Self-reinforcing control arms

[jkilday4]

I read somewhere about reinforcing the stock u-shaped stamp steel control arms by welding rods/plates inside them and then reinstalling them upside down. Anyone ever seen or done this, is this a good idea?

[nagal]

For all that work, just make some out of DOM

[Jerry Bransford]

The factory arms are actually a marvelous piece of engineering. If you modified/stiffened them as you suggest, plan on less suspension articulation and possibly/probably control arm mount problems like perhaps a torn weld.

Aftermarket arms offer increased suspension flexibility, not increased arm stiffness. They are stiffer/stronger but offer more movement in the joints for better axle articulation. The OE arms get their movement and give axle articulation from their flexibility.

[brokenujoint]

of course that can probably be done. why would you go through the troubleS of welding stock steel to crappy tensil steel. for one, it will simply weaken the control arm with the heat of the weld. just get some better control arms in the 1st place. and FYI those stock arms are DESIGNED TO FAIL because thats what the engineers want to fail in the even of an impact. beats having your housing or brackets or frame failing...

personally i wouldnt weld those things. just use em and if they bend then just get more off ebay until you can afford some aftermarket ones. ebay people puts them out dead cheap.

[blackZZR]

As Jerry stated:marvelous engineering
Jeep needs to find a balance between works well and inexpensive and easy to make, the stock arms are that, if you want them to be stronger you will lose articulation, so you need a arm that is designed to be stronger and more flexy, and that is a different design altogether. you can replace those things for anywhere between 125 to 250 a pair, which is cheap compared to a back yard mod invovling questionable materials and engineering.

[goodtimes]

Ebay for used arms?----too expensive.

There are enough of them laying around in peoples garages after lift kit installs that you can generally get them for the cost of a beer. I carried a couple spares on the first MJR rubicon trip....I used 2 of them before the trip, Seaporn used the other two after the trip. I paid $10 to cover shipping for all 4 of them.

[seapahn]

... I used 2 of them before the trip, Seaporn used the other two after the trip. I paid $10 to cover shipping for all 4 of them.

I guess you were going for the "prevention" and I was going more for a "cure"

[jkilday4]

I appreciate the education fellas!

[brokenujoint]

to expensive? herees on for ya, http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/97-06...spagenameZWDVW