100 Series Land Cruiser Rear Lower Control Arms

[yooper]

I bent one on a rock. I bought a cheap Harbor Freight pipe bender and straightened it out and it's been fine since. For a mostly on road truck like the OP's it was a cheap and effective solution and I obtained a cool tool that I use pretty often to fix bent stuff.

 

[dclee]

Have seen more than one bent rear prop-shaft tube out here on the Rubicon. Yes, all were 80s (because no one but i4c4lo wants to take their 100 through that trail), but the rear axle setup is virtually the same. All ended up re-sleeving with thicker PS tubing, and this also prompted several others who had not yet damaged theirs to re-sleeve as a pre-emptive measure. Front is fine due to the high pinion design, but rear is vulnerable, no question. So is the diff for that matter.

What we call "barber-poling" of the rear PS is quite a common occurrence out here (though usually does not result in a bent tube, but does illustrate how often you can touch that tube to rocks/ledges). I had it bad on my 80, to the point where it ripped off a couple balancing weights and I had to have my shaft re-balanced (but luckily did not bend the tube in my case). John has obviously not seen every situation on serious rocks, and he has certainly never run that trail (which isn't even the hardest we've got out here...).

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

John has obviously not seen every situation on serious rocks, and he has certainly never run that trail (which isn't even the hardest we've got out here...).

Thanks for confirming that driveshafts get mangled with STRAIGHT lower arms.

And ya, ya...the Rubicon is the only place in the US where you learn about serious wheeling and rocks. These hilarious posts pointing always to the Rubicon as the only place to for experience is redicuous. There are 1,123,345 trails here in AZ where NO 80 or 100 will go. Another 823,412 where your 80 or 100 is looking for serious mangling. One does not have to drive to the Rubicon for "testing" or "serious rocks". That's the main reason we've never made the trip in either Cruiser. We're lucky in AZ...we got it all.

Ahhhh....ummmm....it was the Rubicon Trail (FYI) where David Zartman from 4WD Toyota Magazine made the initial claims as to how effective the WWOR Arms were vs staight arms. Between him and me we have the data based on experience...off and ON the Rubicon. David's waiting for you to try to debacle his Rubicon findings.

 

[dclee]

Thanks for confirming that driveshafts get mangled with STRAIGHT lower arms.

Yup, which is why they are even more exposed with bent arms, precisely Spresso's point. Thanks for agreeing with us!

And ya, ya...the Rubicon is the only place in the US where you learn about serious wheeling and rocks. These hilarious posts pointing always to the Rubicon as the only place to for experience is redicuous. There are 1,123,345 trails here in AZ where NO 80 or 100 will go. Another 823,412 where your 80 or 100 is looking for serious mangling. One does not have to drive to the Rubicon for "testing" or "serious rocks". That's the main reason we've never made the trip in either Cruiser. We're lucky in AZ...we got it all.

Hey, you asked folks for real-world experiences. This happens to be the toughest trail where I have any kind of significant real world experience. Are there tougher ones out here? Sure, Fordyce is arguably tougher, Dusy-Ershim is about the same, but longer, and of course The Hammers. But my real-world experience is what I described: mangled driveshaft tubes due to exposure, which in the same situations (obstacle, line, time of the year, truck setup, etc.), might be even worse with the bent arms.

edit: the main problem with the Rubicon is not how big the rocks or ledges are (though they are big). It's how tight the trail is. Difficult to describe unless you've done it.

Ahhhh....ummmm....it was the Rubicon Trail (FYI) where David Zartman from 4WD Toyota Magazine made the initial claims as to how effective the WWOR Arms were vs staight arms. Between him and me we have the data based on experience...off and ON the Rubicon. David's waiting for you to try to debacle his Rubicon findings.

Not debating him at all. Remember, nothing is black and white like you always seem to think. It could be as simple as which lines were selected for which obstacles, which bypasses were taken (if any), or the fact that one of the toughest sections of the trail does not exist anymore (Gatekeeper). Not saying these arms don't have their benefits, but remember, there is no free lunch. Everything we do to our trucks is a compromise in some way. That should be self-evident...

 

[dclee]

BTW, not to stir up the pot any more, but all of this is why I am a HUGE proponent of portal axles (solid like Mercedes and Volvo, not independent like on the Pinzgauer and H1/HMMWV). Been there, and there is simply no comparison, forget ticky-tack fixes like bent control arms and adjustable Panhards...

 

[OregonLC]

BTW, not to stir up the pot any more, but all of this is why I am a HUGE proponent of portal axles (solid like Mercedes and Volvo, not independent like on the Pinzgauer and H1/HMMWV). Been there, and there is simply no comparison, forget ticky-tack fixes like bent control arms and adjustable Panhards...

You could do remote tire inflation while you're at it!

Portal Axles - AxleTech International

 

[dclee]

You could do remote tire inflation while you're at it!

Portal Axles - AxleTech International

"A General Dynamics Company" as in the General Dynamics F-16 fighter? Cool.

Note the disc/caliper e-brake setup on the rear axles. Pretty cool, like on older Rovers and other "real" trucks...

