My upper ball joints are shot. I was planning on buying aftermarket control arms but now im wondering if i should just go stock. It currently has a spacer lift but will have either an ome or ironman lift in the next few months. My main concern is the camber. The way it sits now its got a pretty bad negative camber. But i dont wanna spend an extra $200 if i dont need to. Its a dailydriver and will never be offroad so im not concerned about how it flexes and all that. Any thought?
Shot ball joints....need a-arms
- Thread starter Joe200man
- Start date
Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.
Cardhu
Full Access Member
whats you current fender height to wheel center with the spacer lift and do you have your last alignment sheet handy?
if not how negative is your camber, many run stock arms with a lift with minor compromise on your alignment, especially at 2 inch spacer height + factory springs.
If it were me I would just buy new jba arms with the lift and be done.
if not how negative is your camber, many run stock arms with a lift with minor compromise on your alignment, especially at 2 inch spacer height + factory springs.
If it were me I would just buy new jba arms with the lift and be done.
JBA and be done.
Right now the fender height is at 22 1/4. I havent had the jeep that long so i dont have an alignment sheet. And im waiting to install the arms before i take it. But its obvious it has a bad negative camber. And the tires are getting bad wear on the inside.
The only reason i would go aftermarket was to be able to get it aligned as best as possible. But if i can do that with stock then i dont wanna spend the extra $. I thought about rocky road arms but im not even sure those would be better then stock.
tjkj2002
Full Access Member
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2006
- Messages
- 10,612
- Reaction score
- 41
You'd have better luck with UCA's made in china then anything from RRO.
Just get the JBA's and be done with it.Just look at it this way,brand new OEM UCA's would cost more then JBA's.
tjkj2002
Full Access Member
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2006
- Messages
- 10,612
- Reaction score
- 41
Some do some don't,depends on the lift.
Couple of things to think about and it doesn't matter if the most off road you get is the front yard.
Spacer style lifts are known to be ******* UCAs, you need to replace so why not upgrade to something that will last and will last longer than stockers. PLUS you'll have the added benefit of if they do wear out you just replace the ball joints not the whole arm again
There is not one single reason that I have ever heard or seen to go back to stock.
Also while you're at it throw some front bumpstops in as well that will help you as well with the spacer lift, and still have them when you go OME or Ironman
Spacer style lifts are known to be ******* UCAs, you need to replace so why not upgrade to something that will last and will last longer than stockers. PLUS you'll have the added benefit of if they do wear out you just replace the ball joints not the whole arm again
There is not one single reason that I have ever heard or seen to go back to stock.
Also while you're at it throw some front bumpstops in as well that will help you as well with the spacer lift, and still have them when you go OME or Ironman
VAhlene
Full Access Member
After helping a member over on LOST install his Jeepin By Al Control Arms today, I honestly can't wait to get a set for myself, they not only look better but they are built to last and and ball joint is replaceable pretty much the last set of control arms you'd have to buy. I was very impressed with the overall quality of them and look forward to getting mine when I go for more lift.
Luke
Interloper
2 shops couldn't and one got close, with stock UCA's at 23"
I've never had an issue with either regarding alignment, but I'm not at 23". But the JBA ones are great...the red is awesome.
Well im gonna shoot for around 22" for my fender height. I know the jba arms are a better option but its $220 for stock replacements or $435 shipped for jba. And im sure stock replacements will last longer then what i will have the jeep for so the replaceable ball joints isnt to big of a factor. My concern is the camber. I got brand new tires on the front and i dont want them to be ate up on the inside like they was with the previous owner
So first you say you're going to lift it etc, now you're not sure if you want aftermarket arms due to them lasting longer than what you'll have the KJ for??
Sorry kind of confused, are you not swapping out your lift now or?
Still would go for the JBA arms, Lots easier to get into alignment, some have issues, some don't but like anything its an upgrade
so depends on if you want to get by with stockers or go aftermarket with something better
Sorry kind of confused, are you not swapping out your lift now or?
Still would go for the JBA arms, Lots easier to get into alignment, some have issues, some don't but like anything its an upgrade
so depends on if you want to get by with stockers or go aftermarket with something better
Yes i am going to do an actual spring lift, yes it is currently lifted with a spacer (bought it that way), yes the upper ball joints are shot, yes i need to replace them. yes i know jba is better in the long run, but will i have the jeep long enough to take advantage of the replaceable ball joints...prob not. Soooo, my questions is what my chances are of getting a proper camber with a 21.5-22" fender height with the stock upper control arms. I'm guessing there has had to of been somebody on here install and ome/ironman lift and attempt to get it aligned with their stock upper arms. was it successful, or no?? if i can do that, then it would be nice to save myself $215
VAhlene
Full Access Member
I have stock arms and OME lift, I am sitting at 22.5 in rear and 22.25 in front I had no issue with alignment when I got mine done, but I have heard some people do, like Tom and others have said it just depends on the Jeep and the tech performing the alignment.
tjkj2002
Full Access Member
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2006
- Messages
- 10,612
- Reaction score
- 41
I've seen some stock KJ's that couldn't be aligned properly.It really does vary from one KJ to the next.
If your not keeping it just return it to stock,then your not out any $$$ and will get a higher resale as modified vehicles always go for far less then stock ones.
If your not keeping it just return it to stock,then your not out any $$$ and will get a higher resale as modified vehicles always go for far less then stock ones.
OK we'll back up a bit
for example my first lift back in 05 was set at 22.50 or so ( for about 25-26,000 miles) , stock arms lasted about 50,000 miles, BUT I had/ have a great alignment guy who worked his magic to get it into alignment. Same guy did about 20-22 alignments for me on various KJs we lifted here, some with stock arms . He was able to get them all in specs but on the edge. When I did the JBAs he came out and punched me and said why in the H*** didn't you install those before since it made it way easier to align.
I've heard of some folks going to three or four shops trying to get a decent alignment with stock arms at 22-22.50 but installed the JBAs and had no issues.
So its a shooting match as to if your alignment guy will take the time and has the know how to align one thats been lifted since most think it can't be any longer
for example my first lift back in 05 was set at 22.50 or so ( for about 25-26,000 miles) , stock arms lasted about 50,000 miles, BUT I had/ have a great alignment guy who worked his magic to get it into alignment. Same guy did about 20-22 alignments for me on various KJs we lifted here, some with stock arms . He was able to get them all in specs but on the edge. When I did the JBAs he came out and punched me and said why in the H*** didn't you install those before since it made it way easier to align.
I've heard of some folks going to three or four shops trying to get a decent alignment with stock arms at 22-22.50 but installed the JBAs and had no issues.
So its a shooting match as to if your alignment guy will take the time and has the know how to align one thats been lifted since most think it can't be any longer
Thanks for the replies guys. i understand i won't really know until i get it aligned, just trying to save some $ since i still have to buy springs and struts and i need an intermediate shaft as well as a cv shaft. but then again if i buy stockers and can't get it aligned then i'll wish i would have spent the extra money.
