How to tell if rear upper control arm needs replaced?

HedsIc · **Posted:** Wed Apr 03, 2013 11:11 am

This has been plaguing me since I got my Jeeps lifted. Never did it before I had it lifted. I think something happened during the install of the Y link extender.

In the rear whenever I go over bumps it makes a hard thumping sound and feels like there is some shift or sway in the back (very slight). It seems to be worse the colder it is. Last week when it was in the 50's there was no noise at all even going over large speed bumps.

Right now the sound is sort of a clunking noise over bumps coming from the rear but also now a squeaking sound while it does it. It's been suggested that it may be my rear upper control arm. Like the bushings or ball joint. Is there a way to check this without tearing it down and removing stuff first just to see? If so what should I look for? I don't want to buy a new upper control arm to find out it was for nothing (I'm poor)

I was just curious to get others opinions since I have no clue if these are signs of the bushings/ball joint or not. I've already checked other issues like the shocks etc and it's not that.

I could probably try to get a recording of the sound (depends how well the camera would pick it up to how it sounds actually being there hearing it)

tommudd · **Posted:** Wed Apr 03, 2013 11:24 am

Just put a bar into or around the bushings/ball joint etc and see if there is any movement

Glend · **Posted:** Wed Apr 03, 2013 1:20 pm

Are you running the JBA rear link extension? Mine worked loose and started making noise as it changed the shape of the holes and moved move. I had to take it out and throw it away - bad design and pretty useless. Is that what your refering to as the extension?

HedsIc · **Posted:** Wed Apr 03, 2013 2:13 pm

Yes, I have the rear JBA Ylink extension installed.

Glend · **Posted:** Wed Apr 03, 2013 5:35 pm

Yeah that's it. Check to see if it is loose. The bolts might feel tight but the load bearing surface wears away and the red bits start to move and wear against the bolts till the holes are eroded.
In fact anyone with those things needs to check them.

HedsIc · **Posted:** Thu Apr 04, 2013 10:58 am

OK. Last night got under and was looking. the Ylink extension is not loose or anything at all. Stuck a metal rod in there to move around near the ball joint and no movement at all. I just messed around real quick after work so I'm going to get a better look at things this weekend.

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Thu Apr 04, 2013 9:18 pm

check to make sure the rear shock upper mounts are tight.

several brands of shocks are slightly narrower than the spacing in the mount - it rattles

most folks add washers to take up the space

(and then make sure they're torqued - I think it was ~90 lt/lbs or so - check the manual)

HedsIc · **Posted:** Fri Apr 05, 2013 11:22 am

Yeah it's not the shocks at all. I put the bushings in correct and they are sitting nice and tight.

Last night I got under for a ltitle bit with the break bar. I was able to get a little up and down movement from the center ball joint on the control arm and from both sides. no side to side movement but for sure had a little up and down movement. I tried to take a video so I could post up and see if that was normal or if there should be ZERO up and down movement there but i'm not that gracefull with one hand on a breaker bar and the other on a camera lol

HedsIc · **Posted:** Mon Apr 08, 2013 9:54 am

Well, now that it's been in the 60's the sound is gone.. Strange how it would only be there when it's cold. Going to replace the rear upper control arm just in case this weekend though.

dieseldoesit · **Posted:** Thu Jun 20, 2013 1:33 am

HedsIc wrote:

Well, now that it's been in the 60's the sound is gone.. Strange how it would only be there when it's cold. Going to replace the rear upper control arm just in case this weekend though.

Did you problem get solved?

HedsIc · **Posted:** Thu Jun 20, 2013 9:35 am

Yeah, I just replaced the whole boomarang piece back there.

dieseldoesit · **Posted:** Mon Jun 24, 2013 11:11 am

What brand did you get? The movetec one?

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon Jun 24, 2013 11:32 am

Don't buy the cheap ones, worth it to get the one from Mopar
I needed one quick and bought cheap lasted less than 15,000 miles was all

dieseldoesit · **Posted:** Mon Jun 24, 2013 11:40 am

tommudd wrote:

Don't buy the cheap ones, worth it to get the one from Mopar
I needed one quick and bought cheap lasted less than 15,000 miles was all

Which one did you buy that was cheap? How much was the mopar one?

I see this on Amazon.com...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B8K ... PDKIKX0DER

It is the professional grade, what ever that means..

HedsIc · **Posted:** Mon Jun 24, 2013 12:01 pm

http://jeepinbyal.com/jeep-liberty-kj/c ... upper.html

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon Jun 24, 2013 12:13 pm

dieseldoesit wrote:

tommudd wrote:

Don't buy the cheap ones, worth it to get the one from Mopar
I needed one quick and bought cheap lasted less than 15,000 miles was all

Which one did you buy that was cheap? How much was the mopar one?

I see this on Amazon.com...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B8K ... PDKIKX0DER

It is the professional grade, what ever that means..

Not professional grade :ROTFL:

Buy cheap, get cheap

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon Jun 24, 2013 12:14 pm

HedsIc wrote:

http://jeepinbyal.com/jeep-liberty-kj/control-arm-rear-upper.html

Cheaper version as well

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon Jun 24, 2013 12:22 pm

If you go to say Morris4X4 center
they list two, cheaper one being what they call street use
Thats what most places sell and they wear out quickly
Control Arm 2002-2007 BALL JOINT & BUSHINGS
This is for Street Use Only REAR UPPER 52088901AD $184.99

Mopar Control Arm 2002-2007 BALL JOINT & BUSHINGS
Heavy Duty, Suitable for Severe Roads REAR UPPER 52088901AD-M $429.99

dieseldoesit · **Posted:** Mon Jun 24, 2013 12:49 pm

tommudd wrote:

If you go to say Morris4X4 center
they list two, cheaper one being what they call street use
Thats what most places sell and they wear out quickly
Control Arm 2002-2007 BALL JOINT & BUSHINGS
This is for Street Use Only REAR UPPER 52088901AD $184.99

Mopar Control Arm 2002-2007 BALL JOINT & BUSHINGS
Heavy Duty, Suitable for Severe Roads REAR UPPER 52088901AD-M $429.99

So the first one is not an OEM part, and the second one, the "-M" in the heavy duty part number is to signify that it is a mopar part?

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon Jun 24, 2013 1:29 pm

Yes the second one is the Mopar one, what they are calling heavy duty but actually what came on stock
Before they only offered the "street use " one

How to tell if rear upper control arm needs replaced?

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