80 Series Lower and Upper Control Arms

[fjfar80]

All -

I am thinking about ordering some upper and lower control arms for the rear axle of my 80. Both of my LCAs were bent this past weekend (the price for doing 4's and a 5). Is anyone interested in doing the same...maybe we could work in a small group buy. I am also thinking of upgrading rear axle shafts - any suggestions.

Cheers.

- Mark

 

[BillRiley]

How bent? Mine have been that way for years.

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

All -

I am thinking about ordering some upper and lower control arms for the rear axle of my 80. Both of my LCAs were bent this past weekend (the price for doing 4's and a 5). Is anyone interested in doing the same...maybe we could work in a small group buy. I am also thinking of upgrading rear axle shafts - any suggestions.

Cheers.

- Mark

Added clearance for free

 

[southff4]

One of mine is bent along with front drag link,New Muffler sound(had to order new bung for the 02 sensor to replace pipe) Drive shaft has some nice deep grooves in it. Might have it sleve put on it and rebalenced.(in the works) Would I do the trails again? In a heartbeat! As far as getting new LCA's let me know how much $$ and I let you know if i am in.

 

[lenross1]

There is a company that makes "bent " heavy duty LCAs.
Found it Wildwestfab.com. problem is they are $425 a pair. which seems to be a little high but in the ball park. they are 1 3/4 OD with 1/4 inch thick wall.

I have a different set of LCAs since i also bent one of my LCAs. This time it was the driver side. The ones i picked up seem to be a little heavy dutier but not sure. The passenger side that I replaced with the heavy dutier version did not bend but not sure that I hit it hard enough... I honestly don't know how I didn't hit it.
I will replace the driver side and wheel it before I go with next set. I may just make my own.

FYI i drove around with a bent arm and have not noticed any difference in handling.

 

[lenross1]

I run the poly performance chromo rears and haven't had any issues.

 

[southff4]

Mine was the driverside too. Also dented my front diff. Lenny did you upgrade your front draglink?

 

[Land Speeder]

The ones i picked up seem to be a little heavy dutier but not sure.

They are. 96-97 LCA's are TINY. The ones you bought are older ones.

I can't tell you how many LCAs, and definitely DS's I've messed up. Scallywag now has right-angled LCAs... still going...
I'm doing the below eventually... the exhaust is gone already and the gas tank soon, don't care how it handles as it'a a trail-only rig:

 

[wct49]

Deb's control arms are bent, drive shaft is geting candy caned etc etc.

ROCK ON!

 

[Land Speeder]

LCA's are definitely a weakness of the 80, one of very few... if you take yours on a hardcore trail, they will get bent. no way around it.

My feelings of the 80 drive shaft are this: Not many "stock" drivelines see hardcore trails. Most drivelines out on a 4+ trail typically have a doubler/dual-cases/toybox/toupee/etc. Given that, the rear drive shaft on those rigs have a steeper angle keeping it further out of the way, they obviously get hammered, but nothing to the percentage I've seen 80's DS get... I think it's due to the 80's stock driveline seeing these trails.

 

[Land Speeder]

If you dent your drive shaft... REPLACE AS FAST AS POSSIBLE... it being out of balance will roast your pinion seal/bearing/oil slinger and possibly even the housing (from the bearing routing it out)... speaking from experience.

 

[72rockcruiser]

Hope its OK for a NC dude to post in here..ha ha

I was looking at mine a while ago(both bent) and it looks like 1-3/4 .120 tube will slide right over the stock arms? I think I am gonna try this wekend if I get a chance. Def. dont have $400 + to blow on new ones, and I have extra tube from my cage build.

 

[Land Speeder]

97 FZJ80 Cut 38 TSL's, 529's, Elocked front, welded rear, caged, cut up and dented.

com'on! where's your pic thread?!

 

[southff4]

Yep she is out of service for a while, waiting on some kroil to take out drive shaft. Taking sliders and rear bumper off to bedline rockers and bottom of the doors. Georg is sending me a frontend rebuild kit. Going to be busy for a little bit. Eric what about a drag link mine seems to have a new arch in it and rubbing my third member! Kyle keep us updated on your project.

 

[72rockcruiser]

com'on! where's your pic thread?!

Right cheah:

https://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/412915-97-landcruiser-build.html

Should have some updates after the weekend, gonna work on it AFD Saturday.

 

[euclid]

I know nothing about 80's.

Anyone sleeve lca's?

 

[Land Speeder]

Eric what about a drag link mine seems to have a new arch in it and rubbing my third member!

I go to Lowe's and buy a piece of rod, it's called "welding rod" even though welders will swear it's not... just going off what Lowe's says... but the length is DAMN near perfect to hammer into a "straight" tie rod/relay rod.... if yours is bent though, it will need to be straightened... there's a number of ways a shade tree mechanic from Alabama can straighten it... but the rod makes it a solid piece and makes it pretty tough.... it's is a Slee/MAF? no... Did it cost you $14 from Lowe's? YES!
I took mine off and unbent it with a harbor freight tube bender. I've also camp fixed it while on the truck with a long 4x4 and huge ratchet strap... the 4x4 was placed below the Control arms and wrapped around both and ratcheted it straight.

I know nothing about 80's.

Anyone sleeve lca's?

Alot of folks wled a piece of angle iron on the bottom... it helps, but i've seen that bend too...

IMHO, the best approach is to cut one end off, then fill it with steel rod (maybe even a few, like fibers), then sleeve the outside with a bigger tube. Especially if they'll stay in the stock location...

 

[wct49]

I know nothing about 80's.

Anyone sleeve lca's?

"What is an 80?"

 

[euclid]

I go to Lowe's and buy a piece of rod, it's called "welding rod" even though welders will swear it's not... just going off what Lowe's says... but the length is DAMN near perfect to hammer into a "straight" tie rod/relay rod.... if yours is bent though, it will need to be straightened... there's a number of ways a shade tree mechanic from Alabama can straighten it... but the rod makes it a solid piece and makes it pretty tough.... it's is a Slee/MAF? no... Did it cost you $14 from Lowe's? YES!
I took mine off and unbent it with a harbor freight tube bender. I've also camp fixed it while on the truck with a long 4x4 and huge ratchet strap... the 4x4 was placed below the Control arms and wrapped around both and ratcheted it straight.




Alot of folks wled a piece of angle iron on the bottom... it helps, but i've seen that bend too...

IMHO, the best approach is to cut one end off, then fill it with steel rod (maybe even a few, like fibers), then sleeve the outside with a bigger tube. Especially if they'll stay in the stock location...

I didn't realize they were tube. You could make the Lowes solution even stronger by drilling some holes through the whole thing and rosette welding the LCA to the lowes rods. That would be as strong as if it were solid. Combine that with a piece of angle iron and you'd have something.

 

[lenross1]

now that i have 2 bent LCA i will be experimenting soon. I like the idea of the lowes solid piece. I think i will try this first.

I may just pick up some 1.5 OD .250 wall DOM and make some.