Adjustable control arms are vital pieces of equipment to get better performance for your Jeep Wrangler. The adjustable control arms improve how one controls their vehicle, with proper handles and perfect stability, even in poor weather conditions.
Due to wear and tear, the parts need to be replaced from time to time. It’s good to know what to look for when that time comes.
Comparison of the Best Adjustable Control Arms for JK
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Why Did These Adjustable Control Arms for JK Make Our List?
When we were looking at the best adjustable control arms for JK, we were looking for a few things that we believed to be important and thought you might think so too.
Quality
Above all, we wanted to ensure that whatever adjustable control arms made our list were high quality and were going to keep up with the wear and tear they were going to face.
Warranty or Guarantee
Not only do warranties and guarantees save the consumer money, but they also show that companies are confident in their product. If a company is willing to put their money where their mouths are, then there’s a good chance you can depend on the product.
Ease of Installation
For those who love to go off-roading with their Jeep Wranglers, there are just never enough people in the community, and that especially holds with mechanics in some areas. Because of this, many owners are left to fend for themselves when installing certain accessories and modifications. Knowing that adjustable control arms are one of those items that can be installed by most people, we felt that ease of installation was important.
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Review of the Best Adjustable Control Arms For JK
We took a look at the best adjustable control arms for your Jeep Wrangler JK so that you can get an idea of the different brands and styles on the market today to make a more informed decision when the time comes to switch yours out.
Best Overall
Rubicon Express RE3757
Specifications
Fitment Years / Generations: 2007 to 2017 JK Wrangler, Rubicon and Unlimited
# of Components: 8
Warranty / Guarantee: 1 Year
What Recent Buyers Report
People who have purchased these adjustable control arms report that their JK rides better than with the stock control arms, and they help correct the pinion angle. While they didn’t come with instructions, buyers could easily find videos online to help them easily install them.
Why it Stands Out to Us
We appreciate that this set of adjustable control arms works well with both 2-door and 4-door models. The biggest seller for us on this pair of control arms is how many users rave about how much better these are than the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts.
We can overlook no instructions and missing grease fittings when there are instructions to find for easy installations, and the benefits far outweigh the slight inconveniences. The high-grade steel is near indestructible, which will help extend the life of the control arms.
Bottom Line
These adjustable control arms are worth purchasing if you’re going to lift your Jeep Wrangler JK. You can adjust them to achieve proper suspension and alignment levels while also correcting your pinion angle. The worst negative comment about them was that they didn’t come with instructions, so we’re pretty confident in these control arms.
Pros
Full 8-piece set
Built durable to last a long time
Fabricated from high-grade steel
Fits both 2- and 4-door model JKs
Adjustable to achieve proper suspension and alignment levels
Cons
Does not come with instructions
Runner-up
Freedom OffRoad Control Arms
Specifications
Fitment Years / Generations: 2006 to 2018 Jeep Wrangler
# of Components: 4
Warranty / Guarantee: Lifetime
What Recent Buyers Report
Recent buyers report these control arms to be better than the stock ones, with their biggest complaint being that they had fixed joints instead of ball joints. Drivers reported a big difference in how their vehicle felt after installing the control arms, with a big adjustment to the caster angle.
Why it Stands Out to Us
These upper and lower front control arms have high-quality materials and a lifetime warranty, so we feel pretty confident that we won’t be needing to change them very often when we have these installed. Even without the ball joints, these arms market themselves to have improved steering control.
Freedom Offroad went the extra mile to go so far as to fortify their adjustable control arms with a powder-coated finish on top of the high-quality materials used to fabricate them.
Bottom Line
You can’t go wrong with a product that provides a lifetime warranty. Plus, it comes with strong reviews that indicate it is better than the stock part and will increase vehicle performance.
Pros
Backed by a lifetime warranty
Made of high-quality materials
Adjustable for 0 to 4.5-inch lift
Facilitates improved steering control
Fortified by a black powder-coated finish
Cons
Paint chips have been reported
Has fixed joints instead of ball joints
Best for the Money
Rough Country 11350
Specifications
Fitment Years / Generations: 2007 to 2018 Jeep Wrangler 2-Door (JK), 2007 to 2018 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 4-Door (JK) and 2007 to 2010 2WD Wrangler JK Unlimited
# of Components: 2
Warranty / Guarantee: Limited Lifetime Warranty
What Recent Buyers Report
Buyers are happy with these control arms, though a few mentioned that they weren’t aware ahead of time that they would need to do any bolt cutting. Some also gave good advice and reminders to bring your axle back into alignment if you have a lift kit.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The lifetime warranty stands out for us again, but even more than that, we are impressed with the rotational degrees that you can achieve with these adjustable control arms. The upper joints can pivot 20 degrees, and the lower joints pivot an incredible 35 degrees. With greater pivoting movement, you will be able to off-road on some of the more difficult areas while still maintaining great control. Another part that stood out to us, though maybe not for a good reason, is we’ve never heard of having to cut bolts for installing adjustable control arms before.