 

[OregonLC]

"A General Dynamics Company" as in the General Dynamics F-16 fighter? Cool.

Note the disc/caliper e-brake setup on the rear axles. Pretty cool, like on older Rovers and other "real" trucks...

Ya, I'm sure they're only a $500 bolt-on upgrade.

 

[sleeoffroad]

Ahhhh....ummmm....it was the Rubicon Trail (FYI) where David Zartman from 4WD Toyota Magazine made the initial claims as to how effective the WWOR Arms were vs staight arms. Between him and me we have the data based on experience...off and ON the Rubicon. David's waiting for you to try to debacle his Rubicon findings.

Have you ever read a article in T4WDO where they did not like the parts they got? They even raved about the MAF drop brackets for the front control arms on the 80. Just asking

They also has a cover of the best ever Toyota buggy that made 500hp. The only part Toyota on that whole buggy was the emblem on the grill. Not a single other Toyota part on it at all.

I would take any print endorsement of a product from any magazine with a pinch of salt.

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

I would take any print endorsement of a product from any magazine with a pinch of salt.

Yes...except that my testing has concluded the exact same findings as Zartmans. Mr Slee...you would make bucks if you offered a similar product. I promise!

Here's my last word on this:

dclee, other doubters, whomever...they have crossed the amazing Rubicon with ONLY straight arms. Zartman has crossed the Rubicon with straight and WWOR J-arms...ONLY HE has the experience to access the pros and cons on THAT GIVEN VEHICLE. I have done the same here in AZ and drawn the same conclusions.

Until one test drives BOTH technologies one should keep their opinions at bay. You don't hear me talking about FJ60's do ya?

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

Mr Slee...you would make bucks if you offered a similar product. I promise!

Oh, and let me explain why I say this. I believe I did on the original thread...not sure.

On the 80-series the arms are less intrusive and therefore a bit less of an issue because taller lifts are available. Most of the folks running the Rubi and other difficult trails usually run 4-inches of lift or more. With my 6-inch Slee lift the arms clear almost everything because of the extreme angle. I really don't see WWOR arms gaining me much on my 80 other than strength. So when folks post up in the 100 FORUM about their experiences on the Rubi vs J-shaped arms...they are posting about apples and oranges.

The 100 is a DIFFERENT beast. With lifts limited to 3-inches and many running even less, those arms are LOW...REALLY LOW. The WWOR arms correct for this. They give more clearance on my 100 than staight arms with your 6-inch lift on my 80. The frequency of hang up and stopping progress is nearly eliminated. The only thing left for one to worry about stopping progress is the diff. NOT HAVING to WORRY about hanging on or bending your arms allows the driver to place the rig where they ONLY have to worry about one thing...that rear diff. IF there is no room on the trail (Rubi) to place your vehicle then that huge rock will eat your diff/shaft whether or not you have straight or J-shaped arms. On the other hand, in these spots, hanging on lower arms is eliminated and therefore STILL a PLUS because it'll be easier to maintainc progress. The more places you high-center the worse it is to proceed.

I tell you what. Passing through this spot was FAR easier because I was touching/dragging my slider INSTEAD of hanging and bouncing on a rear arm. With my old arms that DS rear wheel would have been IN the air instead of on the rock. My old straight arms are NOT going back on.

Folks need to stop posting about J-arms on a 100-series when all they know is that J-arms on an 80-series might not be as big a deal. They are a BIG deal on the 100.

 

[yooper]

I think this is where I bent mine, on the McGrew Trail.

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

Easy to do on these!

What an awesome setup you have. Sure looks like FUN!

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Here's my last word on this:

Or not.

 

[spressomon]

Or not.

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

LOL! Oh ya!

 

[yooper]

Easy to do on these!

What an awesome setup you have. Sure looks like FUN!

Thanks, that was a fun trip. You can barely see in that photo that I am pulling an M416, plus we were loaded down with three women and all their gear for a three week trip. The truck performed flawlessly; when I got home after 7,000 miles, about 700 of it off road, I found the bent arm and a leaky pinion seal on the front diff. Other than a couple hundred new pinstripes from the manzanita in Oregon that was it.

I handily out-wheeled the FJ60 I was following that day on the McGrew, that was fun.

 

[rusty_tlc]

....
edit: the main problem with the Rubicon is not how big the rocks or ledges are (though they are big). It's how tight the trail is. Difficult to describe unless you've done it.
...

Timing is also an issue, early in the season the trail is much different than it is after the various Heep Jamborees. At some times the trail is almost paved from one end to the other due to the efforts of the fine folks at Chrysler to get "Trail Rated" rigs through it with inexperienced drivers.

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

It would be my luck to take the LONG drive there in my 80 and then it be in the "paved" condition.

 

[dclee]

Timing is also an issue, early in the season the trail is much different than it is after the various Heep Jamborees. At some times the trail is almost paved from one end to the other due to the efforts of the fine folks at Chrysler to get "Trail Rated" rigs through it with inexperienced drivers.

Yup, thanks, I did mention time of year back in post #24. Totally agree, even early in the season you still sometimes see vestiges of the prior year's "trail building"!