5 Must-Have Features in a control arms on a car

The Science Behind Control Arms and What Do They Do?

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The suspension system for automobiles includes the control arm. Due to its shape, this part is sometimes referred to as the "A-arm." Between the chassis and the suspension upright or hub that supports the wheel, the control arm serves as a suspension link.

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Control arms are a crucial part of a car's suspension system because they enable tire movement parallel to the body of the car. The bushing, body, and ball joint are the three basic components that make them up. A ball joint connects the control arm body to the wheel side of the vehicle suspension and the control arm body to the vehicle frame through bushings (often rubber bushings). By letting the wheels to move up and down while still being stablely in contact with the ground, these parts work together to enable smooth, controlled movement when pivoting, turning, and driving on the road. Control arms also lessen steering-related friction and vibration.

Depending on the vehicle suspension, automotive vehicles typically have between two and four control arms. However, the front wheel suspension of the majority of contemporary cars simply has control arms. Trucks and other big, heavy vehicles may have control arms in the rear axle.

For your safety on the road, having a properly functioning control arm and suspension system maintains your tires in place when you strike a bump or pothole in the road. Your control arm assembly may need to be replaced if your steering wheel vibrates, feels difficult to operate, or makes loud banging or clunking noises when you drive over bumps.

What Are The Symptoms Of Bad Controls Arms?

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Starting this thread because i was doing some research that started from a FB post and i wanted to know the facts behind each.

What is a control arm suspension?

In automotive suspension, a control arm, also known as an A-arm, is a hinged suspension link between the chassis and the suspension upright or hub that carries the wheel.

The inboard (chassis) end of a control arm is attached by a single pivot, usually a rubber bushing. It can thus control the position of the outboard end in only a single degree of freedom, maintaining the radial distance from the inboard mount. Although not deliberately free to move, the single bushing does not control the arm from moving back and forth; this motion is constrained by a separate link or radius rod.

This is in contrast to the wishbone. Wishbones are triangular and have two widely spaced inboard bearings. These constrain the outboard end of the wishbone from moving back and forth, controlling two degrees of freedom, and without requiring additional links.

Most control arms form the lower link of a suspension. A few designs use them as the upper link, usually with a lower wishbone. The additional radius rod is then attached to the upper arm


What is the upper control arm used for:

• Free-er movement vs stock arms.
• Wider range of movement = increased travel.
• Helps to achieve alignment specs. They provide more caster because of the placement of the pivot point being moved upward. This helps you out because when you lift, you lose caster, without caster your truck will want to wander.

There are two types of upper control arms; Ball Joint and Uniball
Difference between ball joint and uniball....
Ball Joints are the same as what comes standard on the Tundra. Aftermarket are typically stronger and provide additional travel.
Uniballs are really just a version of a heim joint.

Upper Control Arm Manufacturers

• Toyota Stock UCA - Ball Joint
• SPC Light Racing - Ball Joint
• Total Chaos - Uniball
• Camburg - Uniball
• All-Pro - Uniball
• Icon tubular steel - Uniball
• Icon machined aluminum - Uniball
• Pro Comp - Uniball
• MCM Fab - Uniball
• Fabtech – Uniball
• Tuff Country
• JBA - Ball Joint
• PRG - Uniball
• Mevotech - Ball Joint
  
• Zone Offroad - Ball Joint
• ReadyLIFT - Uniball
• Rogue Racing - Uniball
• Blitz Auto - Uniball

SPC Light Racing Ball Joints

Manufacturer -
Part Number -
Size - 36mm (1.417")
Type of lubricant -
Adjustment range:
Camber ±2.0°
Caster -1.0° to +3.0°
​Greaseable ball joint and SpecRide™ bushings

• A new Greaseable design
• A new hybrid 2-piece race and internal spring compensate for wear and maintain turning torque and OE lash requirements for life of vehicle
• A massive 36mm ball that is highly polished and Electroless-nickel plated to provide a hard, smooth wear surface for a long service life
• Sealed boots to retain grease and protect from the elements
• 80 degrees of joint articulation to maximize travel without bind
• These ball joints are a direct replacement for the original joints that came with many of our Toyota and Nissan truck upper control arm sets.

Camburg Uniballs

Manufacturer - FK Bearings
Part Number - COMH-24T
Size - 1.5" ID
Type of lubricant -

COMH which stands for Commercial series, low carbon steel.
The body is Steel Heat Treated Hard Chrome Plated.
The race is low carbon steel oil coated.