Bottom Line
These look like a great option for adjustable control arms. Since they have a lifetime warranty and there’s cutting involved, be sure to read the instructions before completing any work. They recommend having a professional install them, though most people report they are easy to install yourself.
Pros
Fully greaseable
Comes with a lifetime warranty
Lower joints pivot up to 35 degrees
Upper joints pivot up to 20 degrees
Allows for greater articulation off-road
Cons
Some reports of users needing to cut bolts shorter for installation
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Editor’s Pick
Raptor Series 170107-429800
Specifications
Fitment Years / Generations: 2007 to 2018 Jeep Wrangler JK
# of Components: 8
Warranty / Guarantee: Limited Lifetime Warranty
What Recent Buyers Report
Many buyers report a smoother drive, eliminating the notorious Jeep Wrangler death rattle, after installing the Raptor Series adjustable control arms meant for modification kits between zero and six inches. The heavy-duty tubular construction is noticeable just by handling, even before installing, providing security with purchasers.
Why it Stands Out to Us
Not having to worry about any cutting or modifications, with the direct bolt-on replacement for easy install, means that the company was specifically thinking of the consumer when creating these adjustable control arms. For a company to build for a consumer means they care, and the easy install means one less hassle for us. We’d rather be out Jeeping.
Another thing that stands out to us is that these arms are good for kits that range from zero to six inches, and that’s quite a range. You’re more often going to see control arms that are available in zero to four and then four to six inches, or some variance within. Of course, there are always exceptions, but it’s not too often you see a full six-inch range.
Bottom Line
This product is a great option if you’re not quite sure what lift you want for your Jeep Wrangler. It’s an eight-piece kit, so you have control arms to try out varying heights until you find the one that you like the best.
Pros
No cutting or modification needed
Facilitates Improved Steering Control
Bolt-on replacement and easy installation
Coated for protection against debris and corrosion
Heavy-duty tubular steel and solid shaft construction
Cons
A lot of grease is needed to install them
Some had trouble adjusting the axle to align
Honorable Mention
CORE 4×4 Complete Set T3
Specifications
Fitment Years / Generations: 2007 to 2018 Jeep Wrangler
# of Components: 8
Warranty / Guarantee: Lifetime Replacement Guarantee
What Recent Buyers Report
This full set of eight adjustable control arms comes in 9 different colors so you can personalize your Jeep Wrangler JK. These arms can be used for zero to six-inch kits, which is great while experimenting with which height is best for you. However, they are also for kits over six inches, which some feel is unsafe.
Why it Stands Out to Us
Having the option of a color other than black is appealing. To be able to choose from nine is great. Not everyone may be interested in the colors, and that is ok, but there will be plenty of people happy to have the option.
Having peace of mind knowing that there is a lifetime replacement guarantee is another thing that stands out. While it’s not the same as a lifetime guarantee, at least you don’t have to worry about having to shell out money every few months for new control arms.
Bottom Line
These adjustable control arms are great, especially if you are looking to add a little personality to the underside of your Jeep Wrangler. With the replacement guarantee, you can be sure that your parts will last for quite a while.
Pros
Full 8-piece set
Lifetime replacement guarantee
Bolt-on replacement and easy installation
Easily recenter axle and adjust pinion and caster angles
Provides maximum adjustability and performance for on and off-road
Cons
Not a lot of installation information available
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What Do Adjustable Control Arms Do?
Adjustable control arms move the wheel camber, which is the vertical alignment of the wheels. When adding a modification kit, such as a lowering or lift kit, the adjustable control arms correct the positive or negative camber.
A positive camber is when the tires tip out at the top, with the bottom of the wheels pointing in towards each other. A negative camber is when the tires tip-in at the top, pointing away from each other at the bottom.
If the camber is not corrected, it can cause the tires to wear prematurely and unevenly because they don’t get proper traction.
When is it Time to Replace My Adjustable Control Arms For JK?
Depending on your lift kit, you could have eight adjustable control arms for your Jeep Wrangler JK. The chance of them wearing out all at the same time is almost zero, so you’ll have to keep an eye on them.
Once you start noticing that your camber or caster, which is the fore or aft slope of the axis, is out of alignment or premature and uneven wear on your tires, then you know that it’s time to replace your adjustable control arms.
You don’t need to replace all eight at the same time; however, you should replace them in sets of two, which will help with calibration and alignment, in the following groups:
- Front upper
- Front lower
- Rear upper
- Rear lower
Are All Adjustable Control Arms for JK the Same?
