what are they?

im assuming it is that which is throwing my alignment off... but is there any real reason to fix it? how long can i wait?

will it effect anything else?

 

Beside the fact that it's dangerous to drive around with a bad alignment and that one or both of your tires will shred, no it won't affect anything else.

 

why is it 'dangerous'? its ever so slightly off.. the truck will drift right after a few seconds of letting go of the wheel at highway speeds, but at low speeds you cant even tell.

 

also, i mean the rear drivers side control arm... fyi.

 

It just generally isn't good. You are putting added stress on lots of different parts of your car. While it isn't likely that something is going to suddenly explode, its at the very least shortening the life of other parts on your car. your car is designed around a straight control arm and to have good alignment and thus I would get it fixed as soon as possibly possible. hope that helps

 

it does.. but what parts? are there aftermarket rear control arms that are stronger? becuase the stock ones are WEAK

 

Spidertrax and I think Steve Schaeffer also makes them.

 

Here's a thread about the same thing, with what appears to be opinions at 180*.

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f2/bent-rlca-how-bad-pic-83157/

 

thansk for the link! i have been trying to find a thread like that.

OK seems im ok.. i emailed steve for a quote.

 

Beat me to it.....yep that's the thread you want.
I am pretty sure SS has beefy replacements for those.

 

for a beefy $400! whoa!

 

yeah.. im gonna have to wait

 

Why do you ask this question if your going to get defensive about the responses? Kinda strange

 

I don't see him being defensive... just suprised at the cost of the product ($400 is a lot of green)

 

yeah what? hahah

$400 is a lot of money, and this is last on my list after a whole lot of cool mods that will make me smile and not cry

 

are the uppers or lowers bent?

 

i would be extremely surprised if a rock got a hold of an upper link

lee: what about going to a junkyard and getting a replacement?

 

doh!..didnt read the thread

 

I drove around for probably 2 years on bent rear lower control arms. I had no problems at all. That being said I didn't like them being bent, so I got the second set of arms that Steve ever sold and man these things are extremely beefy. $400, yes, but worth it.

Lee, if you don't get some before SE4RJ, you can look at mine there. Hell, if you're seriously considering them, get Steve to bring a set and we'll install them there. They are a pain to install though.

 

I've always wondered if these control arms were designed to bend/give/distort in the event of a crash. There have been enough threads regarding bent LCAs after even mild hits off road.

Does anyone see a chance that a stouter arm will cause damage to the mounting points if hit hard enough off road? Where the stock arm will bend, the stronger one will natuarlly deflect this stress to the mounts, etc.

Just some thoughts.

Andreas