2 inch bump stop plates on the old arm. I ground the welds off and kept the homemade plate, but haven't put it on the new arm yet. Been taking it easy and no off roading as of now ,till I get the bump stop tack welded on the arm. Only reason I can see someone doing this is that they lifted it. It is 20&1/2" from middle of rim to bottom of fender flare. I finally burned up my chicago winch and took it off the arb bumper , when it was on my front measurement on height, was 19" so the weight did bring the front down 1-1/2 " . If I install another winch I will go to the rope type cable instead of the steal cable that was on the chicago winch ,should help in the weight aspect of it. I still haven't replaced my front drive shaft at 103,245 miles. The rear boot is gone and has been for a while. I have been crawling under it and spraying lithium grease up in the bearing housing.Every now and then i'll clean it out best I can and shoot more grease in it. Seems to be working, so far no extra play in the shaft.Any way, thanks for the replies.

tommudd · **Posted:** Fri Oct 01, 2010 1:47 pm

Did you tighten the bolts when it was sitting on the ground with full weight on it? If not that could also be some of the noise you are hearing as you preloaded the arms in the up position.
Also cheap arms are just that cheap so maybe the main source of your problem, well plus the cheap lift that has you sitting with only maybe an inch of real lift over stock. depending on what they used to lift it that could also be a source of noise, ie, weak springs, blown struts etc.

long_tall_texan · **Posted:** Fri Oct 01, 2010 2:03 pm

Ditto on that Tom.

cj7jeepguy · **Joined:** Tue May 06, 2008 7:32 pm **Posts:** 27

I have not had any noises until I put that control arm on. Ya, the only thing about buying used from a dealer is you don't know what was done to it.I see that the rear shocks are white and have the polyurethane (?) bushings. I tightened it up with full load. It seems to be getting much better now. Off topic , I hauled 20 boxes of porcelain tile ,3 bags of cement and 2 bags of grout for a floor job the other day in the back of the libby. Could till it was back there. Had 2 adults and 1 kid. Fighting hard against trading in for a truck.

XJMA · **Posted:** Mon Aug 20, 2012 3:19 pm

Any idea on which brand available from rock auto might actually have the correct bushings?? How much are the ones from Mopar?

upper control arm

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