Upper Control Arm Stripped
#1
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Upper Control Arm Stripped
Anyone ever had this happen?
My Driver Side, rear upper control arm was stripped this past weekend. Heard a metallic pop after traversing an obstacle. I went to go investigate and found this:
The threads on the male side of the arm is almost smooth.
One of the other wheelers said it may have been because the jam nut came loose but even if so
I ordered some Currie replacements
My Driver Side, rear upper control arm was stripped this past weekend. Heard a metallic pop after traversing an obstacle. I went to go investigate and found this:
The threads on the male side of the arm is almost smooth.
One of the other wheelers said it may have been because the jam nut came loose but even if so
I ordered some Currie replacements
#3
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You should be checking those nuts and all other components of your suspension regularly. I check mine after the Jeep sees dirt and before it see the pavement. That's not to say I take a torque wrench to it, though if somethings loose I will. (If I remember to put the torque wrench in the bag) I just grab it and see if it's loose. When I get home and wash the Jeep, that's when the torque wrench gets put on each bolt. I spend more time checking bolts, cleaning & lubing after wheeling than actually wheeling. But that's all part of my Jeep therapy
Hope you made it off easy enough and nice ride.
#5
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yeah, those are definitely rubicon express control arms.
Last edited by wayoflife; 05-27-2009 at 08:14 AM.
#6
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It shouldn't matter.
Regardless of the brand, the rough/wider pattern threads cannot handle the push & pull of the suspension without a tight jam nut.
Eventually, the threads are destined to fail without a tight jam nut.
The JKS arms have a fine thread design that restricts in & out motion/vibration to the extent that a jam nut is not required.
Regardless of the brand, the rough/wider pattern threads cannot handle the push & pull of the suspension without a tight jam nut.
Eventually, the threads are destined to fail without a tight jam nut.
The JKS arms have a fine thread design that restricts in & out motion/vibration to the extent that a jam nut is not required.
Last edited by wayoflife; 05-27-2009 at 08:40 AM.
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#9
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Good question. I have always been warned of failures caused by loose jam nuts, but this is the first time I have seen one. I am no expert and have only been wheeling for about 4-5 years, but I am an overanalytical person that spends way too much time reading forums and offroad magazines.
I am thinking if the tube was warped, the end would not freely turn into the tube.
I am thinking if the tube was warped, the end would not freely turn into the tube.
regarding the tube, trust me, if it were warped, it would still turn freely - this is something that i have seen before or at least with an assembly joint. the spanner ring would go in just fine but there was just enough of warp that it prevented the threads on one side to make a clean fit. this ultimately allowed the ring to pop out under pressure.
#10
My brother races Baja 1000 and the Best in the Desert. He said they use a product called "amazing GOOP" on all the fasteners. It is a clear adhesive that dries firm but semi-flexible. Put a big dollup of it on the fasteners/jam nuts after they are torqued. Amazingly, it seems to work.
It is applied externally. Since it stays semi-flexible, you can grab it with a pair of pliers and peel it off. It's pretty tough stuff, but it comes off.
My brother said one time they were in a rush to finish rebuilding the truck and they didn't put any GOOP. He said they had to tighten fasteners 3 times during the race.
I put it on all the jam nuts and lift bolts. I check them all regularly. So far, not a single fastener has come loose.
http://ww w.eclecticproducts.com/Automotive.htm I get mine at NAPA for $5 or $6.
It is applied externally. Since it stays semi-flexible, you can grab it with a pair of pliers and peel it off. It's pretty tough stuff, but it comes off.
My brother said one time they were in a rush to finish rebuilding the truck and they didn't put any GOOP. He said they had to tighten fasteners 3 times during the race.
I put it on all the jam nuts and lift bolts. I check them all regularly. So far, not a single fastener has come loose.
http://ww w.eclecticproducts.com/Automotive.htm I get mine at NAPA for $5 or $6.
Last edited by NewbeeJeepster; 05-27-2009 at 11:27 AM.