Ironman Rear Upper and Lower Control Arm Review plus Panhard Bar. #ABUSED!!!!🤯

[ga12r1]

I did a "longish" term review on the @Ironman 4x4 USA UCAs a months ago after I put them through the wringer and now Its time for my Rear Lower and Upper Control Arm and Panhard review.
If you follow me you know ive had constant issues with bending rear control arms and panhard bars. The rocks in Moab and Windrock are very unforgiving. Every single time I would wheel Windrock I would bend a rear control arm, usually both. About every other trip I was bending panhards on the rocks too. I replaced the oem with SPC and still bent them. Them I reinforced SPCs and STILL bent them. Finally I decided to try the beefier Ironman arms.
Ive had them on since the spring but really wanted to put them through the paces before doing a review. I gave them heck at Cruise Moab but really wanted to ride them hard at Windrock. I figured that would be the final test.
Last week I spent 7 days at Windrock for GSMTR. I wheeled the truck probably harder than I ever have. I cracked an oem CV tulip, bent my steel Budbuilt skids to heck and back, plus sheared the bolts off and nearly ripped loose my control arm mount armor. It was a fun trip!
I'm amazed to say I didnt bend a control arm or panhard. My very first time wheeling at Windrock without a bend, even though it was probably my toughest ride. I can finally say these bars are the real deal.
Not only are the arms strong but they have oem style rubber bushings and can be adjusted on the truck. Thats a big win in my book.
If you are constantly bending arms or are building to play hard give these a look. My 200 is at 8100lbs and they took everything I could throw at them. They solved what was always a headache for me. Good stuff.


A bent arm at Windrock

Another Windrock Casualty

Bent OEM Arm

New Ironman Arms

 

[ga12r1]

A few more...

I sheared off the bolt heads and nearly ripped my control arm mount armor off at GSMTR

And bent my Budbuilt Steel Skids (they did their job)

Cracked the inboard tulip on a Toyota OEM axle

But the Ironman Arms came out smelling like a rose!

Ironman Panhard too

 

[tabraha]

Very positive review! I have a fair amount of Ironman on my 100 and it's performance/dollar proposition is hard to beat to start with.

We were the blue stock 200 @ GSMTR and my Budbuilt Skids made the sound of earning their money a few times LOL. Haven't put it up on my lift yet for a once over but was very happy to be able to zip back to SC from Windrock with no vibrations, leaks or holes in the bottom. There weren't many of us 200 guys there but I will say there were usually plenty of eyes and phones on us even on the green and blue trails LOL. The 200 never skipped a beat despite being what I believe was probably the only vehicle in our group that did not have a lift on it.

 

[BlackMammoth]

I don't see the panhard bar on their site...

What was the benefit of moving to aftermarket UCAs on the rear? I am guessing you didn't bend those (or did you)?

 

[ga12r1]

I don't see the panhard bar on their site...

What was the benefit of moving to aftermarket UCAs on the rear? I am guessing you didn't bend those (or did you)?

It's there but its out of stock. @Ironman 4x4 USA could probably let you know when they will be back in.
I didn't bend the uppers but I decided to replace them anyway just to have new rubber bushings all the way around. My truck has 140k miles on it now with alot of hard wheeling. I could definitely tell a difference with all new bushings.

 

[TLC2013]

Wow! I am thoroughly impressed and got to give you major props for using the hell out of your 200. If anyone is looking to torture test their products you should be their go to. Good stuff here and nice write up.

I am looking at installing an adjustable panhard bar to recenter the axle. Visually it looks like my driver side is poking out a good 1/2" to 3/4" more then the passenger. Going to measurment to see what the actual specs are.

Any install tips or gotcha momemts you encountered during the install?

 

[ga12r1]

Wow! I am thoroughly impressed and got to give you major props for using the hell out of your 200. If anyone is looking to torture test their products you should be their go to. Good stuff here and nice write up.

I am looking at installing an adjustable panhard bar to recenter the axle. Visually it looks like my driver side is poking out a good 1/2" to 3/4" more then the passenger. Going to measurment to see what the actual specs are.

Any install tips or gotcha momemts you encountered during the install?

Thanks. Its about as simple an install as you will ever find. With the truck sitting on all 4 wheels take off the old panahrd and then bolt on the new one. You can adjust it by hand to make the holes line up then adjust it to final speck once bolted in.

 

[TLC2013]

Thanks. Its about as simple an install as you will ever find. With the truck sitting on all 4 wheels take off the old panahrd and then bolt on the new one. You can adjust it by hand to make the holes line up then adjust it to final speck once bolted in.

Appreciate it, thanks. Did you ever get an alignment that shows the before and after results of the panhard bar? Adjustable bars are new to me so I am trying to learn what I can here, does it just recenter the axle or also effect rear alignment specs? Paging @linuxgod and @TeCKis300

 

[82SC]

awesome. I just installed mine but probably way overkill. I don't do anything close to what you do

What did you do for the bracket on the drivers side upper trailing arm

The one from IM didn't seem to work for me to place the bracket in the right location. The ABS sensor wire bracket would not line up. I put the bracket all they way down against the lock nut but it wasn't enough

 

[tbisaacs]

Impressive but also how do I avoid doing this. How does one bend a rear LCA?

