• NAXJA is having its 18th annual March Membership Drive!!!
    Everyone who joins or renews during March will be entered into a drawing!
    More Information - Join/Renew
  • Welcome to the new NAXJA Forum! If your password does not work, please use "Forgot your password?" link on the log-in page. Please feel free to reach out to [email protected] if we can provide any assistance.

Time for new control arms/bushings?

CarbonXJ

NAXJA Forum User
Location
columbia
NAXJA

Frame side video:
https://youtu.be/ADEpS_FTNLI
Axle side video:
https://youtu.be/rKGirFsAtpk

I've got some wandering at highway speed (castor is off, which I know contributes) and shimmy just shy of 50mph. I took these videos and it looks like I have some axle side to side movement. The steering and track bar are all new, and nice and tight. The control arms, however, are 15 years old and have 211k hard miles on them. It looks to me that they are flexing at the frame side bushings. If the consensus is that they are bad, I'll used this opportunity to install an IRO upper and lower adjustable arm set, which can correct the castor issue as well. Thoughts?

'00 4.0L AW4, Rusty's 3" coils with 1" spacer, OME HD leafs, 3/4" lift shackle, SYE, 31s, HD steering.
 
Last edited:
Control arms won't fix axle side movement. While they still might need replacement, it looks like you have some movement at the axle side bushing. Also make sure your frame side bracket isn't cracking and the bolts to the bracket are all tight.
 
All bolts are nice and tight. I didn't see any cracks in the bracket or frame at that point either. I'll double check after work since I need to wash the ol' girl up today anyway.
I thought the movement on the axle side of the track bar was bad also, but was told by two different rough country employees that it can be normal bushing deflection. I've already had to replace the track bar TRE after 200 miles bc it died when the install shop didn't grease it, and the entire bar only has a 2000 miles max on it. It is the new, thicker bar too!
 
Good place to start would be the axle side track bar bushing then? I'll get one from RC and press it in to see if it helps. If only I could afford the saucy double shear from IRO...one day i guess.
 
I see no excessive movement at either end of the trackbar. There is a very slight deflection of the bracket at the frame side, but I wouldn't worry about it.

Start with fresh control arm bushings, and the proper amount of toe-in.
 
https://youtu.be/-9PgtSdzo3A

So how's this for a culprit?

Jam nut backed off - I hit it with the 18" adjustable so that should stay a while. Didn't help with the wandering though. I feel that's castor and the CA bushings.

RC was supposed to send a new axle side bushing, but it hasn't arrived yet...
 
https://youtu.be/-9PgtSdzo3A

So how's this for a culprit?

Jam nut backed off - I hit it with the 18" adjustable so that should stay a while. Didn't help with the wandering though. I feel that's castor and the CA bushings.

RC was supposed to send a new axle side bushing, but it hasn't arrived yet...

Definitely keep that jam nut tight on the trac bar. A drop or two of red lock tight might help.

Also definitely get the upper control arm bushings checked out. I pulled mine off after 210,000 miles and they were beat. Don't forget the axle side bushings for the upper control arms too.

Might not be a bad time to upgrade to adjustable control arms. I had needed to adjust my castor and my arms were dookie so i upgraded to adjustable arms and things are back to normal :D
 
Back
Top