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  1. #1

    Rock Krawler Control Arm Thread

    This thread is in response to me getting a really good deal on a set of RK Control Arms (Upper & Lower) from Ross. Thanks again!

    As these are used CAs I am in the process of disassembling and cleaning everything up to see what I truly have to work with. After trying everything in the book on how to break the jam nuts loose, my neighbor and I resorted to a BFH and a BFWrench! I also soaked them with penetrating oil to help. I did notice that one of the joints jam nut was not tightened all the way down against the arm and providing the necessary stretch to the threads. I'm not sure if this was due to RK removing them from Black Betty or not??

    I finally got all the joints broke loose. Those things were on there tight! I then cleaned them up and it looks like a couple are ruined. Some have the innards hanging out. I will probably go through the process of replacing all the joints with RK's Monster Pros. I will start out with the LCAs since I already have 2 new replacements. I will buy the other 2 in the near future and will assemble them onto my Jeep.

    As of right now I am taking the paint off the arms and repainting them. It's a long process since it's so hot and humid outside that I can only work in the mornings. I will have more time to work outside starting tomorrow as the kids head back to school. Right now I have one Rear Upper painted and another Front Upper taken down to bare metal. I will start on the Lowers tomorrow morning.

    When I ordered a RK T-shirt, I was lucky enough to receive a complete set of new Control Arm Decals for the Lowers.

    As I started removing the original paint I did notice that all the CAs are stamped on the end with serial numbers that match to each pair. This is excellent quality control on Rock Krawlers part.

    Most likely when I get the 2 new Monster Pro Joints in I will most likely have them installed by an Offroad shop in OKC. That way they can do the work and align everything at once. I will need to find out how much that will run. I met a guy (local Jeep club) a couple weeks ago that has a brand new 2014 and has used the shop to completely redo everything from suspension to driveline on his Jeep. They came highly recommended.

    I'm still going at this slowly so I don't get something screwed up. Also, I can't post pics from my phone so I will update with pics when I get my wifi back up and running.

    I have also researched and I can take these Arms up to the 3.5 X Factor with the swapping of my current springs and adding a front trackbar bracket and a new rear trackbar. I also need to pick up the rear spring correction wedges when this happens. Something I'm thinking of doing so I can run up to 37/38" tires.

    Stay tuned

  2. #2
    Pics Man! for the love of god PICS!

  3. #3
    This is interesting. So you are rebuilding control arms?

  4. #4
    Well I'm trying to clean up some used ones. I cannot get the actual joints apart. They use a special wrench or spanner to take the main assembly apart and I do not have that.

  5. #5
    Senior Member ljvsnyder's Avatar
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    So if these came of Black Betty, what is BB running now? Did RK make improvements to the control arms?
    2013 Wrangler JKU - Rock Lobster Red, Smittybilt SRC rear bumper and side steps; RR drop in reusable air filter; Quadratec floor liners; 285/75-16 Falken Rockey Mountain ATSII, Rebel Offroad grab handles and fire extinguisher holder.

  6. #6
    Quote Originally Posted by WhiteRavenRR View Post
    This thread is in response to me getting a really good deal on a set of RK Control Arms (Upper & Lower) from Ross. Thanks again!
    That "Good Deal" was free. (LOL) The shipping for 100lbs of control arms however was not. (Gasp!)

    They were the upper and lower control arms from Black Betty's 2.5 X-Factor Lift. 8 arms total. And they are from the summer of '12 so they are barely 2 years old, wheeled, moderately.

    As far as why we took them out, RK had worked up their 3 link long arm system, and Betty wears that now. 3 Link front, 3 Link Rear. super twisty.

    Click image for larger version. 

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  7. #7
    The UPS man was not a happy camper when he brought the box to the door. Judging by the RK website, it looks like they have started using their Monster Pro Joints on all their arms.

  8. #8
    Senior Member ljvsnyder's Avatar
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    That looks like a nice system.
    2013 Wrangler JKU - Rock Lobster Red, Smittybilt SRC rear bumper and side steps; RR drop in reusable air filter; Quadratec floor liners; 285/75-16 Falken Rockey Mountain ATSII, Rebel Offroad grab handles and fire extinguisher holder.

  9. #9
    Quote Originally Posted by ljvsnyder View Post
    That looks like a nice system.
    the 3 link is a little floatier on the road than the 5 link X-Factor. The 5 link I remember being more nailed down in the turns.

    Off road the 3 link long arm is a new level.

  10. #10
    OK, here are the control arms that were sent from Ross and a couple of close ups of some of the joints along with a Monster Pro joint that is brand new:

    Click image for larger version. 

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    This shows a joint that has the innards hanging out. I contacted RK and they said that the joint is still good as long as the joint, as a unit, doesn't just flop around.
    Click image for larger version. 

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    A new Monster Pro along with a standard Krawler Joint:
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    A little closer view of one of the arms:
    Click image for larger version. 

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    Last edited by WhiteRavenRR; 08-28-2014 at 03:25 PM. Reason: Correction

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