Front lower control arm differences

[Paul Bell]

I'm ramping up to do a front end replacement. Upper & lower control arms, hubs, brakes, etc. I'm seeing the front lower control arms are different from up to like 2004 to after.

Does anybody know what the difference is?

 

[HARDTRAILZ]

Sway bar links changed in 08 I believe.

Dont know of 04 change though

 

[Paul Bell]

These are all for the lower left arms. Three different parts.

I'm just wondering what's the difference, did they improve in the later years?

 

[The_Roadie]

Anti-sway bar links were a rogue design in 2002-03 also.

 

[Sparky]

Anti-sway bar links were a rogue design in 2002-03 also.

They were? What's different about them?

 

[The_Roadie]

The anti-sway bar is a different diameter and is attached to the frame differently. My offroad wingman for many years (Teebes) has a 2002, and that year also had the wussy steering rack threads on the tie rod ends, and that also made the steering knuckle unique.

 

[Sparky]

The anti-sway bar is a different diameter and is attached to the frame differently. My offroad wingman for many years (Teebes) has a 2002, and that year also had the wussy steering rack threads on the tie rod ends, and that also made the steering knuckle unique.

Hm, I did not know that. Interesting.

The 14mm vs 16mm tie rods? His must have been an earlier one, my 02 has the 16mm rods like the rest.

 

[HARDTRAILZ]

If I do new lowers I would switch to the 08 style and make another set of sway bar links.

 

[HARDTRAILZ]

Actually just pulled the trigger on new lower arms this morning. Got the Moog for the 08-09 for about half the cost of the ones for the earlier years.

FYI: I found Summit Racing to have the best shipped price.

Will report back if there are any issues other than making a new set of sway links.

 

[Sparky]

That's going to be an interesting set since they changed the sway bar in 08 also (hole vertical vs horizontal). I want to see what you come up with

 

[HARDTRAILZ]

Should honestly be simpler. I built the current with heims and all-thread. Figure the top mount stays the same and the use nuts washers and some bushings through the lower hole. Should have plenty of materials around from over the years to make something work, or I can go sans sway bar again til I figure it out.

 

[Paul Bell]

OK folks, I started this thread to see if anybody knew the differences between the three arms. I see by what's been posted the sway bar linkage is different.

Anybody know the details about the arms?

 

[Sparky]

It is how the linkage mounts to the arms. 08-09 have just a vertical hole, the rest have a tab with a horizontal hole (and apparently that tab angle changed in 04).

 

[Paul Bell]

I see, thanks.

I just wanted to make sure the later versions weren't "better" in some way.

I don't wanna fool with changing things around so the first (most expensive) version is what I'll be using.

Hardtrailz is right, Summit seems to have the best numbers.

 

[HARDTRAILZ]

Will have 06 vs 08 side by side soon to double check for other differences.