Control arms

[1stack]

Does anyone have any experience with Energy poly bushings for the control arms on these trucks? I just ordered a kit to do mine. I’ve read the old rubber bushings are a pain in the ass to remove? Any tips?

[RollCoal9000]

Yeah. Scrap the weak stock arms and get some aftermarket ones.

I wouldn't even attempt to remove the bushings without a press (basically leaf spring bushings.)

[CorneliusRox]

Yeah, I used an electro-hydraulic press and they didn't budge until around 3,000 psi.

I've personally been eyeing up the MetalCloack control arms. I really like that they have an overmolded bushing design. That's what OEMs do to avoid environmental (salt) issues. And the price is cheaper than Thuren and Carli.

[Gear Jammer]

I've use a hole saw to get the rubber out of the center of the stock bushings. Then the rubber gets stuck in the hole saw though. I've been told you can use a drill and drill holes around the outer edge of the rubber, and the drill bit should walk itself around the outside of the rubber bushing separating it from the metal sleeve it sits in.

[Howling]

Originally Posted by CorneliusRox

Yeah, I used an electro-hydraulic press and they didn't budge until around 3,000 psi.

I've personally been eyeing up the MetalCloack control arms. I really like that they have an overmolded bushing design. That's what OEMs do to avoid environmental (salt) issues. And the price is cheaper than Thuren and Carli.

I have Metalcloak on my 2nd gen and they are nice . Would definitely upgrade the arms instead of the bushings only.



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[SKYNYRD]

I went with Carli control arms. If you have a leveling kit on the truck I would suggest getting longer after market arms as it made a difference in steering and driving.

[RollCoal9000]

I got mine from a company called "top guns customs" poly bushings that are supposed to be a better material. Solid arms, greasable but cant really pump grease in them after install (might get better with time.).

Stock track bar with poly bushings and carli shocks w/ bilstein stabilizer. 2.5" rough country? Soft ride springs. Rides good for being lifted, would be better with an adjustable track bar. I have energy bushings in the front of the leaf's since the stock ones were blown out.

I would go with any non-adjustable arms with poly bushings, extended length if you have a lift.

[1stack]

I got my arms out last night. The top bolt on the passenger side sucks. Down pipe in the way. Had to cut it with sawzall. Going to press bushings out today and reinstall.

[RyanMayo]

I did it about 6 or 7 years ago... I didn't have a press at the time, and it got ugly haha. I bought a press after that. I did the track bar bushings at the same time, and all together it made a noticeable difference in both steering and ride, which has lasted so far.

[1stack]

Back together today. Pressing bushings out and pressing new ones in was a breeze. Now just have to wait on one bolt I ordered thru Dodge. The only reason I ordered one was because the old one had a taper on it.

My fault though was I didn’t mark the camber bolts on the lower arms. I’m gonna have to get the truck aligned I guess.

[CorneliusRox]

Originally Posted by RollCoal9000

I got mine from a company called "top guns customs" poly bushings that are supposed to be a better material. Solid arms, greasable but cant really pump grease in them after install (might get better with time.).

Stock track bar with poly bushings and carli shocks w/ bilstein stabilizer. 2.5" rough country? Soft ride springs. Rides good for being lifted, would be better with an adjustable track bar. I have energy bushings in the front of the leaf's since the stock ones were blown out.

I would go with any non-adjustable arms with poly bushings, extended length if you have a lift.

I used some of their stuff back in the day when they were on eBay only and I was broke as Hell but still wanted to do truck stuff.
Other than some metal parts that had corrosion issues (cheap paint), their stuff was really top notch. A bunch of their stuff is still on my 12V a decade later.

Their pitman arm is broached instead of forged splines like the other aftermarket ones. That makes a HUGE difference.