• Increases usable wheel travel
• Corrects camber & castor
• Eliminates weak factory joints
• Stainless steel heat-treated uniball spacers
• FK 1.50 Uniballs
• Made in the USA
• Designed for 1″-3″ Lift Suspension Systems

Total Chaos Uniballs

Manufacturer -FK Bearings
Part Number - WSSX16T
Size - 1" ID
Type of lubricant -

WSSX-T series stands for Wide series, stainless steel, self lubricating.
The ball is 440C Stainless Steel Heat Treated
The race is 17-4PH Stainless Steel Heat Treated

• chromoly tubular upper control arms are 100% bolt on and hand crafted in the U.S.A.
• UCA's are designed with added caster to aid in retaining factory alignment specs when aftermarket lift kits are installed. This reduces the darting or wandering in the vehicle's steering when 2.5"-3" lift kits are installed.
• CNC machined tapered spindle adapters convert the factory ball joint to a 1" uniball for added component strength & maximum wheel travel.
• TOTAL CHAOS includes 1" I.D. uniballs that feature a heat treated stainless steel ball & heat treated stainless steel race for maximum corrosion resistance and component longevity. These uniball's also features a military grade PTFE woven fabric liner that helps prevent noise.
• Custom profile upper and lower hi-misalignment spacers maximize droop wheel travel and are machined from heat treated 17-4 stainless steel.
• Upper control arms combined with extended length coil over shocks will allow for up to 2" of additional wheel travel.
• Urethane bushings reduce bushing deflection compared to stock rubber bushings.
• Control arm pivots include zerk fittings to grease the urethane bushings & inner sleeves without disassembly.
• 2 stage powder coat process includes a durable clear coat to provide a long lasting finish.
• Complete grade 8 hardware kit is included.

All-Pro
Manufacturer -
Part number -
Size -
Type of lubricant -

Icon tubular steel - uniball

Manufacturer -
Part number -
Size -
Type of lubricant -

• Thick Wall DOM Seamless Tubing
• CNC Bent Tubing
• CNC Machined Bushing Housings and Sleeves
• CNC Machined Uni-ball Cup
• 1" Stainless PTFE Lined Uniball Bearings
• 17-4 High Grade Stainless Steel Uni-ball Adapter System
• High Precision CNC Machined Pin Provides OEM Like Fitment
• Professionally Precision Welded

Icon machined aluminum - uniball

Manufacturer -
Part number -
Size -
Type of lubricant -

• Billet Aluminum
• Precision CNC Machined
• 1” PTFE Lined all Stainless Uniballs
• Easily Adjustable on the Vehicle for Perfect Wheel Alignments
• 17-4 High Grade Stainless Steel Uni-ball Adapter Pin
• High Precision CNC Machined Pin Provides OEM Like Fitment
• Forged PTFE Lined 3/4” Rod Ends
• O-ring sealed uniball cover cap
• Made in the USA


MCM Fab - Uniball
Uniball Manufacturer - FK Bearings
Uniball Part number - could be WSSX16T
Uniball Size - 1"
Uniball Type of lubricant -

Our uniball UCAs are made from 1.5" DOM tubing and TIG welded. Energy suspension bushings, and only use 1" stainless FK bearings for the best corrosion resistance in all weather conditions.
MCM Fab Uniball Upper Control Arms for the 07+ Toyota tundra. These arms are designed to increase caster for lifted applications and improve drivability both on and off the road. Combined with an aftermarket bolt in coilover, 12.5" Of travel is possible. These come with a standard satin black powdercoat finish. Includes UCAs, High Quality FK Stainless bearings, and all neccessary hardware for installation

JBA


PRG
The control arms have heim inner pivots (instead of polyurethane bushings) for alignment purposes, and a 1" uniball to replace the stock balljoint. prgproducts.com


This is a work in progress. Stay tuned for more info.

Yes, slightly less than the TC.
Wash out often and I thought apply dry lube. Someone recently said TC doesn't recommend the dry lube but I thought they did.

Yes if the ball wears out it can be pushed out and replaced. It's held it by a retaining ring.
You can replace with a standard 1" stainless uniball from FK Bearings or pay the premium from TC. $80-$180 for replacement pair.