 

[ga12r1]

awesome. I just installed mine but probably way overkill. I don't do anything close to what you do

What did you do for the bracket on the drivers side upper trailing arm

The one from IM didn't seem to work for me to place the bracket in the right location. The ABS sensor wire bracket would not line up. I put the bracket all they way down against the lock nut but it wasn't enough

Zip Ties. There are a lot of zip ties on my truck.

 

[ga12r1]

Impressive but also how do I avoid doing this. How does one bend a rear LCA?

LOL. Until I got these my thoughts were "how does one not bend a rear LCA" It was happening every trip out. Frustrating.

Come wheel with me on the east coast and I will show you how to bend them. I promise its not hard

 

[linuxgod]

Appreciate it, thanks. Did you ever get an alignment that shows the before and after results of the panhard bar? Adjustable bars are new to me so I am trying to learn what I can here, does it just recenter the axle or also effect rear alignment specs? Paging @linuxgod and @TeCKis300

It recenters the rear axle. Even if the axle is off you can still track straight, it’s just that the front and rear axles are on different planes. Adjustment will affect thrust angle. There’s no other rear adjustment but you’ll want an alignment because it affects you alightly

 

[ga12r1]

Appreciate it, thanks. Did you ever get an alignment that shows the before and after results of the panhard bar? Adjustable bars are new to me so I am trying to learn what I can here, does it just recenter the axle or also effect rear alignment specs? Paging @linuxgod and @TeCKis300

I've never had a proper 4 wheel alignment, I just eyeballed mine. I mainly upgraded mine for strength reasons.

 

[CharlieS]

Impressive but also how do I avoid doing this. How does one bend a rear LCA?

7000 lbs of cruiser plus inertia, large rock, done and done.

 

[ga12r1]

7000 lbs of cruiser plus inertia, large rock, done and done.

And Ive got another 1000+ lbs on top of that.

 

[CharlieS]

I’m with you. If I could pick the perfect line, this would be less of an issue, but it is all a learning experience for me, and sometimes I learn the hard way…

 

[TeCKis300]

Appreciate it, thanks. Did you ever get an alignment that shows the before and after results of the panhard bar? Adjustable bars are new to me so I am trying to learn what I can here, does it just recenter the axle or also effect rear alignment specs? Paging @linuxgod and @TeCKis300

Been meaning to draw or find a picture to help visualize how a displaced axle effects thrust axle alignment as @linuxgod points out. Maybe I'll get to it later, but there are benefits to re-centering. It won't change the impacts of lift to toe steer due to the steeper angle of the panhard, but it will help stability when straight ahead on smooth roads. What we really need is a panhard relocation kit along with an adjustable panhard bar.

 

[TLC2013]

Thanks @TeCKis300 I found a few good diagrams/illustrations from your posts sometime back that paints a good picture of how the panhard bar and adjustable ones cycle through suspension travel. Did some digging on here and read some good discussions among @linuxgod. I agree we need someone to offer that relocation kit. I have seen them offered for other toyota trucks but nothing for the 200. @Delta VS are there any plans to offer the panhard relocation bracket for the 200?

My driver side has roughly 5/8" more poke then the passenger side and I understand there is an acceptable amount that is considered within spec? Do you know whats considered "normal"?

After my 2" lift was installed my thrust angle went from .02 to .17 degrees. Weird thing is my last alignment listed the before thrust angle at .17 and the actual at .30 degrees. I did have a didfferent set of wheels and tires on so maybe that played a factor?
I havent noticed any usual driving characters with this change in thrust angle from .02 to .30 degrees.
Thinking I'll install an adjustable panhard bar to center things up which should help woth this increased thrust angle.

 

[Delta VS]

Thanks @TeCKis300 I found a few good diagrams/illustrations from your posts sometime back that paints a good picture of how the panhard bar and adjustable ones cycle through suspension travel. Did some digging on here and read some good discussions among @linuxgod. I agree we need someone to offer that relocation kit. I have seen them offered for other toyota trucks but nothing for the 200. @Delta VS are there any plans to offer the panhard relocation bracket for the 200?

My driver side has roughly 5/8" more poke then the passenger side and I understand there is an acceptable amount that is considered within spec? Do you know whats considered "normal"?

After my 2" lift was installed my thrust angle went from .02 to .17 degrees. Weird thing is my last alignment listed the before thrust angle at .17 and the actual at .30 degrees. I did have a didfferent set of wheels and tires on so maybe that played a factor?
I havent noticed any usual driving characters with this change in thrust angle from .02 to .30 degrees.
Thinking I'll install an adjustable panhard bar to center things up which should help woth this increased thrust angle.

yes, lots of plans for the 200s. we just need to get our hands on one.