Help! Lower control arm broken - twisted like a pretzel -

[rickhans]

I was changing my brake pads when I discovered the drivers side lower control arm is borken, the one that attaches to the frame and the bottom bracket on the front axle of my 98. 5 4wd 2500.



If you have ever taken a soft drink can and twisted it, tearing the aluminum, then you know what this looks like. I first thought maybe I had hit something, but there is no sign of an impact, nor do any of the skid plates or other parts that are lower than the control arm.



Has anyone else had this happen? It has only been about 3,000 miles since the last oil change when it would have been noticed. I started getting a loud popping last week when braking hard so It must have cracked, then all of a sudden twisted under heavy braking with my trailer behind.



It seems like this should be a warranty item. I only have 42k miles and an extended warranty, HOWEVER, I don't want any more flimsy junk like this put on. Even my old 4wd 1/2T suburban has heaver steel. This is more like sheet metal than steel.



Does any one know of any heavy duty control arms being sold. (Does Dodge call this part a control arm or does it have a different name?) My truck is down until I can fix it and it is my only tow vehicle so I can't wait to order in, unless I can get over night delivery from somewhere. I have to have it going by Teusday.



I would appreciate any help. I am in Dallas, Tx.

 

[illflem]

If it was me I'd get it fixed under warranty then take my time finding a heavier duty front end. Your's is the first case I've heard of, could it have been a faulty componet?

 

[jmeehan]

I know one of the lift kit manufacuterers is producing heavier control arms. Sorry, I don't remember which one, and I'm not sure it'll work with the stock ride height, but it may be worth checking into.

I suppose you could also build your own with suitably sized Heim joints. I have an uncle that built his own four bar front end on an old ford coupe with Heim joints.

 

[F Simkowski (In Memory)]

Skyjacker makes the replacement upper and lower control arms with poly bushings and greasable fittings, the arms are beefy welded tubes.

I've installed these with the 2. 5" lift. Call them and see if the arms are compatible with the stock height.

Good luck with the dealer on warranty.

Frank S.

 

[Josparkz]

I used some Tuff-Country control arms. They are made of what looks like 3/4" pipe. No grease fittings.

If your dealer won't take care of you eek: ) , my o. e. m. ones are out back in my junk pile .

One of the reasons I changed mine was cause I was told it would help the truck to stop in a staight line by eliminating flex.

 

[rickhans]

I ordered a set of upper and lower Rancho contol arms. The Off Road Shop in Garland said that they have not seen many Dodges with this problem but a lot of Jeeps (not sure which model but I think it was the Wrangler) have come in with cracked control arms.



I decided to go this route because I would have to pay a deductable on my extended warranty, probably would have to fight with the local dealer to convince them that it was a defect, not a collision, would have to have the truck towed, and would lose several hours of time dealing with it.



The control arm only had 1/4" of metal left to tear then I would have completely lost the control arm. I figure that it probably would have broken in the next 100 miles. The axle would have rotated then probably collapsed, most likely causing the truck to roll if I was going highway speed.



The only thing that will put my mind at ease is replacing all of the original control arms with heavier duty ones.



I still want to hear if any one else has had this happen, and if anyone knows if the other attachments would prevent the axle from moving and collapsing.

 

[rickhans]

update since work was done

I installed the Rancho upper and lower control arms and see a big improvement. It may be a coincidence (sp?) but the steering does not seem to wander as much and the pull to the right when in 4wd seems to have gone away. I changed my front pads at the same time and now have virtually no brake pull either way. I suspect that the right side was moving a lot a causing all sorts of little problems. I have not been to my dealer yet but do plan to take the broken control arm with me to show them.



Thanks for the help.

 

[NVR FNSH]

Pictures?

Can you post a pic of the broken arm? I'm curios to see where it failed.



Brian