Upper Control Arm Questions

TheChucklesStart · **Posted:** Wed Oct 23, 2013 12:42 am

My upper control arms have needed replacing for the second time in two years (fortunately, it seems that it will be covered under warranty the second time around).

The failure of the control arms was the ball joint. Do you all have good recommendations for replacement control arms with serviceable ball joints?

It also seems that the bushings on the steering rack were bad both times. Will bad control arms effect the bushings on the steering rack and accelerate their wear, or is this a different issue?

tommudd · **Posted:** Wed Oct 23, 2013 12:57 am

Only one way to go for upper control arms and that's JeepinByAl,
they are made for lifted KJs ( and KKs) have replaceable ball joints if they do wear out.
The ball joint sits at a different angle
Steering rack is a different wear but lifted some seem to wear faster
How high are you in the front ( middle of the wheel to bottom of the flare)

TheChucklesStart · **Posted:** Thu Oct 24, 2013 12:19 am

I was aware of the JeepinByAl control arms, but I wasn't sure if he suffered from RockLizard syndrome or if there have been better alternatives that have come out since I followed the forums much.

Will his upper control arms handle the full range of motion caused by a frankin lift without physical damage?

Thanks again for the help.

LibertyFever · **Posted:** Thu Oct 24, 2013 12:24 am

Is you Liberty lifted TheChucklesStart?

It's a known problem that the stock UCA's don't stand up well to lifted suspensions.
I've become familiar with replacing my UCA's every couple of years.
At $220 each for stock UCA's I've decided to buy JBA's UCA's. They're designed to be used in lifted Liberty's and should the ball joint ever fail it's replaceable.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

tommudd · **Posted:** Thu Oct 24, 2013 1:05 am

TheChucklesStart wrote:

I was aware of the JeepinByAl control arms, but I wasn't sure if he suffered from RockLizard syndrome or if there have been better alternatives that have come out since I followed the forums much.

Will his upper control arms handle the full range of motion caused by a frankin lift without physical damage?

Thanks again for the help.

Not sure what you are talking about the RL syndrome, two completely different companies
But nothing better than the JBA arms . Yes they will handle the full range of motion from the Frankenlift since they handle the JBA's adjustable coil overs and they have way more range .

HoosierJeeper · **Joined:** Sun Feb 15, 2009 8:23 am **Posts:** 1218

I think I know what you mean about RL syndrome, no JBA does not have that. You get your arms quickly.

Lancer · **Posted:** Thu Oct 24, 2013 6:18 pm

2nd on the quick service - I ordered mine and asked for delivery by UPS (much better to England than USPS, and not a lot more expensive). About three days from order to my front door. They'll be fitted in the spring.

TwoBobsKJ · **Joined:** Fri May 11, 2012 8:03 pm **Posts:** 463

HoosierJeeper wrote:

I think I know what you mean about RL syndrome, no JBA does not have that. You get your arms quickly.

Yep, JBA understands customer service and quick delivery - not that RL doesn't, it's just that JBA has his stuff in stock almost all the time.

Got my A-arms in two days :BANANA:

Bob

TheChucklesStart · **Posted:** Fri Oct 25, 2013 2:04 am

I am glad that the JBA control arms can get delivered quickly. I will definitely plan to get some in with in the near future.

tommudd · **Posted:** Fri Oct 25, 2013 8:04 am

JBA always have several sets in stock ready to ship.

TheChucklesStart · **Posted:** Fri Oct 25, 2013 10:34 am

My jeep swerves when you push down on the gas, or let up on the gas. We thought it was the suspension that was falling apart that was causing this, but the suspension is all in good shape now.

Do you all have any ideas of why this might be? Does anyone else experience this?

tommudd · **Posted:** Fri Oct 25, 2013 10:46 am

Did you check the lower control arms? When the bushings go bad in them it will cause it to swerve .Then also check the upper tri link as well when you're under there.
I've seen the rear LCAs be so bad that when you would put a 4 way wrench on the lug nuts you could move the wheel back and forth

jkkj · **Joined:** Fri Jan 30, 2015 8:21 pm **Posts:** 10

Hate to resurrect an old post but I'm getting ready to make a decision on the lift kit for my 04 Liberty. Are JBA UCAs still the way to go? Is it better to get them right away or wait until the stock UCAs need replacing?

Any help is appreciated.

tommudd · **Posted:** Fri Jan 30, 2015 8:53 pm

jkkj wrote:

Hate to resurrect an old post but I'm getting ready to make a decision on the lift kit for my 04 Liberty. Are JBA UCAs still the way to go? Is it better to get them right away or wait until the stock UCAs need replacing?

Any help is appreciated.

First question how much lift are you going to do and also which lift?
If under 3 inches you don't have to go to the JBA UCAs but it is an upgrade
If you are going more than 3 inches then highly recommended to get better alignment and also keep spring/UCA contact to a minimum

jkkj · **Joined:** Fri Jan 30, 2015 8:21 pm **Posts:** 10

Right now I'm thinking the Frankenlift II Premium Kit for GAS KJ installed by All J in Big Bear. From the FAQs the lift is called a 2.5"

tommudd · **Posted:** Fri Jan 30, 2015 9:53 pm

jkkj wrote:

Right now I'm thinking the Frankenlift II Premium Kit for GAS KJ installed by All J in Big Bear. From the FAQs the lift is called a 2.5"

The Frankenlift gives you 4 inches of lift and I would highly suggest adding jeepinbyal UCAs for alignment, they have always advertised as 2.5 but we all know its more

jkkj · **Joined:** Fri Jan 30, 2015 8:21 pm **Posts:** 10

Thanks, that puts it into perspective. JBA UCAs it is then.

Rich · **Posted:** Tue Mar 03, 2015 11:33 pm

Sadly the JBA arms are the best option... You will have to deal with the Christian propaganda they include in the box.

When you get it all back together, only do the final torquing of the arm/body bolts with the truck on the ground, to prevent preload of the bushings.

If you have a CRD, pick up the Sasquatch (weeks101) egr delete and install it while you are in there. You will thank me later and send a fruit basket to Seth when it's all done.

Upper Control Arm Questions

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