Budget beefy bolt on rear lower control arms.

[Rusty Cruiser]

I severely bent a rear lower control arm in my last trail outing and did a bit a searching to find a budget friendly but stronger bolt in replacement. After posting here for recommendations I ordered a set of Mevotech “Supreme” arms from Rockauto (1995 TOYOTA LAND CRUISER 4.5L L6 Control Arm | Shop Now at RockAuto - https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/toyota,1995,land+cruiser,4.5l+l6,1276680,suspension,control+arm,10401)
Although not stated anywhere on the rockauto website, the Mevotech arms look to be rebranded SPC arms. They are larger diameter than stock and have one standard rubber fixed bushing and then the frame side has a joint that is a flexible joint that looks to be similar to a booted spherical joint to aid in flex. I paid $234 shipped for two new arms which was about $150 less than the best priced SPC branded set of arms I could find anywhere else. Just thought I’d share in case anyone else is looking for a budget minded set of lowers! That mic pics show the diameter of the original arms and then the larger Mevotech arms.

 

[Rusty Cruiser]

New next to old.
The new end links are a bit smaller than the old ones but I didn’t think to measure them. I have seen other arms point out their ends are larger which helps protect the mounts somewhat so might be one downside of these.

 

[JoeCova]

Tube strength or tensile force resistance is calculated on material tensile strength, tube diameter and wall thickness. At 1.5” I would be curious what the wall thickness is.

If you are bored you could sawzall the bent OEM link and see what that looks like. I’d love to know the OEM wall thickness.

 

[Rusty Cruiser]

Well, first trip out with the new Mevotech/SPC arms and I bent one. Not too bad but slightly bent to the eye. I don't really remember banging it hard enough to think I bent anything but I did. For $235 it was worth a try but they definitely weren't what I hoped they would be. Maybe I'll see about getting these beefed up some by a local welding shop if they think they can do it without melting the bushings.

 

[JoeCova]

Well, first trip out with the new Mevotech/SPC arms and I bent one. Not too bad but slightly bent to the eye. I don't really remember banging it hard enough to think I bent anything but I did. For $235 it was worth a try but they definitely weren't what I hoped they would be. Maybe I'll see about getting these beefed up some by a local welding shop if they think they can do it without melting the bushings.

Look to get a 7075 link. I run 7075 on all my rigs and the cruiser will be getting a nice replacement set when I finish the rear suspension.

If we are talking true budget, some 3/8” wall DOM at 2.5” is enough and also cheap.


Here’s one of my noncruiser 4-link setups with 7075 front/rear upper and lowers.

 

[Corbet]

Working on a budget I’d source a set of OEM and weld on additional material. Hit something hard enough and you can bend most anything. Also give you the opportunity to adjust pinion if you needed by sleeving a set of OEM.

 

[06reg4x4]

I’m running spc arms too. No complaints. Rear moves easier

 

[bwesty]

I followed this mod idea many years back and it works great. Simple and stout and allows to keep factory OEM rubber bushings which work excellent overall, durable.

Thread 'Rear Lower Control Arms Mod - 80 series'

Jan 17, 2011

The RLCA (Rear Lower Control Arm) mod was respectably stolen from CSC’s own Mountain Cruiser.

1.75 x .188 (1.36ID) Dom tubing seamless
Factory RLCA on a ’96 are 1.34 x .170 seamed tubing
Factory length was maintained
8 rosettes welds per RLCA
Cut factory RLCA in half -remeber you loose ~1/8 when cutting
I held the sleeve back 1” from the bushing holder
Wrapped the bushing with a wet rag to keep the bushing from cooking
Stitched welded tubing together to keep temps under control
Cleaned and smoothed the welded rosettes
Primed and painted Kylon satin black
Reinstalled

In the past I have...

• LandCruiserPhil
• Replies: 65
• Forum: AZ- Copper State Cruisers

• 

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

I followed this mod idea many years back and it works great. Simple and stout and allows to keep factory OEM rubber bushings which work excellent overall, durable.

Thread 'Rear Lower Control Arms Mod - 80 series'

Jan 17, 2011

The RLCA (Rear Lower Control Arm) mod was respectably stolen from CSC’s own Mountain Cruiser.

1.75 x .188 (1.36ID) Dom tubing seamless
Factory RLCA on a ’96 are 1.34 x .170 seamed tubing
Factory length was maintained
8 rosettes welds per RLCA
Cut factory RLCA in half -remeber you loose ~1/8 when cutting
I held the sleeve back 1” from the bushing holder
Wrapped the bushing with a wet rag to keep the bushing from cooking
Stitched welded tubing together to keep temps under control
Cleaned and smoothed the welded rosettes
Primed and painted Kylon satin black
Reinstalled

In the past I have...

• LandCruiserPhil
• Replies: 65
• Forum: AZ- Copper State Cruisers

• 

And still going strong after many miles of testing

 

[Rusty Cruiser]

I bent one of the new arms first trip after installing them. Not what I was hoping for but still, they were cheap, haha.