Not all adjustable control arms for the JK are the same, all four groups of control arms have different jobs. The front upper and rear upper control arms will center the axle from front to back, the front upper and front lower will help with the caster, which will also help with the camber, and your rear uppers are used to set your pinion angles.
Due to their different jobs, adjustable control arms come in different shapes and sizes and are not interchangeable. Also, there are size lowering kits. and lift kits. These need different adjustable control arms to make up the difference between the camber and caster.
Advantages of Investing in Quality Adjustable Control Arms for A JK
You’ve already invested in the purchase of your Jeep Wrangler JK, so you will want to keep up with the performance and functionality of it with high-quality products. By investing in quality, you will be able to save yourself money down the road by needing to replace parts less often.
In addition to needing to save money by placing parts less often, quality means much more than just a higher price tag. Quality does mean that your product will be built better, providing you with higher safety standards, performance standards, and more efficiency. All of which is hard to put a price on.
Adjustable control arms are such a crucial part, especially if you are taking off a stock product to add in a third-party product. If a control arm fails, there can be serious consequences, such as a tire blowing, an axle coming out of alignment, along with other issues. All of these could be disastrous if they happen while you’re on the interstate.
Being able to breathe a sigh of relief knowing that you have high-quality parts on your JK will make your off and over road adventures that much more fun.
Jeep JK Adjustable Control Arm Install
Looking at installing adjustable control arms, like the Raptor Series 170107-429800, can be easy when you break it down into steps. Now, not all installations are the same, but we’re going to give you the basics of what you’ll be doing if you choose to install your new adjustable control arms yourself.
- Jack the Jeep Wrangler up.
- Remove all four tires and wheels.
- Remove bolts from axle and frame. Tip: You may have a heat shield around your nut on the frame side, in which case you will need to remove
- Remove the control arm.
- Unthread flex head from the control arm.
- Apply anti-seize for easy adjustments in the future.
- Re-thread flex head.
- Set length depending on your specifications (your lift height, model, etc).
- Once the desired length is set, tighten jam nut Tip: Ensure flat sides. of heads are facing the same way.
- Repeat for all four adjustable control arms.
- Replace all four tires and wheels.
- Put Jeep Wrangler down on own weight.
- Torque control arms.
Be sure to refer to the video below for a full overview of what was just described.
Conclusion
When it comes to adjustable control arms, there are several things to consider before investing, such as quality, ease of installation, and warranties and guarantees. Not all control arms are the same, and it is important to know what you need when looking.
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People Also Ask
If you still have questions about the best adjustable control arms for JK, don’t worry. We’re here to help. These are some of the most common things that people wonder about when trying to find the right product.
Most people who have switched over to adjustable control arms swear by them and think they are more than worth it. Many find them to provide better handling and a better drive than the stock control arms, getting rid of the Jeep death wobble.
Technically you can replace the bushing on one of your control arms; however, it is a much more complicated process. If you were to have a mechanic switch out, it would take more labor and cost more than just purchasing a new control arm.
Because of this, if bushings are wearing down, most people replace the entire control arm.
If you want to change your control arms yourself, you will need the following tools:
– Jack kit
– Lug wrenches
– Socket wrenches
– Ratchet bar
– Replacement control arms
– Anti-seize
Depending on your exact set and lift kit, you may need some additional tools, but these are the basics that you will need to proceed with the installation.
Well the literal difference should be obvious from the names. The real ‘difference’ you’re paying for here is having proper suspension alignment, which can fix: death wobble, poor handling, uneven tire wear, and give you more wiggle room to fit larger tires. Potentially other perks, but these are the core reasons to go adjustable.
Often, aftermarket control arm sets are better than the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) sets. The biggest reason is that the aftermarket sets weigh less, which reduces unsprung suspension weight and improves ride quality.
Drivers have also reported better all-around performance with aftermarket control arms accommodating replacement shocks.
Control arms are not interchangeable either front to back, side to side or upper to lower. They all have different jobs to do, and as such, are shaped differently. The front upper and rear upper control arms will center the axle from front to back, the front upper and front lower will help with the caster, which will also help with the camber, and your rear uppers set your pinion angles.
This answer depends on a few factors, the two biggest factors being where you live and where you get your control arms replaced.
The average cost of getting a single control arm replaced is around $230 to $250, not including taxes and fees.
Who Worked on This?
Brian
Editor
A master of organization, Brian helps keep everything running smoothly for Your Jeep Guide.
No Jeep yet but we’re working on that!
Cory
Writer
Cory loves his XJ and frequently thrashes it through the hills. He’s constantly fixing something.
“What fenders?”
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