Control Arms

WarriorMP31B · **Posted:** Thu Nov 18, 2010 6:58 pm

So after an epic "Dukes of Hazzard" moment with my KJ a month or so back in Centralia, PA, I finally got around to getting an alignment done (not to mention my rim hammered out to proper size). Unfortunately I was told the alignment couldn't be completed as there was not enough travel in the Control Arms, especially in the left (where the brunt of the landing was taken). So it sounds like I need extended/longer Control Arms. My question is...

Will the JBA A-Arms/UCA correct this issue? I know they're made to clear the springs, but does that equate to a longer overall arm which would be suited for what I need?

tommudd · **Posted:** Thu Nov 18, 2010 7:37 pm

UCA's have nothing to do with doing an alignment, there is no adjustment to them
Only the LCAs can be adjusted along with the toe-in with the tie rod ends
So did you bend a LCA???

When was the last time you had an alignment and could they do it then?

WarriorMP31B · **Posted:** Thu Nov 18, 2010 7:41 pm

No idea. Just going on what they told me at the shop. He said I could get either longer/adjustable UCAs or shorter LCAs... He had "maxed out" adjustment; not sure on what though.

Given I came down on the left front and that side is "nearly a degree off" and the other side can't be adjusted properly either... What do I need to buy?

tommudd · **Posted:** Thu Nov 18, 2010 7:53 pm

Well
Are you sure you didn't come down hard enough to shove the cradle over and / or back some?
Have seen this on one that was in a minor accident.
A "good" alignment shop would be able to see this
Telling you what you need to buy or do without being under there with the alignment guy would be impossible almost

so back to original question
there is no adjustment at all on the UCA's
and no one makes adjustable or shorter LCA's for the KJ
so you screwed it up it seems
Fun wasn't it! :banghead:

My bet is the cradle has moved on you, or you bent something else

WarriorMP31B · **Posted:** Thu Nov 18, 2010 8:01 pm

Honestly, this stuff is not my forte so I have no idea. All I know is I ended up going about 45 feet and came down solely on the front left, ripping off the fender flare/wheel-well and dent a Cragar Soft 8 Rim all the way around. So.... Yeah.

tommudd · **Posted:** Thu Nov 18, 2010 8:09 pm

Well
couple of things to do
find a really good alignment guy to check it out real close
or
have it put on a frame machine
The one I mentioned that was wrecked, he had several alignments done over the years at different places and it never felt right. He had my alignment guy do it and he found that the cradle was back on the right side just a little bit. he got it into alignment but to be perfect we need to adjust the cradle some. No one else had ever found it or mentioned it before

Maybe Troy will have some better news for you :wink:

LibertyCRD · **Posted:** Fri Nov 19, 2010 9:11 am

The stock lower control arms are made of cast iron. You didn't bent that. That would probably break and not bend. I agree with Tom...you probably have bent the cradle or crossmember instead, or possibly the upper strut mount. Something else inside there is jacked up....not the a-arm itself.

WarriorMP31B · **Posted:** Fri Nov 19, 2010 10:28 am

Well I'll have to take it to my buddy's shop and take her all apart to find the issue... Maybe this is a good excuse to get a Frankinlift.

tommudd · **Posted:** Fri Nov 19, 2010 10:53 am

Frankenlift is not going to fix your problem
you need to take it to a shop where they can check it out the right way
No use wasting money at this point on a Frankenlift, it won't help
VERY unlikely cradle is bent, moved yes

Read
take it to a reputable alignment shop
or
have it put on a frame machine
easiest way to find the problem

WarriorMP31B · **Posted:** Fri Nov 19, 2010 11:03 am

Yup... Got it. Was saying if any of the suspension components were damaged, such as the strut plate... Not to mention my struts are pretty much done. I read your post and indicated I would do so. Thanks.

tommudd · **Posted:** Fri Nov 19, 2010 11:16 am

Well if your front "shocks" are pretty much done for then yes you're about ready then for a Frankenlift
tell your wife that I suggested the best bet for you was one, maybe that will help seal the deal :ROTFL:

strut plate would be almost impossible to bend
But after watching too many episodes of Dukes of Hazzard and if you did one of their jumps
well......... :banghead:

WarriorMP31B · **Posted:** Fri Nov 19, 2010 11:30 am

I have the video somewhere taken from the passenger seat/passenger floor. :roll:

To get an idea of what I did, I found a video of a Cherokee that did the same thing (and from the looks of it went exactly the same distance).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9oVgPSuPZk

I'll take it to my buddy's shop and we'll take the whole front end apart and take a look. While I'm in there, assuming I find the issue, I'll probably put in some JBA UCAs and maybe a Frankinlift just for giggles. I mean... While I'm there and all. :wink:

daspes · **Posted:** Fri Nov 19, 2010 1:31 pm

tommudd wrote:

Frankenlift is not going to fix your problem

Though tecnically true however, a Frankenlift will make you feel much better about your problem.

WarriorMP31B · **Posted:** Fri Nov 19, 2010 2:10 pm

daspes wrote:

tommudd wrote:

Frankenlift is not going to fix your problem

Though tecnically true however, a Frankenlift will make you feel much better about your problem.

Exactly.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Fri Nov 19, 2010 10:45 pm

LibertyCRD wrote:

The stock lower control arms are made of cast iron. You didn't bent that. That would probably break and not bend. I agree with Tom...you probably have bent the cradle or crossmember instead, or possibly the upper strut mount. Something else inside there is jacked up....not the a-arm itself.

They will bend,trust me they will as I have had to replace one that was bent(not cracked) on a '06 KJ last winter from a curb hit and the cradle was just fine.The cradle is made out of HSS and will take a beating also but will bend but about as easy as the LCA's will.

JeepinJarhead03 · **Posted:** Sat Nov 20, 2010 1:43 am

sounds like a good time for new LCA's (ie: congrats on new LBJ's

) and a lift

but.. like the other fellers have said, take it to a frame shop that you at least partially trust and get them to check it out real good

Control Arms

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